gocchin Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 I've got a scanner again so I can once again post articles and tests! Okay so Weekly Pargolf did a test this week on Brother Drivers (a literal translation from the Japanese "kyoudai drivers") Several brands this year have launched two similar driver models that I guess could be called brothers (^_^). They've taken the two models from each brand and tested at the Fujikura Lab outdoors with the Fuji hitting robot and Trackman monitor. All clubs used the same ball, the very awesome PRGR TR Spin. All clubs were tested at two swing speeds, 40m/s (90mph) and 45m/s (102mph), 5 shots at each speed with each club and the average of the 5 shots. As always this is to be used as a general guide for us to get an idea of some of the characteristics of each driver in its stock form and how it performs with each swing speed, ie launch, ball speeds and back spin etc. First up we have the Titleist Brothers, the 909 D2 and D3. Test used 10.5* lofts of each. Both shafted with Tour AD for Titleist. Wind left to right at 1-2m/s. 40m/s 909D2 Carry: 190.6 yards Total: 211.3 yards Ball Speed: 56.5m/s Launch Angle 13.6* Backspin 3468 Peak height: 24.2 yards 40m/s 909D3 Carry 193.3 Total: 214.6 Ball Speed: 57.0 Launch: 13.1 Backspin: 3006 Peak: 23.4 45m/s 909D2 Carry: 236.7 Total: 254.4 Ball Speed: 65.4 Launch: 13.5 Backspin: 3345 Peak: 34.3 45m/s 909D3 Carry: 238.7 Total: 260.8 Ball Speed: 65.7 Launch: 12.5 Spin: 2846 Peak: 29.6 The D3 seems to have the edge with a touch lower spin (especially at faster swing speeds). Next up was the Srixon brothers, the ZR-800 and the ZR-30. 10.5 lofts for the 40m/s test and 9.5* for the 45m/s test. Shafted with Srixon SV-3016J T-65 shaft. Wind from behind at 1-2m/s. 40m/s ZR-30 Carry: 190.8 yards Total: 213.0 yards Ball Speed: 56.5m/s Launch Angle 12.7* Backspin 3226 Peak height: 22.6 yards 40m/s ZR-800 Carry 188.6 Total: 210.8 Ball Speed: 56.2 Launch: 13.0 Backspin: 3052 Peak: 22.2 45m/s ZR-30 Carry: 235.8 Total: 259.4 Ball Speed: 65.4 Launch: 12.1 Backspin: 2845 Peak: 27.8 45m/s ZR-800 Carry: 238.3 Total: 261.3 Ball Speed: 65.5 Launch: 12.5 Spin: 3007 Peak: 28.5 The Srixons as always show they are better with faster swing speeds. Very close to each other. Next was the Callaway brothers, the FT9 and FTiQ. Both 10* lofts and stock shaft. Wind against 2-3m/s. 40m/s FT9 Carry: 189.7 yards Total: 209.8 yards Ball Speed: 56.5m/s Launch Angle 13.06* Backspin 3030 Peak height: 23.2 yards 40m/s FTiQ Carry 190.7 Total: 218.5 Ball Speed: 57.3 Launch: 12.0 Backspin: 2445 Peak: 19.5 45m/s FT9 Carry: 225.4 Total: 241.5 Ball Speed: 65.1 Launch: 12.3 Backspin: 2995 Peak: 31.9 45m/s FTiQ Carry: 228.7 Total: 254.0 Ball Speed: 66.0 Launch: 10.9 Spin: 2466 Peak: 25.2 The Callaways were going into a small headwind. The FTiQ showed real low spin and lots of run out. Next up was the Tourstage brothers the 701 and 701G. Both 9.5* and shafted with Tourstage Tour Design B09-01w. Wind left to right 1-2m/s. 40m/s 701 Carry: 195.2 yards Total: 220.0 yards Ball Speed: 57.5m/s Launch Angle 12.8* Backspin 2821 Peak height: 21.9.2 yards 40m/s 701G Carry 192.7 Total: 220.0 Ball Speed: 57.1 Launch: 12.7 Backspin: 2611 Peak: 20.7 45m/s 701 Carry: 234.7 Total: 259.6 Ball Speed: 66.5 Launch: 11.5 Backspin: 2540 Peak: 26.7 45m/s 701G Carry: 240.2 Total: 265.0 Ball Speed: 66.2 Launch: 12.2 Spin: 2629 Peak: 27.6 Both Tourstages fared well all around with good ball speeds and low spin resulting in above average distances at both swing speeds for both models. The 701G had the longest total at 45m/s of all the drivers. Final test was with the Mizuno brothers. The MP Craft T1 and R1 were tested with 9.5* lofts and Quad 6 shaft. Wind was behind at 1-2m/s. 40m/s T1 Carry: 189.4 yards Total: 220.9 yards Ball Speed: 57.3m/s Launch Angle 11.2* Backspin 2519 Peak height: 17.2 yards 40m/s R1 Carry 199.3 Total: 226.1 Ball Speed: 57.7 Launch: 12.6 Backspin: 2874 Peak: 21.2 45m/s T1 Carry: 235.4 Total: 264.3 Ball Speed: 65.9 Launch: 11.5 Backspin: 2440 Peak: 23.4 45m/s R1 Carry: 241.7 Total: 263.3 Ball Speed: 66.4 Launch: 12.6 Spin: 2942 Peak: 30.9 The Mizuno's