Hovland discussed the benefits of the new G440 driver and VeloCore Plus shaft, noting that the stiffer shaft at the bottom enhances forgiveness. He mentioned that mishits, like heel and toe strikes, maintain better ball speed compared to his previous driver, with spin rates remaining tighter—staying above 1,700 rpm for toe hits and below 3,200 rpm for heel strikes. He expressed excitement about the improved dispersion and increased ball speed, anticipating positive performance in upcoming play, while downplaying his focus on equipment specifications.
“I think the new shaft is slightly stiffer at the bottom, and with the G440, it provides much more forgiveness,” Hovland remarked. “So whether I hit it on the heel or the toe, I’m managing to maintain my ball speed better compared to previous mishits. Plus, the spin is significantly tighter. If I strike it off the toe, it doesn’t drop down to 1,700 rpm, and if it’s off the heel, it avoids going to 3,200 rpm. I’m really thrilled about the improved dispersion and even gaining a bit more ball speed with the new driver. I’m eager to see how it performs out there. Yes, the new VeloCore Plus shaft or whatever. I’m not particularly focused on shafts and all that.”