MyGolfSpy - TaylorMade LOFT UP+ Experience

[JBones]

It was really nice, to have the visual and TrackMan data.......since we were hitting up hill into the wind and it looked like bombs were going 240.

[Walkerjames]

My bombs were!!

[revkev]

Hey we've talked a lot about driver. Was anything done with irons?

[Walkerjames]

Hey we've talked a lot about driver. Was anything done with irons?

We got to hit the new TP line at the Kingdom but that's about it! They had staff bags full of irons with different configurations- so that was pretty cool!

[hckymeyer]

Quick story about going above and beyond by TMaG this week.

 

The guy who did my driver fitting was named Perry.  He saw how well I was hitting the 3w at the range and I told him I would probably get one at the company store.  I looked at both the regular and TP models and ended up getting the regular to save some money and I wasn't going to play either stock shaft anyway.  The next day after our round of golf I was talking with Perry again and asked him how much the shaft in the 3w I was hitting was tipped.  I told him I bought one and was just going to re-shaft it at home by buying a pull and a shaft tip.  He said I should have mentioned something at the Kingdom, he would have just given me a bunch of tips.  Then he said just email him my address and he would send some out so I could try different shafts if i wanted to.

 

14 hours after arriving home this showed up at my door.

 

 

10 brand new all metal TP tips.  Amazing!

[Walkerjames]

That's awesome!

[snoopy]

Like everyone else has said so far, this was an amazing experience and I couldn't imagine a better group of guys to do this with.  Thanks again to MGS and Taylormade for sending us and making it such a special trip.

 

Now on to my driver.  I was one of the only people who ended up lofting down, but that more an issue with my previous club than it was with needing less loft.  I was playing a SLDR 460 10.5° set to 12° and I ended up with a SLDR 430 10.5° set to 11°.  So while I did loft down, my previous drivers have all been 9 or 9.5 degree heads so overall I still felt like I lofted up with the SLDR.

 

I forgot to take a picture of the Trackman screen, but I picked up around 2-3° of launch angle 5mph of ball speed and dropped my spin by 1000-1500 rpms.  I was spinning the 460 in the mid 3000 range with bad shots spiking over 4000rpms.  With the 430 and a properly fit shaft I was in the low 2000's and sometimes 1900.  Bad shots were still only in the 2500rpm range.  I ended up picking up about 15 yards between carry and roll.  And now my misses don't balloon due to too much spin, Our round on Tuesday was one of my best driving days ever, it was just point and shoot and it bombs down the fairway.

 

One of the big questions I wanted to know was around the perceived lack of forgiveness with low and forward CG.  We've all heard it, but the reality for me was it seemed to be more forgiving.  Take my case for example.  I picked up about 15 yards.  On a miss hit say I lost 10 yards, that still leaves a net +5 compared to what I was hitting before.  It seemed like my misses weren't penalized as much because with less spin it couldn't slice as far as it would with my old driver.

 

On a side note I also hit the SLDR 3w at The Kingdom.  It was probably the biggest surprise of anything I hit.  It was so easy to get in the air and it seemed to just go forever.  So I just had to buy one in the company store and I can't wait to swap out the shaft to the AD-DI7s that I was hitting with it.

 

Final specs of my driver.

 

Old - SLDR 460 10.5° set to 12° with Fujikura Motore Speeder TS 6.3 stiff

New - SLDR 430 10.5° set to 11° with Diamana D+ 62 stiff tipped 1".

 

Going to have to agree with you about the SLDR 3 wood. I LOVE the compact head size, but it's so easy to hit even though the head looks so much smaller than other 3 woods that I'm use to.

 

I was able to hit it at a TM demo day here in Vancouver and just love it too. I'm playing an RBZ 3 wood right now and the clubhead looks gigantic next to the SLDR 3 wood.

[The Dansome]

Ya that's right, I caught all the action.

 

[JBones]

5. JBones hits the ball far. Really far.

 

I taught my group an important lesson on distance, just because you can carry it 320 (yes I said carry) into a greenside bunker, doesn't mean you should..........I made double from that bunker.

[HighFade]

That's why I like playing against the bombers. My 3w in the fairway may not be sexy, but pars and birdies are!

[Salmon]

When I first started playing when I was younger my grandfather always said "the further you can hit the ball, the further you can hit it into trouble."

 

While this is still very true, it doesnt mean it's not fun to bomb a 300m drive

[JBones]

That's why I like playing against the bombers. My 3w in the fairway may not be sexy, but pars and birdies are!

