Callaway FT-i and FT-5 Driver Review
March 31st, 2008 | Written by Editor | Category: Golf Equipment |
Callaway FT-i/FT-5 Driver Review
Callaway, pioneer in Golf accessories launched a pair of new drivers in the year of 2007. Although, they share the company’s Fusion multi-material technology, these two 440 cc drivers did not differ much. However, they draw everybody’s attention for its unique design and bigger look when they hit golf shops. The new FT-5 drivers would be advanced edition of the older ones, the FT-3 that belong to mid-2005. However, FT-I, where ‘i’ stands for ‘inertia’, is just outstanding and totally sporty with a different flair having an odd square shape. It would caught everybody’s eye when conjoined with Nike Sumo2 and Nickent’s 3DX Square and was rocking throughout the year 2007. The drivers are designed uniquely for their bonny appearance and each driver would appeal to a certain type of golfer.
The Driver Build
The two drivers have been the favorites among golfer all across the world. Let us compare those two great drivers that have been mesmerizing whoever sees them. Both the drivers are based on the Fusion Technology, which begat the Fusion driver in the year of 2003 and the Big Bertha Fusion FT-3 driver in the year of 2005 i.e. two years later. The name Big Bertha had gone from those two new drives but the design remained same with a titanium cup-face area having Variable Face Thickness (VFT) technology was been augmented with composite body having light weight with epoxy. The technology used in drivers is in order to have great ball flight and to increase forgiveness. This was achieved by increasing the Moment of Inertia (MOI) by distributing the mass to specific areas of the perimeter with a series of internal weights.
Callaway uses great technology known as Bore-Thru that is really longstanding and none of the Fusion-based drivers’ manufacturers have used such technology before. The driver has been designed by keeping an idea in the mind that the face and the body should allow 50 + grams of weight to be placed around the perimeter so that a player gets perfect club-head during the impact and hence, the material used for the face and body was lightweight.
The FT-5 comes with comparatively minor changes or tweaks. It seems that the amount of material that has been used in the titanium cup-face area is reduced since if we compare FT-3, the cup area draws less into the sole and crown areas. One more difference there between those two drivers is in the heel area of the sole of the FT-3 does not have any ‘mouse glue’ hole, whereas, FT-5 has it since a little bit of aluminum is integrated into the rear of the sole in order to allow access to the inside of the club-head during its manufacturing. The FT-5 is designed with sleek look, more symmetric face area and a bit wider as compared to the other one and hence, though it is the same one (400cc) as FT-3, it appears bigger at address. However, the FT-5 appears less bulblike from the front and the backside.
The FT-i driver differs from both of the drivers; FT-3 and 5. FT-i’s shape is nearly square at address but it looks like a square pepper since there is a crease down the top. And the angles of the driver will make an alignment a snap. However, the sole, just like FT-5, is made up of aluminum. The neck of the driver boasts very small hosel-like extrusion. The driver is well balanced horizontally and vertically since it is in the square shape and as a result of that, you get great grip over the ball while playing shot; no matter where you make the contact with the ball. You can have equal impact not only hitting ball left or right of the center but can also go for higher and lower on the face. The face of FT-i is deeper but not wider as compared to the FT-5.
Moving from the Aldila NVS, the stock offering on the FT-3 to a pair of shafts from Fujikura, Callaway offers a shaft switch with its new golf drivers. The driver FT-5 is standard with 45 inches, 60gm Fujikura E-150 shaft with mid torque and kick-point and that are available in right ,regular and in stiff flexes whereas, the FT-i stock shaft is the Fujikura Speeder 586 shaft that is a uniquely tuned version of the popular shaft having Triax stabilizing technique. The Speeder 586 is about 45.75 inch shaft since the designers assumed that the FT-i would be stable enough to bear an extra three-quarter of an inch to the shaft to get some extra distance out of its design.
It is not that drivers only entertain great golfers since ‘Tour Versions’ are specially designed versions of each driver that can be very useful to lower handicappers and they also get you draw, neutral or fade options. The difference there is a higher center of gravity, little bit open face angles and different stock shafts. The FT-5 Tour model accompanies the Fujikura E-360, a low-torque 68gm shaft that is available in regular, stiff and x-stiff categories. To identify them easily among the standard versions, both the tour versions are labeled with V-shaped logo (Callaway chevron) on their face.
For the women, apart from a huge collection of models from Aldila, Graphite Design, UST, Grafalloy and Mitsubishi, there is FT driver with 44 inch (44.5 inch in FT-i) Fujikura Sakura driver for each version and they are available in draw and neutral configurations. One of the most positive factors with FT-5 drivers is it allows club-fitters putting different heads and shafts together in order to get quick and comprehensive fitting since FT-5 driver is a part of Callaway’s unique OptiFit custom fitting system.
Aesthetics
The FT-5 and FT-i share many similar touches as far as their appearance is concerned. The composite body on both of each is painted with glossy black color and hence they match top of the cup face area. The entire setup looks like a traditional driver and not a much of a multi-material complex. This is quite as same as the FT-3, although an original Fusion driver had exposed weave to its complex structure, which really looks great.
