Accelerating The Driver

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 18:17 -- Don Trahan

Finding the right driver can be daunting if you're not sure where to start. Today, most name brand club manufacturers try to convince the general golfing public that a big head will make it easier to drive the ball. That's why most of them sell mostly 460cc heads. Our club fitters here at Swing Surgeon do quite the opposite. Doc Griffin and I have even said that 420cc heads are still a bit too big. Joe Pursel has been looking around for a driver that he can hit as well as the rest of the clubs in the bag, so I'm here to give some direction on the topic. 

I am 79 and don't hit drivers as well as fairway woods. I'm consistently straight with your system, and have cut my shaft to match my height but with contemporary size heads. I just don't seem to have the control nor am I able to get that "snap" and follow through that I get with the lighter fairway wood...and less distance than with my 7 wood. I don't drive well with my 3 wood and have tried most of the major brands. Can you recommend a vendor that who makes a contemporary technology driver with smaller and lighter heads. Tour heads seem to be smaller but they are heavy. I shopped around for larger 3 woods but without luck. 
Joe's on the right track when he says he's looking for a smaller head. Our fitters primarily use KZG and Alpha because they make the smaller heads. I have a 355cc KZG head. It has a 10 and a half degree loft. With the winter approaching, I'll actually switch to a 12 degree loft because golf courses keep the fairways longer to help the grass survive the cold. So, I want to get the ball in the air and keep it there longer. During your search, be sure to think about the loft as well as the clubhead size. You may want to even think about a 14 degree loft, Joe. Also, you might be better off playing with just a 3 wood because it might be easier to find the specs you're searching for. 
 
Just remember that golf is an air game with the exception of chipping and putting, so you need the right loft in able to hit it longer and in the air. Also, if you're hitting all of your other clubs well but you struggle with the driver, it's most likely not you, it's your driver. My best advice to all of you is to make an appointment with a Swing Surgeon certified club fitter. They can walk you through finding the best club for your swing.
 
Keep it vertical,
 
The Surge
 
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Comments

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

As Surge mentioned, Doc Griffin makes smaller headed drivers. In fact, he has his own special driver heads built by Alpha, I believe. The driver he built for me is a KZG like the one he build for Surge, though with a 9 degree face because of the angle and speed of my approach into impact. I tend to have a high launch naturally.

On Surge's other point about using a three wood, I mentioned a few weeks back that when I was following DJ here at the JT Shriner's Open for his Thursday front 9, he teed off almost exclusively with his 3 wood, but was exactly as long as his two playing competitors in his threesome were with their drivers. He was just a lot more accurate.

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

Surge is absolutely right, size matters. I switched from a 460 head to a long distance fitted 325 KZG that Doc built. I went from a 10.5 to a 12 degree and for a guy whose driver clubhead speed tops out in the low 80s the smaller head and increased loft makes a difference. It's also a lot more fun playing my second shots from the short grass. Thanks, Doc.

Dragonhead's picture

Submitted by Dragonhead on

Great to see you back on board Lynn. My last trip to the course had some breath taking results on some holes. Back to R2's GBSAPS and basics made the difference. Sloooowed down and it all just fell into place. Now I know EXACTLY what I have to do to succeed.
An add on. If any of you have a 'grip trainer', the type with a neutral grip and short angled shaft with a heavy weight on the end.On mine you can remove a large core weight and leave the outer weight. Yesterday I picked it up from where it had been leaning in a corner for months unused! I took my stance etc and slowly performed the BUS, then slowly swung up to the FUS. For all those [like me]who have struggled with the forward arm breaking down in the BUS and bending. This IMHO will get you past that. Then the real bonus [to me], it makes skipping the rock an absolute breeze. Just a random tip which may help some of us. Good Luck to all, Keep it long and straight DH
For Lynn. One day soon I will be toting just the carbon shafted Mizuno ?muscle back irons and compare them. The SW I tried the last time out was magic! Will let you know the results. No Golf for the next two days boohoo! Other commitments boohoo! R & R ; - )

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

We had some of your weather here in NJ, DH. My courses are pretty much closed with damage or no power for the past week. Sandy was not kind to say the least. It will be years before NJ gets back to normal. I was very fortunate, but thousands in the area lost everything so I won't whine about no golf.

I went to a sporting goods store yesterday to pick up a glove and a dozen balls and spent an hour with a guy in the golf department hitting balls and teaching him PPGS. He really liked the principles and I may have gained a convert. ;0))

Dragonhead's picture

Submitted by Dragonhead on

Lynn,
Understand completely, after seeing the photos of the devastating damage done by Sandy I too am thankful for small mercys. Nature can be cruel at times. A bit of the wet stuff by comparison is nothing. Glad you may have a new convert to the PPGS swing. The orthopaedic surgeons etc will curse you and all those who earn big bucks off the injuries that the rotational swing generates. My comment is not aimed at ALL orthopods, Physios, chiropractors etc. Most of them do a great job with the problems that they are presented with. Not many of them however are interested in halting the gravy train. Naughty me!
Just had a swing before it stated raining again. Loosened up with the weighted grip trainer. You certainly know when you have reached the "Light club" top of the BUS hahaha. Noted that it was excellent for transferring the weight to the forward side in the through swing : - ) This was appreciated when I changed to swinging clubs. Noted that it is critical to keep the head perfectly still in the BUS. Don't do so and the club head will 'thump' the ground. Hoping to get another swing session later after lunch.
Another thing I did: The grip on the trainer is quite smooth. I put one of the cotton gloves I have on my right hand [I am right handed]. I liked the results [again]. Cotton gloves are good in wet weather, so would also be quite good [IMHO]when hands are sweaty? Guess the nearest thing you might find in the US might be the type of gloves I see worn by car Valets in TV series. Just a thought.
Stay well, stay safe and keep on hitting them long and straight where and when you can in NJ DH

