Diamana Question

[Browntollio]

So far, in the awesome spring the northeast has had, I have been hitting it pretty well, but I have a problem with the driver. First off, the combo is a Callaway X460 with a Diamana 63 Blue Band Stiff. I am carrying it about 260 in 35 degree weather with beat up range balls, which as Borat says "very nice". But I am in such control of my swing, I can really speed it up, and hit it dead square on the face. While doing this, the ball flys dead straight BUT (here's the issue) is a damn balloon ball, and just drops with no carry period.

Right now I'm in the search for the right driver, I'm going with the Nike SQ Tour head. But I don't know which degree, I still think I can hit a 8.5 with a shaft that has a mid/low kick point that will give me a great flight, but these days, it's high loft, low spin. So I'm thinking 9.5 to 10.5 in the head, but should I get a shaft with high kickpoint, there fore giving me a lower flight off the tee that will be more boring?

There is so much information out there now it is confusing. I am looking for an expensive upgrade in shafts (Diamana, AXIV-V, Roddio). What I really really want is more distance to go with my swing and build, I'm thinking a lower weighted shaft, mid kickpoint, mid torque, SR flex, but I'm not sure. I want to be able to go after the ball without worrying about it snapping left or ballooning. Any help? It seems there are a ton of opinions out there with a gluttony of information.

Cliffnotes of Post:

Using Callaway X460 Diamana

Want a Nike SQ Tour head 10.5

Loves lighter shafts

Needs more distance

Wants ability to go after it without ballooning

[Blader-X]

When you say balloon ball, are these with range balls? If so, you can't even consider this as any type of gauge in selecting a club. Beaten up range balls don't do well the harder one swings. In fact, they do far worse and in no way can you determine what is going on with a particular club. Personally I don't deduce anything from a club in a range session. For me its how a club performs on the course that determines whether it works for me or doesn't. Range sessions are good for getting some insight but you really need the course for the full and final evaluation.

Also, if you're carrying it 260 with these same range balls, why do you want to go after it any harder? I'm not trying to be inflammatory here, just trying to offer some perspective. Going after it harder can only lead to more problems with off-center hits. Having said that however my take is that lighter shafts only lead to problems when one is trying to go after the ball harder. I experimented a couple years back by going from 80 and 90 gram shafts to 60 gram shafts thinking I could pick up more distance as well. What I found was the same thing you're describing. Balloon shots and actually less distance. I attribute that to the shaft not be able to handle the swing and my particular swinging pattern. I now am back with heavier shafts and even though I still go after it, its much more controlled due to the heavier weight of the shaft which allows me a more consistent hit. Distance returned as well as accuracy.

In your particular case your seeking a lighter shaft which will not buckle under a very aggressive swing. I'm thinking the newer shafts with four and five weave technologies could be the way to go. These shafts seem to me to be more stable because of the tech placed in them. I'm talking in terms of the Axiv-V and QuattroTech by Graphite Design. I have both these shafts in the bag and they really complement the swing and I don't get the feeling of them "bailing out" on me in my swing. I feel the QT is better than the Axiv-V. These are my results with shafts I've tested. Other shafts which come to mind which deserve a look are the new Roddio's (five weave tech) and the new Oziks (utilize unique materials for golf shafts). I don't feel the Diamana is a shaft which can hang with these newer shafts. I used the blue board for a period but didn't like it due to the occasional balloon shot which I felt at the time was the shaft and not me. The newer shafts are really taking the tech further and I think allowing for these light shafts to still be stable.

I'm sure others could have different feelings on this topic, this just happens to be my personal take. Good luck in your search and get out on those courses up there when the weather warms. It seems winter doesn't want to concede to spring in many parts of the US right now.

One last thing, I'm not sure if you have done this or not, but post your specs and what you're looking for in TourSpecGirls' different shaft fitting posts. It could help to shed some more light on this for you and give you some other options.