Testimonials
DJ Trahan
DJ’s club fitting was with Chip Usher, of Usher Golf in his club fitting studio. Yes, this is an indoor fitting session, hitting into a net and using a launch monitor. I am not totally in sync with launch monitors, especially outdoors, because all the data is captured within a few feet of the ball coming off the club. All the data produces is basically arrived at through mathematical calculations on the few feet of ball flight the monitor captures to determine the launch angle, spin rate, ball speed, flight height and arc, and flight shape and distance of carry. Launch monitors, when used outdoors, do not have the capability to account for the external effects of wind and other variables that can affect the ball flight. In other words, outdoors there is more room for error than indoors, but the data definitely is good for evaluating and making more informed decisions that will be checked and validated or dismissed by the player hitting the clubs. We can never discount the feel and preferences of the player in what he/she wants to see and feel. That is the final deciding factor.
What I liked about Chip’s monitor is that his captures 3 ball positions as compared to many that capture only 2 positions. I think it is obvious that one more set of numbers from the 3rd ball position gives more accurate data. And, since all the data is captured in a few feet off the club, hitting into a screen indoors does not alter the numbers or change the results. They may be even more accurate because of a more controlled environment. The only thing missing is seeing the ball flight to add to the player’s evaluation of each shot.
We Fit DJ’s Irons
During DJ’s club fitting, we found that his shafts were close but there was something better. I have always had a Surgism for the term close. “Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and atomic warfare,” If you want to be the best at anything you do, you need to be spot on. In golf that means “spot on” with your swing and your golf clubs.
With the woods settled, we turned to checking out DJ’s irons. My concern with the irons was that they were too stiff, which is just the opposite I had suspected with his woods. I thought they were too soft or flexible. So our club fitter, Chip, had DJ start out hitting his 3 iron. After around 10 hits, he said things looked good and had him change to his 5 iron. After around the 5th shot, he stopped and had all of us come over and look at the screen and pointed to the box that listed the data results of all the shots. He said that the last 5 shots were all within around the exact same speed, and within 1 to 3 yards the same distance, and would all be inside the leather, 3 feet or closer. He said that all the other clubs were really close but these numbers were unbelievably close. He then pointed to the graph that shows the flight in different colored lines for each ball. He noted that all the lines were virtually the same, laid on top of each other exactly the same in all aspects. He added that that was some unbelievably pure and consistent ball striking and ball flight.
DJ and The Surge Get Fitted
DJ, as far as I know, has not had a complete personal club fitting since back in college. Even being on the Titleist Professional Staff, they have built his clubs based on what he showed up with, measuring them and matching them. They have done a good job. He has hit the ball well but not scored well and has fallen back in the world golf rankings and PGA Tour money list. And, this year, he did not make it to Round 3 of the FedEX cup playoffs. That means he is not going to Atlanta’s East Lake for the final and the Tour Championship and is missing all the guaranteed money and bonus money just for getting there.
A month or so ago, he cracked that his “Gamer Diver Face” (gamer indicates it is in his bag as compared to his back-ups) and the new one, came with a new shaft. New as in new brand name. He had been using a real old version of a shaft that dated all he way back to college and before that, and maybe getting it was now difficult to impossible. He also had his 3 wood and 5 wood shafted with this new band of shaft.
——————————————————————————–
October 13 by CenterCut on Golf Opinions! For whatever reason finding the perfect 3-wood seems to take more time and effort than any other club in the bag. For the past two seasons, I’ve played with a Sonartec ss-03 14* w/fuji vp80S. For me the ss-03 had the classic good looks, great feel, and controlled trajectory. The only downsides from my perspective was hitting hit out of moderate/deep rough or needing a high trajectory from a tight lie.
