The Golf Lab
July 14, 2009 
 Golf Lab Members Only
 Testing Update - The PowerBilt Air Force One Driver
In This Issue


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Greetings!

This is one of the most interesting projects that we've undertaken at the Golf Lab.

There is (almost) nothing more personal than a player's relationship with his driver (except his putter!!). It is nearly impossible to break the stranglehold on drivers enjoyed by Taylor Made - and to a lesser extent - Titleist.

Nevertheless, a few intrepid entrepreneurs thought that they could do better. Originally conceived as a driver head design that would not break, the PowerBilt Air Force One (AF1) driver was introduced this year to a deafening silence.

Can any small company with a new product get a fair shake? Wouldn't it be a travesty if a breakthrough innovation was ignored? Does big money always rule?

Our interest was fueled by first hand experience reported by the Ice Man. A group of good players experienced extraordinary performance with the PowerBilt Air Force One driver. The "confession" came after they admitted that they started out as total non-believers - ridiculing the whole idea as a "gimmick".

Here's a link to that thread on www.golfwrx.com. You may need to register as a Golfwrx.com member to gain access. There is no charge.

The Confession

We took note and offered a "free fitting" to make sure that players who wanted to test the Air Force One got a shaft length, weight and flex that matched their swings. One of the "problems" with the AF1 is that it is only available "stock" with one shaft - a Fujikura "one size fits all" model - in one length. Golf Lab clients know that "one size never fits all".

In the last six weeks we performed well over 50 free fittings for Golf Lab clients who wanted to give the Air Force One a shot. As you might expect, there were successes and failures.

 Failures First:
 

"Sound" was an issue. A relatively high percentage of players felt that the sound was objectionable. Two or three - while saying that the AF1 was longer and straighter than any driver they had ever played - said that the sound was a show stopper. For them, performance didn't count enough to overcome the pain in their ears.

"Face Angle" was an issue. The AF1 has a closed face angle. The anomaly is that the model aimed at the "average" player seems to have a face angle that is "squarer" than the "Pro" version. Most low index players like square face angles.

Consequently, some players just didn't like the way the driver set up at address. That caused some rejections.

It is interesting that the objections causing immediate disqualification were "cosmetic" - sound and shape. All manufacturers should take note of the importance of the "intangibles". Sound and shape absolutely matter. In some cases, sound and shape trump performance.

 


 The Successes:
 

We have a tradition at the Golf Lab to spend an inordinate amount of time with players who are obsessed with understanding their golf swings and how to optimize performance. We have an informal program for "Product Testers" who have time to test and evaluate golf equipment. We supply unlimited analysis and testing and nearly unlimited golf clubs to discover "whatever works".

Three players took the "unlimited testing challenge" for the AF1. One, the Pilot, has been mentioned before in our reports. He's a 75 year old retired bomber pilot who plays and practices several days a week. He works as a starter at San Geronimo in Marin County.

The other two have earned the nickname "Tracy Twins" as they have made the trek from "The Valley" innumerable times to swap clubs and test shafts at the Golf Lab.

In the last year, the Pilot has played at least half a dozen drivers. He travels down to the Golf Lab every couple of weeks to build and test golf clubs. With drivers, he's interested in shaft weight, length and flex. He needs a high launch head with low spin. He compares driver performance on our launch monitors and then confirms the results on the course. His "gamer" was a Bobby Jones Studio Series High Launch driver shafted with an ACCRA SC55 M2 in 48" length. That was the last in a long line of very good drivers and we thought it might never be beaten.

But it was. The Air Force One added a minimum of fifteen yards to the Pilot's drives. The AF1 is also straighter. It is in the Pilot's bag today.

The Tracy Twins went through five shaft changes. From day one, the Air Force One was "promising" but not "better enough" to make the change. We ended up with a Mitsubishi White Board and a House of Forged "Whup-en" shaft in their drivers.

When it was all over, they sent in the drivers that got kicked out of their bags to be sold by Heather on eBay: An Adams 9015 A-4 with the stock OZIK shaft, a Bobby Jones Workshop Series with a Graphite Design YS-Q and a decked-out Taylor Made Burner with a Fujikura Rombax.

Overall results: ten to twenty yards of increased distance - better run out - and more control. This is a pretty significant result from a couple of players who have spent a lot of time swapping drivers to find their gamers. Knocking those very good drivers out of the bag was a significant win for the AF1.

Additional Sales: There were eight or ten other sales of the AF1 - some from a brief trial at the range after the fitting session and a couple over the telephone as an act of faith. I don't have specific performance details on those transactions. They were too easy.

