Marc,
I understand the specs of all the shafts you are playing and I think that if you are looking for a little higher launch, the 865 Speeder is probably going to deliver half way. Obviously the each shaft has its characteristics and true to its name, the Speeder is a more high launching and speed oriented shaft. But the length, flex and tip page of the shaft is going to play a big roll in the launch conditions and ball flight of the hybrid. I see you are playIng X shafts in your driver and fairway wood, and I am making the assumption you not only have a high swing sped, but have a very low handicap. I too have an X shaft in my driver, but even as a plus 2 handicap, I do give up part of my ego on the fairway woods in which case I use a stiff, and my two hybrids, where I use a REGULAR tipped. I think that because you have a hybrid in the first place and that you are looking for a bit higher launch it tells me that you may have a bit steep of an angle of attack. I think the 865 will be perfect for what you are looking for, especially if you have ha success with it in your driver and woods already.
Best of luck and let me know what you decide.
Jake

Thanks Jake! You are mostly right on all counts, although the handicap is not SUPER low, playing to about a 4 right now with some swing changes, and the swing speed is not really super high, about 110-113 driver. I have done just a massive bag overhaul and the results with the Speeders was just undeniable for me. The 661x/757x driver and fairway combo is the best result I have ever had, and especially the 757 "lit up" my 915f 16.5 fairway metal. I tend to like shafts that hang on through the swing. I have had good results with s flex shafts as well of course, but as you know (probably more so than I) the flex marked on a shaft is very subjective. I tried an oban kiyoshi white in my 915f and it was easily as stiff in the 04 (their stiff) as my 757x. I just moved to 716 cb with nippon modus tour 120x (ss x1) in irons from my beloved gamer 690.cb with s300's and same thing happened performance wise. Just really liking the shot shape. Also, I think all the shafts I am using in X lean toward the softer side feel-wise. As for the 865x, I will probably get one to test but finally getting some real range time yesterday I did surprisingly like the way the 816 h2 was launching with the tour spec 8.8 in s flex, higher than I anticipated. Tour Spec's are just a different animal. I am hitting the h2 19* against the h1 21* (I thought I might as well try something I can take a little further, I still bag my 3 iron and rotate against a hybrid - the 19* gives me a few extra options since I can make it a 21* as well. I have alway been more of a long iron hitter so actually the 816 is the first hybrid I have ever owned. Off to the range now and will be hitting it some more. I will order an 865x later this week and it will live in one of the heads or other.

Thanks!

-M.

Awesome to hear! I know what you are saying with the shafts. Even though I only swing a driver 105, the feel of an X thru impact and the stability it provides is excellent. You are right to buy the Speeder. Give it a try and worst things worst you trade with a friend (like I do very often!!) or you sell it on eBay. Best of luck and let me know how it all works out!

And I know what swing changes are like!

Thought I would follow up. Working with Chad Embrey at Fujikura (who is awesome and Fujikura is lucky to have him) and my local club fitter, I went to a Fujikura Pro 73hb in X flex. The weight is actually 77 grams and it is a medium launch shaft with a softer butt section and a stiffer mid section and tip. This and the 816 h2 19* head set to D4 (20*) gave me the launch, speed, and ballflight I was looking for. I was initially afraid it would be too light but I really like it, 77 feels better than I anticipated and the dispersion is still very good. I think its that I swing hybrids somewhere in between a fairway and an iron. I'm getting between 100-103 club head speed out of this setup when I swing at 80% and really like the shot shape. Plus it looks killer. Just wanted to update my results in my search for the "perfect" (for now... lol) hybrid setup.

Hi Marc, You are right - Chad is a great guy and a good fitter as well. I passed your message on to him and he said thanks! and glad he could help!