Goldenhawk

The excercises are working!! I have actually used steel shafted irons this morning and hit 100 range balls. 50 on the mat and 50 on frozen ground. No pain in the elbow. Just some teeth chattering from thin hits.

Well I could always reshaft it.

I would be interested....but it has a stiff flex shaft. My swing speed is around 95 mph and I may not be able to get the full benefit of this driver.

I started doing the excercises this morning. A little lingering pain since it feels that I'm working muscles that don't get a workout. I'll give it a week of working out before I go back out and hit some balls.

The X-18 Driver is still a lot better than the X460 US release. Just goes to show that better stuff is out in Japan.

Thanks for the exercise techniques. I will try them right away and buy the arm brace at the same time.

Hot Fairway Woods just look like they can bomb the ball a long way. If I get one, I hate to have a 3-wood that's longer than my conforming driver.

I just checked out their web site. I'm going to one an elbow brace from them.

Can you recommend a good compression band? Thanks.

I'm hoping to get Ping to install the Cushin Insert into my G5's. That should help with vibration dampening. I'm also going to try the True Strike mat to see if that helps. Has anyone tried a compression band around the lower portion of their elbow. I see tour pros using these wraps, and it may help.

Due to my constant practicing at the range, I've started to get pain in my right elbow. Similar to tennis elbow pain. My doctor told me to limit shock and vibration associated with golf. I'm thinking that I need to start playing with graphite shafted irons instead of steel. Does anyone have other suggestions?

I love the classic Anser style putter. But I have recently discovered the advantages of the having an alignment aid such as the 2-ball. Hence, I now use a White Steel 2-ball Blade-2 putter.

I'm in. TSG is a great website.

I have finnaly settled on a Callaway Big Bertha Titanium 3 wood (2005 version). Now this is easy to hit. But, too make getting the ball up easier from the fairway or rough, I installed a Grafalloy Prolaunch shaft. Installing a low kick point shaft in your current 3 wood may be a cheaper way to go than getting a new 3 wood.

Graphite all the way. That's how the extra clubhead speed and distance is generated. I carry three Ping G5 hybrids with the Grafalloy Prolaunch HY shafts. These things are great. The Prolaunch HYs give a high trajectory flight than helps to minimize roll on greens.

I am actually thinking of installing one in my putter. Has anyone tried or has an opinion on this new putter shaft. I have provided a link below that describes this new shaft. http://www.ustgolfshaft.com/USTWeb/Product...rand.aspx?id=16 I'll cost me about $80.00 to get the shaft installed ($60.00 for the shaft and $20.00 for installation). So any information would help before I go through the expense.

I had reservations about reshafting the FT-3, but I finally bit the bullet and did it. I got tired of watching the really high ball flight. I took the sotck NVS 55 out and had a really good club maker/repairman install a Grafalloy NZ Six S. To make the job easier, I ordered a .335 shaft sleeve from Golfsmith (item no. 231457). I went to Golfsmith since I had my new shaft Pured by them anyway. To avoid heating, the clubhead was wrapped in towels soaked in ice water. Some heat was applied to the outer hosel and a shaft extractor was used. The clubmaker said that without the shaft extractor, the shaft would have to be cut and the remainder of the shaft would have to be drilled or Dremelled out. The clubmaker also used an epoxy that is similar in color to what Callaway uses. Apparently, the color of the epoxy is one indicator Callaway uses to determine if the club was reshafted by them or by someone else. Overall, it was a painless process. I'm much happier with the new shaft and the improved performance of my FT-3.

There is a specific sleeve to use for Fusion and Callaway Drivers. You may want to call Golfsmith and ask them.

I have looked into this already, and it is not easily done. First, it will void the warranty. Second, you have to be carefull with the heat. heat up the head too much and the seal between the titanium face and the carbon comp body may melt. Third, you will need to get a sleeve to insert the shaft into the head. Golfsmith had one for the ERC Fusion, but currently does not have one for the FT-3. Callaway will mount a shaft for you if you send them the driver and the shaft. A year or so ago, I experimented with an ERC Fusion and had Callaway place a Grafalloy Prolaunch Blue (which I supplied). Callaway did it at no charge. But it took 1-1/2 weeks for my driver to come back.

But which shaft option should I get? Stiff/Reg or Stiff?

I am looking to purchase an ERC Hot as a 2005 holiday gift to myself. I know it's early. With the stock JV shafts, what do I need to get with a swing speed of 95 to 100 mph?

The ERC Hot looks like the BB Fusion FT-3. Unless you allow somebody to inspect the driver upclose, you could get away with it. If you get an ERC Hot, just call Callaway and have them send you a BB Fusion headcover.....heh.....heh.......talk about being inconspicuous.

I will call Callaway and ask those specific questions. Once I get a reply, I will post it here. If the X-18 has an 0.930 face, it would kill my BB FT-3 and y Launcher Comp.

I figured as such. I have swung my Cleveland Launcher Comp up to 105 repeatedly, and no caving or cracking yet. I do believe the Launcher Comp has a SP-700 face. To me, it would make sense that the X-18 can withstand faster swing speeds since it has more titanium (face and sole). The ERC Hot only has the face (cup face). Would Callaway make such a claim to differentiate between the X-18 Driver and the more expensive ERC Hot Driver?

I called Callaway asking about the X-18 Driver and spoke at length with a customer rep. on the phone. Here's a few highlights of my conversation. The Japanese market is really big on names and reputation. The X-18 irons have a really great reputation, hence the X-18 Driver. The X-18 Driver has an high COR around 0.930. Much higher than the 0.890 COR of the ERC Hot Driver. (0.930 COR is insanely high!!) The face of the X-18 is made of a hard, dense SP-700 Titanium. The driver is meant for swing speeds of 95 mph or less. There is a chance that the driver face may crack if the driver is constantly swung at speeds over 100 mph. The gray area is 95 to 100 mph. The rep. noted that with my swing speed of 95 to 100 mph, I would be better off with the ERC Hot or BB Fusion. The new sole design is really stable and may find its way into the new generation of USA drivers. The rep mentioned a Big Bertha Titanium 460 Driver that is in the works which will include the new X-18 sole design. Look for this driver sometime in the Fall/Winter of 2006. The new sole desing may eventually its way into the next generation Fusion Driver. (FT-4/FT-5, here we come. But it probably won't be until 2007.) Hope this inside information helps.