Yet more T.388 Feedback

[wmclarenf1]

Don't forget Duffer swings compared to Supo, Craig, Chiro etc. A lower launching, lower spin driver will benefit them more than it will you. This is also why I game the XV and not the T.388 because I am not a fast swinger. Though i of course keep the T.388 here too as i love its feel , looks and ability to be straight. Arthur I am not even sure what your swing speed is or distance but i think you were playing Crazy 6.7? Teeing 50% above the crown is still too high. Needs to be low and as I said many times a level blow. The target audience of this driver is NOT single digit players though obviously with the smaller head better players will excel with it. We have had 15 handicap players get it and succeed with it. But as you all know every player is different.

The last tie my swing speed range was 91 to 95 on loucifers prgr red eye so avg of 93. I play 6.2. The stock SR did not feel to stiff more too heavy and I am used to mid to high 50 gram shafts. Distance avg is 220 meters or 240 yards. I do get more distance when I play on courses like those in OZ though where the fws are a lot drier and firmer. In any case, definitely not a big hitter by any measure.

I will, against better judgement, try teeing it lower and putting the ball closer to middle as how I hit 3W. Just funny that I have to adjust my swing so much for a club..

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Playing XV for the second round. We had a brief session on the new Trackman IIIe comparing the XV with the 388 both at 9.5 both with stock stiff flex shafts. No shots were excluded from this data. It's Tatsuro hitting 5 shots with each club with no warm up.

Tomorrow I will take the flightscope out and do 20 shots each club with warm up. stay tuned.

[RLL33]

Interesting discussion. Agree with bogeydog that it's a question of technique, and the t.388 would obviously be no exception. In my original post on the t.388, I mentioned that my quest driver-wise has been for some time to find one I felt I could control like my 3-wd, and that the t seemed to ring that bell. The surprise for me was that it also gave me greater length than I had found with all previous comers. But even so, what I was interested in, and still am, is accuracy more than distance. I realize this is a different goal from most, which is why I emphasize that it is MY goal. Again, however, the bonus for me with the t is that I've got greater accuracy AND greater distance. / FWIW, I also wanted to mention that I do NOT tee it up particularly low. Maybe 1/8 to 1/4" lower than with one of the big bombers. But I vary the height of my 3-wd, too, when I use it off the tee... / Of additional interest to me, I'm in the process now of alternating between the stock S and S/R shaft when I play rounds on the course. I don't find that much difference between the shafts feel-wise, they are both controlled explosive to me, but there seems to be a very slight trade-off between distance and accuracy. A very small gain in distance with the S/R shaft, but the most fairways hit with the S. So it seems to affect dispersion a small amount for me, and I have a feeling I will slot each one in under different conditions. I'm not a big, fast swinger either. Avg is right around 101, distance 260-275. And that's just fine with me. For those asking, I don't think it's a club necessarily just for low cappers, it's more a question of feel and preference, which is to again say technique. As always, to each his own. And for me, this club not only feels just right and looks just right to my eye, it's producing lower scores. I'm all for experimentation, too. Onward and upward and cheers to all in the quest for the grail.

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Playing XV for the second round. We had a brief session on the new Trackman IIIe comparing the XV with the 388 both at 9.5 both with stock stiff flex shafts. No shots were excluded from this data. It's Tatsuro hitting 5 shots with each club with no warm up.

These are not consistent shots there are a couple bad shots that mess with averages so Tomorrow I will take the flightscope out and do 20 shots each club with warm up. stay tuned.

[Ian-500]

Chris. What was Tats overall average total length for the 2 drivers? Looking at the figures it seems that the XV might have the longer length based on its lower height and longer carry distance.

[RIduffer]

I tee this thing with none of the 90% of the ball below the top of the face and have been getting good results now that it is resifted… I think even with deeper face drivers I don't tee the ball with much of it higher than the crown of the club...

