Another Long Drive title for Ashton...

I know you guys are probably sick of listening to me talk about my Ashton component heads, but here is a press release I just ran across this morning.
I do not work for Ashton, I just truely beleve that they have the best product on the market and I think everyone would benefit from their products.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada August 16th 2005

Ashton Golf captures the 2005 United States Long Drive Tour Championship

Ashton Golf would like to congratulate Mike Wiebe of Toronto, Canada on his win at the inaugural Sean Fister Classic long drive competition in Arkansas. Amongst a world-class field consisting of 3 former world champions, he blasted an impressive, virtually all carry, 348yd drive; outdistancing his next competitor by 7 yards to win the event.

“ I was a little nervous,” says Wiebe. “It’s been a while since I’ve made it to the final shootout. This definitely brought back memories of when I finished 7th at the 2000 Re/Max World Long Drive Finals. The difference is I felt really comfortable with my swing and have been working very hard on my physical conditioning. The grid was very soft and my 348 ball didn’t roll much. It’s just a great feeling when you hit your best and are rewarded for it.”

Mike used an Ashton Golf X-1 9.5 degree driver to win the $17,500 U.S. first prize.

“We’re very proud of Mike and happy for him” says Ashton Golf President Cliff Barron. “I’ve personally known Mike for over 6 years and I knew his time to break out in a tournament was near. We’re very fortunate that an impressive group of the world’s elite long drive competitors choose to play our product. In fact, in 2005 Ashton Golf has won 2 of the 4 “major” long drive competitions held in the U.S. That’s a 50% success record. Pretty amazing considering over 90% of the field uses our competitor’s products. The X-1 is simply the best head out there and it’s slowly being recognized for its performance. The engineering that’s gone into the interior of the club is second to none. The face material is more responsive and forgiving than any other driver and the interior construction transfers more pure energy to the ball. In my opinion it’s the best of the best. The fact that Mike accomplished this 348 yard drive with a “stock” 45” club length shows off his raw talent and also highlights the performance of the X-1.”

Ashton Golf is a manufacturer of high quality precision golf components. Their X-Brid hybrid club is the newest addition to their line. Ashton Golf will have numerous players hitting the X-1 at the 2005 Re/Max World Long Drive Finals in Mesquite, Nevada in October.
For more information about Ashton Golf, please log onto www.ashtongolf.com

Ashton Golf
3495 Laird Rd, Unit #11
Mississauga, On
L5L 5S5
1-888-785-1474

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

I read that this morning, too.

If I ever lose love for my SMT Spectrum, I'm going with an Ashton head.

I thought the big name in long drive heads were bang-o-matic. Are heads and shafts that are designed for long drivers good for normal people like me. I don't really have a problem with distance but I wouldn't complain if I could hit it even farther!

Well, Bang Golf makes good heads too, (but SMT is the winningest head in long drive history).

They're (long drive heads) are just as good for players like us - in fact, I use an SMT Spectrum at 10.5º. The difference between a long driver and I are 1) loft, 2) shaft flex, and 3) shaft length. Most long drivers have lofts ~5º, play a XXX stiff shaft at 48".

I find it very interesting he hit a 9.5 degree driver and a 45" shaft, as Lowpost stated, most tend to use very low lofts.

Why is it you cannot order directly from the company though, only from the distributors? Or am I missing the link?

Because it's much more economical for a company to use distributorships. It's not quite as good for the end consumer, though.

I found the fact he used a 9.5* head with a 45" shaft the most impressive part of the article. Standard shaft length and clubface angles for average joe golfer!!!

As for distributors, most component companies will find distributors to sell their product for them. Because most people don't want to make their own clubs, the distributor will custom build the club for you. The component companies feel there is more sales this way, rather than by only offering the head. The reason they don't have shafts on the heads when you purchase is because they uinderstand that a custom built club is the best option for every player buying their club and one or two shaft types does not suite all players.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

I'm guessing that this isn't his go to club for these competitions. The fact that the range wasn't allowing for any role made players go with a high lofted club for more carry.

I believe Mike does have another lower lofted (6* Ashton X-1, I believe) but a 348 drive with essentially no roll is quite amazing. Mike has been using Ashton heads for quite a while on the LD circuit, so I would be willing to bet he has tried every head-shaft combo imaginable.

I have the Ashton MS-5 and I consistantly get the ball over 300 yards. My last round I hit driver 5 times and all 5 drives ended up over 300 yards: two about 315, two where right around 320 and one just under 330), but I am not sure of the carry distance. I would guess that I consistantly carry 290 or more but still a LONG way away from 348....

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

I was 5 yards off a green yesterday with my drive and the hole measures 370 on the card.

Done with a $50 pro-tech driver from Try-It Again sports....

My secret is a 30mph tailwind.

I have a ~ 360 yard downwind drive - also a 240 yard 5i on the same hole!!! makes a 598 yard par 5 feel short!!!