My modified Adams 9064LS

[Richie3Jack]

Here's what I had when I got it:

10.5* loft
Aldila RIP Gamma Regular Shaft 60 grams
45.5" long
D-3 swingweight.

I then:

1) Tip Trimmed the shaft about 1-1/16", getting the club down to 44-3/8"

2) Spine aligned the shaft, putting the spine to 3 o'clock

3) Added lead tape to the club because after tip trimming, club went to C-8 swingweight. Lead tape got it to D-2.5 swingweight.

I actually hit this quite well...and long. Hit one 300 yards into a 1-club wind with almost no roll.

But, it was a little too easy to hit a super high, spinny shot. Still, *much* better results than I expected.

However, tomorrow I get my Harrison ShotMaker insert. One of the big things the ShotMaker insert has done according to users and those who have tried it out on Trackman and FlightScope, is that it lowers the launch angle slightly and lowers the spin rate. The general lowering of spin rate is about 10% from what I've seen.

So...we'll see. I'll put this in tomorrow and see how it works. If I had to use this club tomorrow, without the ShotMaker insert, I think I could do pretty well with it. But if the Shotmaker is as good as advertised, this could be a steal.





3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

Why not get a 7.5* driver to lower the spin rate? Much quicker to get the spin down.

[Richie3Jack]

1. A lower lofted driver doesn't mean it will reduce spin rate.

2. I wanted a higher launching driver

3. They don't make a 7.5* driver.





3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

I know there are many variables at play with spin, but why do you claim a lower lofted driver won't reduce spin (assuming the exact same setup with a higher lofted driver)?

[Richie3Jack]

Because all that is being done with a lower lofted driver is the loft is lowered. If they changed the shaft properties or the clubhead properties (i.e. where the mass is located), then it would spin lower.

I think the reason why golfers tend to hit lower lofted driver with less spin is that they start hitting up on the ball much more to get them in the air, which lowers the spin. But, by itself...going to a 7.5* won't lower spin.





3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

Interesting. When I hit my 5* driver my spin goes way down (sometimes down to 1,000 rpms with a 14* launch angle) but I hit up on it so much that if I used a 9.5* driver with the same swing the ball would launch so high that it wouldn't optimize my distance. So many variables!!!!

I don't use the 5* driver that much in tournaments. Very hard to work that club and my mind wants the ball to go right to left under pressure. Straight shots aren't my specialty.

[Richie3Jack]

If you're hitting up a ton with the driver and you have a 9.5* loft driver, you need to get the dynamic loft down so you can launch it at a 'normal' level (about 11-14* vertical launch). What's happening with the 5* driver is that you're hitting up and adding dynamic loft. When you do the same thing with the 9.5* driver, it goes too high.








3JACK

[cwdlaw223]

Agreed. I just can't get my hands ahead with the 9.5* loft to hit up properly without causing a wacked out launch angle. I don't have to manipulate anything with a 5* lofted driver and can hit up all I want without worrying about my hands being behind a little bit. When my spin is down to 2,000 rpms I carry the ball 290+ yards which is somewhat surprising. If I had enough time and money I would find a way to swing a more normal lofted driver to get that large carry.