TOP DRIVERS FOR 2013 REVIEW

There are seven drivers at the top of the list, and we carry them all, and here they are in alphabetical order.
1. COBRA AMP CELL, has what Cobra is calling “MyFly Technology” which is one driver with 6 different loft settings 8.5, 9.5, 9.5 draw, 10.5, 10.5 draw, and 11.5 degrees of loft. there is also a AMP CELL PRO with lofts of 7.5-10.5, also available is a men’s offset version at 11.5 degrees of loft. With their SmartPad Technology the drivers have a face that is square at impact no matter what loft you are using. They have four colors to choose from, blue, orange, red and silver. Cobra offers the AMP CELL for ladies in offset and standard face designs with three additional colors. Prices run from $299 – $399.
2. NIKE VR_S COVERT, also has multiple lofts available from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees with independently adjustable face angles. Nike removed weight from the head and created a large cavity (high speed cavity back) on the sole which makes the driver more stable on off center hits. Nike to has added a new color (RED) to their driver this year as well. Nike has a VR_S COVERT TOUR version with a black face at 430cc for the more advanced player. Prices run from $299 – $399
3.PING Anser, unlike the first two manufacturers, Ping’s concept is to have four different heads (8.5,9.5,10.5 and 12) each with plus a 1/2 of a degree of loft to minus a 1/2 of a degree of loft. meaning the 9.5 degree head can be adjusted to 9 degrees and to 10 degrees.The company offers four different shaft options. Prices is $399
4. PING G25, like the Anser, has four different heads with lofts 8.5 through 12, it to has plus or minus 1/2 of a degree adjustment to loft. This driver has a larger face and thinner crown that the G20 from last year. It has the highest moment of inertia,and the lowest CG of any Ping driver. With these features this new driver is the longest most forgiving driver to date. Price $349
5. TAYLORMADE R1, has one adjustable head with lofts from 8-12 degrees, it can be tuned for amateurs to pros. It has twelve settings for adjusting the loft, and the soleplate has seven face angle adjustments. Plus you can adjust ball flight 20 yards from right to left. The new graphics are for alignment. Price $399
6. TAYLORMADE Rocketballs stage 2, offered with lofts of 9.5,10.5 and HL, which are all adjustable. With a very thin crown that pushes the CG down and forward the Staged 2 helps increase ball speed over the original RBZ. Like the RBZ it has 12 adjustable lofts moving 1.5 degrees up and down in loft. Price $299
7. TITLEIST 913 D2/D3, last but definitely not least, this driver in the D2 model has different heads with five lofts 7.5, 8.5,9.5,10.5, and 12. The D3 model has four individual heads and lofts ranging from 7.5-10.5. With the surefit tour hosel technology the loft and lie can be adjusted independantly to fit your swing. It has a thinner and lighter face than the 910 from last year that promotes increased ball speed. The D2 is larger than the D3 but both reduce spin. Price $399

The new season is starting, and if you need some improvement in the driver department, with the use of our new FlightScope launch monitor, now is the time to call or email me for a Driver fitting.

Hit’em good! Take Care,

Stan Roach
Club Fitting Specialist
Dana Rader Golf School
sroach@danarader.com
Tel: (704) 542-7635

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WHAT SIZE GRIPS DO I NEED?

Today, part three of my five part series on Clubfitting. “Grip Size” is another one of the important parts of clubfitting that is often ignored.  If your grip size is too small or too big it can cause you to overgrip the club, causing tension in your hands, upper arm, and lower arm which prevents you from setting and releasing the club throughout the swing. Having a grip that fits your hand properly can actually promote a lighter grip pressure which in turn can increase your swing speed, which could also increase your distance. The easy way to check your present grips for size is to hold the club in playing position, take off your lower hand and observe your upper  hand. Do your fingers dig into your palm? (too small) Is there a large gap between your fingers and your palm? ( too large) You get the picture here, to be just right we would like yout fingers to be slightly touching your palm, I also like to see a 1/2″ gap between your pinky and your heel pad. Now of course you have to be in proper grip position to get really close.

Ther are all kinds of grips out there, from your standard Tour Velvet from Golf Pride,which most of the club manufacturers use (rubber), to your full cord, your new style half cord (rubber on your lower hand and cord on your upper hand). The last few years the Winn grips with their polymer cord have been very popular, and this year their lite grips weighing in at 26  grams (super lite, promotes light overall feel, which can promote more swing speed).