You put us both on that course again and I bet we both shoot low 70s. Being told I couldn't reach trouble on 18 cost me a triple and effectively killed a descent round........drinking a 12 back probably didn't help either. Lol

[dru_]

Well, I played nine on the other course last night.  it is quite a bit nicer...

[The Dansome]

Well, I played nine on the other course last night. it is quite a bit nicer...

your round or the course?

[dru_]

Both. I will post details in the morning. Just want to get baggage and get home right now.

[whiskey golf]

Did you guys just get fit for drivers? 

[Mr_Theoo]

Did you guys just get fit for drivers?

Yes, but we were able to hit all the new clubs with just about any shaft configuration

[kygolfer1980]

Anyone hit the Speeder 757 in their fitting?  I am curious to what u thought if so.

[Mr_Theoo]

I AM FINALLY HOME!!!

[JBones]

Anyone hit the Speeder 757 in their fitting?  I am curious to what u thought if so.

I don't think they had one of those in the bag.  I have a Speeder 661 XS with a R1 adapter on it, if you want to try it sometime.  It's really long, but not stiff enough to be accurate for me.

 

I'm in the same shaft, only 7.2X, instead of 6.2X.  The first thing they put in for me was a Fuel 70X...it felt like a wet noodle.  After putting in the Speeder TS 7.2X, it was just tweaking the settings on the 430 to get fine tuned; I think at the end I was averaging 16* launch, 1900rpm spin, and a total distance of around 307.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

I AM FINALLY HOME!!!

 

What a long, strange trip it's been.  Glad you finally made it - although an extra day at LaCosta doesn't really suck...

[The Dansome]

OK full disclosure before it gets out.... I haven't said much in here all week.

 

So on Monday at the fittings I couldn't miss a shot, my swing felt better than good and I was beaming with confidence after the driver fitting.

 

So then Tuesday happened. What started out as a glorious day full of promise; TaylorMade headquarters, the company store and the sun, oh sweet warm, warm sun.... I felt a sub 80 round burning inside of me. Sadly this burning was just last nights dinner and eventually things took a turn for the worse. Don't worries I felt fine but any remnants of a golf game were long gone.

 

It all started with my topped drive on 1. Yes I topped it. On the 3rd tee I repeated my amazing drive of hole #1 with a heal top 10 yards under a tree dead right. 4 was my only par of the day, sadly I played the wrong ball from the middle of the fairway.... I think you know where there story is going.

 

106

 

Yup there it is, I shot me a 106.

 

Anyways the golf aside I will say this. No offense to all of the wonderful and amazing members we have around here, but we couldn't have selected a better group of guys. There was such a broad range of personalities and once you get Dru drunk he's a lot more enjoyable It was a pleasure to share this week with all of you and I'm sure we've formed friendships that will last at least a few more months, maybe a year.

 

Ladies & gents, more MGS branded golf events whether in our own areas or something more national are a must. It's my goal now to eventually meet you all after the great experience I had hanging out with these douchebags. Seriously hats off off to the 7 that joined me.

 

*cough* plug *cough*

 

Vancouver Open 2014

[revkev]

OK full disclosure before it gets out.... I haven't said much in here all week.

 

So on Monday at the fittings I couldn't miss a shot, my swing felt better than good and I was beaming with confidence after the driver fitting.

 

So then Tuesday happened. What started out as a glorious day full of promise; TaylorMade headquarters, the company store and the sun, oh sweet warm, warm sun.... I felt a sub 80 round burning inside of me. Sadly this burning was just last nights dinner and eventually things took a turn for the worse. Don't worries I felt fine but any remnants of a golf game were long gone.

 

It all started with my topped drive on 1. Yes I topped it. On the 3rd tee I repeated my amazing drive of hole #1 with a heal top 10 yards under a tree dead right. 4 was my only par of the day, sadly I played the wrong ball from the middle of the fairway.... I think you know where there story is going.

 

106

 

Yup there it is, I shot me a 106.

 

Anyways the golf aside I will say this. No offense to all of the wonderful and amazing members we have around here, but we couldn't have selected a better group of guys. There was such a broad range of personalities and once you get Dru drunk he's a lot more enjoyable It was a pleasure to share this week with all of you and I'm sure we've formed friendships that will last at least a few more months, maybe a year.

 

Ladies & gents, more MGS branded golf events whether in our own areas or something more national are a must. It's my goal now to eventually meet you all after the great experience I had hanging out with these douchebags. Seriously hats off off to the 7 that joined me.

