[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

Spent some time with the driver just trying to get the feel for a better and longer backswing and hip turn. Found that specifically targeting weight on the inside of my rear heel at at the top really helped me stay centered.

Also working on not throwing my upper body through the swing, and on tilt at address all at the same time.

Hitting the range tomorrow!

[Unofficial Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft]

2 hours ago, B.Boston said:

Well this should be an interesting follow.  Still a lot of mystery behind the Autoflex.  

I'm interested to see if your ball speed goes up even if swing speed goes up with the lighter head.  Hopefully that forecast holds and you can hit some balls outside this week.

Regarding ball speed vs. head weight, I found some pretty interesting testing done at this blog: http://0to300golf.blogspot.com/2019/04/testing-driver-head-weights-part-2.html

They had best results when matching a lighter head with a reasonable swingweight (D2), which is what the Dumina chart implies.

I went back and watched the original TXG video last night and Matt seemed to have significantly more success with his Mavrik SZ head than the G410LST, which was a lot heavier than the Mavrik. My hypothesis is that the AutoFlex needs a truly lighter swingweight and not a "tricked" swingweight with a heavy grip or counterbalance weight. It seems the most successful people I've seen play a lighter head. Some people on the Facebook forum have had good results with XXIO drivers, and Gabe Gallucci on YouTube had the most success with lighter weights in his Mavrik SZ as well, which brought the headweight down into the 180s.

I could drop the 2 gram weight and get down below D1 if I wanted to give that a shot as well. Anything "lighter" on the scale would mean shaving more off of the shaft, which I'd really rather not do.

[Unofficial Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft]

8 minutes ago, juspoole said:

Do you have a way that you might be able to determine if dispersion is the same or improved?  

I hit a pretty consistent 40-45 percent of fairways over the past two seasons, but that includes irons off tee/etc. Even with Arccos I can't say I have a great way to track dispersion. Might need to rent some time on my coach's Trackman just to compare the two setups on a single day type of thing.

[Unofficial Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft]

I spent some more time with the AutoFlex outside yesterday swinging without a ball. I hit 124 MPH on the radar once, and saw several 122 MPH readings without feeling like I was swinging uncontrolled/"out of my shoes."

If I remember correctly, the highest no ball reading I saw with a driver throughout the winter was 126 MPH once. Speed has actually been trending slightly downward over the past few weeks, and I hadn't seen anything that close to 122 MPH in a while. 

Looking at our weather report, my range might actually open this week yet! Fingers crossed.

[Unofficial Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft]

12 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

So the "Auto Flex" name made me think of UniFlex shafts in the not too distant past ... is the general idea (without looking at their website) that a given model is supposed to "adapt" to varying swing speeds, swing tempos, transitions/deliveries, ...??

TXG's initial review of the AutoFlex pretty much says that is the general idea. The company calls it "Korean Hidden Technology," but does not go into specifics about how the shaft works or is constructed (so much so that they apparently have opted not to file a patent for the technology lest it be imitated in some way).

Someone over on WRX sent the shaft off to be EI profiled, and as a static shaft it is most similar to very light "ladies" shafts.

The actual "fitting" is kind of a moving target. Initially, the SF505X was said to be for swing speeds upwards of 125 MPH, but recent charts (like the one I took from the English version of the AutoFlex website), recommend the strongest of swingers use the SF505XX.

[Unofficial Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft]

Unofficial Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft

Long, cold winters without playing golf are dangerous for the wallet.

I try to be a frugal golfer. I built my last two irons sets to save some cash, play at an affordable, municipal-style course and balk at spending $60/hour for simulator practice in the offseason. But, after seeing launch monitor numbers on YouTube and tour validation with Adam Scott, the mystique of Dumina’s AutoFlex became too hard to pass up.

I am not a particularly great driver of the golf ball. I struggled with an inside takeaway and a steep, over-the-top wipe at the golf ball for most of my golfing life. As you can imagine, I did not have good results with the big stick.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have tested two drivers for the MyGolfSpy Forums now. Both times I fit into a stout, low-launch/low-spin shaft to offset my delivery. After working with my coach for the past 18 months, I’ve made some good progress with my driver swing. This winter, I switched to a nine degree Callaway Mavrik head with an x-stiff Aldila Rogue White 60 shaft. I gained a bit of launch without adding spin with this combination. I am hitting the driver better and further than ever before based on my FlightScope Mevo numbers.

