At a recent demo day I had the opportunity to measure a TaylorMade R9 SuperTri against a Callaway FTiZ iMix. What is unique about this test is that the shaft in both drivers is the same Mitsubishi Fubuki Alpha, same weight 63grams, same Stiff flex, same loft at 10.5* and both drivers had open face angles within .5* of each other. And, the same golfer used both drivers. The shaft in the TM was tipped 1/2", the shaft in the Callaway was tipped 3/4". Tipping is necessary with both designs to prevent a softer than desired flex from occuring. So, the only real variable is the clubhead itself.  

I do not work for Callaway or TaylorMade. I have never worked for either company. In the last 10 years, I have played more TM drivers than Callaway drivers. I still have a 'Pittsburgh Persimmon' TM driver from eons ago. Lastly, I don't receive a penny in advertising fees from any manufacturer.

Just a couple days ago Mitsubishi released the latest installment to the now formidable Fubuki lineup. If our test is any indicator, the Fubuki AX Fairway Wood shaft may be the best thing since sliced bread. Perhaps the most difficult club to get right, the 3-wood poses some unique challenges. Used off a tee and most golfers can outdrive their drivers. Used off the deck and ugly things tend to happen. To a limited extent, low-profile heads helped, albeit at the expense of playability in the rough. The fundamental question for this review is whether or not a shaft can make a difference and, if so, how much of a difference. Testing used a stock Callaway 15* Diablo Edge Tour 3-wood and a 15* Diablo Edge Tour 3-wood with a Stiff 75g Fubuki FW shaft. The Diablo Edge Tour is longer and straighter than last years model, so it presents a reasonable  test reference for comparing an aftermarket shaft. Winds were gusting quite a bit into the golfer, so the Normalization function was used on TrackMan to get a better idea of expected distance under calmer conditions.

First, a disclaimer. I am not, nor have I ever been an employee of Callaway Golf. In fact, over the decades that I have played golf I have only owned a handful of Callaway clubs. Never a set of irons. That said, my interest was piqued a few days ago when I happened to check the head weight of a Callaway Black Series Tour Design putter and it weighed exactly 350 grams. On a digital laboratory scale that is accurate to 1/10 gram. So, I was curious whether this was a fluke, or representative of perhaps very good quality control.

Yesterday I received a set of X-Prototype irons that I had ordered standard lie, loft and length. If you don't know what they look like, here's a picture - suffice it to say that Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els play these.

Here are some test results for some junior golfers who volunteered to test the Fubuki Tour, Fubuki Alpha, and Fubuki Tour in X-Stiff. We knew before starting the test that the Stiff flex Fubuki Tour and Fubuki Alpha were going to be too soft for their swing wpeeds, but we wanted to see if the Fubuki Alpha was an improvement on the original Fubuki Tour. Using Callaway’s iMix system, we were able to document not only the improved performance of the Fubuki Alpha, but also what happens when a shaft is too soft. Both Fubuki’s were Stiff flex, tipped ¾”. The Whiteboard was an X-Stiff tipped ¾”. Clubhead was an FT9 Tour 8.5* or 9.5*.