James, I appreciate how you stick to the review or topic and don’t get too far into the weeds with your information. Others could learn from your example!
After years of using “fitted” stock shafts on my new Drivers from a famous retail store. I finally booked for a Driver Shaft fitting by a fitting Professional at his studio. I did this as I’ve bought the new Taylormade Sim Max and was “supposedly fitted” with a Fujikura Ventos 6S stock shaft. I Drive the ball pretty well and quite far considering I’m 58 years old. I average around 140mph + ball speed with a nice high draw, as I do hit up on the ball between 3-5 degrees. but I felt that the ball was stalling as it went through the air. After about an hour of swinging with different shafts with the fitting pro, he showed me the shaft that was best suited to me. Yes my jaw nearly hit the floor and my eyes nearly popped out of my head when he told me that the shaft cost £300! But my launch was lower, my spin came down a lot, my accuracy and dispersion got better and my yardages improved. Needless to say that I purchased it. Here were my results beforehand. Fujikura Ventos 6S Blue. Swing Speed. 98mph. Spin 3350 Total distance. 233yds. Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7X. Swing Speed. 102mph. Spin 2450 Total distance 258yds. As you can see, there was a big difference. My advice to everyone is to try a Driver fitting out. It costs between £50-£75. You’re under no obligation to buy, but by god, it did open my eyes up as to how much distance you are losing by playing with the wrong shaft that doesn’t suit your swing.
I know it's a few years later but here is my take on this video. Love the channel James. 1st of all, the stock shafts offered today are actually pretty good options. The Project X in this video is already a premium shaft so the comparison here is not a good comparison. I would have compared it to a typical PING stock shaft or Callaway. Today all the club makers offer better shafts so to upgrade is not worth it unless you absolutely have superior club head speed or just want to upgrade. Go get fitted if your unsure but today's options should make it simple for most golfers.
From personal experience. Exotic shafts of the proper fit will enhance you abilities, however, if it's a bad fit it's a bad fit. I have a medium tempo and transition and I am in that funny zone where an argument can be made for a stiff or an extra stiff shaft. I had the Tour AD DI 6s and it is a great quality shaft, but it was not a good fit for me. I was then recommended the Diamana Blue 60X at a demo day and that shaft as served me well ever sense then with better accuracy than any stock shaft I have ever had. So, are expensive shafts worth it. Absolutely.......as long as you get the right one. If those of you like me who cannot afford an expensive fitting and still be able to purchase the club, go and find a demo day from one of the top manufactures. More often than not they are free and they will usually have all of the available shafts to try. Also, now a days they will probably have a launch monitor there as well.
Lads, enjoy smashing it while you’re still young! I’m age 64 now and driver speed is down to 95 - 97. Until I hit my late 50’s my game was simply to hit it very hard, then go hit it again. No worry then about hitting every fairway because I’d just muscle it out of whatever junk I’d find it in. Now I’m about 30 yards shorter and the game has become more of a focus on accuracy. My index seems to fluctuate in the same general range. Its interesting how these things settle out. Cheers to all and Happy New Year!
At this time I know that my reply to this post is about 8 plus months pasts it's release date but my addition to it might be relevant for some. About two months ago I purchased an upgrade/after market shaft for my driver, it is a VA Vylyn 55 gram stiff $235.00 and it feels to be the most stable shaft I have ever had at impact. The one it is replacing is the Tensei CK Blue 60 gram stiff, and there is a huge huge difference in the stable feel at impact, even at my age ( a very young 68 ) and after 50 plus years playing at this game I can now really see a plus for getting an after market shaft, my opinion but that's what is important to me. Good video post James, thanks.
£100 a yard on a windy day, retry the test on a calm day and see what difference the higher trajectory makes then. Brilliant video, still can't believe you only have 7.5 k subs
Thanks Stuart! A lot of people wanting to see this test on a golf course so might do that on a calm day. Yeah hoping for 10k next month and just keep building. Hard to get discovered!
Bang on the money James. People buy them to look good 🤔 pros get given them to play good. Stock shafts in clubs for a reason that they are perfect for the majority of golfers out there.