My Mevo numbers at the heated winter range have stayed between 110-117 MPH club speed and 158-165 MPH ball speed. I had the opportunity to hit range balls outdoors once last week when we had weather in the low 40s. After 15 shots my averages looked like the following:

Ball Speed	Club Speed	Smash	Carry	Launch	Spin	Height (ft)	Time
160.2	109.2	1.47	260	12.5	2,640	108	6.9

On course, I am too tentative and usually do not reach the same level of speed as I do on the range. That said, I had a handful of nice drives during my first round of the season this past weekend:

My goal with the driver is to keep the ball in play and not cost myself penalty strokes. I am still working on the confidence to swing faster knowing I've improved.

My apprehension to swinging faster (which is definitely a mental issue) is one of the factors driving me to try the AutoFlex. The shaft could be a game changer if I can get a few more MPH club head speed without feeling like I’m swinging harder/faster.

Fitting and Ordering Process

Limited information is available online about what a “proper fit” is with the AutoFlex. As many of the TXG YouTube videos have highlighted, there are specific headweight and swingweight considerations to account for when determining playing length, head choice, etc.

A lengthy thread over at GolfWRX is devoted to the AutoFlex, but I found the best information in a Facebook group dedicated to players/users of the shaft. There, I found some “real world” advice from people who had tried and failed/succeeded in using the AutoFlex. For my build, I was targeting a 45.75” finished length and a swingweight between D1 and D2. These specifications are recommended by the manufacturer and also the members of the group.

Before placing my order, I made a post on the group and received helpful confirmation of my plans from a knowledgeable member. Although not required, I did order the shaft from one of the professional fitters in the group. His price was the best I found. The shaft came cut to my specifications with a Callaway adapter installed within three days. I installed a Lamkin Sonar Tour grip to match my other clubs once I received the shaft.

I am not aware of an AutoFlex available to try locally.

My Setup

I replaced the stock five gram Mavrik weight with an aftermarket weight weighing two grams. Many people have chosen to go with a heavier grip to “trick” the swingweight scale. However, it seemed like the most successful players had opted for lighter head weights instead.

 

Rogue White 60X
Length	45.25” (45.5” to very end of grip)
Headweight	192 grams
Swingweight	D2.5

 

AutoFlex SF505X
Length	45.75” (46” to very end of grip)
Headweight	189 grams
Swingweight	D1.5

The Facebook commenter mentioned I may need to loft down the Mavrik head to eight degrees. I currently play at the stock loft.

First Impressions

From a looks standpoint, the AutoFlex is gorgeous. Yes, the hot pink may not be for everyone. I love that it stands out in the bag. The “black” color is not flat black, it is more of a pearly green-black at close inspection. Very sharp!

I know of no other shaft that arrives in its own protective sheath. A nice touch.

The feels from the initial waggle were as advertised. Imagine taking a club head and attaching it to a fishing pole. There is plenty of waggle/movement from the head. But it does not feel that way when swinging. It will be intriguing to hit a ball and see how it feels at impact.

I completed an initial test by taking three swings without a ball each with the Rogue White and AutoFlex. After quickly warming up, I measured my club speed with my Sports Sensors radar.

• My three swings with the Rogue White recorded at 110 MPH, 111 MPH and 113 MPH.
• My three swings with the AutoFlex recorded at 115 MPH, 114 MPH and 116 MPH.

Keep in mind the AutoFlex plays 1/2” longer than the Rogue White. I’m not willing to chalk up the speed gains in this brief test to anything more than length (yet).

I expect my driving range to open for the season sometime in the next two weeks. I will be able to gather more data and feedback at that time.

Is a driver shaft worth $800?

Probably not, although I’m keeping an open mind.