 

*cough* plug *cough*

 

Vancouver Open 2014

 

Ahh, How sweet.    Seriously I'd love to meet you as well MBP and for that matter anyone else here.  As I reminder I live in F-L-O-R-I-D-A.  We are complaining because it's 46 today - coldest day for us in four (4) years. 

 

Please take advantage of our hospitality during the winter months - please.

 

 

[JBones]

I will add that I also thought I had a sub 80 round in me as well and I in fact had a very good round going through 11 holes, then I finished my 8th beer and by the time I finished my 10th beer and the 18th hole, I had an 84.  In case you hadn't heard, HighFade kicked my rear by three strokes and I believe after the round I heard him say something along the lines "you can take those three strokes and that driver and stick them up your long hitting a$$, LOSER".

[hckymeyer]

I thought I had a sub 80 round going, then I realized I still had 3 holes left to play

[HighFade]

 

OK full disclosure before it gets out.... I haven't said much in here all week.

 

So on Monday at the fittings I couldn't miss a shot, my swing felt better than good and I was beaming with confidence after the driver fitting.

 

So then Tuesday happened. What started out as a glorious day full of promise; TaylorMade headquarters, the company store and the sun, oh sweet warm, warm sun.... I felt a sub 80 round burning inside of me. Sadly this burning was just last nights dinner and eventually things took a turn for the worse. Don't worries I felt fine but any remnants of a golf game were long gone.

 

It all started with my topped drive on 1. Yes I topped it. On the 3rd tee I repeated my amazing drive of hole #1 with a heal top 10 yards under a tree dead right. 4 was my only par of the day, sadly I played the wrong ball from the middle of the fairway.... I think you know where there story is going.

 

106

 

Yup there it is, I shot me a 106.

 

Anyways the golf aside I will say this. No offense to all of the wonderful and amazing members we have around here, but we couldn't have selected a better group of guys. There was such a broad range of personalities and once you get Dru drunk he's a lot more enjoyable It was a pleasure to share this week with all of you and I'm sure we've formed friendships that will last at least a few more months, maybe a year.

 

Ladies & gents, more MGS branded golf events whether in our own areas or something more national are a must. It's my goal now to eventually meet you all after the great experience I had hanging out with these douchebags. Seriously hats off off to the 7 that joined me.

 

*cough* plug *cough*

 

Vancouver Open 2014

 

Ahh, How sweet.    Seriously I'd love to meet you as well MBP and for that matter anyone else here.  As I reminder I live in F-L-O-R-I-D-A.  We are complaining because it's 46 today - coldest day for us in four (4) years. 

 

Please take advantage of our hospitality during the winter months - please.

 

 

 

 

I saw that drive on 1.  It was difficult not to laugh.  But I was afraid of doing it myself (karma can be a real ******)

[HighFade]

I will add that I also thought I had a sub 80 round in me as well and I in fact had a very good round going through 11 holes, then I finished my 8th beer and by the time I finished my 10th beer and the 18th hole, I had an 84.  In case you hadn't heard, HighFade kicked my rear by three strokes and I believe after the round I heard him say something along the lines "you can take those three strokes and that driver and stick them up your long hitting a$$, LOSER".

 

I have a lot of excuses too.  The sun was in my eyes, my short game sucks, I had a driver that wasn't fit properly, 77 degrees is just too warm to play golf in January. 

 

I would never call you a loser.  But, I will say that long ball is pretty to watch.  And good enough for second place

 

SCOREBOARD!!!!

[dru_]

I wasn't going to out you there MBP, I too chunked my first drive of the day into the same weeds.  That said, I managed to pull it together as things went on (although, let us not discuss the drive & 2nd shot on 18...) and ended up with a 97.  

[revkev]

I'm loving the banter in this thread and am wondering if it's not worth opening a new one to talk more about the benefits of loft up.  My driver is 2 years old, I have tons of equipment to trade in so I can upgrade fairly inexpensively so I'm intrigued.  I'm especially wanting to hear how the distance gained at first holds up with wear.

[The Dansome]

I'm loving the banter in this thread and am wondering if it's not worth opening a new one to talk more about the benefits of loft up.  My driver is 2 years old, I have tons of equipment to trade in so I can upgrade fairly inexpensively so I'm intrigued.  I'm especially wanting to hear how the distance gained at first holds up with wear.

 

There's something in the works Rev