While playing the 1st round of the weekly free multi-round last Friday on Kiawah's front nine, I was very surprised to plunk my drive in the bunker on the par 5 7th hole. This tournament was from the Gold (Master) tees and it was only 289 (down 3) to carry the bunker and I had a 7 tail wind. I used the R1 driver. Half backspin with a Callaway Hex Chrome+ (L35) that has 4 dots of distance. Plus I dinged it. I thought I should have cleared that bunker easy. It carried only 287yds. It was a really strange shot so I saved a replay.
Here's the replay: http://www.wgt.com/replay.aspx?ID=81c08396-7e1f-44ae-9418-a23f0010e8a9
This morning I went back to #7 in a practice round from the Gold tees and was lucky to catch a 5 tail wind and ding the drive. Everything else same as above. It carried 295! Way over the bunker! Here's that replay: http://www.wgt.com/replay.aspx?ID=0c75e244-34f0-4325-9a23-a24200d936a5
I've had the R1 for only 3 weeks and this episode caused me to go ahead and run a test of the R1's precision.
I used the weekly 9 unlimited tournament on RSG since it has no wind. I hit a bunch of drives off the first tee and saved replays of 9 dinged shots. I restarted after each drive. Same club and ball as above. Half backspin on all (photo of my spin setting below). I zoomed in on the ball to set the spin as accurately as possible each time. I did not touch the default aim.
I then played all the replays and took a screenshot as the ball landed using camera 4.
Here's an animation of all 9 shots showing the distance each shot carried.
Considering this is a very small sample, I do find it surprising to see a 19 yard spread between the shortest carry at 281 and the longest at 300. I'm going to remember 289 as the avg. carry yardage with half back spin (but will keep in mind a 1 in 10 chance of a stinker 281 or a OMG 300 carry)
Bottom line on me plunking it in the bunker...I got caught by the stinker 281 normal deviation. Stuff happens.