I paid 140 quid extra for an Odan devotion shaft in my callaway Rogue. Love it. Just on feel alone I was sold but out performed other shafts I tried. 55g so pretty light but stiff winning combo. If only I could hit a wedge 😂
James Robinson Golf certainly does. If I had a pound for every time I’ve hit a decent drive then thinned a wedge through the green or duffed it ten yards I could prob afford that orange shaft 😂
FINALLY!!! These are the reviews I want to see! I’m fairly new to the channel but your content is second to none. You’re putting out the best videos!! Keep it up
It worked for me, a 12 handicap!!! (Impact Precision Golf, Houston) I have been out of golf for a little while recently due to health issues. I'm having trouble understanding what "Golden Years" means. I had wanted to hit the Left Hand Callaway Epic Driver. I was not happy with my former Cobra F6 or Mizuno drivers. I was getting a little fade on the ball. I didn't want to be losing the distance. Average drive was 225 - 235 yards. I visited Impact Precision Golf in Houston where I knew most of the Master Fitters for years. The purpose of my visit was to have them custom build me a Cobra 2 hybrid (F6) with a Mizuno shaft to match my other Mizuno hybrids plus I wanted the club spine aligned. This worked PERFECT as soon thereafter I hit a 190 yard Hole In One with the club. Please note that Mizuno did not make 2 hybrid lefthanded. I then spotted the Callaway Epic Driver Head in 10.5 degree LH. I told Brett how much I was looking forward to hitting it. He asked me about my current driving statistics. He then apologized that they were having a big demo day at one of the Major clubs on the south side of Houston and had taken most of their best shafts with them. After reviewing what remained, he said let's try this Project X Yellow HZRDUS shaft in Regular. I had just played 18 holes so I was already warmed up. I took 5 swings with every ball on Trackman going down the middle with a draw with the last ball going 275 as I came out of my shoes to hit it. Not bad for 66 years old! I also hit every ball dead center in the middle of the face off a spot the size of a pencil eraser. I didn't want to trip the wire on a Driver fitting so I stopped at that point. Scared to ask, I looked back and said, "OK. How much?" to which he replied $950 which meant the shaft was $450. I was retiring in a month so I pondered getting the Driver with a stock shaft at my club where I had some money left to use after doing well in the tournaments over the year and then bringing the club to Impact to finish the job as my Going Away Present (Who needs another gold watch). Callaway was having demo day at my club in 10 days. I thought they had 4 great shafts to choose from of which I was hitting them so badly that the Callaway Rep put on face tape to try and tell where the ball was hitting the face. It was a disaster. Then I spotted the Yellow HZRDUS shaft in his bag. I said "Let me try that." Bam. Everything exactly back in the center of the face. The Yellow shaft was $270 upgrade. I said OK. Give it to me in Regular. He says, "Opps! We only picked it up in stiff". OK. I used other means to get the shaft in Regular and had it spine aligned (LH). Two days later at the Thursday afternoon scramble with typically about 50 players, the rack spotted the Yellow shaft and asked "How Much?" I said $950 and they all laughed heartily and quite frankly, made many somewhat disparaging remarks. I think they were trying to hurt my feelings. One month later, I had taken $400 off my buddies. Seriously, we don't play for hardly any money at all. Now they are all asking, "If I buy a $950 driver will I hit the ball like you?" Of course, the answer is only if they get "fit" for the shaft. Nine of the 13 scratch golfers at my club ALL have custom shafts. Best of luck finding a great fitter and make sure they have a Trackman...Bob in Houston
Tbh, even ignoring the numbers I feel another big factor is just how the ball feels when you hit it. Even you said how amazing that strike felt when you hit a good one. So to me if you are someone that is driven by the feel of the club rather than the numbers, then it would be a great club for you!
Low launch low spin shaft vs high launch low/mid spin shaft. So yes you should get more carry and more spin from the upcharge so the 3 yards weren’t because of exotic it was higher launch and spin keeping ball in air longer.
$300 extra for 2.8 yards and a spinny shot? No. Based on those drives, I bet you can get the Even Flow to go straighter and longer than the upcharged one.
Good video, and what I expected. from watching a lot of fitting videos recently, I get the impression that grip choice has more potential for impact than fancy shafts.
Watching the videos are so insightful and as a low handicapper one allways try out new technology. The Tensei orange shaft looks great and I'M off to try one. However in the end it is about the feel and control one gains that will matter most; it has to increase your confidence and for that I will pay pay gladly.
Great video as always, straight to the point and not sugar coated . Disappointing gains for the money but having been fitted for the even flow you couldn’t expect too much. Would like to see a comparison of same shaft but different weighs.
Very interesting shaft test,but I would say that if you get fitted by someone you trust then stick to what they fitted you with and trust their judgement don’t go by what your favourite tour player is using. Great work James and loving the videos (slowly catching back up)
I was never a shaft believer for 10 years until I got Graphic Design BB6. It’s not about distance. It’s about the kicking point that let you feel comfortable of the timing to swing hard.
Great video, thanks. Over the last 20 years I’ve snapped 3 stock shafts just above the driver head. I have never broken any of my aftermarket shafts. Not much difference in performance but feel is better.
Great Video James. Shafts are timing devices which may or may not help you achieve better results. Cost is no guarantee of improvement. Find the right one for your swing or the best compromise for your budget. Sometimes the stock shaft will be perfect. Finally don't worry about flex. If the ladies shaft feels great and performs use it, if the tour x-stiff works for you, then use that. Try and take the ego out if you can. Get fit by a reputable independent fitter would always be my advice.
