Putting my driver on a diet

[ejgaudette]

So through my Super Speed training I have noticed a few things, I swing the blue stick close to 120, but many times I can only get the red stick to 110 to 111 and my driver will get to a similar speed. So I decided to do some math and found that my driver is weighing in around 330 grams with a 70 gram (actual weight) 6.5 Somke Black shaft, and the blue stick from Super Speed weighs in at 300 grams. So I though well lets see what happens if I get my driver much closer to that blue stick weight. Can I get more speed? Still be accurate? Will the feel still be good?

Since I was on a bit of a budget I found the Xcaliber Avalon shaft series, with at 5 Tour Stiff (TS) model weighing in at only 50 grams and recently discounted to $109 from $170. I have paired this with a Golf Pride CPX Undersize grip that is at 47 grams. This means I have dropped 25 grams all without counting calories or working out! This brings me in at 305 grams total weight and I am hoping (depending on shaft balance points) keeping swing weight close., while now being only 5 grams heavier than the blue stick.

I am hoping to get the grip on there today and may get to take the driver out for a spin. So a couple things I am hoping to see. Can I increase swing speed? Will face contact still be consistent? Any increases in distance? And as always strokes gained performance on the course. I also have a Rapsodo on the way to allow more testing at home into the net on the speed and distance metrics, I know direction without spin into a net will be a problem.

I'll post a picture once the new driver is all together and post updates as we go. Love to hear experience from other folks that have gone lighter in the driver. Bombs away (maybe)

             

[Berg Ryman]

I'm intrigued to see how this works for you @ejgaudette. When I go in for my supposed wood fitting either at season's end or next season I will be interested in the effect a lighter shaft may have in my game as well so I'll be intrigued to see how you transition to a 20 gram difference.

[ejgaudette]

39 minutes ago, Berg Ryman said:

I'm intrigued to see how this works for you @ejgaudette. When I go in for my supposed wood fitting either at season's end or next season I will be interested in the effect a lighter shaft may have in my game as well so I'll be intrigued to see how you transition to a 20 gram difference.

Thanks I used to play the old Cleveland Ultralight 270 model and hit it alright so think this might be a good balance. Time will tell.

[AH1980MN]

Has time told?

[null]

Any time I try to go lighter than the 60-70g weight range, I lose control, my strike gets more inconsistent and get more over the top.

I'd rather go to a high balance point shaft in heavier shaft than just going to a lighter shaft.

[TylorJudd]

This is a really awesome thread. Anxiously awaiting results.

[ejgaudette]

Sorry this dropped off the map because well that shaft did not hold up. I snapped it at the tip this summer. I was able to swing the club faster for sure but never got enough time to truly test dispersion or strokes gained before it broke. I am now in a Ventus in the 60 gram range, though I am still interested in returning to this in the future, though if you are interested in hearing about some light weight shaft experiences and how people have done, this thread is a gold mine

 

[ejgaudette]

4 hours ago, Johan Bro said:

I'm curious to see how this change will affect you. When I have my own wood fitting, either at the end of this season or next, I'm eager to explore the potential impact of switching to a lighter shaft, as there is a 20-gram difference.

It was fun until the shaft broke as I mentioned but I would try it again for sure. The swing speed sure goes up

[RI_Redneck]

120 mph CHS requires a shaft with a reinforced tip. Most ultralite shafts aren't built that way. But SOME are! The Ventus Black TR 5 X as well as several of the HZRDUS Gen 4 shafts at 60g would probably work. Another option is changing the weight in the back of the driver to something a bit lighter. Weights are easy to find online. You just need to make sure you keep the balance right for your swing.

BT