28 replies to this topic

[Hacker T]

I've always wondered why announcers say a pros driving was not good due to the fact that they cracked their driver recently and wasn't able to find a new one they liked. One example is Steve Stricker who recently cracked his old driver. Why can't he just get the same driver made to the exact same specs instead of playing the 913? Let's hear what you guys think.

[bubberdubber]

Anytime tour players have something new in their hands there's a adjustment period. Doesn't matter about the specs, it's in their head. Tour pros don't like any change (except maybe putters) in their clubs. When there's that type of pressure on those tight courses with no errors allowed, they have to have full confidence. I played for 3 years, and I am same way. Don't like change, even though manufacturers really want you to play the new stuff. Amateurs often think pros play certain clubs cause of a ton of factors, but it really comes down to confidence.

[Socrates]

It's a matter of trust.  Once the find one that goes good and they trust it to go just the way they like it, it is hard to adjust to a new one.  The guys that hold onto a driver for a long period of time are screwed once they break it.  There is nothing wrong with the new one, but mentally they can't adjust because it might look a little different or have slightly different feel.  The guys that are Ho's and have new stuff all the time don't have those problems.

[Redhill]

I think it's even simpler.  No two clubs are the same even if they are the same.

[Willie Malay]

This ^

[Thrillhouse]

I had a 14 degree sonartec ss 03 with a fuji fit on 11 pro 95 x flex 42.5" back in the day that I used until it broke. When it broke I had another one built to the exact same specs, it just didnt work out. When that one didnt work out I had my old shaft put in the same head, that didnt work out either, it just was not the same.

Thats how it goes, you can put the exact same club together and for some reason it just isn't the same.

[jrich99]

bubberdubber, on 17 August 2012 - 11:04 PM, said:

Anytime tour players have something new in their hands there's a adjustment period. Doesn't matter about the specs, it's in their head. Tour pros don't like any change (except maybe putters) in their clubs. When there's that type of pressure on those tight courses with no errors allowed, they have to have full confidence. I played for 3 years, and I am same way. Don't like change, even though manufacturers really want you to play the new stuff. Amateurs often think pros play certain clubs cause of a ton of factors, but it really comes down to confidence.

I would agree with that except the "tight courses with no errors allowed".  They play TPC tracks and spray it off the tee for the most part.  When they do play a really tight course, a bunch of "stars" miss the cut (Olympic Club?).   Aside from that, it makes perfect sense that they'd be hesitant to change equipment frequently.

[Vinny Nguyen]

You hear it a lot in the club trucks that no two clubs are the same even if they are the same head and shaft combo. There are small slight differences in every club that tour pros pick up on cause they know by feel and what they see.  They hit so many balls a day and practice so much that they can tell if something is off by even a degree. If we had access to the resources they had we would probably be the same. I'd like to say I could walk into a store and hit every head of the same model club till I find one that I hit best. But they won't let me .

[dac]

Redhill, on 18 August 2012 - 12:09 AM, said:

I think it's even simpler.  No two clubs are the same even if they are the same.

so untrue but yet so true.  

[Kingpair]

Although it wasn't a driver when I snapped my TP Rescue 09 shaft in half I found another on Ebay with the same shaft and flex. However it does not feel the same and I am still not feeling the love with it yet.

[joeshmo]

I remember a story about  Annika Sörenstam going to Callaway to get a driver. This was back when
she was at the top of her game. I can't remember the source of the story. Anyway..

Before she arrived they made 30 drivers all close to what she was already useing.

She spent all day the 1st day trying all they made for her. At the end of the day she picked 1 she liked.
That night they made 8 drivers exactly like the one she liked.

Day 2 she hit all 8 of the drivers and at the end picked 2 to take with her to tournaments.

Always made me wonder what chance we have to get fit properly.

[Redhill]

I actually saw a similar but different scene at a Nationwide event.  I was watching the lads on the driving range on a Tuesday late in the afternoon.  I don't remember the player's name but he was looking for a 5 wood.  One of the techs from some equipment van met him on the range with 5 separate 5 woods.  All with the same head and 3 with the same shaft.  They quickly ruled out all but the one he wanted and it went into his bag.

I wondered what happened to the other 4???????  Should have gone dumpster diving but that might lead to an arrest.

