Hi James, 

Thanks for the post. 

When it comes to finding the right driver and fairway shaft, it is always best to get fit. With that said, here are some suggestions.

1) If you like the flight and feel of your current 910D3 and F with the Titleist Ahina, try using the surefit tour hosel to make some adjustments that can reduce the hook. Try a flatter lie angle or more open club face.

2) If you are looking to change shafts, sometimes stiffer shafts can increase hooks. When people go to something that is too stiff, they often feel like they have to over rotate the club head to avoid missing it right. 

3) There is not a direct relationship between driver and fairway shafts. Some people like to go with a similar shaft in both, while others may look for something that is a little easier to hit in the fairway wood. It is all player dependent. 

Hope this gives you some direction. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do.

Bubba

Bubba,

Thank you for the very quick response.

Sadly, the Titleist fitting was at my club a few weeks ago and I was unable to attend and it may be next year until they return. And I have to support my pro and I'll only buy from him. Sadly our cart does not have all the exotic shafts that you offer. I think I will try the D+ White 82 or the 72 if the cart does not have the 82. Just to feel a different shaft and use that as a comparison.

I like the way the club sets up at address under the current A-1 setting. I'll try B-1 and C-1. Is there a way to keep the lie and loft for A-1 but have the clubface set more open? My irons at 2* upright if that helps a bit.

Thank you for the info on point 2. Very interesting. In the past I have not liked the extra stiff shafts so I have stuck with Stiffs. I know this is a tough question, but is the stiff 'Ahina made for "significantly less stiff than the Stiff versions of the Motore Speeder VC 7.2TS and the Mitsubishi Diamana 'Ahina 80?

This is very helpful. It had given me a lot of direction.

James

Hi James, 

There is no way to change the face angle if you kept your setting at A-1. Also, typically there is no direct correlation between iron lie angle and driver lie angle, so 2 degrees UP on your irons does not mean you would definitely be suited for a B or A-2 setting on your driver. Try the more open club face and flatter lie angle setting first. 

The Titleist Ahina is not significantly softer than the VC 7.2 or the Diamana Ahina 80. I found it plays a little softer in the tip. I think the D+ would be a smooth transition. Don't be afraid to try the D+ in an X. Flexes are simply arbitrary letters to help shaft manufacturers classify their products. For example, the Titleist Ilima (X) plays quite a bit softer than a D+ (S). 

Hope this gives you some more direction. 

Keep us up to date, 

Bubba

Bubba,

This is great, thank you very much. Very helpful.

I did not know about the driver/iron lie angle lack of correlation. Very interesting.

I'll try the different settings and also demo the D+ X and S shafts. I'll try to not find out I am hitting an X just in case I have a mental block on Xs. I do love the D+ in my 913H but I also loved the made for 'Ahina in my 910H.

Thanks for all the help, this is very helpful. Much appreciated.

James

You are very welcome, James. Keep us up to date. 

Take care, 

Bubba

Bubba,

Thanks again for all your help. I changed the settings to C1 and D1 based on your recommendation and got a better result even when going after it a bit more. I am going to try a few other shafts just to see if I can improve on the result I got and get a bit less spin but I can certainly live with the result I was seeing. If I go really after it I still see a bit of a left but not as much and I saw a very nice slight draw with these settings. Ball flight remained as I like.   Thanks again, I didn't really think or understand that a flatter lie angle would matter with a driver (since I am not taking a divot) but it seemed like it helped. Thanks again.

Glad to hear you saw improvement, James. Let me know if you have any further questions along the way.

Talk soon, 

Bubba

Bubba,

Will do, thanks again.

Bubba,

I demo'd some shafts today looking for a little lower ball flight and a little less spin. I demo'd the Motore Speeder VC 7.2 Stiff as the Motore Speeder VC 7.2 Tour Spec was not available. I liked it but I still got a bit higher ball flight than I would like. 

This is a very tough question I know, but how much stiffer would the Motore Speeder 7.2 Tour Spec feel vs the Motore Speeder VC 7.2? I liked the feel of the Speeder VC 7.2 and could handle a bit more tightness but I don't want too boardy of a feeling. The Xtra stiff 'Ahina 80 was fine feeling (I could live with a bit more tip stiffness) as was the Tour AD DI 8 Xtra Stiff. I just worry the VC Tour Spec 7.2 Tour Spec tip might just be too stiff feeling.

Thank you for any thoughts on this. 

James

Hi James, 

Glad to hear you got out to see a fitter. 

Honestly, I would predict that if you did not find the Ahina 80 (X) too stiff, you will not find the VC Tour Spec too "boardy". I would strongly suggest trying to find a fitter with that shaft. I believe that it would be a good alternative to the regular VC, especially if you are looking for a little lower flight. 

Let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

Bubba

Bubba,

Thank you very much. This is very helpful and great to hear. I will try to find a Tour Spec to demo given what you have written. I am very appreciative of all your help. 

Bubba,

I demo'd a Motore VC 7.2 Stiff shaft for my driver.

I also demo'd a Motore VC 7.2 Tour Spec Extra Stiff shaft for my driver.

Here is my question. We can't really figure it out (though we have some guesses). The stiff shaft 7.2 went really straight, I had a tough time drawing the ball. The 7.2TS Extra Stiff was really easy for me to hit my little draw. I LOVED the 7.2TS Extra Stiff. I liked the 7.2 but loved the Tour Spec more because I could work it more.

Can you think of a reason(s) why we found this result?

Thanks Bubba.

James 

Hi James, 

One possible reason could be the torque. Some people actually release the hands more when they are swinging a tighter shaft, this results in the ability to hit a little draw. 

Most importantly, it sounds like you found your shaft! 

Hope you enjoy the new driver. 

Bubba

Bubba,

That is exactly the conclusion we got to. My pro thought it was me and had nothing to do with the shaft. It was a freer swing which I was not afraid to release. Makes sense. I didn't even consciously know it. Thanks for the help.

Yes, I did find the shaft!! Thanks to you my friend. 

Now on to the 3 wood......................... 

Thanks again for everything.