like the Tourstage did pretty well all around. The R1 had the longest carry and total at 40m/s of all the drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indharbor Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 Very interesting article and I am really excited to see the numbers for FT-iQ. I just got myself a FT-iQ tour hoping it would give me less spin and more run. I had a chance to use them for one round and it does exactly what it says. For me, lower launch with less pin and more run. I have always had problem with high launch and no run but this driver has definitely fixed that for me. I have tried every Diamana shaft out there and I am glad to find my perfect mate, Fubuki! Thanks for sharing the info. T! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonlui Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 thanks for putting up these articles!! I'm surprised the FT-iQ didn't do better, I was expecting good things for this driver. indharbor, the FT-IQ is suppose to be very forgiving on off center hits and easy to setup due to the square design...have you experienced this compared to your older Epons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indharbor Posted November 18, 2008 Report Share Posted November 18, 2008 thanks for putting up these articles!!I'm surprised the FT-iQ didn't do better, I was expecting good things for this driver. indharbor, the FT-IQ is supposed to be very forgiving on off center hits and easy to setup due to the square design...have you experienced this compared to your older Epons? FT-iq tour is supposed to be .05 open face angle. It is definitely easy to set up but if you are tranditionalist, you may not like it since it may look little closed due to the square design visually. It looks square or hair open to me so I have no problem with address. I think forgiveness is big factor on this new driver. Based on my experience, little off center hits towards toe or hill didn't show much distance loss and this thing wants to go straight and straight. I have hit 13~14 times on the course and few push right's and baby fades and baby draws but no hooks at all. With fades, I usually loose little distance tendancy to hit little towards the hill but I didn't feel any distance loss on FT-iq. I know it's merely start of honeymoon period but it has shown me nothing but positive results. Beside the odd shape, I really like everything about the driver and I really like the new shaft, too. I think FORGIVING is best word to describe this driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolsenbb Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 This is great info thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xchangmanx Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 Thanks T, the FTiq is kinda intriguing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamnguy1 Posted December 1, 2008 Report Share Posted December 1, 2008 Tests like these confirm that with the PGA and R&A limits placed on driver heads, it is unlikely that one manufacturer's driver is going to significantly outdistance each other. These drivers all have near maximum allowable COR, and all the manufacturer can do is to play around with placement of the center of gravity to affect ball trajectory. This a good player can do with any workable driver by either hitting lower or higher on the driver's face. Other than the negligible effect of driver head shape, the only difference between the titleist D2 and D3 is the location of the center of gravity. That said, depending on a person's swing characteristics, there is something to be said about finding the right shaft that loads correctly for an individual swing, not to mention feel. However, there hasn't been that much published research in this area as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsg4tch Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 You guys get the best, best, best club reviews over there!!! Thank you for posting this and all the other great magazine reviews on TSG.....priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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