If you need your clubs regripped (you should have your clubs regripped at least once a year) give me a call at the Dana Rader Golf School (704) 542-7635.

Let me know how you hit’em.

Stan

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SHOULD I SWING HARD TO INCREASE MY CLUBHEAD SPEED?

Today is the second part of a five part series on Clubfitting. Number two on the list is “Clubhead or Swing Speed” ( interchangeable). Most people end up being a little violent when it comes to their golf swing (Trying to swing out of their shoes). Some do it on purpose, trying to create more speed to make the ball go farther. Most of the time trying to hit the ball harder causes your muscles in your arms to tense up, your hands squeeze tighter especially if your grips are too small or need replacing and that actually slows down your swing speed ( You are going to find that each part of clubfitting can and usually does effect the other ones).  Clubs that are too long , shafts that are too heavy can also decrease your swing speed. If your grip tension is relaxed you can feel it in your arms , your shoulders, and your swing speed will increase.

Clubhead speed is measured in miles per hour(mph), with each additional mph equating to 3 yds. The combination of clubhead speed, tempo, timing,ball speed, and spin rate helps the clubfitter to determine the correct shaft (flex,kick point,torque ,weight, and material) for the individual.

If you think you shafts could be wrong for you, that you are not getting the carry or the distance you should, give me a call at the Dana Rader Golf School (704-542-7635) and  I will  be glad to answer any question you have. If you would like to get a clubfitting I will be glad to do that to. Thanks, let me know how you hit’em.

Stan

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HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR CLUBS BE?

Today I am starting a five part series on Clubfitting. The first topic is a important one“Length of Club“. I think the ideal length for a player is the longest length that the player can consistently hit the center of the clubface, and maintain a good posture throughout the swing motion. That length is going to be different for each person because their posture, swingpath, tempo, height, and even their coordination differ from one another.

The first place to start is the static measurement of the wrist to floor. That number is just a length to get the player hitting balls. During warm up can the player get to and stay in proper posture with this length? I find generally speaking that the static number plus a 1/2″ will be pretty close to the correct length for posture. If we add that 1/2″ can the player hit the center of the clubface consistently? Lastly can the player handle that extra three swingweight points that go along with that extra 1/2″ ? If their strength, coordination, and swing path will allow them to hit the center of  the clubface consistently and be in excellent posture we are good to go. However, if the pressure sensitive tape shows the impact of the ball on the toe, the heel, and all over the clubface we may have to change the length by a 1/4″ or 1.5  swingweights and test again. We may have to go all the way back to our static measurement to get centerness of hit, and if that is the case we may have to settle for good posture instead of excellent.  Not hitting the center of the clubface makes for a long day on the golf course, so the trade off is a good one.

The driver length is getting longer and longer. Many years ago the driver was 43″ long, today standard is 45″. Several of the club manufacturers have drivers that are 45.5″, and this year there is one that is 46″. No matter how long they make the driver it still comes down to ” Can you hit the center of the clubface consistently”? (go back and count how many times I have said that in this article, that is how important it is) If you are all over the face with impact, we need to try a shorter length driver, you will be surprised that the difference in distance will actually be the same if not better than the longer driver. For every 1/4″ you miss the center of the face you lose distance and direction.

Stay tuned for the next part of this series on clubfitting “clubhead speed”. Meanwhile, if you are interested in a clubfitting call me at Dana Rader Golf School for an appointment. (704) 542-7635

Thanks and have a great day!

Stan

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DO BEGINNERS NEED TO BE FIT FOR CLUBS?

I am constantly getting the question “should I wait until my game gets better before I am fit for clubs?” My answer is a resounding “absolutely not”. Years ago that is what everyone did, they purchased a set of clubs and just started playing with them, and over time they adjusted their swing to the clubs. Depending on how well those clubs were matched they may have two different swings  for their five iron and seven iron. I feel like beginners do the same thing , they wait way too long before they have clubs fit to them. Meanwhile due to the ill fit clubs they are making compensating adjustments that lead to bad habits. Don’t delay, have your clubs fit to you as soon as possible. This does not mean you have to buy new clubs, (although that is definitely an option) your present clubs can be adjusted to you. With your clubs adjusted to you and a lesson or two your scores will go down and your enjoyment will go up. Give me a call at Dana Rader Golf School for a fitting appointment. Have a great day! (704) 542-7635

Stan Roach

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