[kduffy]

joeshmo, on 18 August 2012 - 02:28 AM, said:

I remember a story about  Annika Sörenstam going to Callaway to get a driver. This was back when
she was at the top of her game. I can't remember the source of the story. Anyway..

Before she arrived they made 30 drivers all close to what she was already useing.

She spent all day the 1st day trying all they made for her. At the end of the day she picked 1 she liked.
That night they made 8 drivers exactly like the one she liked.

Day 2 she hit all 8 of the drivers and at the end picked 2 to take with her to tournaments.

Always made me wonder what chance we have to get fit properly.

I heard tour pro's back thirty or so years ago would get drivers that have the "exact" same specs and pick which one they hit better...usually the clubs back then had inconsistencies even if they were in theory the exact same. I reckon there'd be little or no inconsistencies in today's clubs though but maybe pro's still have a similar mindset towards clubs these days

[Bob57]

Many times it is a one of a kind piece.  I have a Ping Rapture V2 7.5 with a Diamana Blue Board.  It hasn't left my bag since I got it.  I liked it so much at the time I ordered two more exactly to the same specs.  One was very average and the other one absolutely stunk.  So go figure.  That is why IMO fitting drivers is a joke unless you walk away with the fitting piece.  Shaft variations and manufacturing head variations work against getting what you were fit to.  Out of 4 driver fittings I have had only one was remotely close to the original piece and it was still short of the numbers that were generated (and visual results) with the fitting piece.  Did A B comparisons with all 4.  3 were so bad the course refunded my money.. 2 Pings, 1 Taylor Made, 1 Titleist (which was the closest)...

[Paul Stewart Jones]

I know a guy on the European Tour who is contracted to Callaway, He was using a ft9 TA head the rare prototype head of the FT Tour, they told him he had to start using the Razr Hawk, they made him 15, 5 with the same shaft and loft as the ft9 ta, 10 other with different lofts and shafts, he made do with a razr hawk, but towards the end of the season put the ft9 Ta back in his back and suddenly his driving came back.....

[walkergolfs]

I just wish i could find one driver to fit me.

[tp280]

Kind of underscores the metal woods with exchangable shafts to find suitable matches or replacements for us lay-folks. I guess irons aren't as bad, unless you loose a club and try to get a match to the rest of the set.

[hef63303]

Pros often hit 12-15 clubs trying to pick out their gamer and a back up.

[J13]

look what they did for Phil mickelson a few years back.  They took apart his driver head and somehow fixed the face then put it back together.

[bunter101]

I can't remember which player I heard talking about this subject, it may have been Goosen.
Anyway he said he had to hit a couple of hundred to get 2 that felt 'right' to him.

[seve1972]

Have ya ever been to a demo day....hit one you loved...then they say they will build you the exact one?  The one that shows up is never the same....

[Mschumacher]

I hate it when people move my seat in my car (driver's side).  It just never feels the same until I get used to again.

[Seth Pistol]

^ so true

[blwallace5]

Mschumacher, on 20 August 2012 - 11:18 AM, said:

I hate it when people move my seat in my car (driver's side).  It just never feels the same until I get used to again.

This should be reiterated 1000 times.

[crapula]

Wow, I feel like I wasted money getting custom fit.


Is this only with drivers? Is it the same with woods, irons, wedges, and putters? What about balls?

[drstroud]

Is your new girlfriend going to be like your old girlfriend - even if they are the Simpson twins from down the street?

Edited by drstroud, 20 August 2012 - 03:12 PM.

[Redhill]

tp280, on 19 August 2012 - 10:44 AM, said:

Kind of underscores the metal woods with exchangable shafts to find suitable matches or replacements for us lay-folks. I guess irons aren't as bad, unless you loose a club and try to get a match to the rest of the set.

This is about as close as us "joe six pack" golfers will get to the PGA lads.  At least it might help in narrowing done the direction to look to.

[cstav]

seve1972, on 20 August 2012 - 10:09 AM, said:

Have ya ever been to a demo day....hit one you loved...then they say they will build you the exact one?  The one that shows up is never the same....

+1 I hate when this happens.

[Darklinq]

Redhill, on 18 August 2012 - 12:09 AM, said:

I think it's even simpler.  No two clubs are the same even if they are the same.

truth