Harrison Shotmaker getting some rave on that seppo site

[Johnny Canuck]

You rang?

[MegaWatty]

You did.

Do it. I wanna hear it again.

[Johnny Canuck]

Ok.

I had my first run with the Shotmaker in my Saga with the 9015D at Binningup.

The first two swings produced one out of the heel and one towards the toe. I was expecting a massive slice and a big draw. It turned out that I got a nice little cut and a beautiful little draw. One finished dead centre of the fairway, the other right centre. The one towards the toe travelled at least 260, possibly a bit more.

The next hole I hit it, I hit 4 tee shots. Two were struck perfect and went dead straight. One had a bit of a cut and I thought I would find it well right of the fairway, possibly on the road. I found it in the fairway. The other had a bit of a draw and I thought that it too would be in the rough. Wrong again.

I hit two tee shots on the 4th, both were on the lines I chose and flew dead straight. One rolled through the fairway by a metre on the dogleg, the one on the aggressive line stopped a two metres short of the fairway.

I hit 5 tee shots on 4. 4 Fairways and one in the sand right where I tried to go the corner and didn't connect.

3 tee shots on 7, 3 balls dead centre of the fairway. I tried hitting the final of the 3 with a little more height and it went nice and high for me.

On 8, I went to the very tips and chose the left fairway bunker as a target, not knowing if I could get there. My first three tee shots landed in the same bunker! I then tried working it right to left, which I really struggle doing with the woods. The first went absolutely perfect and got my hopes up. After that, I had a few that I drew too much, tried a few different things to make me draw the ball and continued to not be able to draw that ball with any consistency.

I hit an old ball off the 9th tee towards the trees and it flew dead straight, about 10m off my target line, with no side spin whatsoever.

Finally, after playing 9, I found 2 old balls and went back to the first. One very gentle draw and one very gentle fade (5m either way max). Both, dead centre of the fairway.

The verdict, so far:

Feel: It doesn't really change the overall feel of the club at all. If anything, the club felt more solid, without feeling stiffer.

Ball flight: It didn't appear to affect ball flight in terms of launch angle at all.

Workability: I had no problem working my stock gentle fade or hitting a perfect draw, follow by some over draws and a snap hook that normally occurs when I try to ensure that I draw the ball.

Notice a difference? Definitely. It seriously just wants to fly straight. It's strange seeing shots start slightly off the target line you choose and actually stay there. The fact that a few shots that I hit very poorly still finished in the fairway is an absolute bonus.

Nunchuk or Shotmaker? At this point in time, for me, it is definitely the Shotmaker. The added distance is a bonus as when hit well, it is easily 10m longer, if not more. The reduction of side spin will also help with my driving distance as I won't make the rough as often and not lose as much distance as the ghey fades will be less frequent. I also prefer the lighter shaft and the fact that I can take a combo that already works for me and simply insert the shotmaker, without having to worth about the length, swingweight, etc... The Nunchuk launched very low for me, even with a 12.5* head, which takes driver out of my hands on a few holes at my course.

I am really looking forward to trying it Sunday in comp and also hearing what Mega has to say after using it tomorrow.

[kingslayer33]

Sounds very promising JC. Will be interested to hear Mega's thoughts now.

[TourFit]

Wow...I hope Mega comes to see me on Friday to drop it off then.

I'm currently down to play on Saturday (pending podiatrist/doctor visit today!) and would love to give it a test.

[Iain]

JC, how many fairways would you normally hit?

[Johnny Canuck]

I never really keep track but would guess around half with driver.

[MegaWatty]

Wow...I hope Mega comes to see me on Friday to drop it off then.

I'm currently down to play on Saturday (pending podiatrist/doctor visit today!) and would love to give it a test.

Nope. Last day off with my kids before I go away. I have it at work though.

[simmsy]

so verdict after today's round?

[MegaWatty]

You're on to me pretty quickly!

I hit it like a pig today but I'm not real well with this virus.

A couple of quick points. I over cut a ball on 14 where I try to hit that small fade and instead of being deep in the trees where I am often am, I was just right of the bunker.

I've effectively added 8 grams to the club which JC may say I wouldn't be able to feel but I could. I might take some lead tape off the head.

The ones that I pured were nice. Real nice.

It's going to be a few weeks before I can use it again so hopefully I'm better by then and can give it a real go. I can definitely see what it is doing.

[Johnny Canuck]

Come to think of it, the club felt a touch heavier. I thought it might have been switching back from the Chuk.

As I said to Mega, I've never been overly sensitive to swingweight, as demonstrated by the c7 weight driver I used to use. After the first swing, I had completely forgot about it.

[haysey]

Tommo has stuck one of these in my 2.0 for me. Be interesting to see if it makes any noticeable difference.

[ddasey]

Tommo has stuck one of these in my 2.0 for me. Be interesting to see if it makes any noticeable difference.

Be interested to see what you think.

[Daves]

Balance Certified?

Another similar system by the looks. Apparently Sergio uses them.

Sergio's driver set up gets a brief mention in this month's Golf Digest, though Balanced certified does not get a mention. The article says that he is using a 100 gram shaft at 44"

[Iain]

There's a thread on Golfwrx about Sergio's counterbalance.

Marty's been experimenting with them, had 150g in his irons and 100's in his woods I believe.

[simmsy]

hey, sorry if covered before but how does one choose which flex he needs with the shotmaker?

i know my s/s, but load amount??? how would one know that if they know 9/10ths of Fu**all about their swing?

i'm assuming i need E or F

[MegaWatty]

You are not an F. You'd be a D or an E.

[popper81]

Starting to think I am keen on trying this. The 35+ pages are interesting reading... Available anywhere on the gold coast yet?

[timah!]

Yeah, probably Gary Tozer, or Retco Golf.

[popper81]

timah!

Yeah, probably Gary Tozer, or Retco Golf.

Already sent retco golf an email... See if I get a result? Where is Gary based?? Don't worry, google is my friend.!!

[Nuffie]

Already sent retco golf an email... See if I get a result? Where is Gary based?? Don't worry, google is my friend.!!

Would certainly like to try one of these puppies in the new driver once it gets here from the states. Only thing the Myazaki 59g S shaft and Tour 440cc head will play at D4 swingweight initially so Hopefully a Shotmaker wont increase the swingweight too much. BUT maybe that wont be too bad for me as it will prob help load the stiff shaft even easier, let alone hit it very consistent and with even more distance.

[MegaWatty]

There is a counterweight for the grip Nuffie. It should still swingsweight the same.

[Johnny Canuck]

Really looking forward to comp with the shotmaker. Hopefully I bring my swing with me.

[MegaWatty]

Tomorrow?

[Johnny Canuck]

Afternoon.