The No. 1s: Adjustable & Non-Adjustable Drivers
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CREDIT: Schecter Lee
Cleveland Launcher Ultralite SL290
Michael Holland | Age: 57 | Handicap: 13 | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 200 lbs. | Occupation: Insurance Investigator | Residence:
Mahopac, N.Y. | OLD DRIVER: 400cc titanium head, 9.5°, Fujikura graphite shaft, stiff flex, 44.5" length | NEW DRIVER: Cleveland Launcher Ultralite SL290, 9°, Miyazaki C. Kua 43 graphite shaft, stiff flex, 45.75" length
FITTER: Tom Sialiano, Director of Instruction, GolfTEC, White Plains, N.Y.: "Michael is a strong guy and would definitely benefit from the new technology [longer, lighter shafts and larger, more stable heads] in today's drivers. With his old club, he spins the ball too much for someone with his head speed and doesn't maximize carry distance. With SL290, we get launch up and spin down and significantly increase head and ball speeds. SL290 is 30 grams lighter than his club and has a longer shaft by 1.25"."
RESULT: Longer and lighter works in Michael's case—his average
clubhead speed increases by 4 mph and his ball speed by 6 mph. This leads to an 18-yard increase in total distance. Off-center hits travel much farther than they did with his previous driver due to the larger head size (460cc vs. 400cc) and bigger, more efficient hitting area.
Michael Holland: "I've lost close to 20 yards over the past 10 years. Some of the drop is due to age, some of it to not playing as much. The Cleveland SL290 feels more solid at impact and it sounds better. It's also very light—I can take a lighter grip because I'm not fighting the club, and it helps me make a bigger turn."
