Dave, Mike (can't recall his last name), the owner of SMT posts regularly on a couple other golf-related sites and has offered special introductory deals to the members. The reports back have generally been very favorable to the quality, feel and finish of the SMT heads. The heads reported most on have been the Baltusral, the Shinnecock, and the Carnoustie.
I have a 9.5º Baltusral and can tell you it is one of the most solid feeling heads I've hit, but most definitely has a fade bias, despite setting up very closed. It also hit the ball lower than most large headed Ti drivers of that loft, probably much like the SRV II, seems to. The reports I've seen from others confirms this. The Carnoustie has been reported as having the lowest trajectory of them all and is the least forgiving of the line (and the smallest at 300cc). The Shinnecock has been reported as the easiest to hit, with no fade bias, the highest ballflight of the three, and the most forgiving due to it's size and longer heel to toe dimension. The MV2 hasn't had much reported, that I recall. I don't know if the closed face on the MV2 is due to the reports on "fade bias" or just due to the larger head volume and perhaps increased heel to toe length. I would say that the Shinnecock is a safest bet for you, but Mike has been pretty prompt and will likely give you and answer if you ask for advice via email. Mike says they will soon have some new models available, that include at least a 370cc and a 455cc model. They are supposedly made using a new "Vacuum Forged" technology (which will make them more expensive, as I recall) and a patent applied for face design. Bodies are made in Japan, sent to Taiwan for production & finishing and shipped to Hong Kong for delivery. I think he is supposed to have samples in his hands by Tuesday the 13th, but I don't know when they will be available for sale. Dan [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave Tutelman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 9:09 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: ShopTalk: new driver > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dan Neubecker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, August 12, 2002 8:31 AM > > > > Based solely on comments I have read in various forums, I > would say that > the > > SMT Shinnecock has gotten by far the best overall reviews > in their line. > > Most of the SMT heads are reported to have a fade bias. > > Thanks for the heads-up, Dan. > My swing tends to have a fade bias as well, which is perhaps > why I find the > SRV-II so forgiving. I don't need a fade bias in the clubhead as well. > > Anybody have any specific info on the MV2? John, do you have > any insight > into any directional bias for the head? > > I just looked at the specs on the web site, and maybe have a > theory about > the reviews Dan reports: of the three original SMT heads (Shinnecock, > Baltusrol, and Carnoustie), the Shinnecock has the most > closed face angle. > The MV2 is a newer model, with an even more closed face > angle, so maybe the > reports Dan cites are specifically for the original three heads. Dan? > > Thanks. > DaveT > > > >
