Any feedback on the Tourstage X-Drive GR yet?

[gyli84]

Any feedback on the X-Drive GR yet? Is anyone able to comment on the differences in spin/ball flight/forgiveness versus the 2007 X-Drive? Has anyone tried it with the Rombax 6X07?

I used to have a 9.5* X-Drive 435 with Tour AD PT-6 stiff but at the time my 95mph fast tempo swing couldn't get it to kick enough, therefore spin and ball flight was too low.

I'm thinking that the new X-Drive GR might be exactly what I need. I'm looking for some info so that I can decide on the best fit for me and whether I should be going with the 10.5. For reference, I'm currently playing a standard HiBore XL 9.5 with VS Proto 80 regular - which was identified as being the best fit for me at a demo day. I want to get back to using Tourstage though!

I'm thinking that this coupled with the Roddio Pentacross might be a killer combo! Chris, is this an option, and if so how what's the upcharge?

Thanks everyone.

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Any feedback on the X-Drive GR yet? Is anyone able to comment on the differences in spin/ball flight/forgiveness versus the 2007 X-Drive? Has anyone tried it with the Rombax 6X07?

I used to have a 9.5* X-Drive 435 with Tour AD PT-6 stiff but at the time my 95mph fast tempo swing couldn't get it to kick enough, therefore spin and ball flight was too low.

I'm thinking that the new X-Drive GR might be exactly what I need. I'm looking for some info so that I can decide on the best fit for me and whether I should be going with the 10.5. For reference, I'm currently playing a standard HiBore XL 9.5 with VS Proto 80 regular - which was identified as being the best fit for me at a demo day. I want to get back to using Tourstage though!

I'm thinking that this coupled with the Roddio Pentacross might be a killer combo! Chris, is this an option, and if so how what's the upcharge?

Thanks everyone.

If its not kicking its pretty much a waste of time. The club is very very new so there is little feedback as of now. Roddio is an option but it must be built at TSG. Make sure to get the proper flex and use the Roddio fitting thread as it really helps that the shaft is the best possible profile in the line up. Here are some pics.

[Goshinboku]

The theory behind this club is that the different head shape, along with it being 10mm shallower in the face than the regular x-drive 460, as well the lie angle on this is atleast 1* more uprigt than the regular x-drives, is that they want to promote a higher ball flight

as for the Fujikura 6X07, dont really know to much about it other than the specs in Stiff are 66grams 3.3* or torque with a mid kickpoint

*you are almost dead on bridgestones ideal candidate for this driver, they are after a 43m/s head speed which is roughly 96.2 miles per hour, but your quicker tempo could compensate.

Edited June 3, 2007 by Goshinboku

[gyli84]

.....must resist!

Seriously though, gonna wait for some feedback before I pull the trigger. So keep it coming in!

Thanks.

[Willy]

Gyli,

I have hit both the 435 and the GR (9.5, stock s60 stiff flex shaft) extensively, and have also hit the xdrive 460 (sparingly because I couldn't get it up in the air as it was way too much club, stock shaft). The 435 had the pt6 shaft and 10.5 loft. It would hook because the pt6 seemed to want to hit hard draws all the time (my impression is that the pt6 is a draw enhancing shaft with a soft butt/mid bend area). But back to the GR, and based on what little I understand from the website and from my own ocular comparison to the 435 and 460. It has a longer and slightly shallower face. It's almost like comparing the titleist 983E/983K or 905r/905t (did I get that right), deep/short face vs less deep/longer face.

I probably average 45m/sec on my best driver swings but come down to 42m/sec on my bad swings. The GR is a very solid driver. It flies on a mid-high trajectory with very good feel. The shaft is lively without the draw/hook action I experienced with the pt6/435 combo. I don't see the real need to choose the upgrade to the fuji shaft (and I am avowed Fuji fan). For those who have once owned the rv10 series of tourstage, this driver is reminiscent of that series, wow! I highly recommend you try this driver with either the s/r or s flex option. The GR is a much more forgiving and easier to launch driver than the 460, hands down. To illustrate, I had two friends (swing speeds in excess of 110 mph) hit both side by side (one is a pro, the other is a low handicap amateur, scratch or so). Both had to really go at it to hit the 460 high enough! My pro friend preferred the gr because of ease of use in launching the ball. I honestly believe that the stock shaft in this driver is good enough. This model is impressive because it bridges the Viq and xdrive models very well. Not too hooky and balloony, not too slicy and worm burning for slightly higher than average amateur swing speeds.

[Blader-X]

Good initial review. I'm sure this will be helpful to few us out there.

[gyli84]

Thanks for the initial review Willy. Your swing numbers are not too dissimilar to mine and I absolutely know that the 2007 X-Drive 460 would be too much club for me, so its good to hear that the GR is definitely higher launching and more forgiving.

I used to have a 435 with PT-6 too and I experienced the same hard draws. Weird - haven't hit another shaft since that wanted to go so consistently left on me. I guess that's not the shaft for me.

Did you notice any difference in feel or acoustics in the GR versus the 435?

[bartolomeo1]

I was going to buy one of these but I am a high spin player and didn't need anything that spins more than my current set up, X-Drive 460 w/ XCON 6. I just acquired a Burner TP TOUR V1 9.5° with an XCON 6. I am getting on a launch monitor this week to compare the TourStage and TM. I think the GR head will be a better fit for a slower SS and someone needing more forgiveness. My SS avg is 111-115.

Bart

[Willy]

Thanks for the initial review Willy. Your swing numbers are not too dissimilar to mine and I absolutely know that the 2007 X-Drive 460 would be too much club for me, so its good to hear that the GR is definitely higher launching and more forgiving.

I used to have a 435 with PT-6 too and I experienced the same hard draws. Weird - haven't hit another shaft since that wanted to go so consistently left on me. I guess that's not the shaft for me.

Did you notice any difference in feel or acoustics in the GR versus the 435?

I experienced exactly that hard snapper with the pt6//435 combo. It wasn't for me. The GR has a less muted sound/feel than the 435 but is still in keeping with X Drive acoustics. The GR has a slightly more 'tingy' sound whereas the 435 is muted. The only weak spot is that on mis**ts, the feel is absolutely brittle but only by xdrive stanards. I also hit the GR side by side with the XXio hard spec 9 degree tour black 27 stiff, and both were almost the same performance wise. I am in constant debate on which club will be my next purchase, argghhh!