I would be ecstatic if the AutoFlex magically added 3-5 MPH club speed and the 4-7 MPH ball speed that should accompany. On a well-struck shot, that would be a quantifiable distance gain. However, I’m starting without any high expectations.

Part of what I enjoy about golf is trying out new equipment, so much so that my constant swaps are most likely detrimental to my scores. I’m not usually one to usually experience FOMO, but in this case I got wrapped up in the allure of this mysterious shaft.

And, at the end of the day, I still expect resale to be reasonable. Always need to have a backup plan. 

---

Final Review: Dumina AutoFlex SF505X Driver Shaft - Oct. 8, 2021

I've had the pleasure of playing the AutoFlex 505X for the majority of the season. Currently, I have about 25 rounds on its final configuration (more on that later). I still would not classify driver as the most reliable part of my game, but there is something special about this pink and black shaft.

Looks - 4/5 Stars

The pink/black combo isn't going to be mistaken for any other shaft. I assume most love it or hate it. If I'm being nit picky the font selection is not my favorite. The serif lettering of SF505 screams "Times New Roman."

If I wanted to drop some (more) cash, a custom blacked out or pink/black driver head would look nice with the shaft.

Feel - 5/5 Stars

As advertised, the AutoFlex feels very whippy everywhere but on the downswing. After months of swinging it, going back to any other driver shaft is an odd feeling. I let my brother-in-law try it a few weeks ago at the range. He handed it back to me after one swing.

Despite the feel, I've had no issue determining where the ball is striking the club face. Keeping with the whip analogy, there seems to be a very linear release of energy through the ball with no defined bend point.

Basic Characteristics - 5/5 Stars

I've mentioned the most obvious characteristic of the AutoFlex already - it's very light and whippy feeling at address. So much so that the shaft almost feels brittle. I've had no issues with durability so far. 

• Trajectory - The AutoFlex produces a towering trajectory on my best swings. Good shots are a slight draw or fade depending on the day. I am playing my Callaway Epic Max LS head at 8 degrees and have no issues launching the ball. 
• Accuracy - Arccos shows I have retained about the same accuracy throughout the season with and without the AutoFlex. On good swings the AutoFlex is extremely accurate. On less than ideal swings it seems to help limit damage. Worries about the flexibility of the shaft and its effects on accuracy are unfounded.
• Distance - The AutoFlex is an absolute bomber when paired up with the correct head. My Arccos Smart Distance has increased to 288 yards recently. I also hit a career best 320-yard drive this season with a little wind help with the 505X in the bag. 

Getting the correct fit is important. I started my adventure by pairing the AutoFlex with a standard Callaway Mavrik head. I did not have great success, and I was considering selling the AutoFlex midway through the season. Only after purchasing a Callaway Max LS head, and subsequently removing five grams of weight from the head, did I start to reap the benefits of the AutoFlex. This combination produces high, tight baby push draws when I'm swinging my best.

On-Course Performance - 5/5 Stars

Rather than repeat myself, the short summary of the AutoFlex's on-course performance is that I maintained roughly the same level of control, added 20-plus yards to my Arccos Smart Distance and hit more 300-plus yard drives in the past two months than I had in the previous two seasons of playing. 

My home course is generously listed at about 6,200 yards from the back tees. I usually hit driver on 10 holes. Since switching to the AutoFlex, I have partial wedges into most of the par 4s, and I reached the shortest par 5 this season going driver/8-iron. When I'm playing well I scare par. That is a huge improvement from last season when my best days sniffed 80.

Miscellaneous - 1/5 Stars

"Cody, how could you rate everything else so well and this category so poorly?"

Don't be dumb like me. Please don't buy this shaft without swinging it first or getting a proper fitting. If that's not a possibility (which is probably the case), please prepare to tinker with different weights and heads. This turns an already expensive experiment into something even more expensive.

In my case, I tried two different weights in the Mavrik head before giving up. A used Epic Max LS set me back another $400 mid-season. I still needed to drop the weight some more to get everything working for my swing. I have over $1,000 invested in this shaft/head combination.

Writing the last sentence makes me a little sick to my stomach.

