Shaft Hack - The Otto Phlex Journey

[Rchang]

Ok you guys gonna get me in trouble. I ordered a PLB Supercharged. Thinking the counter balance may help get the swing weight without having to change the back weight. 

[Allen]

Anyone try GPLB 45 in a 3 wood? Success? Longer shaft length used than standard 43"? 

Got one in my zx5 driver at 45.5" with D 0. Based on success with that thinking of doing it to 3 wood.

[azstu324]

6 minutes ago, Rchang said:

Ok you guys gonna get me in trouble. I ordered a PLB Supercharged. Thinking the counter balance may help get the swing weight without having to change the back weight. 

Oh.. BTW.. for everybody on this thread: if you do get in trouble for the possible insanity and financial stress that this project could potentially cause, and you send your significant others looking for me.. 

I will immediately invoke my 5th amendment rights!

If anybody asks.. My name is Arthur, I live in Tallahassee and raise miniature horses.. and I definitely DO NOT play golf... 

[azstu324]

1 minute ago, Allen said:

Anyone try GPLB 45 in a 3 wood? Success? Longer shaft length used than standard 43"? 

Got one in my zx5 driver at 45.5" with D 0. Based on success with that thinking of doing it to 3 wood.

I just put the Garafalloy GWX 52g A flex in my 3 wood yesterday. Very similar but just slightly different profile. And at about .5" longer. It didn't quite make the cut for the driver but I figured it would make a good 3 wood candidate being slightly heavier. Haven't tried it out yet so TBC on that. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

Pulled the trigger on the PLB in L flex, should arrive by the end of the week, then another few days of tipping, weighting and gripping... should have it in play in a few weeks.  A fun "winter season" project and experiment. 

[BadgerRick]

Played my second round with the Otto flex experiment. Feeling under the weather, but got talked into playing (not that hard really, lol) Anyway, still recovering from knee surgery, so still swinging well below my normal SS, I'm guessing I'm swinging the driver around 108ish right now. Hit a couple of bombs, but when I get a little quick, I hit high blocks. When I take a full smooth backswing, this thing is a rocket. I play with my stepson, who is 30 and played baseball in college, and he hits some bombs off the tee. He wailed away on the last hole, a really hard to reach par 5, and it went about 320. I hit a really smooth drive, didn't try to kill it, just let the shaft do the work, and we were right next to each other on the fairway. It's going to be interesting to see how far this thing will go when I'm able to go after it. 

[azstu324]

26 minutes ago, BadgerRick said:

Played my second round with the Otto flex experiment. Feeling under the weather, but got talked into playing (not that hard really, lol) Anyway, still recovering from knee surgery, so still swinging well below my normal SS, I'm guessing I'm swinging the driver around 108ish right now. Hit a couple of bombs, but when I get a little quick, I hit high blocks. When I take a full smooth backswing, this thing is a rocket. I play with my stepson, who is 30 and played baseball in college, and he hits some bombs off the tee. He wailed away on the last hole, a really hard to reach par 5, and it went about 320. I hit a really smooth drive, didn't try to kill it, just let the shaft do the work, and we were right next to each other on the fairway. It's going to be interesting to see how far this thing will go when I'm able to go after it. 

So let me ask this.. those high blocks, are you noticing any substantial loss in distance? And are they like right field OB blocks or right rough blocks? 

What I've noticed is that any of my misses whether snap hook left or right block seem to be drastically reduced. A few times I remember feeling those nasty feelings of really bad misshit, but then thinking "man I got away with that one". 

Furthermore, when on the monitors, if I hit a right block, my spin might go up 200-400 rpm but I'm still seeing almost the same carry as a straight ball. For me, overall consistency and quality of strike is what's winning me over on this thing. It's also like having a training aid built right into the golf club. The byproduct of increased distance is just icing on the cake. 

Similar to your story, I played yesterday. Got paired with a young healthy lad who worked for the course. Looked like a football player but had a hell of a swing. His swing looked mechanically sound AND very powerful. Usually these golf course kids have a decent game. We found ourselves constantly playing driver battle. I'm 43 and suffering from all of the ailments that he'll probably be faced with in 20 years

That said, with my old man "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" swing and OttoPhlex shaft, we were within 10' of each other the whole round.. talking 300++ yd drives and I had more shots hit the fairway. I told him about the project and he said "my friends would bust my balls so hard".. and then I asked him.. "what's worse, using an A flex shaft to out drive your friends.. or getting out driven by a guy twice your age using an A flex shaft?".. he was a cool kid.. but basically he said his friends would never hear about anything that took place yesterday.  

[GolfSpy_APH]

 

Think this thread deserved a shout out!

[azstu324]

3 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

 

Think this thread deserved a shout out!

Awesome! Thanks for putting this out there man! 

[GolfSpy_APH]

9 minutes ago, azstu324 said:

Awesome! Thanks for putting this out there man! 