I am a Certified Professional Clubfitter, member of the two leading international clubfitting organizations, with nearly 30 years experience fitting golf clubs, and before seeing the results my opinion is that there should be very little performance difference between these two shafts in James Robinson’s hands. Both are extremely good shafts and seemingly both shafts fit James pretty well. If anything, I expected to see the Evenflow Black 65-X perform quite well in this comparison.
I gotta ask, you basically with your experience you knew there wouldn't be much difference -- so why the steep price for the upgrade? Is it just them ripping us ignorant folks off, or are these upgraded shafts something that only the pros could really appreciate?
Chris Kennedy - A lot of the added price goes for advertising and marketing, as well as the endorsement deals that Graphite Design has with the tour professionals. The Evenflow Black offered by Titleist is actually a “real deal” (not “made for”) shaft, so in actuality, Titleist could charge extra for that one, too.
Great staff as usual James. Paid £300 for an Oban kiyoshi about 5 years ago. Thought it was great and worth it at the time. Material wise you do get what you pay for 😎 the tip section of the GD is softer than the even flow which could account for the increase in spin and trajectory. Sorry James but I’m a terrible gear geek 😂😂
Both of those shafts are not cheap to begin with even with one being a stock option. It's actually kinda nice that Titleist is offering up these higher end shafts as a stock option, maybe means people will look at getting one of their drivers to avoid up charge on other drivers where these shafts are not a stock option.
Play what works , some made for cheaper shafts will work for some and not for others , the main difference is the tolerance on upgraded real deal shafts are tighter ,also you get get fitted for driver with the standard shaft and when you get yours it may not feel the same .If you like to get a premium shaft buy one of the previous models ( they can be had for about £100.00 or less ) Example is I have 2 Mitsubishi Diamana b series shafts ,the new bf series is about £300.00,just because it's the new model ,I saved over £200.00 on each .It also depends on what you want out of a driver ,but also what works the best .
Aldila NV for about $45.00 is one of the best all around ahafts available according to several club makers ive spoken to. Unless you're a pro or have too much money in your pocket, I don't get spending tons of money on golf equipment. Its always the magician, not the wand. I play with a guy who is scratch and he uses a different set of irons each time we play and none of them are newer than 1990s. He also plays older drivers. We have hit new ones in comparison and with a potential increase of 7 yards, we save the money and buy more beers. To each his own.
I have a Callaway RAZR fit. Found the stock regular shaft encouraged my wilder tendencies. Bought a Matrix Ozik black tie 7M3 in stiff from my club pro. Felt unforgiving on mis hits to start with but much tighter dispersion and now I am used to it I really enjoy it. Oh, and it cost me £25
Great video James, when I did my clubfitting at Golfsmith UK, I remember being told that when Fujikura came to the market they were taking on the giant Graffaloy with there legendary Pro lite shaft, how did fuji compete with Graffaloy they doubled the price of there shaft, because hey if its double the price it must be twice as good right LMAO. Well it worked like a lucky charm for Fuji, and the rest is history. James would love to see you put a Graffaloy Pro lite up against the latest and greatest. Mr Ian Poulter himself was still playing Pro Lite until last year I heard.
All of this testing is a waste of time and money IF you do not have the both shafts Spine and FLO aligned to the head before the tip adapter is installed on the shaft. My 18 years of club making experience shows that Spine and FLO alignment of ANY shaft can make a big difference in profromance with the club. Even the high end shafts that cost $500 or more only work really well IF the shaft is aligned properly in the head. This fact is the main reason I am NOT a big fan of todays adjustable drivers that forge the golfer to Rotate the shaft to adjust the loft of the driver. Doing this, Negates the shaft alignment of the shaft and defeats the purpose of having the shaft aligned. A lot of high end shaft companies will tell you that their expensive shafts do NOT need to be Spine and FLO aligned, as they are nearly perfect as they come. This is TOTAL GARBAGE. Please believe me when I tell that EVERY shaft I've tested, from the cheap factory installed OEM shafts, up to shafts that sell for $500 or more, they ALL deliver better proformance when the shaft is properly aligned in the clubhead. Truth is a misaligned shaft can CAUSE a golfer to hit a big nasty SLICE with a good swing and a good head. Just by properly aligning the shaft in the head, can change a driver that hits a slice into one that hits the ball on a straight line or even give you a little draw. Same shaft and head, with a properly aligned shaft. I see this kind of difference every day when aligning shafts in all clubs I build. Irons to drivers, it can make a huge difference. ANY HIGH PRICE SHAFT IS A WASTE OF MONEY IF THE SHAFT IS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED AND INSTALLED IN THE HEAD. Save your money, Try having the factory shaft Spine and FLO aligned BEFORE you spend big money on a new shaft. I's rather play a properly aligned factory shaft in any of my clubs over a high end after market shaft that is not properly aligned in the head.
