Ok so I am in the market for a new driver and went to a clas A professional clubfitter. He does some measurements, Takes some readings while I swing as well a some video. He then tells me to go to golf galaxy, which is a chain store of golf equipment and ask to hit some different setups on thier launch monitor. He also asked me to remember my best set up and what my numbers were as far as clubhead speed, ball speed, launch angle spin rate etc...
So I go there and tell them I am currently hitting a ping G5 and the guy reccomended I started on the launch monitor with that to set a baseline. I hit around 10 balls with it. Best drive 301, average 285, and I missed the fairway 3 times, once really bad. My carry average was around 270.
He then Put a Burner with a stiff shaft in my hand and told me to hit some more balls. Same thing, almost identical numbers and I missed a few left and right again. My clubhead speed was just over 100 almost every time and ball speed was like 140 ish.
He asked what my handicapp was and I said 4 and he asked if I wold like to try the TP version because it is not a degree closed like the regular burner, plus the stiff shaft in it was a better grade shaft than the standard burner shaft. All I can say is WOW. I don't know if the guy was pulling my leg and changed the settings on the launch monitor or something btu I didn't see him touch anything.
I can say the club felt perfect, the marks on the impact tape were all DEAD center and the numbers I was getting were mind blowing. Clubhead speed jumped to 115-120, Ball speed rocketed to 150-160. Launch angle was 12 to 14 degrees. Drive carry was 320-340!!!!!! 6 drives over 350 including a 366 yarder and a 370 yarder!!!!!! He said something about a smash factor going up from 1.3 to 1.55 which he said was really good. I don't know what that meant. My dispersion was 15-20 yards off center and nothing missed the fairway. I then hit the upgraded Cobra Speed XP with a nice stiff speeder shaft in it and it was almost identical. He started laughing after a few hits with that club. He said" well I think this is the first time I have seen someone carry the ball over 320 down the middle 20 times in a row" LOL
I was tempted to go out in my car and get my ping G5, trade it in for $67 and walk out with either one of those clubs right then and there. Unfortunately (or fortunately) my girlfriend was there and giving me the evil eye, so I told the guy I had to think about it some more and sleep on a $399 purchase.
I guess the moral of the story is that it is amazing how much difference a seemingly very similar club can have on the outcome of a swing. either that, or the guy switched me to a pitching wedge setting when I switched to the more expensive drivers, (though the center hits and feel would tell me otherwise)
I reccomend going and using the launch monitor for any golf club purchase, a guy before me was hitting wedges with it and it was interesting to see which ones he hit well and which ones he did not, and there was a difference.
Matt