Play it or Trade it? - 5/5 Stars

I found the holy grail combo for my swing and don't plan on tinkering with this particular setup anytime soon. At this point, continued practice will do me more good than trying to chase down another driver combination. 

Conclusion

The mystical AutoFlex seemed to make a big difference in my game this season. Is it worth $800? I still don't know. But what I do know is that it's working for me right now, and I have no plans to make any changes in driver for quite some time.

Final Score - 4/5 Stars

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

4 hours ago, B.Boston said:

I have to disagree... winter months is when I end up spending or planning to spend the most on golf because I get bored and want to golf.

Sheepishly raises hand... 

I'm not good at telling myself no.

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

1 minute ago, dlow206 said:

Used the putt chip a lot today. Chipped in for birdie with my gap wedge. And hit a putt chip to 5 feet from somewhere between 30 to 40 yards out with a 4 hybrid lol.

EDIT: This was out on the course, not practice, but wanted to come back to this thread because we were talking about this.

Yup, I used it extensively during yesterday's round with my 8 iron. (Actually one of those was near the end of the video I posted on the post about the round.) Much easier to know how the ball will react/release. Going to use it going forward, for sure.

[How'd you play?]

6 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

It's good to see you were able to get out for a round and put those beautiful Sub 70's in play. That's pretty good scoring for the first round of the year, looks like the winter practice is paying off. The camera footage is great, those Go Pros look so much better than the phone footage I've been taking. 

Thanks! Yes, the GoPro is better than I expected. Very simple to use, also. 

I do have a ton of respect for anyone who records and puts together more than a couple of holes. It's a time-consuming process! But it was fun to do and I'll try to do a few holes every now and then this year.

[How'd you play?]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

Nice Edin! Was this with the new MMT shafts?  How are you liking them?

The MMTs are great, I see no reason to play steel ever again. I actually didn't hit many irons today, lots of driver/wedge. Enjoying the MMT wedge shafts around the green, too.

I struck maybe two irons well all day, but they did feel great. The Sub70's have a ton of forgiveness and the flight is perfect with the MMTs.

[Unofficial Review: L.A.B. Golf Directed Force 2.1 Putter]

3 minutes ago, ELEL13 said:

Is it crazy to keep the putter cover off when I’m carrying the bag walking?  

I walk, but use a push cart and a cart bag with a big putter well. So the head cover size of not an issue for me.

I'm sure the anodizing will nick and scratch without the cover, but if you're good with that, no, I don't think it would be an issue to not use a head cover. My only concern would be if the horizontally milled face lines took on bag chatter. Aluminum is very soft so everything can damage it.

[Unofficial Review: L.A.B. Golf Directed Force 2.1 Putter]

Played my first "real" round of golf since last November today and the L.A.B. picked up right where it left off:

I had 28 putts today. It was a good short game day all around and I only hit five greens, so the total number of putts should be low. However, I had seven one-putts, which is outrageous for me regardless of my short game. I had three legitimate birdie putts, and I just missed each of them, including lipping out my 18-foot birdie attempt on 18.

My distance control was superb, and that's been the biggest change since acquiring the L.A.B. I had one awful mishit from 50 feet that led to a three-putt, but altogether it was a very successful distance control day.

I shot an 83 and the L.A.B. was a big reason for that, rescuing pars from outside of 15 feet twice, and saving a bogey on an awfully-played hole with a 20-foot "chip" from the fringe.

I mentioned this in my review, but I'll say it again: No other piece of equipment has made such a drastic impact on my game in a short time period as the L.A.B. It has completely transformed my putting.

 

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

Just now, Chip Strokes said:

awesome!! i hit the XX and it was by far the most interesting couple of drives i’ve hit in my whole life. 

it feels so loose and sloppy in your hands but it’s every bit of TX stiff during the swing. 

Great feedback! I did a lot of research into it to see if it would work OK with my current head (Mavrik) and the consensus was that it should be pretty solid. I have a lighter weight coming for the Mavrik so that I can get the swingweight down to what is recommended.

I was honestly going to look into it more at the end of the season, but then I'd have to wait several months before getting to use it. And the market for them is still hot. If I hate it and it doesn't work out, resale isn't too awful.