What would I expect to see from a $380 upcharge shaft? Better accuracy, better overall performance, a few extra yards. Overall, I would expect to see tighter dispersion (e.g. - more fairways hit, and better flight, meaning optimized launch and trajectory). The most expensive shaft that I have ever owned and used is the extremely rare Matrix TP6HDe shaft that retailed for $900 to $1,000 and is currently in my M3 driver (I didn’t pay anywhere near that much for it!). I am definitely seeing improved ball flight, carry distance and overall accuracy with it. However, if I had to pay even half of the retail cost for this shaft, I would never have purchased it! By the way, I love your TH-cam videos, James!
If you're from Tennessee in the USA you like the Orange! James (school colors are orange and white)....but we still wouldn't pay $350 for 4-5 yards....lol. Great video......as always.
Thanks a lot for the great review ...i can't agree more ... for average golfer it really doesn't matter at all ...coz their inconsistency in hitting the center is far greater than the inconsistency of the stock or cheap shaft ... however for a player who can hit the center most of the times, the expensive shafts do matter ... they are very consistent... and help hit the center
I have a Tour AD GP shaft in my 3-wood, and it's 100% worth the extra money. It's the best, most accurate, and longest fairway wood I've ever used. I've hit 3 shafts from Tour AD. The DI, MT, and GP. I've enjoyed them all a lot. And much more than stock/standard shafts like Fujikura, Diamana, Aldila Rogue etc. I do like the EvenFlow and HZRDUS shafts though.
James, you should do a grip test on irons, standard VS Midsize VS jumbo. normal swing and see the difference. does grip size effect ball flight. traj/shot shape/ direction. Great video.
I can attest to the difference. Have been playing mid size forever. As I've gotten older swing speed has slowed down of course. To try and take my hands out of it a little more when I feel like I'm swinging to hard I put jumbo grips on my clubs at the start of this season. I played 2 rounds with them and promptly got home and cut them off and went back to the midsize. Everything went right. Everything. Even wedges from 95y out. And I play with a fairly strong grip. I'm not going to try to wrap my head around why...but there was a massive difference between midsize and jumbo. My $.02.
Grips are cheap, but for someone who does not have $300 to try std, mid, and jumbo, it wouldnt be bad to have someone who tests all three to show IF there is a difference. if you have small hands and try jumbo, what could go wrong, if you have large hands and try small grips, what could go wrong. I have tried all three and have m\L hands as well, however, when I get comfortable hitting, the end result is i cant turn my hands over. What is cheap to some is expensive to others. Thats why these guys do these videos, to test and give an opinion before we spend the money. I get that its just an opinion. tests and product reviews have saved me TONS of money.
HAPPY GOLFER agree...cheap grips are cheap. I get Golf Pride New Decade Midsize. Local golf/sports stores they’re $9-11/each.... X’s 13 clubs X’s 3 different changes and yes it is not cheap. I install my own so it’s pricey without the labor charge. I don’t have Trump $ nor do I live under a bridge...it’s just pricey.
A shaft is a timing mechanism for power delivery. It can either be : 1) be moving forward / adding to clubhead speed in its oscillation stroke 2) be moving backwards / subtracting clubhead speed in its oscillation stroke 3) be at the point of changing directions in its oscillation stroke / neither adding nor subtracting clubhead speed For most men's type driver swing speeds, the difference between the max of #1 & #2 above is max about 3mph of club head speed from videos / calcs I've seen. With all the above said, and it certainly factored into the numbers as your swing speed was changing, when you really look at your data, the 1st 3 drives with your new shaft (which from the video were your first 3 swings) were slower (speed was building) and you launched them much higher (you were finding your swing). After that you settled down and the numbers look consistent between the shafts.Your furthest drive was with the new cheaper OE shaft. It might just be that your brain likes a heavier shaft to time your swing (the expensive shaft) but you can hit it furthest, not as consistently with the lighter new fitted shaft.
Wow a lot of thought gone in to that Paul thanks! I had a warm up before the video as normal so wouldn’t say it was building. Try to make it as fair test as possible in those regards. Definitely agree that mentally I like the heavier feel, but disagree with the expensive comment. It’s a Shaft I’ve used for a number of years so probs just feel more comfortable with it. Overall I thought the experiment went just how I thought it would. No huge difference to say it’s a man hitting balls and not a machine. Thanks for taking the time as always Paul! Appreciate the insight!
