The ProLaunch Blue changed my life

[10undrbogey]

Regarding head weight, when I originally put the Distanza 40 in my 10k, I ordered a 22g back weight for the head to replace the original 28g weight, following the generally accepted practice for the AF of lighter swing weights.

 

Felt pretty good with the Distanza, so left it that way when I installed the PLB.

 

Hit great drives with the PLB in that configuration, but was curious about how it would feel with the original 28g weight in, so swapped it out & hit some into my net. 
 

When I waggle it, it is noticeably more flexy with the heavier back weight, but felt good to swing & I was finding the middle of the face, so next round will be with the original weight in.

 

This is at 45” playing length, about 1/2 shorter than the Distanza.

 

Haven’t checked the swing weight, because I want to go completely by feel & performance & not be influenced by numbers that probably aren’t that relevant in the real world.

 

Depending on the results with the original weight, final step will be to put the light weight back in, go to the range & add lead tape in 2g increments to find the sweet spot.

[Phebus]

1 hour ago, gvogel said:

you might be over thinking this.  Before you cut 1" off the shaft, maybe play it at 45-1/2 for a few days?

After reading lots of information from Howard Jones and Tom Wishon, I’ve shortened my last three drivers to 44 1/2”. I find the center of the face much more consistently then at longer lengths, and on average hit longer drives. I may not hit the occasional bomb, but also don’t have nearly as many misses that cost me both distance and accuracy. 

[gvogel]

Can anyone compare the Prolaunch Blue 45A to a Fujikura Air Speeder or Aldila Ascent in the same weights?

[10undrbogey]

Anyone tried the ProLaunch Blue iron shafts?

[gvogel]

8 hours ago, WasatchBogey said:

Anyone tried the ProLaunch Blue iron shafts?

Yes, here is a thread on those:

 

 

[Noodler]

How can I tell which ProLaunch shafts I have?  There doesn't seem to be any indication in the shaft graphics of the weight or flex.  My ProLaunch Blue shafts are from eons ago (they have Mizuno MP-001 vintage heads installed on them).  I have the driver, woods, and hybrid versions of the shafts.

[Cwebb]

50 minutes ago, Noodler said:

How can I tell which ProLaunch shafts I have?  There doesn't seem to be any indication in the shaft graphics of the weight or flex.  My ProLaunch Blue shafts are from eons ago (they have Mizuno MP-001 vintage heads installed on them).  I have the driver, woods, and hybrid versions of the shafts.

 

They always had the weight/flex in small font, right next to the "Blue" graphic...just outside to the upper right of the white paint that surrounds "Blue".

 

If yours isn't there, maybe it got rubbed off?

[Noodler]

2 hours ago, Cwebb said:

 

They always had the weight/flex in small font, right next to the "Blue" graphic...just outside to the upper right of the white paint that surrounds "Blue".

 

If yours isn't there, maybe it got rubbed off?

 

Thanks.  It was tiny white lettering on a silver background.  I have a 65S driver shaft.  Not exactly what I'm looking for at the moment.

[DaveGoodrich]

On 8/29/2024 at 9:35 AM, Howard_Jones said:

My suggestion was for those who already found what works for a driver, and since that shaft should not be tip trimmed, the only way to handle higher head wgt, into woods if we like to use the same shaft model, is to go 1 flex stronger

 

Anybody tried this approach with a PL Blue into a fairway wood?  I have ordered an R to put in my driver, and I will try the S, that I currently have in my driver, in my M5 3 wood as an experiment.  

[gvogel]

2 minutes ago, DaveGoodrich said:

 

Anybody tried this approach with a PL Blue into a fairway wood?  I have ordered an R to put in my driver, and I will try the S, that I currently have in my driver, in my M5 3 wood as an experiment.  

I used to have a 65R in a Exotic cb2 fairway wood, and it was excellent.  I may go 45A in driver, and 65R in my 5-wood.

[smoova]

On 9/14/2024 at 10:34 AM, gvogel said:

Me too.

 

Which vendor are you guys ordering from?

[Ger21]

I just bought mine from Golf Deals 1234 on Ebay. Ordered Friday morning, and it arrived on Saturday.

My local Golf Galaxy actually had one in stock, but it was the same price, and an hour out of my way.

Edited September 18, 2024 by Ger21

[Howard_Jones]

12 hours ago, DaveGoodrich said:

 

Anybody tried this approach with a PL Blue into a fairway wood?  I have ordered an R to put in my driver, and I will try the S, that I currently have in my driver, in my M5 3 wood as an experiment.  

Tell us how that worked when done.

[GolfTurkey]

I finally had my first range session with the 45-S with it cut down and gripped to my specs.

 

At first I had issues with overdrawing it and hitting blocks off swings that felt good.
 

Once I backed off and swung smoother it seemed to provide easy launch and distance. It definitely doesn’t want to know about hard swings that the Ventus 5-X has no issues handling.

 

Going to put it in play tomorrow for the first time. It’s a bit of a hit and giggle because the greens were cored this week so it’s a good time for an experiment. 

[OspreyCI]

On 9/14/2024 at 12:34 PM, gvogel said:

Me too.

Me too😳 Going in a Qi10 core head. Thanks @tatertot 😂

[OspreyCI]

On 8/24/2024 at 9:43 AM, tatertot said:

I had a Titleist TS3 with the EvenFlow T100 White in stiff, and I was STRUGGLING to get anything out of it. It was so bad I did a check on the serial number to make sure it wasn't a fake. I read about the ProLaunch Blue being a cheap alternaitve to the AutoFlex, and for $70, I thought "why not."

