Syard T388....Bought into the hype...u

[driverhead]

HeyYo!,

Welcome to the site, yes put the 380 down there are so many drivers to look at that are current. The T.388 is the route to take if you like smaller heads.

Does anyone here think the 388 has some major gear effect going on? I swear sometimes I hit it towrd the toe and I would normally expect a big fade but the ball go straight. This alone has been a life saver for me.

I don't see a gear effect. The old roll and bulge of persimmon woods a toe hit would curve back to the center unless your swing got stuck in a block mode. The 388 just hits dead straight where the club is pointing. (normally square or near square because the smaller head squares up easier yet never seems to turn hard left.) Spin rates are so efficient back spin and side spin are both reduced thus the straightest shot produced by a driver ever.

Two standout things about the 388. Pure hits are off the charts good. Even low thin hits seems to scrape out at an amazing distance for a thin low groove hit. There is a slight distance loss on heel side hits but its not a show stopper.

[bogeydog]

There may be some great effect. This weekend I played 36. What I learned is that I can tee the ball really low in comparison to a normal driver and I get great results. Aside from over confidence leading to a few slices because I was trying to kill it, the driver has become my club of choice and one I find comfort hitting. I am choosing shot lines that I wouldn't dare with other drivers. A friend of mine hit it yesterday and his first comment was the ball was struggling to not stay on line. So true.

[JGalls]

Thinking I might need to make the jump. Unfortunately all used ones on the market have been S/R flex. :)

My Callaway X Hot Pro 3 Deep has me questioning the need for a driver, maybe the 388 will end that questioning.

[gocchin]

Thinking I might need to make the jump. Unfortunately all used ones on the market have been S/R flex. :)

My Callaway X Hot Pro 3 Deep has me questioning the need for a driver, maybe the 388 will end that questioning.

Jim just let me know and I will set you up!

[supo]

.388....

not that i needed convincing but after 4 weeks without using it i only hit one drive..with it today on 18, bec i was playing my jbeam 425 tour instead.... ths one drive sealed its fate for me today.

its easily as long and straight as ive hit. and it feels better than just about anything.

prettty hard to beat this .

loving it

[Yohanan]

I guess so . . . Ordered 10.5 Stock Stiff about an hour ago.

Has it shipped yet? LOL

Thanks for all who helped me here with my questions! - Everyone has been great!

Will post once it lands on what the verdict is.

I am expecting outstanding of course!

Cheers

[Yohanan]

Shipped 5/2 Chiba (thanks T) Tokoyo 5/3 SFO 5/3 (thanks international date line) arrived just east of Paradise 5/6. I cant get a letter from Arizona faster to Nor Cal let alone Japan.

Only waggled it. Stiff should be on the soft side for me. SS 100-103.

The pictures do seem to make it appear fairwayish? It looks like a driver to me. But I am trying to replace a 360cc 9 *?

Will properly warm up and stretch before the maiden range session tomorrow.

Of course will report back.

Cheers

[mr.haha]

youll have to update us ASAP. btw, i am still getting amazing results with this driver. I had my "B-" swing for 3 range sessions and 1 round but i still got excellent results from this driver. my last two rounds i have had my A- swing and i was finding myself in parts of the fairways that i have never found myself before.

the scary thing about this driver is that my bad swings (left to right miss) with this club result in distances as long or longer than the good swings of my playing competitors. of course, my playing competitors are about 15hdcps.

[Yohanan]

youll have to update us ASAP. btw, i am still getting amazing results with this driver. I had my "B-" swing for 3 range sessions and 1 round but i still got excellent results from this driver. my last two rounds i have had my A- swing and i was finding myself in parts of the fairways that i have never found myself before.

the scary thing about this driver is that my bad swings (left to right miss) with this club result in distances as long or longer than the good swings of my playing competitors. of course, my playing competitors are about 15hdcps.

Well - Not to be negative - because all I am about it getting better - which is why I am here - is - that I knew - that this shaft was a mismatch for ME - based on tourque.

I hit the t.388 this afternoon at Fox Tail golf course in Rhonert Park CA north of SF. Standard driving range off rubber tees and mats. Nice facility.

Loosened up with the 8 and then 7 iron routine and then proceeded to PING Rapture 5 wood before the t.388 came a calling.

The shaft is good - But its to soft for me - I am 6'2" and 3 bills. I look and swing like Ernie Ells - All be it - The Fat Smooth Eel - I don't eat eel at the local sushi joint because I don't like the texture.