A similar/fun test would be to buy a used 5 year old, $40 driver head, add an expensive shaft and compare it to a brand new driver. Would be a similar price. Like the vids
Thoroughly enjoyed the video mate.. I cant help but notice that the shaft you've been fitted with tended to have a much higher variation in spin rates (some of them were down to almost 1900 rpms and some as high as 4000rpms) but the up charge shaft had a much lower variation. Think that is probably the big difference there. For players who demand a consistent performance (read: tour pros and playing pros only), the expensive stick may suit their needs better, though it will likely be an overkill for us mortals.
great video, i have that same EXACT tour ad di 7x in my 917d2, hopefully soon to be my TS3 or TS2!! appreciate and grateful for your videos james!! i paid 150 for my tour ad di 7x pre owned with a titleist tip and new grip
Hey mate, like the content! If you got fitted for both shafts in that driver head i think you’d find with the orange shaft you may have a C1 setting (7.6 loft and slightly open). Try that as a more defined comparison - you want to aim for the same spin rates to compare shafts with regard to accuracy and distance
Enjoyed the information, really confirmed what I was already thinking. Got fitted two weeks ago and could not find a new driver head and shaft that would out perform my Exotics from the factory. Had some improvement with my iron setup but for the price of $3100 I decided I’d pass. Now I feel like I made the right decision. I love the tech stuff keep it coming
Great video James - I really like the way you produce and edit these. Very entertaining and educational at the same time. I think that it is also good that you have an above average swing speed but not super elite - makes your reviews more related to us mere mortals. Would love to see a similar test on irons.....curious if the results would be the same
Brilliant vid again James ....really enjoying all your content keep it up mate ...... I got fitted for ping g irons 18 months ago and I could tell the difference in the shafts ... for me it was feel in the end on my irons and opted for kbs stiff 120 tour ...
I once paid $385 for a custom fit Aldila Tour Green, pured and weighted just as needed for my swing, as the numbers were a huge improvement over the Kurokage. I must say it was worth it to me at the time. I was able to sell it for $180, so lost about $200 a year later. Now since then, I've found a shaft that is not expensive and is a better fit for me than what is generally offered stock. Now that said, what I've found is not the shaft to be the main issue, it is the profile of the right shaft and how it is properly tipped or not tipped, that makes the difference. Tolerances for most manuf has improved a lot. I think most OEM offerings could work for the mass majority, if they do at least get on a launch monitor and test them out. Put your money in your wedges and putter!! :). Find a stock offering that works.
James - you should install the DI-7 shaft in the correct orientation and test again. As you noted in the video - the grip was now pointing 90 degrees left. I am confident that this shaft was "aligned" or "pured" after the manufacturing process. There should be a mark somewhere on the shaft (maybe even under the grip) that shows how it is to be aligned with the tip that is assembled on it. The grip should have been aligned with this mark too. This aligning or puring is how the makers test the shaft - measuring bend consistency over all 360 degrees around the shaft. The optimal point is marked and when installed correctly will add up to more energy transfer to the ball and less dispersion of your shots. Good luck - hope to see an updated bank of data.
I was always under the impression that every shaft has a "spine" which is why you get it set up properly. I fully agree. I would have to think he is losing a bit of distance.
I had ad di sr in a TS2- fantastic combo. Unfortunately, I got talked into replacing with the SIM driver and Ventus shaft. The difference is chalk and cheese. Yes, the SIM runs out a bit more in distance but there’s no ‘satisfaction’ hitting the ball as there is with the TS2 - the ad di shaft is AMAZING for fairway seeking and feel. I deeply regret selling mine and now have to replace it and perhaps my missus too.......
There was a large distance dispersion difference 26 yards with the stock and 13 yards with the ad di, that’s a definite bonus plus being 4-5 yards longer. Definitely worth it for a better player, hell people buy new 400-500 drivers for less distance gains.
James Bill in 🇨🇦. I would say. With authority if you swing below 100mph your wasting your money. Dozens of shafts from new atmos High end diamana Graphite design etc. 50$🇨🇦. Graffoly Out does them all I am 68 swing at about 90 to 95 on GC2 at home on sym. Not that others are bad at all but you do have to work harder and as round goes on you tire Keep that in mind Age and power matter must be acknowledged. Oh and and I have hundreds of shafts to interchange Bill🇨🇦
Well James, ive spend grands and grands on aftermarket shafts, but i think it honestly comes down to fitting of whatever 'stock' or 'exotic' offering, and IMHO in the last 3yrs or so, Stock offerings like the Aldila Rogue 110MSI or Evenflow T1100, have really stepped up the 'stock' game. But i do have to say, some exotic shafts really do feel better when you hit em, but that wasnt something measurable on a trackman
Played in a pro am with two pros and my self,my main project throughout the round was to stay on the fairways,which I managed quite well ,hit 12 out of 14 fairway and the other two where not to bad quite recoverable. To achieve this I wound back a bit,what I found was these guys were out driving me and on some occasions and by quite a bit,but on other occasions where I could let it rip a bit I was right up with them and on a few times pass them,but that not to say they where going big. On one hole where I let rip one of the pro inquired as to what driver I was using,I told him it was a 5 year old ,$100 Ebay Adams,needless to say he was not using a standard of the self driver,but the question is do shafts make a difference, the answer is marginal, hit an expensive driver at the range and was getting better distance than my driver and better accuracy,felt like a cheat.But I put that down to, a one of letting it rip experience that same club would still not help me on a bad golf day,and at the end of the day golf clubs are like tires you adapt your driving to your budget.
