Conference 7.286::golf

    
     Isn't that stuff that almost killed Superman?

    RE .1
    
    That was  KRYTONITE, silly?
    
    Anyone use a KRYPTONITE shaft?

    Titanium shafts are almost as light as Graphite but have very low
    torque ratings. My ex-partner (we had a spat) uses one in his driver
    and hits the ball incredibly straight. There doesn't seem to be any
    difference in distance over steel or graphite but the low torque rating
    helps keep the clubhead more square at impact.
    
    Mad Hacker

    
    
    Have a good look around and see just how many people actually use
    Graphite or Titanium shafted clubs, compare their scores to the 
    guys who go round with a set of the "old mans" hand-me-down half set.
    	Bet you won't find much difference between them, In some cases the 
    bloke with the knackered clubs is a damn sight better.
    	The moral of this little tale is...learn to swing correctly and hit
    the ball straight, after all a clubs a club it's not it's fault the ball
    exit's right never to be seen again....!
    
    

    Titanium Shafts
    
    Something for the depressed aerospace manufacturers to do with excess
    inventories?
    
    SCD

    Titanium shafts are stiff
    
    I have been using a titanium "stiff" shaft on my 8.5 degree driver for
    the past two years. I have regular shafts on all my other clubs. I
    am not a very good golfer (16 handicap) but here is what I have found
    to be the rule:
    
    I hit the ball 10-20 yards longer with the titanium blaster. That may
    be because of the 8.5 degree loft. My club head speed is faster 95MPH,
    versus 85 MPH with my other clubs, had that measured on a computer and
    we all know that computers (at least DEC computers) are always
    accurate. What I have noticed is that I have to swing harder to square
    the face on impact. If I tee the ball a little higher and swing with
    less speed I will hit a cut slice every time. 
    I like the titanium shaft on the driver. I hit it as a fairway wood
    when I have a reasonable lie and have found it to be a good weapon.
    
    DBW
    

    
    With regard to Titanium or any other shaft, any reasonable golfer will
    pick up a club in a pro shop and say it's good or bad. It is purely
    down to feel, what I think is good, the next man may not like how it
    sits or feels.
    
    So, if you think a Titanium shaft driver "feels" good, then go with it.
    
    One word of caution though, two friends of mine have had Titanium
    Drivers, both have snapped on the top of their Backswing just below
    the grip !!
    
    Very amusing for their playing partners but Expensive to repair. I
    would'nt buy one now for that reason alone.
    
    
    Regards                     
    AMBASSADOR of EUROPEAN GOLF. 
    
    

    Titanium is purported to have the feel of steel and the flex of
    graphite.  However, the club makers can do more and compensate for
    swings better with the composite shafts.  The real key is that unless
    you can change your swing, you are better off not buying a graphite
    club off the shelf...get it fitted by a pro for torque and flex, the
    two properties you need to consider.
    
    One noter commented on the need to swing harder to get the benefit of
    the hi-tech shaft.  I have found the same thing to be true.  If I
    don't, the club head is seldom square at impact causing some real
    strange results, from low snapping hooks, Bjorn Borg topspin drives and
    screaming knee high slices.  But just like slot machines, I can still
    remember the few that times I have hit it right, and those keep me
    coming back for more.
    
    Swing hard, you never know when you are going to hit it good.
    
    SCD

    This stuff about swinging harder and hitting better is amazing, because
    I have been finding the same thing with my graphite driver. The harder
    I swing, the farther and straighter the ball goes. If I try to cut
    back, who knows where it's going! That is just the opposite of what I
    always thought was true in golf, swing easier for more control. Is the
    swing harder rule true for the other graphite clubs and irons too?? I
    have been hitting my graphite driver so long and straight that I've
    been considering buying a whole set. Any other comments??
    
    Thanks
    
    Randy

    I have to swing my ADX 100 slower than my driver with steel shaft
    to get the same results. I don't know what the torque rating is for
    the shaft on the ADX but I suspect that it is pretty high, when I
    swing really hard the ball tends to start right and go farther right.
    If I take a nice controlled swing though the ball seems to explode
    off the face and usually goes very straight. Graphite shafts seem
    to be much more sensitive to flex point and stiffness than steel
    so if you have a shaft with high bend point and stiffness you probably
    would have to swing it hard to get it to perform.
    
    Mad Hacker

    
    
    Re- the last few notes regards swinging faster or slower or whatever 
        feels good.
        
        If your comfortable with your pace of swing etc. and you want to 
        try, or are having problems keeping on the straight and narrow with
        the Graphite or Ti, then try experimenting with your ball position
        in relation to your stance(your golf ball that is...!) and combine 
        this with closing the face slightly to try and compensate for the 
        flex in the shaft at impact.
    		
             If unsuccessful then resort to Plan A...give it big stuff...!
    
        
    

    follow-up...
    
    I was at a Pro-Am in the last week and I was shocked at all the hi tech
    shafts that the PRO's are carrying.  This ProAm had the likes of Hale
    Irwin (J Driver Graphite), Lanny Wadkins (Tour Gold), Tom Seickmann (Aldila
    HM-40), Betsy King (HM-40), Mark Calcavecchia (Titanium Taylor) and on
    and on and on.
    
    I thought that most would be playing steel.  Evidentally the graphite,
    titanium, and composites out perform steel now!  
    
    Incidentially, the ratio was probaby 5 to 1 for these high tech shafts
    versus steel at the tournament.
    
    

    My understanding is that these modern materials can be quite
    customized ... from stiffness through the actual flex point
    in the shaft. So a PRO can get the "PERFECT" shaft for their
    game.  That's much harder to do with steel.  From that 
    perspective, I'm not surprised they're using materials like
    these.
    
    John
    

    Also could be that they are using the Pro-am to test them out...or are
    under contract for such use when in Pro-ams.  You can never tell until
    you see what they hit during the real thing.  Did not take long for
    Nicklaus and Norman to drop the J driver.
    
    SCD

    I thought I saw Jack using the "J" in the U.S. Open?  

    "J" and Jack
    
    Could be, or it could be the MacGregor clone he was working on.  You
    never know.  It seems that I recall that both Greg and JAck had
    aboandoned the club, but maybe not.  Anybody hear or read anything
    different.
    
    SCD

    I think the decision to use the J's or not to use the J's is course
    design and playability.
    
    The reason the J's was so successful at the Masters is that you can
    afford to be off line a bit. The Masters has NO rough. On a course
    where accuracy is the key, you will see very few players using J's. The
    other factor is trajectory. The J's tends to keep the ball at a lower
    trajectory, hence, the longer distance. Believe it or not, the pro's
    don't always want all that roll. 
    
    Greg abandoned the J's when he signed/bought Cobra. I'm sure he is
    interested in supporting their clubs.
    
    I hear the pro's bring many clubs to a tourney and than select the best
    mix of 14 for play. They may have multiple fairway woods vs. the 1
    iron, and a few wedges.
    
    My 2 cents
    Ken

    Ti Shafts may have just been rejuvinated by John Daly at the PGA.  He
    supposedly uses some hi tech head on a colored Ti shaft.
    
    Look out, the prices of Ti's just went up!

 >> Ti Shafts may have just been rejuvinated by John Daly at the PGA.  He
    supposedly uses some hi tech head on a colored Ti shaft.
    
        Too bad it's not the shaft that was changed,he put a COBRA 
COBOLT head on his Ti shaft cause he kept denting the other metals. The
Cobra is the strongest head made today.



 marko