Search the Community

Eight Dreamers doesn't sound quite as good, but add at least one more dreamer here... I'm finally ready to talk about this amazing shaft that I had built after conferring with Chris and the boys over there. First off, it arrives in its own special vault and you look at it feeling like the apes at the beginning of 2001, almost afraid to touch the black monolith sitting in your office corner. Honestly, I just stood there looking at the box for a good ten minutes before even opening it. But then you do open it. And the stealthy looking shaft slides out with its finely checkered raw finish feeling almost grainy to the touch, and you know you're in for something very different. I had mine assembled on my spare T.388 head by the Dreamers, and to say it's a good match would be like saying the stealth bomber is a fairly good looking airplane. This thing practically vibrates just standing still. Oh, and I decided on the Distance version of the shaft as I was quite happy with the control of the TRPX Messenger 1st on my primary. I've waited a decent amount of time to talk about it because I didn't want to come up here and say that when I took it to the range for the first time, I hit the longest, most spectacular drive of my life with my very first swing. Even though that's exactly what happened. It literally scared me. The ball not only rose up in a sweet baby draw -- it cleared the 80 foot screen at the end of the range that I've hit high up on a scattered few times, but never waved at from the other side. Basically... gulp... I hit about a dozen more balls and then slid the thing back in my bag, almost afraid to use up any more of the hits it obviously had in it. I guess I should say that I'm not one for batting out dozens of balls to know if I like the feel of a golf club. In fact, I'm the opposite. If I don't like something in the first three hits, I'm not interested. With this, I was definitely interested. Next test, take it to the course. Opening hole is an elevated tee hitting down to a fairway that ends in an arroyo between the fairway and approach to the green about 280-300 yards out. The fairway also tilts to the right, where a big oak will block your approach to the green if you roll over that way. Preferred shot is a draw toward the far left corner of the fairway just short of the arroyo. Which is what the 7D+T.388 delivers for me as if I was talking to it on cockpit headphones. Another gulp (and a smile). The rest of the first day kind of went like that. Worst shot was a push that went so far I lost it on another planet... I took the thing home with me and my wife rolled her eyes as I placed it in the corner of the bedroom to sleep with it that night. (And yes, I had some good dreams... <g> ) I've now played three rounds with it, and feel I can talk safely about it without honeymoon (or at least ridiculous) exaggeration. The Distance shaft is, needless to say, long. It is as light as my TRPX, but feels heavier, or at least denser. Whatever the material is, it has more heft to it. Not just stiff, or less torque, but denser. The T.388 has that long time on the face feel that I like in a driver head, and with the 7D attached, you connect to the ball differently. A smooth tempo delivers even more punch without more effort -- the key thing I'm always looking for in a driver shaft. Can't quite describe it, but it imparts a heavier feel to the hit and a heavier sound even. And yeah, the ball goes even further. My average drive with the TRPX on the T.388 flies between 240 and 260. With the 7D, after three rounds, my average hits are more like 260 to 280. And on a dry day yesterday, with the T.388's run out, I popped one drive 304. Shortcomings? None really. I do find that my miss with it -- aside from the push to the moon -- is a low burning draw that finds the left rough occasionally. But hey, I like even these misses. They're like missiles that go off target but still create fear in the aimed at... So, overall, whatever this thing is made of, I'm glad I decided to give it a chance. It's unlike any driver shaft I've hit before in the solid feel, even at its very light weight. Recipe for success, IMO. Worth the $$$$$...? What's the worth of a dream...even on a golf shaft...?