Excellent video James! Would I buy the upcharge shaft for 4 yards.. hmm probably. I just ordered the TS3 over my Epic for 4 yards - just trying (and hoping) new tech keeps my interest and gets me back to the golf course :) keep up the good work
I got custom fitted and for me one of the more expensive shafts gave me the best numbers. My fitter had me try 8 different types. But not all of the more expensive ones did better though. If your buying a driver off the rack don't waste your $ on a more expensive shaft, but if you can have an experienced fitter take you through the process, it might make a difference. For me the biggest difference was dispersion.
Well two points, one how do some players show they have more money than us unless they have a up charge shaft, on the other side, you could argue that spending $800 on a new driver for a few yards isn’t worth it,.......oh well I will just stick with my old m1 for now 😔 still though love the vid, keep em coming
Great video as always and really awesome to find out you’re a #golfmate! 🙌🏻 Props to you for giving Liam a shoutout too. 👍🏻 Keep up the great work. I’m really enjoying all your content
James, I am new to your videos. First thing I noticed is how around your body you swing your driver. It looked like it was shoulder level at the top of your swing. Nice video. I will have to visit your site more often.
One thing not discussed was dispersion, Shaft torque. I found replacing my Project X 3 wood shaft with my Fujikura Speeder 565 I hit more fairways. I have not looked at the numbers yet.
I switched from a Tensei av blue to an AD DI on a TS2 and there's no match. I have never driven the ball so well and confidently. The shaft's performance and consistency are stellar. Not two swings are identical therefore I encourage you to try these shafts with a good fitter if you have a chance. For me the difference was spectacular - which might not only be due to the quality but also to a better fit. Yet, it is normal to expect a 300$ shaft perform better than a 20$ one. The other best thing I did for my game is play a 44.5" shaft for my driver. No one should play longer than this. Some can say 300$ is a lot for a shaft yet are ready to change their 500$ driver every year or two... Make the investment, you won't be sorry.
hey James i do not know how they do it in the UK but here in the U.S.A the way i do it is that i go to this thing call EBAY i buy low price shafts and like me i have two drivers a 910d2 and a 915d2 both 12" buy the shaft and take it to a golf guy that does repairs club fitting etc and used the tip that came with the club (reshaft of the club) or buy shafts that has titliest tips on it whole lot cheaper on both ends!!!
No wonder you won longest drive, lol..Just fitted 😂 Really great vlog, too many average players like me spend crazy money trying to buy yards. And the price of clubs now are starting to get out of hand imo for most club golfers. Love you channel James, telling it like it is. Keep up the great work 👍
@@JamesRobinsonGolf I'd swap swings with you any day, obviously, lol Well done again on these. Love the look of your course. Going to try to pop over before December. Cheers
4 yards more WITH 500rpm more! Maybe a little less loft with the MUCH better shaft(Tour AD) and you will be looking at a lot more than 4 yards. 500rpm is a lot of energy, that shaft is transferring much more energy from you to the club head, you just haven't fine tuned it yet. Thanks for proving just how much better REAL shafts are than stock "made for" shafts are.
Not really. It only proves that the Tour AD is a better fit for his swing with this driver. He might get even better performance from a completely different shaft costing much less than the Tour AD if it fit his swing. Spending more certainly guarantees a lighter wallet, but it can't guarantee better results.
@@bdeheton6445 I was really responding to his suggestion that there wasn't much in it between them. If the Tour AD gives him more ball speed as well as more spin, then a lot more energy was sent to the ball. Of course it will depend on the player somewhat, but, I still say, one shaft sent a lot more energy to the ball than the other.
@@paulhartmann926 Yes, I can certainly agree with that. There was more ball speed and carry distance despite higher spin. My point was that might also be achievable with another stock or other non-premium (low cost) shaft depending on the individual. For very high speed players (110mph+), The higher tolerances, quality control, and perhaps design elements of more expensive shafts can often provide better performance. But, its not always the case.
lovely video... for me (with the 913d) I went from the stock S shaft to the GD AD-BB 7x and had phenomenal results... this has been a few years though so maybe the stock shafts from titleist are improving in quality and closing the gap
Most I’ve spent to upgrade my driver is a new grip and I can’t imagine a new “more expensive “ shaft would make all that much difference. Maybe years ago but not now.
A professional club fitter and PGA Professional replaced the standard shaft that was in my Rogue driver with an Oban Revenge shaft, which presents as having design characteristics that better suited my modest out to in swing. Both on Trackman and on the course, the new shaft returned on average a 20% carry and total distance increase. As if not more importantly, the pattern of dispersion narrowed dramatically. Well worth the upcharge!
