OK my 3 wood is a Yamaha V FW 14* with Kai'li 70 S shaft. I got that from supo67. I believe the Kai'li is untipped.

I absolutely love it - the feel - the distance - the sound - the consistency - everything.

When I tee off with it I am up there with my playing partners drivers and sometimes past them. Now is it too much to ask for a driver that goes another 20-30 yards past that?

So I tried the Yamaha v201 10* with Kai'li 60 S shaft, but feels totaly different and not the same performance.

I have tried a Ryoma v-spec 9.5 with original shaft - launches too low for me.

Same head with the Quadra FireExpress composite techno - launches a bit better, but still hit a few very low ones.

So without seeing my swing, and only knowing my 3 wood setup what Driver head / shaft combo do you think will work for me?

I do want a nice high launch with low spin so can get some good run as well.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Edited September 18, 201212 yr by antz

Kamui Works Ray with the Diamana Kai'li 60S. If too low then the Diamana ilima 60s. I've tried a Kai'li 60X in this head and it was AMAZING.

If buying a used one then obviously the spec is how you find it, but it you're buying a brand spanker then you can spec the head just how you like, i.e weight/loft/lie angle/face angle/crown colour etc.

I keep banging on about this damn driver and I don't even own one!! Luke....it is your destiny :)

Edited September 18, 201212 yr by Ian-500

What kind of performance did u get with the kaili 60s/yammy? Low launch?

What kind of performance did u get with the kaili 60s/yammy? Low launch?

Launch was fine with 10* yammy/kai'li 60 S on good swings. The feel was very different in terms of shaft loading and kick. Hard to explain.

It made me feel like I needed to try to swing faster/harder and then bad shots crept in like low left. Then confidence goes and I am back to teeing off with 3 wood :)

It was almost like the shaft felt stiffer than the 70S in the 3wood, less responsive.

Maybe because the 70s is not tipped in the 3wood it plays to a slightly softer flex than S and that is the right flex for me?

I have an old Diamana blue R flex 63g which is similar to the Kai'li and I know that one is too soft.

Is it a shaft flex issue?

Did you try adding weight to the head to loosen the flex a tad?

Maybe tip an inch off your Diamana Blue and see how it plays?

Did you try adding weight to the head to loosen the flex a tad?

No, haven't tried that. Interesting suggestion. I guess I can try a bit of lead tape on the head and see how that changes things.

Maybe tip an inch off your Diamana Blue and see how it plays?

Yes, I thought of doing that, but then will have to add an extension to the butt end. Otherwise it will be a pretty short driver.

I am not using that shaft so I guess I could try this experiment :)

Kamui Works Ray with the Diamana Kai'li 60S. If too low then the Diamana ilima 60s. I've tried a Kai'li 60X in this head and it was AMAZING.

If buying a used one then obviously the spec is how you find it, but it you're buying a brand spanker then you can spec the head just how you like, i.e weight/loft/lie angle/face angle/crown colour etc.

I keep banging on about this damn driver and I don't even own one!! Luke....it is your destiny :)

:) Yes, that looks like a fine driver head. I wish I had access to a Trackman and a good club fitter with a few of these heads. Then I would know what lie angle I want, what loft, what weight, what length etc etc.

Being this customizable is great, the problem for me is I don't know what will suit me...

:) Yes, that looks like a fine driver head. I wish I had access to a Trackman and a good club fitter with a few of these heads. Then I would know what lie angle I want, what loft, what weight, what length etc etc.

Being this customizable is great, the problem for me is I don't know what will suit me...

I got lucky with the one I tried. I'll just have to get something close to the specs of that head.

Like a lot of guys on here, you may have to jump in with both feet to test the water. It's the only way we get to try things out. Unfortunately that can be expensive if you don't get your money back in the BST.

What about trade the head for 10.5?

What about trade the head for 10.5?

You mean the Ryoma 9.5? Yep that sounds like a reasonable option. Do you have one to trade? :)

I have been thinking about trying a low kick point high launching shaft in the 9.5 to see how that performs...

Guys, what are your thoughts on using shaft to control launch or just get higher lofted head?

I am no expert, but generally low kick point shafts will produce more spin which is why they launch higher. Higher lofts on driver also produces more spin compared to lower lofted so the end result seems the same?

or is my thinking wrong there?

