Tried: OnOff Plus 2006

It is not like I could walk in to GolfSmith and pick up an OnOff driver and talk about it. It is such a rare incident that I could try an OnOff driver. The model tried was an old stock model, R flex, 10* degree and D0.5 balance.

The first impression, SMOOTH KICK : MP-606D shaft is felt stiffer than average regular flex. It felt tight, responsive and accelerating. It is a very good feeling that I hardly get from stock club. Shaft itself is impressive enough that if Daiwa allows its shafts to be sold separately, it will be a big hit. The quality of the head is beautifully constructed. Most importantly, the sound is crystal, in the audible range where it is not loud like FT-i and not sharp like Honma, but just nice.

Overall feedback on this club is really good. It is one of the rare circumstances where you like it much on the first trial.

Launch Angle / Spin Ratio

According to the Golf World this past week, Tiger Woods’ swing speed is around 124 mph, fastest among the tour professionals averaging at 110 mph. Tiger's ball speed is 189 mph, again, fastest among the pros at average of 164 mph, yet his launch angle is at 7.6* (average 11.2*) with back spin of 3144 rpm (average 2633 rpm). Tiger’s tee-off drive will create the ultimate impression of power driving where the ball dashing out like a bullet and climb higher gradually, then die out eventually.

According to the Analyst, Tiger's driving method is the third to the least efficient among tour pros, using high-launch / back-spin measuring ratio. In other words, the efficiency measured today is launching the ball optimally higher and reducing back spin significantly. Tiger's driving totally contradicts this concept while he could achieve 20 yds longer his 292 yds average distance, if he choose to launch the ball higher, argued the analyst.

Tiger's comment to Nike: build him a ball with highest back spin (Nike Platinum) so he could attack aggressively around the green (ever seen his ball back spinned from the bunker?) and it is his job to control the ball's launch angle.

Henrik Stenson, on the other hand, led the tour's most efficient launch/spin ratio with 311 yds drive. Anthony Kim, the new young tour pro, drive the ball 295 yds at the Chrysler championship, had ball distance-to-apex at 200 feet while the average range at 175 feet. Bubba Watson, again, another long hitter, ball speed at 182 mph and averaging over 300 yds drive launch the ball significantly higher.

Thus, besides focusing to create back spin off the bunker, it would be optimal to launch the ball higher, drive with least back spin and maybe possible to reach most par 5 in 2 from men’s tee.

Impact Balance Point

Optimal Scenario 1

A normal rod with distributed static weight will have a balance point in the center of the rod.

When a load A is applied at one end with distance X to center, a same Load B at the other end with distance X to center will be needed to balance this rod.

This situation is under the condition where:
1. Load A = Load B
2. Static weight is uniformly distributed across the rod

Scenario 2

In the case of a golf club, where static weight is not normally distributed across the club, there is shaft weight, grip weight and head weight.

Balance point of the club is usually at a point where it is closer to the club head. Measurement of swing weight inherits this concept to measure the balance of the club and express it in unit fulcrum.

In the actual usage of a golf club, we usually grip and apply force where Load B is. Under the off-center balance of the golf club, it is ideal that if Load A’ is where the counter force should be. However, with different set up of shaft, grip and head weight, it is very possible that an imaginative Load A extended outside of club head is where the real counter force is.

Load A will indicate that:
1. This golf club is not efficient; the full amount of Load B is not efficient transferred to Load A’
2. Feel of impact is less than ideal, where an ideal feel of impact at Load A’ will provide steady and balanced response.

How to measure distance X and X’ become a difficult challenge, and I will bet most of the OEM drivers sold in consumer market will not have Load A’ but Load A instead.