I rock the Tour AD-BB 7S and yeah shaft can play a huge roll. BB-7S is a rocket! I have a few others I've won off my friends, Odan is another one I have the Odan Limited Edition as a back but, delivering a higher launch but I love the Low-Mid launch here in Arizona. Now a shaft to consider is the Aldilia Rouge Silver very underrated but also the price you save 70% to high end brand and delivering about 90% same performance.
I have both the GD AD-BB 6X and the DI-7X. The Blue Bullet plays like my Diamana White Board, but with more feel. The Diamana was the go to shaft for distance in the early 2000s. As for the DI shaft, it allows for a slightly softer tip section to shape shots. Spin as you seen in the video will be higher. I did hit a friend's Oban Kiyoshi Purple shaft fixed to his Titleist 910. I loved the feel and flight of it, but I never had a fitter local at the time offer Oban.
The ol' blue bullet.. that would be a good Arizona shaft. My fav shaft is the 2nd generation blueboard. I use to play the whiteboard, and I liked it, but u don't get too much feel off the face. I get better feel with something more tip soft. Mid launch low spin is where it's at. I have also played the oban kyoshi (purple shaft). I played an xflex in that but my spin was a touch high. I tipped it half an inch and it was 💰. Love shaft and golf talk
I know this is an old video but I think it depends cuz you were also fitted for that other shaft. Most people just use the shaft that comes with the driver. I recently did a fitting and gained 27 yards, my smash factor went from 1.43 to 1.48 and the ball flight was way better after being fitted for a better quality shaft.
The point about an expensive up charge shaft over stock shaft should really be about whether it improves your dispersion. If both shaft are the right length and right flex for you there will not be massive differences in distance but there could be significant differences in left/right dispersion. Personally I just am not a consistently good enough ball striker for a specialist 3rd party shaft to make much difference to my driver
I just swapped out my Speeder 667 factory shaft for the hand crafted Hazrdous Yellow and it was well worth the headache I caught from the wife. Anytime I can gain 10+ yrds is worth any amount of mouth I have to listen too.
Project X Evenflow White is Low Spin/Low Launch. Tour AD-Di7 is a Low Spin/Mid Launch. The HZRDUS Smoke(Low-Mid/Low-Mid) stock shaft would be a closer comparison, but still not identical. Spin Rate with the AD-Di7 is inflated due to a misread or a couple mishits likely low in the heel which shows a deviation of 900 RPMS. Shots 1 and 4. The same can be said with shot 3 with Project X shaft. 1st shot with Evenflow was off the top of the face maximizing launch and low spin. Clubspeed is extremely variable so therefore smash isn't usable. Deleting the two outliers will show there is very little difference. The VAST majority of ball speed/launch/spin comes from the head of the club. The shaft fine tunes what you want out of the head. I would expect a slightly higher launch and spin from the Tour AD-Di7 with a softer feel in the middle and tip with zero effect on the ball speed unless that slight jump in confidence in feel magically makes you hit the ball in the center of the face each time. Is an upcharge shaft worth it? If it works for you and feels the way you want it to, then go for it. Other than that, you can find something similar in the lineup without an upcharge.
Well said, your analysis is spot on... I fit for Titleist and heel/toe strikes certainly create a huge swing in readings. When Titleist picks a shaft as a "stock" offering it typically does not do an up charge for a "premium " shaft.
Dave Gebhardt yes they do, but do most people always hit the ball out of the centre then? Every time? Discounting bad shots makes the testing false and pointless to me. Being a fitter I would think you’d get that David?
@@JamesRobinsonGolf Didn't think I was being contentious. That being said - as all good fitters do - I fit to consistency, so yes bad shots must be part of the matrix. And again - when Titleist chooses a premium shaft it becomes a stock shaft at no additional cost; i.e., when KBS was first introduced nearly all shafts were uncharged, now not so much. Any I enjoy your work, please keep it up!
I play with what works when it works, I've used the same tour AD as the one in this demonstration. I've used a rogue silver, rogue black, Diamana blue, and my current shaft the kurokage chemical. I've gone through shafts quite a bit in the past year but I've stuck to this one and love it. Perfect spin numbers, right launch angle, right ball speed. It just works well and it was $60.
I'd expect feel to be vastly different in those two shafts with the Tour AD having more kick and launching a little higher. This should make it more user friendly on the golf course. Shafts are all about finding a feel that matches your swing... While you can shave or add spin, they're not magic yardage boosters.
1st, I have a torch you can borrow to remove the tag on the TM wrench if you can't get it off. 2, can you do another video with these shafts with dispersion in mind? Maybe on course with dog legs, shaping and tight fairways? I understand the small gain in distance, but I'd also hope for a gain in control and dispersion.
