Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Organization: BestWeb (bestweb.net) Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf Is the stock shaft on the Hawkeye driver good quality? What flex do you need if your driver clubhead speed is around 95-100 mph? I tried one with the Firm shaft an it seemed a little soft and had a lot of torque. I recently demo’d the Hawkeye with an A J Tech shaft (salesman said it was $250) and it was SO SOLID. I like the club, but that’s a little pricey for me. Any suggestions? (It is time for my Taylor Made Titanium Bubble to retire.) — Ken R.
Hello Ken. Callaway’s shafts are good quality. The flex’s are "soft" compared to most manufactures. I believe this is because most amateurs play a shaft that is too stiff for there swings. You need a regular and buy there firm and it is really a regular and you hit the ball well and love you Callaway club. They sell you a longer, lighter, weaker flex driver for a LOT of money knowing what the average golfer needs and you hit the ball better. Great marketing huh? But a low handicapper with a strong swing can’t get a stiff enough shaft and tends to hit a "balloon" shot. If you refer to a history of broken shafts in a no hosel club, on a outside inside slice swing there is no hosel to protect the shaft. A couple of good wacks and you get a fractured shaft. Bad design? Arguable. Bad shaft? Nope. Suggestions, find a qualified clubfitter and be fitted for a new driver or test a number of drivers and find one you hit well. If the store will not allow you to test a $400 club….go somewhere else. Ed
Response:
Is the stock shaft on the Hawkeye driver good quality? What flex do you need if your driver clubhead speed is around 95-100 mph? I tried one with the Firm shaft an it seemed a little soft and had a lot of torque. I recently demo’d the Hawkeye with an A J Tech shaft (salesman said it was $250) and it was SO SOLID. I like the club, but that’s a little pricey for me. Any suggestions? (It is time for my Taylor Made Titanium Bubble to retire.) — Ken R.
Response:
There is no golf industry standard to define what is "stiff" or "regular" flex in shafts. Callaway’s shafts tend to be on the soft side when compared to shafts of most other manufacturers. A Callaway "firm" tends to be closer to a "regular" offered by other clubmakers. According to Callaway, this is partly due to the fact that their "no-hosel" design moves the weight lower, and therefore causes a simlar flexed shaft to perform a little softer. Maybe that’s true, maybe it isn’t. But from a practical sense, it remains the perception of most people that their shafts "play soft." As for the relative quality of materials and manufacturing process of their shafts, I’d say they’re on par with other shafts. Remember, Callaway shafts are made by the same shaft manufacturers that make most of the "aftermarket" shafts preferred by many. Companies such as Aldila, True Temper and others make Callaway’s shafts, so it’s fair to assume that the same quality controls are placed on the making of Callaway’s shafts as are in place for all others made by the same manufacturers. With that said, it’s fair to assume that if you prefer a "regular" shaft, you might be better off going with a "firm" Callaway shaft. Randy website: http://wwwgolfer.home.mindspring.com RSG Roll Call profile: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/brownr.htm "Preparing now for Y3K."
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is the stock shaft on the Hawkeye driver good quality? What flex do you need if your driver clubhead speed is around 95-100 mph? I tried one with the Firm shaft an it seemed a little soft and had a lot of torque. I recently demo’d the Hawkeye with an A J Tech shaft (salesman said it was $250) and it was SO SOLID. I like the club, but that’s a little pricey for me. Any suggestions? (It is time for my Taylor Made Titanium Bubble to retire.) — Ken R.