hckymeyer Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 I know a lot of us have been wondering about the Vertical Groove driver. Rick Shiels just posted up his review on YouTube. It's pretty fun to watch him destroy all of their marketing claims Driver: SLDR w/ Fujikura Ventus Black 3w: '16 M2 hl w/ Diamana D+ 82 5w: Launcher HB w/ HZRDUS Yellow Hybrid: 22 deg. Launcher HB w/ HZRDUS Black Irons: 5i - gap Launcher CBX w/ Nippon Modus 3 125 Wedges: 54 CBX & 58 Zipcore w/ Nippon Modus 3 125 Putter: Red 7s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweethebs Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Thanks for posting. Kudos to the company for its willingness to allow Rick to test it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfspy_CG2 Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Always enjoy Rick's videos. Not surprised by the results of this one not living up to the promise. He didn't mention the price, but with the lack of adjustability, if it came in around that long ago forgotten range of $299, it could do ok. G430 Max 10K TSiR1 15.0 Aldlia Ascent 60g TSR2 18.0 PX Aldila Ascent 6og TSi1 20 Aldila Ascent Shafts R T350 5-GW SteelFiber I80 SM10 48F/54M and58K S159 48S/52S/56W/60B Select 5.5 Flowback 35" ProV1 Play number 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigtazzGolf Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Always enjoy Rick's videos. Not surprised by the results of this one not living up to the promise. He didn't mention the price, but with the lack of adjustability, if it came in around that long ago forgotten range of $299, it could do ok.I got curious and added it the cart with upgraded shaft and I think it was 500 or 600 with free shipping lol Tazz Grip n Rip it Chicks dig the LONG ball In my staff bag King F7+ Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 60 - Graphite Tour X-Stiff CBX 13.5 3 Wood Atomic Irons 4-AW (reviewing) CG16 Satin 52* 588 RTX 2.0 56* and 60* Sentio Sierra 101-M Putter Proud tester of the Tommy Armour ATOMIC Irons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Hog Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Glad Rick offered an honest review. Basically this is another company trying to sell a product through marketing hype instead of legit technology/innovation. More of the same that many golf consumers have come to expect these days. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeasy Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 You mean John Daly lied when he said this was the best driver he ever hit?!? <p><strong>D:</strong> 9* G400 Max w/Xcalibur TSL</p><p> </p><p><strong>F: </strong> 14* XR Pro 16 w/Hzrdous Red</p><p><strong>I:</strong> SLS-01 4-SW w/Paderson SL</p><p><strong>W:</strong> DGR 59 w/Dynamic Gold SL</p><p><strong>P:</strong> Artisan 0318 or Edel TB</p><p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberty Ball Markers Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 He has been known to drink a little... Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy http://www.instagram.com/libertyballmarkers/ http://www.birdie-bomb.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Theoo Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 You mean John Daly lied when he said this was the best driver he ever hit?!? I'm sure he thinks that Driver: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5 FW: F6 baffler set at 16º Hybrid: NONEIrons: 3i 2014 TP CB 4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400 Wedges: 52º 56º 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped Putter: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rtracymog Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Rick was getting some very low spin number with the driver though. It might not live up to claims, but it might still be okay. Rick actually could have used a 10.5 and gotten a little more distance. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Cortex w/MGS Motore X F1 7X tipped 1" F5 17 degree hybrid w/Rogue Black 85X C300 Forged 3-5 w/C-Taper 130X FG Tour V6 5-6 w/C-Taper 130X Staff Model Blade 7-PW w/C-Taper 130X RTX4 52, 56, 60 w/S400 Tour Issue ER7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBones Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 No way Daly said that....the Hippo was BEAST. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Follow @GolfspyBones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfriday101 Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 The review proved very little. He showed that if you hit the driver with an open club face it will fade. No surprise there. He did not, however, compare the amount of fade at X degree open to a club face with tradition or no grooves. Do the grooves work to lower "side spin", I don't know. Neither does anyone else who watched this review. Hopefully someone (like MGS) will do a real test for those who are interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudgeSmails Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I like Rick's reviews...think he's pretty unbiased....I'm sure VGG won't be super happy with this, but I give them Kudos for taking the chance. Driver: TR20 10.5* Hybrids: Epic SuperHybrid 3 18* Epic 4h 23* Irons: JPX900 Hot Metal 5-GW Wedges: CBX2 52* 56* 60* Putter: EV8 Ball: Tour BXS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chershey Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I think what I took from the review more than anything, as already mentioned above, was how low this driver was spinning for him. It makes you wonder if it would be the answer for someone trying to find the ultimate low spin driver. When he hit the hook and the fade he was taking those swings to extremes. It didn't look like it had a lot of side spins on the other shots. The shots early on that went to the right, with an open face, didn't even have a lot of spin. They were more pushes to the right than anything. I think the goal is to cut down on side spin, not get rid of it entirely. All of this said, I don't understand how the grooves could do that. The best test will be when he compares this driver against another with similar face angles and strikes and sees how the side spin compares. Titleist TS3 9.5* w/Accra TZ5 65 X-Stiff Titleist TS3 15* w/Fujikura Ventus 7X Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 20* w/Accra TZ5 95X Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 23* w/Accra TZ5 95X Titleist 718 CB 5 iron w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff Titleist 718 MB 6-PW w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff Titleist SM7 Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff Bettinardi Queen B 10 34.5" Titleist Pro V1 or Snell MTB-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrokerAce Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 thanks for posting. he's a great reviewer. I liked his comment about grooves not making much of a difference on a driver since the contact with the ball is so minimal. I wonder why there are grooves on any driver faces. Anyone know? Tradition? Or are they there for a reason? Driver- Cobra Aerojet LS Woods- Cobra LTD 3w 15*, 5W 19*, F9 24* Irons- XXIO X (6-A) Wedges- Callaway Jaws Raw (54/58) Putter- Bettinardi BB56 Ball- Maxfli Tour X Buggy- Motocaddy M7 GPS Remote Electric Caddy Bag- Motocaddy Dry-Series Proudly testing for 2024: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