Both the clubs are having the same rubber grips with subtle alignment aids and Callaway’s logo. However, the standard version has the chevron alignment aid on its crown but Tour version does not have it. Both the clubs have draw, neutral and fade weighting designation on the heel of the club so it becomes easier to read it while the club is inside the bag or just placed in a standing rack. The head covers differ from each other since FT-5’s head-cover is designed traditionally with a long black sock area and black/orange protective tops. On the other hand, FT-i got a shorter with no-sock cover but with magnetic closure system, which also boasts unique color scheme of black/orange.
The Color Scheme
The black/orange scheme rocks, especially woods and irons in the Fusion lineup, whereas head-covers and grips of the new FT drivers account nothing much newer. However, club-headers, for some reasons, do not have this. They boast a new deep red color on the soles that really attracts anyone though it is little bit out of the leftfield. The Fusion irons sport gold as a highlighted color where they comply at the lead of the original Fusion driver; whereas the Fusion Wide Sole irons had mesmerizing grey color.
Overall, you have great combination of red, grey, orange and yellow on various products of Callaway. Callaway always follows the color scheme what they have in their other brands; such as X Series a blue, Big Bertha a bright red and white and hence, there is no wonder that in coming models you may see a bit different but basic colors with some traditional shades. The FT-5 brings off a great appearance having sleek and large impression as compared to the FT-3. The area of the face is quite wider and hence, it makes its appearance more sophisticated though substantial. The Fujikura shaft is given black color and understated rubber grip contribute to its bonny appearance.
If we look at FT-i, it is either accept it or just decline it! The driver differs from any other golf club since its square head and the channel runs down the crown in a unique fashion and hence, this might not be traditionalists’’ cup of a tea. If you study FT-i carefully, with tiny hosel-like neck, you find a small sliver ring around the bottom of the thermoplastic shaft sleeve of the driver.
The Performance
The FT-5 and FT-i both were tested in neutral set-up and with the stiff version of the stock shafts. It is quite understood that the FT-3 is an older and FT-5 is an advanced product. There is very little hint of the plastic sound (since it is hassled with Fusion driver) but the sound at impact is great and is a loud metallic smack. When you hit it with center, you really feel delighted but the hits from other corners may make you little bit down. There are various opinions from the golfers. The feeling is not harsh but you feel lack of that impact and might miss what you wanted. A shot with FT-5 gets you better ball-flight as compared to its predecessor that gets you high at start but stays lower at its apex. This will lead to a bit more roll and overall distance for your shot.
Both the drivers were tested hitting head-to-head and there, FT-5 was better by gaining 5 yards longer as compared to the FT-3 on the center hits and misses. The ball flight and shots’ shapes were quite controllable and hence, it goes without saying that this driver must be used on a weekly basis by Callaway Golf Tour pros. When we talk about FT-i, it has always drawn an attention of golfers. It has been highlighted as to go with a straight ball hit and this specialty makes you enable to get what you want, especially when you are close to the center of the face. In addition, amazingly, extreme heel and toe hits are still managed towards center line and when it comes to get a big outside-in swing, FT-i does not let you down and gives you most comprehensive shot. The driver has been made in a way that the center of gravity is tweaked. This could be thought because to put some backspin to the shots those are hit off the center. Hitting in such way will then get ball a flight and hence will cut-down the slicing. This entire idea is to cope up with all the miss shots that hit off the center.
The trade-off with the ability of the FT-i’s to turn any kind of contact into good shot is distance it gives to the ball. FT-i is as long as the FT-5 when it is caught one flush with the driver because of its ¾ inch extra length shaft. However, when it is hit off the center, it loses a fair bit of distance though it gets acceptable direction. For instance, on one driving hole, one can hit two drives with the FT-i wherein the first hit, in the center, can get up to 274 down the middle and when second hit is on the heel, the ball leaks a bit towards right side. It is though acceptable but then driving distance was just about 235 yards (that means only 40 yards of the distance). Good enough! One can get good direction and direction but remember that it cannot get you marvelous distance if you hit it badly.
It does not matter where on the face you contact the ball, you really feel meatier on all the shot in that fashion. The sound produced by FT-i is loud enough but not bothering. However, for some golfers who want more feedback at impact, it could be little bit annoying. On the other hand, high handicappers might get favored and they feel comfortable and well though their swing is bad.
The Conclusion
Both the drivers; FT-5 and FT-i are completely different and are good in their own respect. They differ in every stage and design or style. However, FT-5, as proclaimed, is advanced, third generation product with betterment and enhanced performance. Overcoming all the previous drivers’ loopholes, FT-5 can make you satisfied and it is unique driver that can mesmerize any of the golfers with any level with its astounding features and lavishly built designs.
On the other hand, FT-i is with newer concept and style that can unveil the latest trends and fashions in golf drives. It would be an ideal for higher handicappers who find it difficult and struggle off the tee, particularly with having their drivers airborne. FT-i would be very useful for the women and seniors that have dimmer energy levels and have slower swing speeds. FT-i can get you stupendous results if you could make great combination of proper shaft-loft and direction. You can achieve great distance with FT-i if you can cope it up with right setup and eliminate some of the distance loss on the hits that are off the center. In this way, you can also get a great ball flight.
The FT-i would be expected a lot with its features, styles and other properties. However, it would be little bit difficult to digest that it is worth a $70 premium over the FT-5. The street price for FT-5 begins with $429, though with upgraded Tour model (that comes with different shaft and requires $20 more); while FT-i begins with $499 and therefore, according to gold retailers, FT-i, though draws everybody’s attention, is less purchased since FT-5 is still a favorite because of its price and performance.
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