Trajectory of Epon Technity Driver and 3 Wood.

[Mjr. D]

Could anyone tell me what the trajectory is like with the Technity Driver and 13.5 degree 3 Wood? I know shaft selection has a lot to do with this but on the whole, anyone have anything they can tell me? I'm looking at getting both of these clubs but i'm also looking closely at Bridgestone's J33 driver and 15 degree fairway wood do to it's extremely low spin Characteristics. I swing really really fast (135+) and use a lot of wrist. Obviously i want someone to tell me why i should toss the Bridgestone idea out the window and get the Epon gear instead...........since they're glorious looking. But i can't do the ballooning thing.........had too much experience with that already.

Thanks.

[gocchin]

You'd have to definitely get a low launching low torque shaft for the 9.5* driver (unless Chris can get you a lower loft custom). The Epon launches high, not ballooning but on the high side. Blader-X might be able to give you a bit more insight about the 3 wood as I think he has one. He mentioned before that it is a low bullet, which sounds promising for you. (^_^)

Epon quality is pretty unmatched. It's all about finding the right fit for you head and shaft wise. Tourstage is also fantastic but they both have quite different feels.

[Duffer19]

Just looking at the description of your swing, it is my feeling that the Epon driver and 3 wood might be the wrong club for you at least the 460 cc model. I have the 460 and my ss is just 90 mph. It is just my feeling that the Tourstage new X Drive would be better fit than the Epon, regardless of the hype but choose your shaft wisely and carefully.

[+TourSpecGolfer]

I would suggest EPON 9.5 with a custom face angle and a RODDIO WA Series shaft.

Or the X-Drive, or Srixon ZR-600, or MP Craft 425 etc..

Problem with the X-Drive is the stock shaft, even after market need to be tipped for a player of your SS>

[Blader-X]

Could anyone tell me what the trajectory is like with the Technity Driver and 13.5 degree 3 Wood? I know shaft selection has a lot to do with this but on the whole, anyone have anything they can tell me? I'm looking at getting both of these clubs but i'm also looking closely at Bridgestone's J33 driver and 15 degree fairway wood do to it's extremely low spin Characteristics. I swing really really fast (135+) and use a lot of wrist. Obviously i want someone to tell me why i should toss the Bridgestone idea out the window and get the Epon gear instead...........since they're glorious looking. But i can't do the ballooning thing.........had too much experience with that already.

Thanks.

Hey Mjr.D,

Epon is the ultimate in feel IMO. I have the Epon 13.5 with the QuattroTech shaft by Graphite Design and I hit low bullets with it and off the tee its a mini-driver. From the fairway its much the same. In fact love this club so much I'm thinking of getting a 7 wood to replace my two utilities. Epon 460 is a great head but trajectory is mid-high, however with the right shaft it can be hit low. For me, I would like to have Epon make me a 7.5 but when I'm swinging right, I can hit the 9.5 on a low trajectory that I'm looking for. The flight I get from mine is very piercing and have no troubles with it in the wind although other members on this site don't like it in the wind. I hit Epon because of how it feels to me. I've been playing 20 years now and have not hit a better feeling club.

Having said all that, I really believe ballooning or lack there of is a result mainly of one's swing and the shaft they're using. I don't feel the head plays into it all that much but I'm sure others would disagree. Reading your posts recently you're obviously a very athletic person who goes at the swing from that point of view. Being very athletic myself I can share your experiences. I think the ballooning you've experienced could be a result of steep swing and over aggressive move. Couple that with a shaft not suited for you and it doesn't matter what head you use you're going to get those balloon shots. I say that because I've been there. As I've progressed over the years I've worked hard to shallow out my swing and be as "long" as possible through the hitting zone. In fact, this is essential in my view to be able to hit fairway woods, especially low lofted ones. Similar to Tiger, you come into the ball so fast that if you're not right with your timing you mistakes are magnified because of the speed you generate. So while you can hit it a great distance, you're mistakes when you make them can be very penal for you. All the more reason to have the right shaft to assist you in making that fabulous swing speed work for you. Also, very quick wrists can make the timing in the golf swing suspect as well. That's another thing I've worked on a lot to get right. Snap hooks are no fun.

I say all this because judging from your posts you're obviously very much into golf and have ventured a few places to become better. All of us are seeking the right answers and its hard but the journey is so much fun. To me golf is all about feel. I like the feel of the Epons. Others like TourStage or Mizuno. I say find a shaft first then get whatever head looks good to your eye. With your strength and ball speed length will not be your issue. So as far as heads are concerned the technology is pretty much maxed out. I will say that as far as shafts I've become a big believer in the Tour AD line by Graphite Design. My trajectories with the QuattroTech and PT8 are all low bullets. If I miss and get too aggressive starting from the top I will hit a higher shot. Thats just the physics of the golf swing.

Sorry to ramble so much but I enjoy sharing my thoughts on this website and I hope its helped you in some way. If you're interested in the Epons, do a search on this site as much has been written about them.