03trdblack Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I feel like as a startup in the golf equipment world, if you name the entire company off of the one gimmick you have then you've already doomed yourself to failure. You're called "Vertical Groove Golf" and make one club. How do you expand on that, even if it was successful? Even if those grooves did do anything on the driver, we all know they wouldn't work on any other club throughout the bag so you're stuck resting the entire company off of a single driver golf club. We all know the margins aren't that great on drivers as is and with no way to expand your company into other products the sustainability is going to next to impossible. Not to mention this exact driver called the "B-Sting" was made back in 2006 by Golfsmith under the Killer Bee brand name. Not to say it probably hasn't been improved on some but regardless it's the same club. My bag is a revolving door! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Undershooter Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I thought it was a pretty fair review. He mentioned he thought it was a pretty good driver. And that he thought it was well made for such a small company. Obviously he didn't take tons of data and see exactly if it was straighter by X% but it definitely showed that the wasn't "40% straighter" as it was claimed. With the super low spin numbers he was getting, lofting up to 10.5 may have really helped him snag some extra yards out of that thing. He was definitely below optimal launch and spin numbers with the 9.5*. Driver- Tmag 2017 M2 tour issue 8.5* actual loft 7.8* w/ HZRDS Green PVD 70TX" Fairway Metal- Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver 12* w/ Fujikura Rombax TP95-X" Utility- Mizuno MPH5 1 iron w/ Aldila RIP 85X (depending on course/ conditions) Irons- Mizuno MP- FLI HI 2i w/ Aldila Proto ByYou 100X Mizuno MP59 4i-6I w/ PX 6.5 Mizuno MP69 7i-PW w/ PX 6.5 Wedges- Scratch 8620 Driver/Slider set. 50*, 54* bent to 55* and 60* Putter- Taylormade Spider Tour w/ flow neck Ball- Bridgestone Tour B X Bag- Sun Mountain C130 Supercharged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikhan Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Good stuff Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaidJacket Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Yeah.. I watched it last night too. I thought he was pretty fair in his testing and review. He didn't poo-poo the club like I was prepared to see him do. Honestly, he's probably not going to Destroy any club he tests or reviews. That probably wouldn't be good for his business. I think MGS also provides fair assessments in reviews but never destroys or trashes a product. My Sun Mountain bag currently includes: 771CSI 5i - PW and PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges EXS 10.5*, 929-HS FW4 16.5* Willimette w/GolfPride Contour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chershey Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 He posted on Facebook that a Vertical Groove vs EPIC SZ test will be uploaded tonight. That should be interesting. Titleist TS3 9.5* w/Accra TZ5 65 X-Stiff Titleist TS3 15* w/Fujikura Ventus 7X Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 20* w/Accra TZ5 95X Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 23* w/Accra TZ5 95X Titleist 718 CB 5 iron w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff Titleist 718 MB 6-PW w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff Titleist SM7 Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff Bettinardi Queen B 10 34.5" Titleist Pro V1 or Snell MTB-X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Plumley Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I would still love to hit this driver myself. I can agree with his stats but I feel like he still had nothing bad to say about the driver. My other question is, was he using a simulator? A simulator would not tell us exactly what the ball will do once it gets down the line. I would only argue his results if he used a simulator only and did not actually hit this outside. Side spin could be misinterpreted on a simulator based on that simulation being programmed based on current driver technology. I would like to see a review hitting outside. sent using MyGolfSpy mobile app "What better gift from God than acres of neatly manicured scenery to chase a ball on!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Undershooter Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 I would still love to hit this driver myself. I can agree with his stats but I feel like he still had nothing bad to say about the driver. My other question is, was he using a simulator? A simulator would not tell us exactly what the ball will do once it gets down the line. I would only argue his results if he used a simulator only and did not actually hit this outside. Side spin could be misinterpreted on a simulator based on that simulation being programmed based on current driver technology. I would like to see a review hitting outside. sent using MyGolfSpy mobile app Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure Rick hits balls out onto the range and was using his gamer throughout the test (prov1). He usually uses GC2 with HMT to make sure its pretty accurate as well. Driver- Tmag 2017 M2 tour issue 8.5* actual loft 7.8* w/ HZRDS Green PVD 70TX" Fairway Metal- Taylormade SLDR Mini Driver 12* w/ Fujikura Rombax TP95-X" Utility- Mizuno MPH5 1 iron w/ Aldila RIP 85X (depending on course/ conditions) Irons- Mizuno MP- FLI HI 2i w/ Aldila Proto ByYou 100X Mizuno MP59 4i-6I w/ PX 6.5 Mizuno MP69 7i-PW w/ PX 6.5 Wedges- Scratch 8620 Driver/Slider set. 50*, 54* bent to 55* and 60* Putter- Taylormade Spider Tour w/ flow neck Ball- Bridgestone Tour B X Bag- Sun Mountain C130 Supercharged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaidJacket Posted February 6, 2017 Share Posted February 6, 2017 You're correct Under. I've watched quite a few of his vids. He's inside but hitting his shots out through the overhead door to a range of some type. He's showed this before. There are two clubs close by me that have a similar setup. Works great. Plumley I don't think the results are effected by starting the shot indoors. I've tried this method more than once myself. My Sun Mountain bag currently includes: 771CSI 5i - PW and PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges EXS 10.5*, 929-HS FW4 16.5* Willimette w/GolfPride Contour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.