brucebubello@yahoo.com's picture

Submitted by brucebubello@ya... on

You may want to try and locate the Original Series Adams Tight Lies 3 Wood
That head is fairly small and overall is nice. Just tweak the shaft to your game
if the one it comes with doesn't work for you.

MikefromKy's picture

Submitted by MikefromKy on

That ping eye 2 may have the proper length shaft for you.

gator.bate08@yahoo.com's picture

Submitted by gator.bate08@ya... on

Due to health issues I was unable to play for over 20 years. I discovered Surge's method and again was able to play. I could never break 100. I bought any and every 'New' driver, wedge, irons etc in hopes of becoming better, to no avail.
Finally I went to Doc Griffin, half way across the country, and had him design a set of clubs specific to me. I have a 'true hybrid' driver, for example, small head, high degree of loft etc. and clubs designed for my swing.
As I used them I began to think this 'club fitting' was a gimmick to get more money from golfers, however, I persevered, stuck with it for almost a year,
I now shoot in the mid 80's and a 'bad' day is not breaking 90!!
Someone previously mentioned spending almost a thousand dollars on equipment, well I spent 'Thousands' trying to do better.
Doc Griffin is Not cheap, nor are his clubs! That being said, If you make the decision to go to him, the clubs he makes for you will make you a better golfer if you follow Surge's method. I receive nothing for this Full endorsement, but I Know the despair and frustration we as golfers can experience. I also know Doc and Surge can correct much of what is wrong with the way we play golf. If I had wealth, I would Guarantee it, but I don't.
Therefore, I will merely say, you cannot fail if you go see Doc and follow the Surge. Good Luck and God Bless, H.T.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Talking about the driver and what works. When I was fit two years ago my fitter went a bit wild but I was in the spirit to follow his logic and glad I did.
He knew I was still in progress of learning the PPGS swing and as a PPGS certified fitter he carrfully observed my swing both on the monitors and at the golf course. I actually played 9 holes with him. He observed that my swing was well past 3/4's and that I was not as vertical as I hoped to be either. No shocker but I appreciated his take on my swing. After evaluation he and I concluded I was not where I wanted to be or potentially would be so he sugested I get the Nickent Evolver in both the 9*and and 10.5*. The Evolver allows for easy interchanging of shafts that can be tipped for quick change out. He selected 7 shafts ranging from Senior to the extra stiff. With two heads that gave me a choice of 14 drivers! Lots of latitude for figuring out what works best as I continued to learn the Surge swing. It also gave me a shaft and loft variety that was frankly awesome and meant I would already have a senior shaft for those "golden years" down the road. How's that worked out for me? Frankly great! Ironically, though my swing speed with the driver is about 95-98 which typically warants a shaft in the regular to stiff range I play best with the DVS Aldila X stiff and the 9*. It's both the dynamics of shaft and my current swing that makes it all work. Keeping it 3/4's and compact with a relatively vertical swing is giving me mostly long and straight:)
Note: My driver fitting along with all components was under $600.00 for what is basically 14 drivers. Worth every dime. This was actually part of my complete club fitting and 12 other clubs from 3 wood to wedges. So to be clear the intir eventure cost quite a bit more. Most of the regular Surge Nation know that I have since then become an amature fitter and now do all the tinkering on clubs in my garage.

dmwheat4@comcast.net's picture

Submitted by dmwheat4@comcast.net on

Well, so funny, IM going driver shopping Thursday, so, this sure came at the right time. We shall see, I really need a driver, I have posted about my driver that I have been using all summer. I want loft for sure,,,,wish me good luck, oh, I have been looking around already, but, IM short, five three, so, want one that fits me, they all are so long...

thanks for all of your help...golf tomorrow, yes,,,going to get a little warmer out,,I still have flower pots to pitch, don't want to,,,,

SteveO's picture

Submitted by SteveO on

What is the best club to take to the range to practice your swing?

I am using the 9 because the back wall (of the dome) is 90 yards and on a real good day I can hit it about 90 yards if everything is "PERFECT".

Robert Fleck's picture

Submitted by Robert Fleck on

It depends what you're working on at the range. Under your circumstances, with a limited available distance to hit the ball, you may only really be able to work on your 9 iron and wedges. When I'm at the range, I generally have my whole bag with me. I'll warm up hitting 7 iron, then 4 iron, then driver. Once I'm warmed up, I will either work on some specific element of the swing I need to work on, or I'll play an imaginary round.

If you're working on your alignment, then you should bring either rods or strings that you can stake into the ground to create your alignment H and practice setting up to that with your specific target in mind. At the range, though, as on the course, you should always have as specific a target in mind as possible. You are always hitting to a location, not just whacking the ball.