I am sure you have all heard about people talking about using 12 degree drivers with stiff low spin shafts producing good results. Then there is the other side (eg the PRGR egg 7) where it is low lofted head and a high launching shaft producing the low spin high launch lots of roll type ball flight.

Man, I am confused now...

No, I don't have one.......

I would go with higher loft low launch rather than lower loft with higher launch shaft. Higher loft is more forgiving, lower loft is harder to control....

Kamui Works Ray with the Diamana Kai'li 60S. If too low then the Diamana ilima 60s. I've tried a Kai'li 60X in this head and it was AMAZING.

If buying a used one then obviously the spec is how you find it, but it you're buying a brand spanker then you can spec the head just how you like, i.e weight/loft/lie angle/face angle/crown colour etc.

I keep banging on about this damn driver and I don't even own one!! Luke....it is your destiny :)

there's an awesome nearly new one on bst right now!!! ;)

there's an awesome nearly new one on bst right now!!! ;)

:) oh wow where... gotta go get it NOW! :)

.... oooo it's non-conforming - can't use in comps (9* loft probably too low for me as well)

sandee11 is right about getting a 10.5 Ryoma.

The difference in the launch between the 9.5 and 10.5 is very noticeable.

sandee11 is right about getting a 10.5 Ryoma.

The difference in the launch between the 9.5 and 10.5 is very noticeable.

Thanks. I will see if anyone is interested in a trade 9.5 -> 10.5

The only Ryoma I have tried is the 9.5 V-Spec how do the others compare? (conforming only) If anyone has tried the other models...

Or you can ask stew if he wants to trade the Yamaha v202 tour 10* that he is selling......

funny my yamaha 405d is easier to hit than my 3w:)

Or you can ask stew if he wants to trade the Yamaha v202 tour 10* that he is selling......

It would have to be head only as shaft too stiff for me :)

Also, how much difference would there be in the launch between 9.5 and 10...

Maybe I should just try a different shaft in the 9.5 maybe Tour AD DI6S or DJ6S?

It would have to be head only as shaft too stiff for me :)

Also, how much difference would there be in the launch between 9.5 and 10...

Maybe I should just try a different shaft in the 9.5 maybe Tour AD DI6S or DJ6S?

I could send you my v425 to try out mate.

I could send you my v425 to try out mate.

Generous offer... if it works too well and I like it you might not be getting it back :)

A quick update on an experiment I did tonight at the range. I tested a few head shaft combinations - whatever was available. Mainstream stuff with interchangeable shafts - TaylorMade, PING, Callaway etc.

I wanted to see what performs better for me.

1. High lofted head with firmer heavier low launch shaft or

2. Low lofted head with lighter, low kick high launch shaft.

Well the result was very very clear.

For me the best option was clearly 1.

So basically I need a 10 or 10.5 head with a mid weight (62 - 67g) firm tip shaft.

knowing that I can lock down the head and try a few shafts in it just for fine tuning the best combo.

Now to find a good 10 - 10.5 head...

A quick update on an experiment I did tonight at the range. I tested a few head shaft combinations - whatever was available. Mainstream stuff with interchangeable shafts - TaylorMade, PING, Callaway etc.

I wanted to see what performs better for me.

1. High lofted head with firmer heavier low launch shaft or

2. Low lofted head with lighter, low kick high launch shaft.

Well the result was very very clear.

For me the best option was clearly 1.

I have found the same to be true for myself. With the higher lofted head I am able

to use just about any weight shaft.

A quick update on an experiment I did tonight at the range. I tested a few head shaft combinations - whatever was available. Mainstream stuff with interchangeable shafts - TaylorMade, PING, Callaway etc.

I wanted to see what performs better for me.

1. High lofted head with firmer heavier low launch shaft or

2. Low lofted head with lighter, low kick high launch shaft.

Well the result was very very clear.

For me the best option was clearly 1.

So basically I need a 10 or 10.5 head with a mid weight (62 - 67g) firm tip shaft.

knowing that I can lock down the head and try a few shafts in it just for fine tuning the best combo.

Now to find a good 10 - 10.5 head...

I'm not surprised. I've found that the most effective way to manage launch is the head. Need more launch, get more loft. If a head is designed to be low spin and low launch, there's only so much a low kick high launch shaft can do. Same with trying different golf balls. Shafts and balls are fine tuning elements to affect launch and spin. The golf head and what it was designed to do is the key determinant. If you do get a V-Spec 10.5, pls post how much higher the launch and spin is to the 9.5.