Interchangeable shafts/heads...coming to a shop near you!

[Bulls9999]

I argued this point with my club pro. I mentioned that USGA rules in 2008 allow for use of drivers with detachable shafts whereas before the only detachables were screw-in weights used on drivers and putters. There's 1 or 2 little-known named companies have had detachable driver shafts/heads, but since they weren't allowed, they were about as popular as buying a non-conforming driver. Now that USGA rules have allowed for interchangeable shaft systems, it looks like Callaway is stepping up to the challenge.

Bag Chatter » Callaway Embraces Adjustability With I-Mix

Callaway launches I-MIX custom-fit technology - GOLFmagic News

I argued the 'sense' of this to my club pro. That many higher handicappers probably don't change shafts like the well honed low handicappers, and that they probably just change out the entire driver, perhaps waiting longer to do so than if they could (less expensively) change out the shaft to something that suits their game better. I couldn't argue much without there actually being an active market for it....now that there is, we'll see if this takes off or not. As long as the technology is sound, why wouldn't it not be a 'plus' for golf interchangeability....perhaps the driver-shaft section in Golf Galaxy-type stores will be busier than it normally is. I can see the shaft companies licking their chops with the hopes of selling more shaft.

[Butter Knife Guy]

To call this true custom fitting is a joke. It's a way to sell more product at inflated prices to the average consumer, plain and simple. If you get a true fitting done by a reputable club fitter (note: this doesn't mean the floor guys in a Nevada Bobs or Golf Galaxy or what have you, that will "fit" you for what they have in stock, not necessarily what works best for you.) then you should already have the optimal shaft for your game in that head - what would ever tempt you to trade it out for the runner-up?

The only potential positive I can see is that in the past, the FT-5 and -i heads were a difficult reshaft, given how weak the bond between the titanium and composite was. If you can now reshaft the screw fixture instead of the head itself, it may remove the headache of cutting and drilling the old shaft out.

[Bulls9999]

Your personal opinion is accepted. However, I was going more after opinions of how this technology will likely do in the general market, much the way an investor looks at the broad picture of a technology trend and invests ahead of the curve, regardless of their own interest/lack-of interest in a particular technology. I guess you don't think it will find a place in the market. For example, look how widely implemented putter and driver interchangeable weighting has come. I recall many posts suggested 'gimmick' when these were first introduced.

Originally Posted by Butter Knife Guy

To call this true custom fitting is a joke. It's a way to sell more product at inflated prices to the average consumer, plain and simple. If you get a true fitting done by a reputable club fitter (note: this doesn't mean the floor guys in a Nevada Bobs or Golf Galaxy or what have you, that will "fit" you for what they have in stock, not necessarily what works best for you.) then you should already have the optimal shaft for your game in that head - what would ever tempt you to trade it out for the runner-up?

The only potential positive I can see is that in the past, the FT-5 and -i heads were a difficult reshaft, given how weak the bond between the titanium and composite was. If you can now reshaft the screw fixture instead of the head itself, it may remove the headache of cutting and drilling the old shaft out.

[chopdonkey]

Taylormade has a CGB driver with 3 shafts available in '08 too Get out your checkbooks as it will be about 1k. It does come with a Whiteboard, Matrix, and some other decent shaft.

Wanted to add that I think pricing will hinder the IMix. Did you see the shafts they are offering and the price range? The price range was from 180 - 300 for the shafts and the one that caught my attention was one of the shafts listed was the NV that can be had for 65.00 new. Then add in the cost of the head at 500 bucks and it makes more sense to just order another driver.

The only way this makes sense in my mind is if all manufacturers came to an agreement and had a standard system of how the heads come on and off - that way you could keep your favorite shatf and experiment with different heads. But this will never happen as the manufacturers want to force you into brand loyalty

Another question I have in regards to the Taylormade 3 pack of shafts is that they are 50,60, and 70 gram shafts so you would have swingweight differences if all of the shafts were the same length. plus - how many times have you been standing at your trunk thinking - gee based on todays conditions it would be nice if I had a whiteboard in the big stick.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company has introduced the r7 CGB MAX Limited, an advanced new driver engineered to flawlessly deliver the next level of driver adjustability by incorporating, into one club, TaylorMade Movable Weight Technology (MWT) and TaylorMade SelectFit Technology. With nine changeable weights and three changeable shafts included, the r7 CGB MAX Limited offers an astounding range of launch conditions.