[supo]

I teee the ball rediculously highmin general but with je 388 i haveto hit it. Uch lower

High tee shots are no good

Im playing it sgn today

Vs the ryoma alst 2days this is a good ,test

[Blader-X]

After reading all of this, maybe this why I get along with the T.388 so well. I have never really teed the ball all that high even with other drivers. I don't believe that my angle of attack into the ball is steep. Its fairly level in my opinion. With the T.388 I haven't teed it up too low but I think I'll get down to the range and do a little research. . .

[VoV]

I'm not a high tee-er normally either. With the 388, I tee the ball roughly 15 - 20mm above the ground. I've found that if I tee slightly higher (around 25 - 30mm) consistency starts to suffer....though, that may be due to my swing as well (which is always work in progress with the coach...). But as the guys keep saying, the club excels on level blow impacts. By now, I've probably hit around 500-600 balls with this driver. Average carry with range balls...around 210m (just visual markings at the range). With a Pro V1 and slight tail wind, have carried 240m before. Thanks T for the help with this purchase :)

[jimmieboi]

I'm thinking in getting this driver too. It's seems to be not a distance driver!? If I recall correctly, Tats hit avg 290 yards at Crazy Factory with those Crazy drivers. He only avg below 260 yards with the S-yards. Is it the Epon Zero in a form of a 3 wood form factor with more forgiveness (over the Epon Zero)!? The Zero didn't yield more distance compare to other drivers I have in my arsenals.

Edited May 9, 2013 by jimmieboi

[BryanAC]

Jimmy, I am glad to hear that you are thinking of getting this driver. I hit it and get plenty of distance with it. There are many comments about teeing it lower, which I have found to worked for me too. I typically hit drives very high because I try to lift the ball off the tee instead of letting the loft do the work. Bogeydog has it right IMO in that hitting it like a 3 wood (meaning a shallower swing) is the way to go. When I shallowed out my swing to hit the .388 the ball flight was absolutely beautiful. In Japan, I try to hit it high because the fairways are softer and the drives don't seem to run as much. Often times, my drives stop pretty near my ball mark if I hit the fairway. I get the most distance on high shots with a tail wind of course, but on every other wind direction other than a tail wind, the .388 is most likely going to be not only more accurate (barring my lucky streak of 100% fairways on the last 2 rounds) but also longer because as you know, hitting the ball too high is losing energy going up instead of forward.

In order for me to get that lower ball flight with my other clubs, I have to dip into drivers in the 7*- 8* range.

So, if you are on the fence, don't let the lower tee recommendation worry you. I'll probably get one for my bag in the near future as well.

[wmclarenf1]

Ok.. I put in the round with the 388 and another driver... Teed one ball with each for the front 9. 7 tee shots each in total. Rather embarrassing for the 388 IN MY HANDS. 388 was consistently shorter by an average of 15 meters and n one case a lot more. 388 can run a lot but that din't help it much with distance IN MY HANDS. Teed it lower, like 80-90% of the ball below top line as suggested. PLayed it like a FW. Ridiculous short carry IN MY HANDS. It wasn;t as if I was playing badly as well (by my standards at least). 40 on the front 9.

I know many are in love with the 388 and different strokes for different folks but for ME (which is why I took mains to highlight "IN MY HANDS" above), its a real dog. Driving has never been my strength and I guess despite being a single capper, I ain't good enough to play this and/or its just not right for me. I'm happy for the many who find the 388 works well but I have given enough time to this driver and its crystal to me that it ain;t for me.

The other driver that consistently put the 388 down? An old school Epon Technity 460 9.5 with a Crazy CB-46 shaft. Talk about feel... this is the Titan of feel. Feel is subjective but for me, the 388 lost sorely here too.

