Mike, Excellent post! That's the kind of empirical data I am looking for. No need to worry about me using Rifles. I used them years ago and felt like I was using a telephone pole.
Another interesting question comes to mind... Why not make them all the same length as well? Cub ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Pogor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 4:08 PM Subject: RE: ShopTalk: Flatline > Cub, > I've used flat-line clubs for the past ten years. My hdcp was 4 when I > changed, and now hovers between 0 and 2. It is not all because of the clubs, > but I have been generally very happy with the feel and performance of my > clubs. > Some general observations of the differences: > 1. The long irons are stiffer than a traditional set. I have found this to > actually be one of the bigger advantages. I feel that I have more control > with my long irons, I can swing them without worrying about the directional > aspect of the shots. I do not feel like I have lost much, if any, distance. > I would agree, however, that forged blades certainly offer less forgiveness > using this system! Generally, I use forged cavity back iron heads for > myself. > 2. The short irons are more flexible than a traditional set. The advantage > that I have found is that slight misshits are more forgiving. With a > traditional shaft flex, if I slightly misshit a shot with a wedge, I would > lose more distance than I now do with my flat-line clubs. The disadvantage > of flat-lining, however, is the fact that the short irons do tend to go > higher, and generate more spin. Into the wind, there is more of a problem of > ballooning the ball, because of the extra spin. Knockdown shots are a little > more difficult to hit. On balance, though, I think that the benefits are > worth the disadvantages. > Through experimentation, I have found that the Rifle shafts seem to work > best for me, because I find them a little easier to knock down, when I nee d > to. One thing that I must mention, however, is that the Rifle shaft plays > about 8-9 cpm stiffer than a corresponding Dynamic shaft. In other words, if > you decide that a Dynamic shaft playing at 300 cpm is good for you, then you > should build the Rifle shafts at about 291-292 cpm. > The other main advantage of flat-lining, in my opinion, is that it > encourages you to swing the same way with all clubs. With a traditional set, > I felt that I had to swing my long irons more slowly and smoothly because of > their additional flex, and felt that I had to be more aggressive with the > short irons, in order to get the shafts to flex sufficiently. That is no > longer the case with flat-line clubs. > If I were to experiment further, I could see possibly stiffening the short > irons slightly, just so that it would be easier to keep the ball down. > Generally, though, I am happy enough with the benefits of flat-lining to > leave well enough alone. > Hope this helps, > Mike > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Steve "Cub" Culbreth > Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 8:22 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: ShopTalk: Flatline > > > I've discounted flat-line freq matching in the past but had a little time to > ponder it lately. Besides the fact that the short irons may hit longer and > higher, wouldn't you lose control all the way around? I mean, using a 4cpm > slope we try to maintain the feel and playing flex throughout the set. If > you flat-line a set based on your current 7-Iron freq, because you hit it > the best, wouldn't you end up with long irons that are way too stiff and > short irons way to soft? Seems a no-brainer to me, but I have to wonder. > > Have any of you played a flat-line set? Have any of you played a set with > only 2cpm of slope throughout? > > I'd like to hear your thoughts before I get too tempted to test the > principle. > > TIA, > > Cub > > >
