has anyone tried or seen the gx-7 driver? it has the length of a 7 iron but loft with a loft of 14 degrees. seems like a good idea, but it costs around $200. i'm hoping there is some cheaper alternative. i usually buy/trade one new club a year and this may be it.
You can find them online for under $130 new
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I've seen one, but haven't hit one. The guy that had it loved it. He claimed he hit it farther than any driver he's ever had. I don't know if that's true or not.
The average consumer driver is 46"
The average driver length on the PGA Tour is 44.5 inches
In reality, most amateurs could benefit from playing a shorter driver, as not only would it be easier to control, but they would then find the center of the club face (sweet spot) more often, leading to longer and more consistent distances.
However, OEMs know that distance sells, so they sell 46" drivers because when Joe Schmo goes into the store to hit some drivers on the monitor, they often end up with the driver that they hit their furthest drive with - not the driver they were most consistent with.
Sad but true
Something important to keep in mind is that golf club companies change their own standards for club length over time. In general, this means that golf club shafts get longer.
In the late 1970s to early 1980s, Wishon points out, the most-common length for a men's driver was 43 inches. For 3-woods it was 42 inches and for 5-woods 41 inches (with women's woods one inch shorter in each case).
Wishon adds: "Back then, the typical 3-iron for men was 38.5 inches with all other irons decreasing in half-inch increments to the wedges."
WHY HAVE CLUBS GOTTEN LONGER OVER TIME?
This question is pretty simple to answer: Golf club lengths have increased because golfers want to be longer - meaning more distance. And longer shafts are associated with increased distance in the minds of many golfers.
We'll finish by quoting Wishon at length:
"Why have golf clubs gotten longer over time? Because golf companies believe it helps them sell clubs. Companies have believed that the longer the length of the club, the greater the distance the club can be hit. While this is true with the short irons, as the clubs get longer and lower in loft it is a fact that the percentage of off-center hits increases, as well.
"Custom clubmakers will determine the proper club lengths for golfers by first starting with a measurement of the distance from the golfer's wrist to the floor. They compare this measurement to a chart which lists club lengths for each wrist-to-floor dimension. Because golfers vary tremendously in height and arm length - the two important factors for determining a 'comfortable length' for the golfer - there is no way that all golfers can play their best with the typical standard lengths offered in standard-made clubs which are simply bought off-the-rack in pro shops or golf retail stores.
Generally can be said for any infomercial-like ad on the Golf Channel. You'll never leave another ball in the bunker with the XE1 wedge!
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The club is awful. Shorten your current driver. Problem solved.
Generally can be said for any infomercial-like ad on the Golf Channel. You'll never leave another ball in the bunker with the XE1 wedge!
Ha! Exactly! I learned long ago it's not the club, it's me.
Having said that, what do you all think about the heavy putters? I tried a Boccieri Mc-2 mid-weight over the weekend and it felt great. Really balanced and solid. The ball rolled really smooth off the face. It was the same type putter as the one I have been using, obviously only heavier. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger....
And/or put a lighter grip on it.
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In comment 13440106 GiantGolfer said:
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The club is awful. Shorten your current driver. Problem solved.
Generally can be said for any infomercial-like ad on the Golf Channel. You'll never leave another ball in the bunker with the XE1 wedge!
Ha! Exactly! I learned long ago it's not the club, it's me.
Having said that, what do you all think about the heavy putters? I tried a Boccieri Mc-2 mid-weight over the weekend and it felt great. Really balanced and solid. The ball rolled really smooth off the face. It was the same type putter as the one I have been using, obviously only heavier. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger....
Heavy Putter has been around for a long time and has generally done okay. I think their marketing has been poor though because now we have every vendor producing "counter balanced" putters and having much more success. The Heavy Putter is a counter balanced putter. Should've been marketing it like so since the beginning.