Drivers
There are so many drivers on the market currently with an almost unlimited selection of shafts. Despite the massive choice of head designs the recurring theme with all manufacturers is to produce a head size of 460cc, and to re position discretionary weight (wasted weight that does not help in performance of the club).
Whilst heads look alike they perform very differently on test. The way we measure how forgiving the head is by using FlightScope to give us a "smash" reading. The smash is the ball speed divided by the club speed. Ideally if the club head travels at 100mph the ball speed should be 150mph - thus giving a smash of 1.50.
Driver heads that produce smash values of less than this can be proven to be less forgiving.
Two companies that are always a head of the rest of the field are Callaway and Ping. Callaway's FT IQ across the board always was the highest smash rating, followed by their FT 9 range.
Interestingly the FT IQ range was one of the shorter hitting clubs although it was the most forgiving - this is because the club head speeds were significantly slower than the rest - possibly due to the aerodynamics of the club.
It would seem logical to deduct that if you are an accurate striker of the ball then the FT9 or the Ping G or I range of woods would give greater distance, however if you do not strike the ball accurately the square FT IQ range would be more suitable.
*Interesting Fact
In my experience drivers that give you the option to unscrew the shafts and change its position do not perform as well as the same club with the glued in shaft version.
Whilst the differences are small there is a difference.
Companies advertise how they have saved weight in the head and re distributed it to areas that are most needed. In order to alter the shaft position there has to a special adapter on the end of the shaft to screw into the head. This adds weight to the heel of the club - an area where weight is redundant.
Also, drivers where you can move the weight around the head can't be as forgiving as those where the weight is fixed. To be able to move weight, or slide it around the head, means there has to be a weight port or rail to slide the weight along. This increases the discretionary weight - Callaway's RAZR Hawk (on test next week) claims to have saved the most discretionary weight with their new material "forged composite". With Bjorn and Quiros winning since using this club and claiming an increase of 10 yards+ I can't wait to test it!
Razr Hawk Testing
In order to make this test as independant as possible I asked members to take the RAZR Challenge. Come along for a free fitting with their own Driver, the results would speak for themselves.
Below is a you tube clip of the results that I published.
Despite the price tag the RAZR is clearly as good as tests have claimed. Personally I have managed an extra 11 yards from the FT5 and FT9 drivers that I swapped between - I cant wait for my own one to arrive - RAZR Hawk 9.5 Tour, with a stiff Aldila RIP Shaft.
John Greenwood • Poulton le Fylde Golf Club • Myrtle Farm • Breck Road • Poulton le Fylde
• Lancashire • FY6 7HJ • 01253 892444 • 07813 337580 • greenwood-golf@hotmail.co.uk
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