B

[Bat]

First of all, my swing speed is only somewhere between 99-104 mph so my experience might not match yours; as I do not generate as much spin for my tee shot to balloon with my current driver. That being said, I've owned the Bridgestone J33R 460 for about 1.5 year. As much as I love the feel and especially the look at address of this club, I like to demo every new driver out in the market when I have the chance. Last year, I demoed the TM425, TM460, FT3, X18, X460, 905R, X-Drive 435, ViQ, D-Max 450, Hi-Bore, SQ, MX-500, and a few others. Honestly, some are a bit longer or a bit more forgiving than the J33R but I did not feel the need to upgrade at all.

Just recently however, I demoed the current offerings like Epon 460, Superquad, FT5, Hi-Bore XL, X-Drive 460, and ViQ MX. I hate to say this but most of the newer models I tried are noticeably more forgiving AND longer than my J33R. That being said, I'd imagine that the J33R 460 might still be what you want if your main concern is too much spin. My current combo has a very low spin, but it also has a very low launch angle (too low for me with my current swing). The Epon 460 will launch the ball much higher than the J33R while maintaining a relatively low spin. FWIW, I also have trouble launching the X-Drive 460 high enough but that might just be what you're looking for.

Bat

[Mjr. D]

Hey Mjr.D,

Epon is the ultimate in feel IMO. I have the Epon 13.5 with the QuattroTech shaft by Graphite Design and I hit low bullets with it and off the tee its a mini-driver. From the fairway its much the same. In fact love this club so much I'm thinking of getting a 7 wood to replace my two utilities. Epon 460 is a great head but trajectory is mid-high, however with the right shaft it can be hit low. For me, I would like to have Epon make me a 7.5 but when I'm swinging right, I can hit the 9.5 on a low trajectory that I'm looking for. The flight I get from mine is very piercing and have no troubles with it in the wind although other members on this site don't like it in the wind. I hit Epon because of how it feels to me. I've been playing 20 years now and have not hit a better feeling club.

Having said all that, I really believe ballooning or lack there of is a result mainly of one's swing and the shaft they're using. I don't feel the head plays into it all that much but I'm sure others would disagree. Reading your posts recently you're obviously a very athletic person who goes at the swing from that point of view. Being very athletic myself I can share your experiences. I think the ballooning you've experienced could be a result of steep swing and over aggressive move. Couple that with a shaft not suited for you and it doesn't matter what head you use you're going to get those balloon shots. I say that because I've been there. As I've progressed over the years I've worked hard to shallow out my swing and be as "long" as possible through the hitting zone. In fact, this is essential in my view to be able to hit fairway woods, especially low lofted ones. Similar to Tiger, you come into the ball so fast that if you're not right with your timing you mistakes are magnified because of the speed you generate. So while you can hit it a great distance, you're mistakes when you make them can be very penal for you. All the more reason to have the right shaft to assist you in making that fabulous swing speed work for you. Also, very quick wrists can make the timing in the golf swing suspect as well. That's another thing I've worked on a lot to get right. Snap hooks are no fun.

I say all this because judging from your posts you're obviously very much into golf and have ventured a few places to become better. All of us are seeking the right answers and its hard but the journey is so much fun. To me golf is all about feel. I like the feel of the Epons. Others like TourStage or Mizuno. I say find a shaft first then get whatever head looks good to your eye. With your strength and ball speed length will not be your issue. So as far as heads are concerned the technology is pretty much maxed out. I will say that as far as shafts I've become a big believer in the Tour AD line by Graphite Design. My trajectories with the QuattroTech and PT8 are all low bullets. If I miss and get too aggressive starting from the top I will hit a higher shot. Thats just the physics of the golf swing.

Sorry to ramble so much but I enjoy sharing my thoughts on this website and I hope its helped you in some way. If you're interested in the Epons, do a search on this site as much has been written about them.

B

No man, no rambling at all! All that is great info. You obviously know a lot about not just equipment, but how it's incorporated with the golf swing. You're dead on with the Steep swing thing. I'm right handed and in my back swing, my left arm is no where near straight/extended. It's very bent, therefore not creating much of a wide arc. I also have a LOT of wrists in the swing. I would say that, more than anything, is where i get my power. Strangely though, i don't snap hook the ball ever. I have pretty good control with the driver suprisingly. I tend to balloon occasionaly and usually i have a bit of a fade. But that i think is do to my swing path. I also think highly of the Graphite Design line up. I'm thinking of going with the Tour AD i-65......sounds like a good choice for me. Other shafts i'm looking at getting are the Ozik F-7M in XX, but the torque at 3.6 seems a little high as i do feel shafts twist a lot when i swing. The Accra SE 80 M5 which i have tried with a Bridgestone head a while back. Can't say enough good things about that shafts. It's torque rating is 1.5, didn't feel boardy though, not sure but the tip i think is rated at 30. Whatever that means. I loved that shaft though. I love the look of the sister company Axiv and i'd love to get into a Axiv V but the torque rating on their strongest shaft isn't as low as the Accra.....not sure why. And lastly, of course, the White Board Diamana. Please feel free to give me your thoughts on all of this. I appreciate it.

