From: samg@dadd.ti.com (Samuel G. Goins,SEG,)
Subject: Re: Wide-body drivers
Reply-To: samg@dadd.ti.com
Organization: Texas Instruments, Inc.
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 14:27:33 GMT

In article 3591@wvnvms.wvnet.edu, un037002@wvnvms.wvnet.edu () writes:
>
>	There are so many wide body drivers in the market nowadays. 
>Bridgestone Whopper, Judge, Hammer, Yamaha, 2001......, I just can't name them
>all.  I doubt if these flash looking sticks can put your balls a few yards
>farther than those traditional drivers like Wilson staff,Ping woods. 
>	If you have a big driver please share your expierences. I still haven't
>bought my new driver yet, I'd like to hear more before I put the money down.

I used to hit a Taylor Made Tour-Burner Plus driver.  I generally hit it long,
with the occasional bizarre hook, or possibly a toe shot push.  No big deal.
I LOVE to drive, I'm the idiot that would take a driver on a 3-club tourney...
So I spend too much time looking at drivers...  I tried a "wide-body" clone,
ACER 2000 if you want specifics.  I hit 100 balls at the driving rangw with it.
The first 25 balls never got more than 10 feet off the ground, real worm-burners.
I was getting frustrated.  This club was a good 2-3" longer than my other driver,
so I decided that I had to do something more than just stand a little farther
away.  Eventually, I adopted a "stick your butt out like Arsenio" profile, which
enabled me to crush the ball consistently.  2 problems; this was a different 
swing than I would use for the rest of my clubs, which I considered bad.  And, 
my back was very sore the next morning...  8)   So I gave up on monster drivers
for awhile.   I love to look at the latest "achievements" in wide-body's, and I
now have a Killer Whale from Wilson.  It's not much longer, and the head is
actually lighter than my old driver, even though it's 50% bigger!  I can hit it
with the same "old faithful" swing as my other clubs.  
OK, now for your question:
Advantages:  Larger (obviously) sweet spot.  Meaning that I can "miss" hitting 
the ball dead center by much more than before while still getting decent results.
Longer distances, both on average and peak.  I do get more distance than before.
Lastly, and perhaps most important, is it's a conversation piece.  It's fun to
walk up to the tee with this huge monster, like you said, "it looks bad".
"Vain, of course I'm vain.  That's why I comb my hair the way I do, play the way
I do, stay in shape the way I do" oops, wrong commercial, I digress....
DisAdvantages:  None.  Just kidding.  I have a harder time putting "action" on
the ball.  That is, when I need to hit a strong fade (dogleg right), it is harder
for me to make it fade (sorry, I'm a "drawer" not a "fader").  I used to be able
to open my stance and fade, but with this monster, I also have to come across 
the ball, which turns my fade into a distance robbing slice from hell...
Other than that, I love the thing.  
As for which one's right for you, that's a tough one.  If you can find a shop 
that let's you "demo" the club, do it.  Otherwise, it's up to you figure out
what club "looks the baddest" but suits your swing.  It's no good to look "bad"
on the tee-box before you hit, and then shank the ball off the tee...  8)
If you play with friends that have a wide-body, try hitting it every now and
then.  This will get you a feel for the club, and probably screw up your round
at the same time...  8)  Happy Hunting!  Oh, and don't try to "KILL" the ball
now that you have a bigger club, try to swing as usual...

---
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