Pkielwa
New member
I post last week that Bridgestone was sending me a 445 demo after writing to them. Well, it showed up yesterday at my door so I took it out for a spin tonight at the range. When I got to our range, I saw they had just received their new Razr Fit demo. Seeing as how I ordered a Razr Fit after a fitting 2 Fridays ago, I was curious to test these two out side-by-side.
The 445 had the Project X 6.0 shaft, 9.5 deg. Razr Fit had the NV RIP'd stiff, 9.5 as well. The Razr was set in its neutral setting with 12g weight in the toe, 2 in the heel. Both had that great pear shape that is liked so much by the masses. At address, they both appeared pretty square. Both had versions of New Decade grips. Both were similar in perceived weight.
Once I warmed up, it was time. I swung the Razr Fit first and immediately flushed it dead center of the face. I had three of my range buddies there watching and they all made noises along the lines of "Woo-ooo" as the ball took off. Initial feel was that great Callaway Ft-Tour/Ft-9 composite feel with a little more oomph of the metal face mixed in. Launch got up quick and stayed there, flattening out nicely. It bounced three times with good roll. Landing just past the 250 flag, with about 20 yards of roll. I immediately turned around when it stopped and showed my buddies the ball mark 1/2 inch above the center of the face.
I switched to the Bridgestone right away. The launch was definitely more boring, and the feel/sound was more metallic, but very solid. The ball mark was about an inch above center. It landed just shy of the 250 flag and had two big flat bounces and roll. I hit three more and again, boring trajectory, great feel, DEAD STRAIGHT! I tried three more with the Razr Fit. All three were significantly higher launch (I was fit for an 8.5, same shaft). Again, just like the 445, dead straight. In all, neither club ever produced anything like a slice or hook. Both were VERY forgiving. My three buddies took turns hitting each as well. All three got the same flight patterns.
Overall consensus was that the Razr Fit was the preferred choice. The higher ball flight along with the feel/sound gave the impression that it was longer. Each of the three guys play stiff shafts- 2 TM (superfast 2.0, 9.5 deg, R11) 1 plays the Razr Tour 9.5.
There is no doubt that the Project X shaft in the Bridgestone lives up to its billing of low/mid launch low spin. Not one single drive I hit EVER ballooned. Not one ever strayed more than 10-15 yards right or left. Consistent ball flight, every time. Razr Fit wasn't offline either, the 9.5 did balloon on me three times, but, again, I was fit for the 8.5 with a different head/weight set-up.
All-in-all, you can't go wrong with either. If you're looking for a stock stiff shaft to bring down ball flight and give you added forgiveness, the 445 ought to find its way into your hands. If you want a little higher launch with a stock stiff shaft with great distance and feel, try a Razr Fit. They're not interchangeable- they're definitely different clubs, but take a look; you can't go wrong here!!!!
The 445 had the Project X 6.0 shaft, 9.5 deg. Razr Fit had the NV RIP'd stiff, 9.5 as well. The Razr was set in its neutral setting with 12g weight in the toe, 2 in the heel. Both had that great pear shape that is liked so much by the masses. At address, they both appeared pretty square. Both had versions of New Decade grips. Both were similar in perceived weight.
Once I warmed up, it was time. I swung the Razr Fit first and immediately flushed it dead center of the face. I had three of my range buddies there watching and they all made noises along the lines of "Woo-ooo" as the ball took off. Initial feel was that great Callaway Ft-Tour/Ft-9 composite feel with a little more oomph of the metal face mixed in. Launch got up quick and stayed there, flattening out nicely. It bounced three times with good roll. Landing just past the 250 flag, with about 20 yards of roll. I immediately turned around when it stopped and showed my buddies the ball mark 1/2 inch above the center of the face.
I switched to the Bridgestone right away. The launch was definitely more boring, and the feel/sound was more metallic, but very solid. The ball mark was about an inch above center. It landed just shy of the 250 flag and had two big flat bounces and roll. I hit three more and again, boring trajectory, great feel, DEAD STRAIGHT! I tried three more with the Razr Fit. All three were significantly higher launch (I was fit for an 8.5, same shaft). Again, just like the 445, dead straight. In all, neither club ever produced anything like a slice or hook. Both were VERY forgiving. My three buddies took turns hitting each as well. All three got the same flight patterns.
Overall consensus was that the Razr Fit was the preferred choice. The higher ball flight along with the feel/sound gave the impression that it was longer. Each of the three guys play stiff shafts- 2 TM (superfast 2.0, 9.5 deg, R11) 1 plays the Razr Tour 9.5.
There is no doubt that the Project X shaft in the Bridgestone lives up to its billing of low/mid launch low spin. Not one single drive I hit EVER ballooned. Not one ever strayed more than 10-15 yards right or left. Consistent ball flight, every time. Razr Fit wasn't offline either, the 9.5 did balloon on me three times, but, again, I was fit for the 8.5 with a different head/weight set-up.
All-in-all, you can't go wrong with either. If you're looking for a stock stiff shaft to bring down ball flight and give you added forgiveness, the 445 ought to find its way into your hands. If you want a little higher launch with a stock stiff shaft with great distance and feel, try a Razr Fit. They're not interchangeable- they're definitely different clubs, but take a look; you can't go wrong here!!!!