[How'd you play?]

First round of the year! And a new-to-me course as well. First one off after they lifted the frost delay at 11 a.m., had a windy but sunny round in the low 40s. I walked 18, and it was was more hilly than I anticipated. Quite the workout.

- 42/41 = 83 (+11)
- 6/14 FIR
- 5/18 GIR
- 28 Putts (1 3-putt, 9 2-putts, 7 1-putts, 1 "putt-in" from fringe)

I told myself I would be happy with anything better than a 90 for the first round of the year and I'm very, very pleased with the 83. My swing was not great at all, but my putting and short game are way, way, way improved from technique changes, equipment changes and all of the practice I've put in over the winter. My short game and putting rescued me so many times today, and I got a ton of lucky breaks that saved me a handful of strokes as well.

Driver started off straight and pretty long, and everything went downhill from there. A few nice ones out there 260+ carry, with a wind-aided one out to 273 up a hill. Toward the end of the round as I got more tired I wiped a few slices off the planet and snap-hooked a ball that should have gone OB left but was saved by a tree. Oh well! I'll take the breaks.

I messed around with the GoPro and cut together three holes. Funny enough, these three holes show off the shakiness of the game today. There's a few chunks, a snap-hooked driver and a stuck wedge in there... . ShotTracerApp seems to be fairly picky about what it picks up, unfortunately.

(Watching the video now, I see I started to suck the club inside more as the round progressed and I started to get tired. C'est la vie. )

(EDIT: Also noticed the hole and score tracker are wrong and all the same. Par 3, Par 5, Par 4 is the order - bogey, par, bogey.)

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

YOLO. Had to see if the hype is real.

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

1 hour ago, PMookie said:

The only thread I found was Chisag’s mini review, but he ended-up selling the club.

 

I chimed in best I could in that thread. Finally got out for the first time this year this morning, had a few good shots with the Super Hybrid from the deck, some out to about 220-230. Swing wasn't great today, I've seen 230 carry from tee at the range on my Mevo. 

I did overspin one from the tee box that got caught up in the breeze a bit. I'll have to keep that in mind moving forward. 

[What Have You Bought Lately? (CHA - Club Ho's Anonymous)]

9 hours ago, PMookie said:

Callaway Super Hybrid 17* arrived yesterday along with the Aldila RIP Alpha 105s shaft. Sent them off today to be built by the same person that built my driver. Gonna tip the Alpha shaft 1/2” to make it just shy of X. Going shorter and heavier in this one too. Looking forward to it!!!! By-the-way, this Super Hybrid was listed as “good” on Preowned! Outside of a couple nicks, it’s in GREAT shape!

 

Echoing @rbsiedsc, welcome to the club. It's a missile launcher. 

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

Another beautiful early spring day for us here in Michigan. Boss OK'ed me leaving a little early to hit the range near my house. They just opened yesterday, so lots of fresh grass to hit off of. Really nice to get off mats and also to be able to film face on.

I was glad to see/feel the turf interaction with the Sub70s seems to be fine, and my swing wasn't too bad either. After hitting solely off mats since December I was a little worried I was maybe getting away with some bad swings, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

I mentioned filming face on - I set a new ball speed record with my driver today and caught it on film. My head is a lot quieter than it used to be, but I still have a ways to go. The shot below shows how poor my turn can be, there's so much more potential for speed there. I hit some really great baby draws with the driver today, but when I don't make a good turn into the hip my path comes down left and steep and I start hitting wipey fades or I hang back and hit high-faced hooks.

Overall, a great range session, and excited to get out tomorrow for at least nine holes.

 

[A thread about Kirke]

22 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

Even more exciting (for us): they don't load the schedule with Sunday tournaments. All of these tournaments still represent at least a two hour drive—but hey, it's closer than Minneapolis!

What isn't a two hour drive for you? Thought that commute was just a requisite part of U.P. living. 

[What equipment are you thinking about?]

3 minutes ago, B.Boston said:

also wish Callaway had better/more shaft options in the fitting cart. I did not care for the MMT 6X in the Epic Max LS. 