 

I got the 45 gram in Senior flex ... I've never had a shaft that light or that flex ... but this thing is a game changer. Can't say enough about it. Getting great launch, and I can work it both ways. Earlier this week, I drove it through a 260 yard hole, and put it on the fringe of a 290 hole, and I'm not a big hitter. And I can work it both ways. The easier I go after it, the farther it goes. I've had it for less than a month, so it might be a honeymoon phase but I'll take it.

 

PS - Titleist headcovers suck.

Might have been mentioned. What swingweight you all playing this? 

[tatertot]

1 hour ago, OspreyCI said:

Might have been mentioned. What swingweight you all playing this? 

Honestly, I have no clue. Playing a stock Titleist TS3 with an oversized Ping grip.

[10undrbogey]

13 hours ago, OspreyCI said:

Might have been mentioned. What swingweight you all playing this? 

Haven’t checked.

 

Started out replacing the 28g back weight in my Ping G430 10k with a 22g. Played a round with it & it was good, but I wanted to see how it felt with the original weight in, so put that one back & played a round.

 

I think I like it better with the original weight, but it’s fantastic with either one.

On a side note, have a set of PLB 80g A flex iron shafts on the way, gonna swap out the Recoil 780 R shafts that are in now & see if I can get some of that PLB magic in my TS1 IM’s😄

 

[GolfTurkey]

That's a one and done for me after my worst statistical driving round since first using Arccos.

 

I think weight was an issue, maybe flex too, but I had no clue where the face was or where the ball was going.

[OspreyCI]

46 minutes ago, GolfTurkey said:

That's a one and done for me after my worst statistical driving round since first using Arccos.

 

I think weight was an issue, maybe flex too, but I had no clue where the face was or where the ball was going.

Just could not time it up you think? 

[gvogel]

1 hour ago, GolfTurkey said:

That's a one and done for me after my worst statistical driving round since first using Arccos.

 

I think weight was an issue, maybe flex too, but I had no clue where the face was or where the ball was going.

Maybe swinging smooth with the A shaft was the ticket?

[10undrbogey]

On 9/21/2024 at 9:11 AM, OspreyCI said:

Might have been mentioned. What swingweight you all playing this? 

After playing around a bit, swapping the 28 & 22g back weights around, decided on the 22g. Find the middle the face pretty consistently, & seems to get a little more speed & distance.

 

So, with that in mind & no swingweight scale, calculated swingweight by measurement & an Excel spreadsheet by, I believe @joostin(Thanks!)

 

This is a Ping G430 Max 10k with 22g back weight, PLB 45 “A” flex, GP CP2 wrap jumbo grip (82g) playing at 45” Total weight 330g

 

Calculated about C8, when normalized for the grip weight, D4.

 

 

 

 

[GolfTurkey]

12 hours ago, gvogel said:

Maybe swinging smooth with the A shaft was the ticket?

 

SS is currently 110ish so I don't think the A flex will be going in the right direction vs S.

 

One of those experiments which just didn't work out where I can get into a groove on the range hitting 30 drivers in a row but have no idea on the course.

 

The annoying thing is I know exactly what works for me wrt driver but I don't have the discipline to stick to it.

 

Short shaft around 44.25", around 60g and fairly stiff and high loft around 11-12 degrees. Lots of good shots and very few foul balls, but no real bombs and then the tinkering cycle starts all over again...

Edited September 23, 2024 by GolfTurkey

[OspreyCI]

On 9/14/2024 at 2:13 PM, Phebus said:

After reading lots of information from Howard Jones and Tom Wishon, I’ve shortened my last three drivers to 44 1/2”. I find the center of the face much more consistently then at longer lengths, and on average hit longer drives. I may not hit the occasional bomb, but also don’t have nearly as many misses that cost me both distance and accuracy. 

Any updates on your setup and experience with the PLB? 

[Phebus]

21 minutes ago, OspreyCI said:

Any updates on your setup and experience with the PLB? 

Due to some health issues, haven’t been able to hit the PLB yet. Hopefully soon. 

[tatertot]

2 minutes ago, Phebus said:

Due to some health issues, haven’t been able to hit the PLB yet. Hopefully soon. 

I'm feeling ya buddy ... I strained my back LIFTING MY CLUBS OUT OF THE TRUNK ... missed almost a week.

 

Getting old sucks.

[OspreyCI]

12 minutes ago, Phebus said:

Due to some health issues, haven’t been able to hit the PLB yet. Hopefully soon. 

Understand. Feel better man. Yes, getting old sucks @tatertot I’m creaking like an old door when I swing now😩. 

[Ger21]

Got out Saturday and Sunday with the L flex PLB, after playing most of the year with an A flex RIP Phenom. Spent most of the round Saturday figuring it out.

Sunday was one of my best driving days of the year. Not sure if it's any longer, but I got the most consistent ball flight I've had all year. Very promising.

[GoldenAges]

On 9/22/2024 at 9:17 AM, GolfTurkey said:

That's a one and done for me after my worst statistical driving round since first using Arccos.

 

I think weight was an issue, maybe flex too, but I had no clue where the face was or where the ball was going.

Have you tried counterweights?

I'm torn. I'd like to try this but light shafts are my nemesis. I can't feel the club, timing gets destroyed. Maybe using counterweight in the handle would be the ticket to add some weight and some feel to it. 

[Ger21]

8 minutes ago, GoldenAges said:

I'm torn. I'd like to try this but light shafts are my nemesis. I can't feel the club, timing gets destroyed.

Disregard any swingweight readings, and just add weight until it feels right. That's what I've done with my last two attempts and going very light and flexible, and it's worked out well for me.