Edited May 9, 2013 by wmclarenf1

[jimmieboi]

There are more doubts I have for the T388. With the length longer than 45 (say 46) inch, hitting with a descending blow would be difficult to do!? The FW3 is in shorter length and sweeping or descending on the ball is easy to do (flatter lie angel too). Also hitting a descending blow will create more back spin, is this the case for T388!? I'll go demo the club next week and all might be answer but I'm just too curious to hear from those with first hand experience. I posted a topic on a FW head in Driver loft a few weeks ago, this T388 could be the answer, but I'm just too afraid it could be the "more forgiving" version of Epon Zero. That is not the ultimate in distance.

[+TourSpecGolfer]

I love it! Opinions from it's the longest driver ever to ridiculous short carry. Serious though something is wrong, Thats the first I've heard of the 388 not feeling good and being 15+ meters short in distance.

How many rounds F1? Your a single digit and in my mind the 388 should work out great. I suggest you use this opportunity to find out why such a great head isn't working for you, there has got to be something there.

The 388 took me a couple of rounds and the XV took me a good 3 rounds + range time to work into. It's very rare anything works in stock form for me. The 388 stock shaft worked absolute wonders for me until about a week ago then all of a sudden didn't mesh with something in my swing, switched shafts and I'm back to straightness and length. My XV stock shaft got the boot as well and the club now behaves.

I think when people say hit it like a FW or tee it a certain way it's simply what worked for them. You will need to find out what works for you. I never hit this thing like a FW or Tee it as low as others suggest yet it still performs. I've also spent a lot of time on the trackman & flightscope with the 388. It carries a hair longer than most drivers and rolls out about 5+ yds extra depending on the testers swing.

I'm thinking in getting this driver too. It's seems to be not a distance driver!? If I recall correctly, Tats hit avg 290 yards at Crazy Factory with those Crazy drivers. He only avg below 260 yards with the S-yards. Is it the Epon Zero in a form of a 3 wood form factor with more forgiveness (over the Epon Zero)!? The Zero didn't yield more distance compare to other drivers I have in my arsenals.

Jimmie, Try the XV you won't regret it. At Crazy they are not using a dopler based radar system as accurate as the new Trackman or Flightscope. In fact it could be jacked up, many LM's are. What I like about the TM IIIe is that it excludes data that have even the slightest chance of being incorrect. If your fit into the 388 properly its a gem, same goes for the XV.

On the TM when we normalize ball to PROV1 X from Range ball and normalize for weather his distances are 265-275. Also the numbers I will be posting today don't include upgrade shafts. It's the XV and 388 entirely in stock form.

[wmclarenf1]

I love it! Opinions from it's the longest driver ever to ridiculous short carry. Serious though something is wrong, Thats the first I've heard of the 388 not feeling good and being 15+ meters short in distance. How many rounds F1? Your a single digit and in my mind the 388 should work out great. I suggest you use this opportunity to find out why such a great head isn't working for you, there has got to be something there. The 388 took me a couple of rounds and the XV took me a good 3 rounds + range time to work into. It's very rare anything works in stock form for me. The 388 stock shaft worked absolute wonders for me until about a week ago then all of a sudden didn't mesh with something in my swing, switched shafts and I'm back to straightness and length. My XV stock shaft got the boot as well and the club now behaves. I think when people say hit it like a FW or tee it a certain way it's simply what worked for them. You will need to find out what works for you. I never hit this thing like a FW or Tee it as low as others suggest yet it still performs. I've also spent a lot of time on the trackman & flightscope with the 388. It carries a hair longer than most drivers and rolls out about 5+ yds extra depending on the testers swing. Jimmie, Try the XV you won't regret it. At Crazy they are not using a dopler based radar system as accurate as the new Trackman or Flightscope. In fact it could be jacked up, many LM's are. What I like about the TM IIIe is that it excludes data that have even the slightest chance of being incorrect. If your fit into the 388 properly its a gem, same goes for the XV.

Hi Chris,

Only 9 holes admittedly (as I just didn;t see the point of using it after that) and 2 range sessions but I've never encountered a driver that was such an unnatural fit for me. Again, I need to stress, its a dog for ME and I'm happy it is working well for so many.