Anyway - the t.388 with 10.5 head is a performer. NIce med launch - And I do hit down so no problem getting the ball UP.

I can tell when a shaft doesn't perform correctly - the ball flutters at apex. I saw this - this afternoon - not on all shots - But it was clear to me that this shaft is not a match for me. I was hitting the t.388 not as far as the Adams F12 LS WITH Fubuki A Stiff. 250 yards+ with a pretty serious side wind right to left. I left the LL at home - not wanting to have as much in the back fo the vehcile I was driving as was the value of most of the cars I was passing . . .

I really believe that as far as MY swing goes - I need a stiffer or "boardier" shaft in this head. The head then will come alive for me? I am a Fubuki fan so the A in the .388 10.5 might be a good match? For ME.

If you are a high ball hitter - get the XV - I am doning that next - With Fubuki K Stiff at 9.5 and my SS is 100 currently and will top out at 103. I am 49 years old.

The .388 is a special head - No doubt - and the shaft is made for the head. But it's not for me - too soft at Stiff and too much spin because of the higher torque. If I wait for a split second at transfer/impact with my hands - I cock my wrists a little more upright in the back swing apex and let the this shaft loose and ANY shaft for that matter I know I am getting all I can.

it's a fairway finder for sure - toe hits were pretty much straing center right and had good distance. I was trying to slice it and had trouble doing so!

I want to see the the same ball fight with some serious ball scoot once it hits the ground and runs. The range I was hitting at had some mounds at the back of the range that prohibited any roll and I will try go put the club in play tomorrow at a course where I was a Men's Club member.

My misses were left and pulled - So I know the shaft is not strong enough - but again - that is ME.

XV 9.5 Fubuki K is getting ordered!

Cheers

Edited May 8, 2013 by Yohanan

[Ian-500]

If you are a high ball hitter - get the XV - I am doning that next - With Fubuki K Stiff at 9.5 and my SS is 100 currently and will top out at 103. I am 49 years old.

Hi.

When you say 'high ball hitter', do you mean the ball flight or the tee height? I ask because most people on here who have tried the .388 have said that it's a low ball flight. I can have a tendency to hit the ball quite high so I thought that out of the XV and the .388 then the .388 might be 'The One'.

Thanks,

Ian.

[bogeydog]

Lower the tee height so 80% of the ball is below the top line of face.

[RIduffer]

90% below...

[Yohanan]

If you are a high ball hitter - get the XV - I am doning that next - With Fubuki K Stiff at 9.5 and my SS is 100 currently and will top out at 103. I am 49 years old.

Hi.

When you say 'high ball hitter', do you mean the ball flight or the tee height? I ask because most people on here who have tried the .388 have said that it's a low ball flight. I can have a tendency to hit the ball quite high so I thought that out of the XV and the .388 then the .388 might be 'The One'.

Thanks,

Ian.

I usually have zero issues getting almost ANY club up in the air. I hit down on everything - Driver down to putter. Ridiculous - I have gotten better however and obviously - why we are here - looking to find equipment that fits our swing. I love that US Big Box Sporting Goods Store commercial with Arnie - Swing your Swing!

I probably could get by with a 9.5 in this club because of this and orderd the 10.5 based on 1) It's actually 10.5 based on the quality and precision of the maker. 2) Everyone said to error on the high side and get the 10.5.

The ball flight was overall pretty good with the 10.5 Stock Stiff shaft. Or I would say "normal" for most 9.5 or even 9 drivers I have had or still have as far as height. Which are probably not really 9 or 9.5? And are higher based on inaccurate lofts of mass produced US clubs?

Bogey and RI both have posts right after yours - reminding me to tee the ball low. I went into the pro shop to get a lower rubber tees knowing I needed to tee the ball lower.

I will head to a grass range today and then put the club into play. Teeing it lower - 80 to 90% of ball below head level - Got it!

It's really scary to be hitting any club with a high angle of attack (hitting down like I do) on rubber mats with concreate under it. Especially when you just dropped 1K on a new JDM driver. So . . . I was paticuarly careful not to break the club/shaft last night and worked "slowly" on teeing the ball lower using 1 of 2 rubber tees.

As to your question about tee height - I like to tee it up on a 3" tee with a 460cc driver and let it fly. But strive for medium to medium/high trajectory for maximum roll out with a gradually rising ball flight - some would say "peircing"

In the end - I know - based on my funky - low and back takaway - I flip - my misses are pulls as a righty - and my smash factor is hideous because of this around 1.2 on a Flightscope. I need to work on that.