"Because different shafts promote different launch conditions, TaylorMade SelectFit Technology gives golfers the power to customize the driver and optimize the character of their shots by changing shafts," said Sean Toulon, TaylorMade's Executive Vice President, Innovation and Product Creation. "When you combine that with the shot-changing influence of TaylorMade's Movable Weight Technology, you'll find that the r7 CGB MAX Limited gives you more control over the shape and trajectory of your shots than any other driver."

The r7 CGB MAX Limited is a "Tour Van in a Box" that allows golfers to enjoy a customization experience similar to that offered to TaylorMade's Tour Staff professionals, which has helped make TaylorMade the #1 Driver on Tour since 2001. The r7 CGB MAX Limited kit comes in a beautifully designed box and includes a newly-developed titanium clubhead with three movable weight ports; three shafts, with distinctly different launch properties; two shaft-securing bolts; one 40 inch-pound torque wrench; nine movable weights and one headcover.

Each of the high-end, tour-proven shafts that come with the r7 CGB MAX Limited driver feature a distinctively different design to deliver a distinctly different type of performance. TaylorMade SelectFit Technology was developed to give golfers the ability to easily use these different shafts with the same clubhead. The shafts are secured to the clubhead with a single bolt, using the specially designed r7 CGB MAX Limited torque wrench.

The Fujikura Rombax shaft is standard-weight (75 grams) with a medium-firm tip, and is engineered to deliver low spin and a medium launch angle. It features Fujikura's renowned Rombax technology for increased stability and consistency.

The Mitsubishi Diamana White Board is lightweight (65 grams) with a firm tip and mid-section, and a softer butt-section. It's engineered to deliver exceptional stability through impact, reduced spin, a lower launch angle and excellent feel.

The Matrix Ozik XCon is ultra-light (55 grams) with a medium-soft tip, and is engineered to deliver added kick through impact and to promote a high launch angle and low spin-rate. It incorporates Matrix X-Axis Control to lower torque and increase stability.

In general, heavier shafts promote increased accuracy and control for players with high swing speeds, while lighter shafts promote faster swing speed for increased distance. Firm-tipped shafts can help aggressive swingers to attain a lower ball flight and discourage a right-to-left trajectory, both of which promote added control and accuracy. Medium- and softer-tipped shafts can help smoother swingers launch the ball on a higher trajectory.

"Within minutes, players can change shafts depending on the time of year, the state of their swing, weather or course conditions, or any other reason they feel will best serve their game," said Toulon. "What's critical is that TaylorMade SelectFit Technology gives them an easy and reliable way to switch from one shaft to another."

The r7 CGB MAX Limited also features TaylorMade's Movable Weight Technology (MWT), with three weight ports in the clubhead and a selection of nine weights – two 1-gram, a 4-gram, a 6-gram, an 8-gram, a 10-gram, a 12-gram, a 14-gram and a 16-gram – to provide a wide range of center of gravity (CG) locations to promote a variety of different shot shapes. TaylorMade testing indicates that the r7 CGB MAX Limited's Movable Weight Technology makes possible more than 6 millimeters of CG movement between the heel and toe, and it promotes up to 33 yards of trajectory change from side to side. Additionally, the multitude of launch condition options made possible by the broad array of included weights, combined with the choice of three shafts, makes it easier than ever for golfers to dial in longer and more accurate tee shots. The nine included weights allow for 357 CG locations. When you multiply that by three shafts, the result is an astonishing 1,071 possible sets of launch conditions.

[OnePutt]

I have a new Alpha driver with two shafts. The main reason to have this driver with two shafts, is to be able to switch the shaft, and change the ball flight to fit the playing conditions. You don't have to take a good shaft out and put a worse one in, you just have to pick a low ball flight shaft vs. a high ball flight shaft. The pros do the same thing when it's windy and they want to keep the ball low and out of the wind. Now you can do the same thing without having more than one driver. Put a high bend point shaft in and play a low ball flight driver. Put a low bend point shaft in, and play a high ball flight driver. Same weight shaft means same swing weight. If you want a mid ball flight driver, you can have a mid bend point shaft, and 3 options to pick from. For most golfers, it's easier to pick a shaft for the conditions, than it is to learn how to hit a high or low drive. Most golfers have enough problems learning how to hit the ball well with a driver, let alone two or three differnt ball flights on command. This changable shaft driver thing may not be for everyone, but it does work. And the same can be said for movable weights. I think MWT is more of a gimmick than it is useful technology. Instead of changing the screw weights to fix a swing fault, why not learn to hit the ball correctly in the first place? Draw weighted drivers are all the craze right now, but you can take a lesson and learn how to hit the ball straight and not hit a big ugly slice if you want to. Or you can buy a draw bias driver instead. Your choice.