We are going to do our best to start promoting more threads via twitter and from what I have heard we will get a few bumps/retweets from the main MGS twitter account too!

[tommc23]

I have to say this forum is proving a sourpuss of a member wrong! I know @azstu324 knows who I’m talking about

[BadgerRick]

2 hours ago, azstu324 said:

So let me ask this.. those high blocks, are you noticing any substantial loss in distance? And are they like right field OB blocks or right rough blocks? 

What I've noticed is that any of my misses whether snap hook left or right block seem to be drastically reduced. A few times I remember feeling those nasty feelings of really bad misshit, but then thinking "man I got away with that one". 

Furthermore, when on the monitors, if I hit a right block, my spin might go up 200-400 rpm but I'm still seeing almost the same carry as a straight ball. For me, overall consistency and quality of strike is what's winning me over on this thing. It's also like having a training aid built right into the golf club. The byproduct of increased distance is just icing on the cake. 

Similar to your story, I played yesterday. Got paired with a young healthy lad who worked for the course. Looked like a football player but had a hell of a swing. His swing looked mechanically sound AND very powerful. Usually these golf course kids have a decent game. We found ourselves constantly playing driver battle. I'm 43 and suffering from all of the ailments that he'll probably be faced with in 20 years

That said, with my old man "slow is smooth, smooth is fast" swing and OttoPhlex shaft, we were within 10' of each other the whole round.. talking 300++ yd drives and I had more shots hit the fairway. I told him about the project and he said "my friends would bust my balls so hard".. and then I asked him.. "what's worse, using an A flex shaft to out drive your friends.. or getting out driven by a guy twice your age using an A flex shaft?".. he was a cool kid.. but basically he said his friends would never hear about anything that took place yesterday.  

hard to say, those are long gone. I know for sure it's mostly my swing, I'm still babying my left knee quite a bit, and when I sway, I block. I've also had zero range time with the club, I'll try to get out in a few weeks when the knee is stronger.

[azstu324]

10 minutes ago, tommc23 said:

I have to say this forum is proving a sourpuss of a member wrong! I know @azstu324 knows who I’m talking about

ROTFL!!

 

[Bobbers]

6 hours ago, Allen said:

Anyone try GPLB 45 in a 3 wood? Success? Longer shaft length used than standard 43"? 

Got one in my zx5 driver at 45.5" with D 0. Based on success with that thinking of doing it to 3 wood.

I've moved the concept down to my 3 wood with good results.  The shaft for my 5 wood is curing as we speak.  And yes, I'll give it a go in a hybrid as well.

I've promised the putter it'll be exempt...

[Bobbers]

6 hours ago, Rchang said:

Ok you guys gonna get me in trouble. I ordered a PLB Supercharged. Thinking the counter balance may help get the swing weight without having to change the back weight. 

As a heads up, and speaking only for myself, I tried one of the Supercharged Pro Launch shafts and didn't like it.  As I said, that's just me.  I do, on the other hand, really, really like the traditional Pro Launch.

[Bobbers]

4 hours ago, BadgerRick said:

Played my second round with the Otto flex experiment. Feeling under the weather, but got talked into playing (not that hard really, lol) Anyway, still recovering from knee surgery, so still swinging well below my normal SS, I'm guessing I'm swinging the driver around 108ish right now. Hit a couple of bombs, but when I get a little quick, I hit high blocks. When I take a full smooth backswing, this thing is a rocket. I play with my stepson, who is 30 and played baseball in college, and he hits some bombs off the tee. He wailed away on the last hole, a really hard to reach par 5, and it went about 320. I hit a really smooth drive, didn't try to kill it, just let the shaft do the work, and we were right next to each other on the fairway. It's going to be interesting to see how far this thing will go when I'm able to go after it. 

Smooth is going to be the key to success, I expect.  320 yards, huh?  That's a driver and either a 5 wood or 4 hybrid for me...

[DukeStKing]

Wondering what the consensus length might be for the OTTO PHLEX driver shaft. Comment on your set-up. 

[azstu324]

42 minutes ago, DukeStKing said:

I just created a poll to see what the consensus may be on the length everyone is playing their Otto Phlex driver shafts at. 
 

 

Pretty cool man! I just submitted my answer

Anyone playing longer than 46"? I wouldn't suspect so just based on the build requirements and manageability 

[Bobbers]

45 3/4 to 46 1/4 inches and a swing weight of D0-D1.  Keeping the swing weight in that range is what seems to be key to controlling dispersion for you big hitters.  Of course compared to me about 95% of you all are big hitters...

[Bobbers]

59 minutes ago, azstu324 said:

Pretty cool man! I just submitted my answer

Anyone playing longer than 46"? I wouldn't suspect so just based on the build requirements and manageability 

45.75 to 46.25 inches to get the swing weight in that D0-D1 range.