Don't let my review scare anyone off - this is a great club and head - I know I need a "boardy" shaft. Low Torque - High Kick - Stiff Tip. High Torque shafts create more spin - I don't need anymore spin. Unless it's a 56 SW?

All I can say is that I "feel" that I am leaving something "out there" with this shaft - or there is more room for less flex.

Is it stable shaft - Yes!

I couldn't slice it unless I took a really big side swipe at it.

Will report back tomorrow on how it goes today!

Cheers

Edited May 8, 2013 by Yohanan

[BryanAC]

I typically tee the ball high which I feel frees me up to go after it. This results in high bombs that go fairly straight even if not maximizing distance due to less run. Seeing my playing partners tee the ball lower and hit penetrating balls with their drivers always leaves me envious because they maximize their distances while exposing the ball less to winds not coming from behind.

I have 5 drivers already in my home, 3 of which I hit well already, so I don't really need another driver. 2 of those heads are 460cc and are 9* and 10* loft. The third driver is 8* and under 400cc. However, a friend has the .388 in 9* which I hit recently. The first thing he said was to tee the ball lower, so I did and I have to say that I love the club. The ball flight was lower than my two 460cc drivers, and matched my 8* driver, while being much easier to hit and is more workable than all of them. It was impossible to tell how much distance I was getting due to the drives hitting the back net, but I could tell that the face was hot. I can't wait to try it out on my home course, and I have a pretty good idea that I will be hitting less club than normal into the greens.

About the matte black paint... I love it. I played a round on a sunny day with my normal driver which has glossy black paint and noticed that the sun reflecting off the head was a distraction. I understand the appeal that shiny new clubs have for owners concerning confidence and pride. We are all susceptible to that to varying degrees. But, I am more of a "function over form" kind of guy, so I just might take a piece of sand paper and rough up the paint on my current drivers to reduce the glare ;)

I know that it won't match everyone, but would I recommend it? Oh, yeah. The sound was nice, the feel was nice. I can't wait to get my hands on one.

[Yohanan]

OK - Here is the feedback from Day #2 in the Field with the t.388.

Drove back to regular surroundings to put to the club in play on a course I have played 100 times since it opened in 1991. Cherry Island Golf Course - A Sacramento Muni managed my Empire Golf. I know where I use to hit 300 drives on this course 13 years ago with a PIING TiST 9* Bi-Metal. And of course all the rest of the drives.

Lovely day perfect 77 F Sunny light breeze.

Went to the range with a small bucket to loosen up with the usual 7 & 8 iron routine and a GW.

Key - Not on mats - I don't like mats. It's like playing baseball indoors - but I digress.

Hit several 260 ropes with teeing the ball lower so that you really had ZERO margin for any error. This will no doubt help me eliminate the downward angle of attack - ala 9 iron type swing. Otherwise I going to break the shaft at the hosel? Which of course I want to avoid.

Proceeded to #1 Tee - Put the t.388 in play on 9 of 9 Driver holes. First attempt was horrible miss with hitting the ground first. I believe by the 7th Driver hole I hitting high 260-270 bombs They were higher in ball flight that I would expect and have not seen the roll out yet - But I am hitting the 10.5. I am pretty sure I could hit the 9.5 in this shaft no problem. I wil continue to work on teeing it lower and sweeping it ala my 14* Ping Rapture off the deck type of swing - It's plays at 43.5"

Bottom line as everyone has said - it takes time - and tee it LOW - Lower than you every thought 0f teeing a Driver.

I have already asked that Tario call S-Yard and have a bag of 25 1" S-Yard "For T.388 ONLY" be thrown in every box.

I can't remember when I bought a bag of 1" tees?

I may tip this shaft 1/2" and see if that helps tighten it a bit and help with my swing and getting importantly through the impact zone square and level. Although I probaly tip another shaft here first before altering the stocker.

If you follow Phil Mickelson you know he is working with smaller driver head 250cc 8.5 in his "made for" Phrankenwood and is still over the place. The Phrankenwood will probably never make it into our bags.

I have nothing in common with Phil - other than I share in the search for the ever elusive grail.

This is a pretty special club - if you are on the fence - get it before it sells out.