I talked with Chip Usher regarding my concerns with the ss-03 and he suggested the 14* ss-07. This time just to try something different I went with the fuji 869S. I have always liked the VP 80 and am sure this too would have worked well in the ss-07. For those of you who have worked with Chip before you are all to familiar with what I’m about to say, the club arrived to spec (43″ and D-3) and the craftsmanship on the finished club was immaculate. It makes all the difference in the world to get the shaft, flex, tipping, swing weight, and length correct for the club to fit you. Chip will walk through all of this with you.
The comparison. With regard to head size, the two are almost identical except the ss-03 face depth is greater by slightly more than 1/16″. The other dimensions as to length and depth are almost identical. Aside from the difference in face height, the other single biggest difference is the contour of the soles of the two clubs. The ss-03 has a more pronounced contour from the heel to the bottom to the toe than the ss-07. Consequently, the ss-07 sits lower to the ground. I should also mention the difference in color. While the ss-03 is jet black, the ss-07 is grey/black with what appears to be a more durable finish. Now for performance. Off the tee, I found the ss-03 to be slightly longer due to the lower trajectory and increased roll. Off the deck, I found the distance to be similar with the ss-07 being more friendly with a higher trajectory. I found the same to be true from the rough too. With regard to dispersion, I give the ss-07 the edge. The ss-07 just seemed easier to control than the ss-03. Overall, the ss-07 has overcome the weaknesses of the ss-03 and is firmly in the bag. This is a 3-wood with performance, looks and feel. It’s a winner.
CenterCut – Indiana
——————————————————————————–
Chip,
The clubs arrived late this afternoon and were put into play straight away with 14-holes at my home course. Firstly, the workmanship is superb as always and everything is exactly as I wished.
Secondly the performance, and although it’s early days I can tell a huge difference. The Nippon shaft is something else, incredibly responsive for the weight, stable and exceptionally long. You can really feel the weight of the shaft but it kicks like graphite yet remains tight in terms of dispersion, off the tee and deck. As for the SS-03/PI, I am genuinely amazed at the solidity of this combination, the flight and length is ideal and exactly as you described. I know it’s early days with my new equipment but first impressions last and mean the most and straight from the get-go I know I’m not going to have to try and get used to this set-up. (The driver also is first rate).
Thanks so much Chip, I will be writing a review on G.O and GEA and will be sure to name check Chip and Putt. I glad I put my trust in you and will continue to do so whenever I need re-shafting or more Sonartec’s and will always recommend you. The postage and import duty we have to pay here in the UK is worth it.
Wishing you continued success and thanking you for your time, patience and expertise.
Best wishes & Good Golf,
Stuart Harper in the UK
——————————————————————————–
Hats of to Chip Usher I just wanted to give a hats off to Usher Golf (chipandputt.com) for their great work. Just got back my second reshaft job (a YS 8.1 in a Steelhead Strong 3 wood) and the quality is once again first rate. They also do an excellent job in packing their clubs to prevent shipping damage. I guess it pays to do business with the best.
EFNEF – Athens, Georgia
——————————————————————————–
Ditto Same for me Chip just did a 983E Speeder 869 reshaft and the work is flawless. Thanks Chip and I have a few more to come your way.
Superreverb – Dallas, Texas
——————————————————————————–
Same here; just had Chip reshaft my VFT Pro Series 13 and 17 degree woods with the Nippon Pro 95 steel shafts. Quality of work was excellent and a very fast turn around.
Don – Orlando, florida
——————————————————————————–
HE IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!! He put a Aldila 75 Proto in my 320 tour and the workmanship, service, packing and turnaround time could not have been better!
Mr.TA1
——————————————————————————–
Chip also did a top notch job on an install of an Aldila 65 NV in my 300 Tour and it rocks, see my descriptions in the NV posts.
He also has the best deals on the TRC FWs I could find.
mattg -
——————————————————————————–
Amen to all of the above!
Chip recently put a Fuji Speeder 652 in my TM 300 Tour.
Outstanding work and prompt service as well!!
He’s numero uno in my book!
knothead63 – Coastal Empire, Georgia
