“THE DRIVER MAY BE THE RACE CAR, BUT THE SHAFT IS THE ENGINE”
As soon as my friend and shaft wizard, Steven Hahn, spoke those illuminating words to me, I was determined to find the right shaft and driver for my swing. Since this is a tale of unrequited love, on Valentine’s Day I appropriately visited the Fujikura Golf shaft company headquarters in Vista, CA. As in all cases of love, pain often lurks in the wings. After spending two hours pounding balls into a screen under the intense scrutiny of fitting specialist Marshall Thompson, I emerged beaten but unbowed. What’s a few blisters when you’re chasing your dream? Assisted by an array of monitors, cameras, lights and other devices, he analyzed every part of my swing, the club, shaft and ball I was using and whether my shoes were tied too tightly.
We began with a little talk about the kind of game I have, what I was looking for in a driver, if I have any serious health issues that would affect my swing, any serious psychological flaws that could appear during torture. I warmed up with a few swings of a 6-iron, feeling a mixture of confidence and terror about what was to come. My precious golf swing, cultivated over decades with all its glorious flaws, was about to be scrutinized under the harsh light of reality. Then the moment of truth arrives – Marshall hands me my own driver, with a standard factory shaft, regular flex and 9.5˚ loft, referred to as the “gamer”, and asks me to hit some balls as a baseline for comparison with other equipment. He asked what balls I prefer, since they have drawers full of all the major brands and models…