[Mjr. D]

First of all, my swing speed is only somewhere between 99-104 mph so my experience might not match yours; as I do not generate as much spin for my tee shot to balloon with my current driver. That being said, I've owned the Bridgestone J33R 460 for about 1.5 year. As much as I love the feel and especially the look at address of this club, I like to demo every new driver out in the market when I have the chance. Last year, I demoed the TM425, TM460, FT3, X18, X460, 905R, X-Drive 435, ViQ, D-Max 450, Hi-Bore, SQ, MX-500, and a few others. Honestly, some are a bit longer or a bit more forgiving than the J33R but I did not feel the need to upgrade at all.

Just recently however, I demoed the current offerings like Epon 460, Superquad, FT5, Hi-Bore XL, X-Drive 460, and ViQ MX. I hate to say this but most of the newer models I tried are noticeably more forgiving AND longer than my J33R. That being said, I'd imagine that the J33R 460 might still be what you want if your main concern is too much spin. My current combo has a very low spin, but it also has a very low launch angle (too low for me with my current swing). The Epon 460 will launch the ball much higher than the J33R while maintaining a relatively low spin. FWIW, I also have trouble launching the X-Drive 460 high enough but that might just be what you're looking for.

Bat

Thanks Bat. I appreciate the info. Right now i'm using a titleist 905R with a Drev ICN Tour STIFF flex shaft. I'm actually avg about 310-315 with it but with pretty excellent control. Hitting most fairways. Not sure why, haha. Still though, i'm only swinging at about 70-80% with it. I'd like to find something that allows me to crank it up when necessary. Anyway, i'm wondering, how would you rate the clubs you've mentioned above with the Titleist 905R in terms of distance, spin, launch etc? Thanks a lot man. This is good stuff. I enjoy this forum.

[Mjr. D]

I would suggest EPON 9.5 with a custom face angle and a RODDIO WA Series shaft.

Or the X-Drive, or Srixon ZR-600, or MP Craft 425 etc..

Problem with the X-Drive is the stock shaft, even after market need to be tipped for a player of your SS>

What exactly is tipping anyway? Just cutting the shaft a little shorter to make it stiffer?

When you say custom face angle.........what would benefit someone with my swing speed? An open face? If so, why is that? Thanks very much man.

[Blader-X]

Mjr. D.

Tipping refers to cutting a portion of the tip off when installing a shaft into a head to make it stiffer. Each manufacturer has their own specs for how much this needs to be in addtion to a a clubmaker making it fit a particular golfer's specs.

In regards to your bent left arm that's not always a bad thing. It actually creates a third lever in the swing with the other two levers being the shoulder turn and the arms picking up the club. This third lever gives great power but all three must be in sync for it to work well. Any mistiming can have bad results. However, here's where your great hand/eye coordination from being an athelete comes into play and is why you're able to get good results most of the time. I would say work in practice on trying to keep the left arm straighter but not so that its forced. Forcing a straight left arm will only lead to bigger problems especially if the shoulder turn isn't there. The impact is the most important postion and the longer we can get down there, the better. Let your swing build gradually and max out your speed at the bottom at impact with full extension to the target. Your flight pattern being a fade is not a bad thing. In fact with your length I believe its better because its more predictable. You can relay on a fade to be closer to a consistent yardage. Draws and hooks produce quite a lot of variables. Variables in golf are bad since you can't relay on them to give you consistent results.

I would agree with you that the GD I-65 would be a good shaft for you. In fact if I were looking at shafts and had your characteristics that shaft would be the first I would try. I must say the QT is one incredible shaft which I absolutely love, I'm just not sure if you would overpower it. I am by far not the most expert on this site when it comes to shafts. There are others who have tried out far more shafts than I ever will. Plus1 is one individual that comes to mind as well as SFGolfer. Maybe we could get them to chime in on this one.

Lastly, so you know where I'm coming from on all this, I'm what you call in sports a student of the game. When I was little all I wanted to do was play. Back then it was baseball, football, basketball and inline hockey. When I couldn't play with others I would spend time by myself just throwing the ball off the wall for hours. My only drawback was my bad knees which just took me out of ever competing in high-school. Because of two ACL recons on my right knee, golf is now the only thing I play. I would like to play my other sports, I just don't want a third surgery. And, although I don't get to practice all the time like I used to, there's still nothing better for me than hitting balls all day long. I mean from sunrise to sunset. Playing, practicing and playing again. I still get to do that, just not as often as it used to be. So when it comes to golf I'm very passionate about it. The great thing about it is you are your ultimate competitor in that its only yourself out there. No team to rely on. You get to know who you are and what your all about. Thanks for letting me ramble again.

B