I have heard the MMT feels extremely boardy. Correct? I know we have a similar feel for shafts.

I was leaning toward blind buying an MMT to try in the Mavrik but backed off when I read some comments on feel. I will admit the MMT parallel tips in my hybrids feel different than the taper tips in the utility and irons.

 

[Happy thread]

First tee time of the year scheduled for this weekend. 

Expecting frost in the AM, but should be first or second off whenever they give the all clear. Hoping for low 40s and sunshine.

[Home "Improvement"]

On 3/8/2021 at 9:04 PM, dlow206 said:

Got an interlock kit and power inlet installed today for a portable backup generator by an electrician.

I am always down for tinkering around with things around the house, but two things i will not work on: anything involving electricity and anything involving going on the roof. 

I don't really think we need a backup generator for the house but my wife really wanted it. She probably doesn't think I need as much golf equipment as I buy either. When she asked for the generator, my response was "okay, i will call the electrician"

This is on my list for when we have our 1970s panel upgraded to 200 amp service. A few years ago we lost power for almost two days during an ice storm with temperatures in the 20s. I was able to wire an appliance plug into our furnace that time, thankfully, but having an interlock kit would have saved a ton of headache.

We've talked about getting an inline natural gas generator also. A co-worker of mine had on installed for about $7,000 last summer. His could do his whole house and hot tub; we wouldn't need that big of one.

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

2 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

are you only using your wedges or are you trying any shots with other clubs? (i.e. hybrid, 8i)

I have about 17 yards to work with in my backyard so that's the limiting factor at the moment. I am working with some lower lofted clubs to get an idea of how they launch when hit softly. I could see using a hybrid on a dry day to run a ball up onto a green, and using something like an 8 iron to hit low bump and runs, too. Just don't have the space for it at the moment. My neighbor is already going to find a ball in his backyard when his snow melts... whoops! )

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

4 minutes ago, StrokerAce said:

Have you tried blading a wedge? I do that occasionally when I'm close and just off the fringe and am always surprised I don't practice it more.

Yes! That's actually in one of Raflewski's videos. He uses it for when a ball is backed up onto the collar between fringe and rough. The putting chip is so close to blading anyway, I'd just have to move the ball slightly more heel side. The biggest difference would be that the ball would just come out a little hotter.

4 minutes ago, dlow206 said:

I'm a big fan of the "putt" chip. I don't really duff chip shots anymore when i use this technique. I set up with putting grip, toe down, right hand partially on the shaft, make a putting stroke swing, just with faster tempo. I have noticed it doesn't work that well with the 54 and 58 wedges, unless its a really super short chip shot. I use everything from 5 iron to gap wedge for this shot.

Not sure why I didn't try it sooner. It eliminates a lot of variables. I seem to be OK with the higher lofted wedges, but I imagine the ball would want to stop and move right just a bit (for a right-hander) due to the slight cut spin that gets put on the ball.

Fingers crossed that my practice facility opens up in the next few weeks as well. I still haven't decided if I want to purchase a short game membership or not. There's a huge putting green and pitching area that's included for free, but there is a private, dedicated short-game area with multiple greens, targets and hitting areas (both turf and mat). Not sure if it's worth the extra money... with unlimited range balls I can always practice pitching out onto the range.

[What/How Did You Practice Today?]

1 minute ago, Lacassem said:

The only 4 "short" shots ya need in the arsenal! Good luck, short game has been my focus this year hope it pays off for both of us! This number is not ok:

Of those 4 shots what are you most comfortable with now?

Arccos doesn't seem to hate my short game as much as my approach and driving games, but my issue last year was that the chipping style I used (a la Mickelson - weight forward, big forward press, leading edge down) around the green was too inconsistent for me. I'm hoping the putting style chip will help me be more consistent with distance/roll out because the difference in strike should be less different from shot-to-shot (in theory).

The putting chip is dead simple to setup so that's by far the most comfortable for me. I have a nasty tendency to want to "help" the ball into the air with my other short game shots and that's going to be a big area of focus in my practice this season.