I'm not inclined to give it more time as I have given it more time that any other new club ever and if I did and it starts to work... same distance as my 435 at best but I have to change so much in my setup... again, not for ME.

The Bolds however is another story. More pleasant ending :-)

[gandor]

i agree with the tee height that Chris mentioned...i for one tee it higher with the 388 and had success with it..with that said i just sold mine and looking to get a 10.5 388 or XV.

anybody knows if the XV has a higher ball flight compared to 388. if im going 10.5 on 388 should i get the same loft on XV?

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Hi Chris,

Only 9 holes admittedly (as I just didn;t see the point of using it after that) and 2 range sessions but I've never encountered a driver that was such an unnatural fit for me. Again, I need to stress, its a dog for ME and I'm happy it is working well for so many.

I'm not inclined to give it more time as I have given it more time that any other new club ever and if I did and it starts to work... same distance as my 435 at best but I have to change so much in my setup... again, not for ME.

The Bolds however is another story. More pleasant ending :-)

9 holes to adjust and dial into a driver is the thing.

I'm like 8-10 rounds into my bolds and don't have them dialed in like my Toyo's were. 5 rounds into my XV it isn't dialed in either.

That's fine it's a dog for you but what is it that makes it perform that way ? I think there is a lot of value in finding out. I know im curious.

[driverhead]

I tee up the T 388 and XV as I would all drivers. Both 10.5 I use the same formula. 1/2 of the ball above the crown. Both stock shafts have been working great. The XV is a bit more workable, but not quite the rollout of the T 388. . The only adjustments Ive made to both clubs is that I have added 3 grams of lead tape on the back of each club. I only have 1 round in with the XV so far, The ball speed is faster with the T 388 (when pured) , but overall distance is very close between the 2. (MOre carry with the XV) Today the FWs were swamp grass due to the rain we had last night. The T388 is freakish in its rollout on wet fws. It hydroplanes thru the water if you hit a stinger. The XV is more subtle, a quiet 7 to 10 yards roll on lush-wet fws. (BETTER THAN THE HIT AND BACKUP OF SEVERAL DRIVERS) i also think the XV has a bit more fade bias. Power fades were the shot of choice. I normally use a 2 driver setup as a rule. I use a draw based driver on holes that trouble is on the right, and a neutral to slight fade biased driver when trouble is on the left or a hole sets up for a draw. Last years GLORIE has been my draw based driver of choice since last season. I can see the T 388 bumping it out. The XV is my new neutral to fade based driver.

Edited May 9, 2013 by driverhead

[Robb40]

thanks for the review arthur. with all the positive about the 388 i really want to try it...but at the same time i can't possibly imagine anything out driving my 435/quadra wbq.

Mike is the quadra shaft a better fit for the 435? Why? More distance or better feel?

[chiromikey]

Mike is the quadra shaft a better fit for the 435? Why? More distance or better feel?

for me the quadra wbq is the best shaft i've found so far for the 435. the 435 rewards you the more you go after it and the wbq is the first shaft that EASILY keeps up. i hit every fw today and when i decide i need an extra 15yds and swing for the fences it still keeps me right on line without me worrying about it.

as far as distance, i think the ly-02 can probably stay on the wbq's heels but i have to worry about an occassional pull/hook...and wouldn't dream about hitting a fade. the wbq feels slightly better than the ly-02 but not quite as good as the original fex, but it is more accurate and workable than both.

[wmclarenf1]

9 holes to adjust and dial into a driver is the thing. I'm like 8-10 rounds into my bolds and don't have them dialed in like my Toyo's were. 5 rounds into my XV it isn't dialed in either. That's fine it's a dog for you but what is it that makes it perform that way ? I think there is a lot of value in finding out. I know im curious.

I know where you are coming from. The Bold I can see the potential almost immediately. The 388.... again... not for me and like I said, never had to adjust my setup so much for any club and that for ME is just wrong. My curiosity with the 388 is ended.