Cheers

Edited May 9, 2013 by Yohanan

[RLL33]

I feel like I've probably said (more than...?) enough about this club, but for anyone who might still be considering it (whether they've hit it or are just thinking about trying it), I would make one more suggestion. Ignore the whole tee height thing and just do what you do when you hit your current driver. That's the only way to get a comparison that will have meaning for you. I personally think some of the discussion about tee height is making some assumptions that are misleading and might not be of real concern for many, if not most, players. It's not like this club is so small that it can't be hit from a high tee. Get that in your head and you won't be swinging your normal driver swing or giving this club its due from your very first swing.

I also personally think it doesn't take long to know if a club (or shaft) is right or wrong for you. If you have decent feel, you can know in three swings. First impressions are often accurate with golf clubs (and balls). And I totally respect any golfer's ability to say nope, this one ain't for me, and move on. Lord knows, I've done that enough...

But one more time, and finally, I tee this baby up the same as I do with any driver I've played, and swing my same swing. I do get a slightly lower, more penetrating ball flight for most hits, but I've hit many high bombs, too. All I'm saying is I think it's reductive to talk about tee height as a governing factor in the way this (or any) driver operates. Tee height has more to do with the player than the club.

[Yohanan]

I think the point I am trying to make and with a small bit of practical humor is - Tee it lower (and lower than you think "low" is) as suggested and see if that works - It did.

I usually have no problem teeing up a hybrid 2" above the ground and connecting with it - or any club for that matter - and hope to find the "sweet spot" with the t.388 "teeing it up" as normal as you suggest so I don't hit the ground 1" behind the ball and look a complete tool with 1K Driver from Japan.

All smiles!

Cheers

[RLL33]

In that case, I def think your smiles are going to come while you watch that ball climb into the horizon.

;=]

[Yohanan]

If anything - it's going to be a training aid to get me to stop hitting down! That's a good thing - All be it - an expensive one!

I have a swing trainer that you hit under the foam thingy - can't remember the name of it. It helps and it was $50?

I did hit a low rope on the range yesterday - twice actually - with Nike range rocks but couldn't see how far it ran because of the end of the range/net. They were lower trajectory acending ropes everyone is talking about.

Good feedback of course when flushed - amazing feel - of course.

Drive #7 and #8 260/270 high bombs I knew immediately were tagged yesterday. I was going to measure them - but were in the same spots with 360cc 9* that was retired almost 6 years ago and with virtually no roll.

Can't wait to see the roll out get plugged in!

And those were hit with my low cost ball of choice - Last Years Noodle Long and Soft. An amazing ball for the price. Pro V1 were in same vacinity. TM Red's were almost as long. Didn't hit anything "harder" it wasn't warm enough IMHO. Will try some PRO V1x and Black Hex Tours next time out. They just weren't in the bag yesterday.

I think the range rocks at Foxtail were also a factor the 1st time out - I almost went to the bag to offer up a few of mine - but just decided to get dinner and "ponder" the events that had transpired to that point.

I will be back next week after the next session - at 4300' elevation - Bailey Creek at Lake Almanor Monday or Tuesday! My favorite course here in Nor Cal.

Should be interesting!

Cheers

[RIduffer]

I feel like I've probably said (more than...?) enough about this club, but for anyone who might still be considering it (whether they've hit it or are just thinking about trying it), I would make one more suggestion. Ignore the whole tee height thing and just do what you do when you hit your current driver. That's the only way to get a comparison that will have meaning for you. I personally think some of the discussion about tee height is making some assumptions that are misleading and might not be of real concern for many, if not most, players. It's not like this club is so small that it can't be hit from a high tee. Get that in your head and you won't be swinging your normal driver swing or giving this club its due from your very first swing.

I also personally think it doesn't take long to know if a club (or shaft) is right or wrong for you. If you have decent feel, you can know in three swings. First impressions are often accurate with golf clubs (and balls). And I totally respect any golfer's ability to say nope, this one ain't for me, and move on. Lord knows, I've done that enough...

But one more time, and finally, I tee this baby up the same as I do with any driver I've played, and swing my same swing. I do get a slightly lower, more penetrating ball flight for most hits, but I've hit many high bombs, too. All I'm saying is I think it's reductive to talk about tee height as a governing factor in the way this (or any) driver operates. Tee height has more to do with the player than the club.

Agreed. I usually tee the ball with barely any of the ball surpassing the crown of the club. As the 388 is not a deep faced driver it seems lower than normal but in relation to other drivers face depth, quite consistent...