712 MB vs. 712 CB

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By Bubba

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  • 5 Replies
  1. Bubba

    Bubba
    Frisco, TX

    I am a picker/very shallow divot taker of the golf ball. I also hit the ball very high which is not very conducive to the winds here in Texas. I currently play the 710 CB, 1 degree flat, with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts. They were fit for me a year and a half ago by the Titleist Tour Van. While they have helped me bring the ball flight down, I would still like to hit the ball lower. We recently had a Titleist demo day at my club in which I hit the 712 CB and 712 MB, 2 degrees flat, with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Theoretically, I should hit the ball lower with a stiffer/heavier shaft correct? I hit them both equally well. I am leaning toward the 712 MB because of the recommendation on your web site suggesting the club is better for pickers of the ball. Please explain? Also, I am considering strengthening the lofts of the clubs by 2 degrees to hit the ball lower/farther. Will this change the playing characteristics to the point that the 712 MB is no longer a good fit? It has also been suggested that I consider hot stepping (9 iron shaft in PW, and so on) the clubs in lieu of strengthening the lofts? I'd like your thoughts on this as well. Please advise...
  2. I am a shallow picker as well and would be interested in this answer as I am about to make a purchase for the 712 series. I would say a swing adjustment will bring the ball down moreso than a shaft, club recommendation. If you have the proper swing, you can use any club in the world and hit it right. For amateurs, the club can only do so much.
  3. Kelly M

    Kelly M
    La Grande, OR

    First, I'm a "picker" also, and I play the 712MB.  The MB has a slightly narrower sole than the CB.  Pickers don't need a wider sole, as the wider sole helps "diggers" not dig so much.  When I was fit for clubs, I didn't notice a lot of difference in feel with the CB from the MB, but I thought my launch was higher - I wanted a lower trajectory - plus I felt like I could work the MB better.  The heavier shaft *should* help with keeping the ball flight lower.  Stiffer generally = less spin = lower flight, so the X100 should be a tiny bit lower trajectory, too.  But the DG S400 is a low trajectory shaft to begin with.  Strengthening the loft will create a lower flight, obviously.  Other than changing the bounce to a bit less, you probably won't experience much change in the way the club feels/reacts.  With regards to "stepping", if you put a 9 iron shaft in your PW, now you have "soft stepped" (never heard of hot stepping).  Soft stepping this will make the club play about 1/4 to 1/3 of a flex softer and will raise the ball flight.  It sounds like you need to hard step (the reverse of soft stepping - put a 6 iron shaft into a 5 iron, and so forth) rather than hard step.

    All that sounds great, but it's likely that you hit the ball high due to your attack angle with your swing - and all the club adjustments won't make as much change as your swing causes.  That's not a criticism - it's an observation.  I hit it high, too - and struggle keeping it low.  The only fix for me has been to swing slower and take more club (slower speed = less spin = less height) but it takes a ton of practice to be consistent.   I'd suggest a session or two with a teaching pro, including a video session so you get the visual feedback.  Maybe your face angle is a bit open, increasing loft.  Someone who is experienced & understands the swing can probably help you more than anyone else.  That's my 2 cents worth.  I hope someone from the Titleist team responds for you, and if I got anything off here, they can correct me. 

    Good luck and play well!

  4. Bubba said:

    I am a picker/very shallow divot taker of the golf ball. I also hit the ball very high which is not very conducive to the winds here in Texas. I currently play the 710 CB, 1 degree flat, with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts. They were fit for me a year and a half ago by the Titleist Tour Van. While they have helped me bring the ball flight down, I would still like to hit the ball lower. We recently had a Titleist demo day at my club in which I hit the 712 CB and 712 MB, 2 degrees flat, with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. Theoretically, I should hit the ball lower with a stiffer/heavier shaft correct? I hit them both equally well. I am leaning toward the 712 MB because of the recommendation on your web site suggesting the club is better for pickers of the ball. Please explain? Also, I am considering strengthening the lofts of the clubs by 2 degrees to hit the ball lower/farther. Will this change the playing characteristics to the point that the 712 MB is no longer a good fit? It has also been suggested that I consider hot stepping (9 iron shaft in PW, and so on) the clubs in lieu of strengthening the lofts? I'd like your thoughts on this as well. Please advise...

    Hmmm, interesting. Whether it be the 712 MB's or the 712 CB's, with DG Tour Issue X-100's...you should be getting a nice, "low", penetrating flight. If you're still hitting the ball  pretty high, visit your local Titleist fitter. They'll be able to fit you into the perfect clubs/shafts that will give you the results that you're looking for. 

  5. JPHB

    JPHB
    Brooklyn, NY

    My feelings on this are, if you hit the ball well with your current clubs, then keep them and get out there and practice hitting knock down shots.  One easy solution is taking more club, choking down on it and hitting a punch shot/knock down/ 3/4 shot - it's not that difficult and is a great shot to have in your arsenal.  

    I'm sure there are many instances where your high ball flight is very desirable, it's not really a problem per se, so I don't think you necessarily want to loose that - with the knock down shot you can add to it, instead.

    I understand that a proper fitting is important, but to a certain extent all of this super-fine tuning of clubs to get the exact ball flight we're after is nonsense and a waste of time, energy and money - if you have a good fitting and are hitting the ball well, then you need to practice to learn the skills necessary to hit a variety of shots.

    Best of luck

    Jason

  6. Matthew G

    Matthew G
    Carmel, IN

    Never understood anyone wanting to hit it lower.  Go to a tour event - these guys hit it high with lots of spin.   I agree w/ JPHB - learn to hit it low when needed - the high ball is your friend. 

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