[TheFonzzz]

Ok, back with a cobra ltdx 9’ , plb and adapter ordered  today. I think the standard set up is 45.5 With a D2  SW. I thing 45 will be spot on D0.

Edited October 18, 2022 by TheFonzzz

[azstu324]

13 hours ago, Bobbers said:

Of course compared to me about 95% of you all are big hitters...

Everyone here's a big hitter in my book!

Yeah that was lame.. but seriously everyone on this thread has been nothing but awesome and has made this experiment a blast! 

Thanks everybody! 

[BadgerRick]

There's a cool video on Martin Borgmeier's instagram where he's showing how he's learning how to load the TPT 21 hi properly. That's a 40 something gram whippy shaft, the one a lot of long drivers are using. If my PXG Gen 4 on a 40 gram Riptide works out and I can start hitting it over 350 or so, I'll probably get the TPT and Callaway Epic Speed LD at some point. 

[azstu324]

12 minutes ago, BadgerRick said:

There's a cool video on Martin Borgmeier's instagram where he's showing how he's learning how to load the TPT 21 hi properly. That's a 40 something gram whippy shaft, the one a lot of long drivers are using. If my PXG Gen 4 on a 40 gram Riptide works out and I can start hitting it over 350 or so, I'll probably get the TPT and Callaway Epic Speed LD at some point. 

Borg's a beast! Seems like a super cool dude too. 

I'll have to check out the video 

[Bobbers]

Ye olde 5 wood is done and ready to test drive, hopefully Friday.  We've had a steady diet of 30-40 mph winds the past two days.  Yesterday it didn't break 40, today I think it made it to 44 so it's not realistic testing weather. The dog is checking wind direction before doing her business which is always a hint to me to control my enthusiasm.

Ended up with a nominal 45 gram Mitsubishi Bassara (made for Titleist) in my PXG 0211 with a Super Stroke Traxion grip.  43.25 inches in length and dead on the D0 target I've been using.

[azstu324]

13 minutes ago, Bobbers said:

Ye olde 5 wood is done and ready to test drive, hopefully Friday.  We've had a steady diet of 30-40 mph winds the past two days.  Yesterday it didn't break 40, today I think it made it to 44 so it's not realistic testing weather. The dog is checking wind direction before doing her business which is always a hint to me to control my enthusiasm.

Ended up with a nominal 45 gram Mitsubishi Bassara (made for Titleist) in my PXG 0211 with a Super Stroke Traxion grip.  43.25 inches in length and dead on the D0 target I've been using.

I glued up my 3 wood Sunday. Cobra F6 (still nothing better IMO). Cut it to 44" to start out but SW was almost D6 . Under normal circumstances D6 might work for a 3 wood but not for this . So I trimmed it to 43", put about 6 wraps (9g) of tape to build up a standard grip to Mid+ and I'm still at D3. I'll give it a whirl tonight but I'm afraid it might still be too heavy. I'll have to see about switching in some different weight for the stock 20g. The club also feels a bit more whippy than my driver.. we shall see! 

[Bobbers]

1 minute ago, azstu324 said:

I glued up my 3 wood Sunday. Cobra F6 (still nothing better IMO). Cut it to 44" to start out but SW was almost D6 . Under normal circumstances D6 might work for a 3 wood but not for this . So I trimmed it to 43", put about 6 wraps (9g) of tape to build up a standard grip to Mid+ and I'm still at D3. I'll give it a whirl tonight but I'm afraid it might still be too heavy. I'll have to see about switching in some different weight for the stock 20g. The club also feels a bit more whippy than my driver.. we shall see! 

Keep the tempo where it needs be and you might be fine.  Best of luck.

[azstu324]

17 minutes ago, Bobbers said:

Keep the tempo where it needs be and you might be fine.  Best of luck.

That's what I'm hoping for. It's close enough to hopefully be manageable 

[azstu324]

1 hour ago, Bobbers said:

Keep the tempo where it needs be and you might be fine.  Best of luck.

So sometimes when you're getting older.. you do things and don't remember that you did them until a reminder shows up down the road.. 

So I was taking off the weights of my 3 wood to see how I might be able to MacGyver something to get the SW down.. well up from one of the screw holes was poking a little thread of poly fill.. well wouldn't you know it I had put about 8-10g of poly fill in the head a couple years back to get the SW up and mute some of the sound. As soon as I removed the poly fill I'm now ad D1.5! Game On! 

[Gripit]

On 10/17/2022 at 11:12 AM, Golfspy_TCB said:

Pulled the trigger on the PLB in L flex, should arrive by the end of the week, then another few days of tipping, weighting and gripping... should have it in play in a few weeks.  A fun "winter season" project and experiment. 

I have really enjoyed reading this thread...You guys got me interested.  That's exactly what I'm going to try.  Been playing R flex for years and have decided to get a PLB in L flex.  This should be a fun experiment!