 


 Bottom Line on the Air Force One
 



Almost all players felt that the Air Force One delivered better control. That was one of the claims that the Company made that we think is clearly true - the Air Force One is straighter - almost all the time. "Almost all the time" is a way above average for golf clubs.

Most players reported a "pop" off the face. It appeares that the face is "lively" - another claim by the Company. The 2.6 and 2.8 millimeter faces are thinner than average overall and a single thickness from heel to toe. That feature yields the claim: more "resilient" - than other drivers. The presumption is that a thinner face compresses more on impact and therefore allows the ball to compress a bit more leading to higher ball speed - the prerequisite for more distance.

Launch monitor testing at the Golf Lab found a 2-5 MPH increase in ball speed when tested against a players' own driver - again, "most of the time".

Launch monitor testing at the Golf Lab also usually found a spin rate of 200-500 RPM less than a players' own driver. We would characterize the AF1 as a "low spin" driver but not "lowest" - the Adams 9015, the Nike SQ Tour or the Bridgestone J-33 hold that record.

Taken together, increased ball speed and lower spin rates would account for the reported longer carry and more run-out.

Our results were achieved with Air Force One drivers that were shafted with "fitted" shafts. In some cases, shafts were nearly identical to a player's own driver shaft. We did our best to match specifications when a player's own driver tested well. It was not always possible to match a player's shaft. Consequently, it is possible that some of the performance improvement was because of the shaft, not the head. The underlying idea was that we were testing the head, not the shaft.

Just in case you're afraid that you might like the AF1 and want to buy one - never fear. The price has been reduced $50 to $249. Custom shafts start at only $50. Fitting is free. Your customized AF1 driver will not break the bank.

 


 One More Free Run
 

We're going to run the Air Force One Challenge offer until the end of July - then it will be over.

Here's the deal: You bring your driver to the Golf Lab. We test your swing with our Achiever launch monitor to capture club head speed, ball speed, launch angle, swing path, face angle at impact and consistency.

We then test you with our Shaft Max to understand how you apply your power. "Shaft load" is a much more accurate way to determine appropriate shaft flex and overall bend profile of a shaft. An added benefit is to discover the efficiency of your swing.

Finally, we test your driver with our Max Out Launch Max launch monitor. That will tell us how close you are to "theoretically perfect" for launch angle and spin rate for your ball speed. If you are leaving distance on the table, we can tell you how much and why.

After we have a good view of your swing and your performance with your driver, we'll hand you an AF1 that fits your swing and we will repeat the tests. Then, we compare the results. If the AF1 beats our own driver in any of the tests, you'll have a chance to check it out for a few days of testing at the range or on your own course.

Our totally free testing program compares your driver to the Air Force One. If you would like to expand the scope, it is easy to do - we just need more time. Call the Golf Lab to discuss details.

If you have never been fitted before, the Air Force One Challenge is a great way to get acquainted absolutely free. You will learn a lot about your swing and state-of- the-art testing methodology and tools. If you have been fitted before, but not at the Golf Lab, the Challenge provides an interesting point of comparison. If you have a friend who has never been tested, do him a favor and forward this email.

The Challenge Fitting takes about an hour. Call the Golf Lab for an appointment. (650) 493-1770.



 


 Don't Forget Balancing
 

You can combine your Challenge Fitting with a free fitting for a Balance-Certified Stabilizer for your driver and Tour Lock counterweights for your irons. Let us know when you make your appointment and we'll set aside another 45 minutes. Also no charge. You only pay for the weights if performance is "better enough".

Counterweighting golf clubs is the closest thing to a miracle in the business. If you haven't tried it, you should. Think about this number: over 450 Golf Lab customers have bought the Balance-Certified Shaft Stabilizer. $55, no fitting charge. Guaranteed improved performance or we'll give you a brand new grip on your driver for free.

Same goes for irons. For $20 each, we can give you a little more distance and a lot more control (again, "most of the time"). Call for your balancing appointment. (650) 493-1770.



 


 Open Call for Product Testers
 

If you have time to test golf clubs. If you play and practice regularly. And, if you get a kick out of talking about golf equipment, we might have a spot for you as a Golf Lab Product Tester. The benefit is unlimited access to all of our electronic gizmos. You get your clubs free for testing. Any purchases are available at Golf Lab cost. Unlimited customization. Call Leith Anderson for details: (650) 493-1770.

 


Best regards,


Leith Anderson, Clint Smith, Bob Huff and Dian Terova
The Golf Lab

phone: 650-493-1770
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