I was told the T1100 Even Flow was an exotic shaft...not a "made for" like a lot of manufacturers con people with. Go back 10 years and a lot of my playing partners would demo exotic shafts and pay upcharges. Come forward to 2018 and the last couple of demo days I have attended have seen a lot more choice in iron shafts but the vans are carrying very few genuinely exotic shafts like the GD you were hitting. Either people are loathe to shell out another £200 on top of the basic purchase price or the companies are not seeing the demand so offering a much smaller selection. The Hzardus is the current fashionable shaft and I rarely see GD, Oban, genuine Diamanas or Fuji Tour Specs. OK many are poker stiff and low spin so not suited to more than 1 in 20 players but the upcharge habit is long gone where I live in Cumbria. Maybe different in Cheshire or Surrey.
Have to agree with you jean! I think the prices of drivers are that high now that people expect a lot more choice and less upcharges! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I agree, T1100 Even Flow and the AD DI-7 I would consider both to be aftermarket shafts. Either could be just as good as each other depending on your own swing. PGA Tour pros are using the Even Flow shaft so it can't be that bad. The only ones I am wary of are the 'made for' shafts, they are cheaper materials (more profit for manufacturer) and tend to be at least half a flex softer to stroke the ego of golfers.
James, I appreciate how you stick to the review or topic and don’t get too far into the weeds with your information. Others could learn from your example!
Thanks mate appreciate that!
After years of using “fitted” stock shafts on my new Drivers from a famous retail store. I finally booked for a Driver Shaft fitting by a fitting Professional at his studio. I did this as I’ve bought the new Taylormade Sim Max and was “supposedly fitted” with a Fujikura Ventos 6S stock shaft. I Drive the ball pretty well and quite far considering I’m 58 years old. I average around 140mph + ball speed with a nice high draw, as I do hit up on the ball between 3-5 degrees. but I felt that the ball was stalling as it went through the air.
After about an hour of swinging with different shafts with the fitting pro, he showed me the shaft that was best suited to me. Yes my jaw nearly hit the floor and my eyes nearly popped out of my head when he told me that the shaft cost £300! But my launch was lower, my spin came down a lot, my accuracy and dispersion got better and my yardages improved. Needless to say that I purchased it.
Here were my results beforehand.
Fujikura Ventos 6S Blue. Swing Speed. 98mph. Spin 3350 Total distance. 233yds.
Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7X. Swing Speed. 102mph. Spin 2450 Total distance 258yds.
As you can see, there was a big difference. My advice to everyone is to try a Driver fitting out. It costs between £50-£75. You’re under no obligation to buy, but by god, it did open my eyes up as to how much distance you are losing by playing with the wrong shaft that doesn’t suit your swing.
How are you averaging that ball speed and only swinging it 98 mph?
@@Dk-gl1nh my bad.. it was a typing error. Have rectified it. Thanks for spotting my deliberate mistake!!
I know it's a few years later but here is my take on this video. Love the channel James. 1st of all, the stock shafts offered today are actually pretty good options. The Project X in this video is already a premium shaft so the comparison here is not a good comparison. I would have compared it to a typical PING stock shaft or Callaway. Today all the club makers offer better shafts so to upgrade is not worth it unless you absolutely have superior club head speed or just want to upgrade. Go get fitted if your unsure but today's options should make it simple for most golfers.
I can’t physically play golf anymore but love watching theses videos!
From personal experience. Exotic shafts of the proper fit will enhance you abilities, however, if it's a bad fit it's a bad fit. I have a medium tempo and transition and I am in that funny zone where an argument can be made for a stiff or an extra stiff shaft. I had the Tour AD DI 6s and it is a great quality shaft, but it was not a good fit for me. I was then recommended the Diamana Blue 60X at a demo day and that shaft as served me well ever sense then with better accuracy than any stock shaft I have ever had. So, are expensive shafts worth it. Absolutely.......as long as you get the right one. If those of you like me who cannot afford an expensive fitting and still be able to purchase the club, go and find a demo day from one of the top manufactures. More often than not they are free and they will usually have all of the available shafts to try. Also, now a days they will probably have a launch monitor there as well.
Lads, enjoy smashing it while you’re still young! I’m age 64 now and driver speed is down to 95 - 97. Until I hit my late 50’s my game was simply to hit it very hard, then go hit it again. No worry then about hitting every fairway because I’d just muscle it out of whatever junk I’d find it in. Now I’m about 30 yards shorter and the game has become more of a focus on accuracy. My index seems to fluctuate in the same general range. Its interesting how these things settle out. Cheers to all and Happy New Year!
At this time I know that my reply to this post is about 8 plus months pasts it's release date but my addition to it might be relevant for some. About two months ago I purchased an upgrade/after market shaft for my driver, it is a VA Vylyn 55 gram stiff $235.00 and it feels to be the most stable shaft I have ever had at impact. The one it is replacing is the Tensei CK Blue 60 gram stiff, and there is a huge huge difference in the stable feel at impact, even at my age ( a very young 68 ) and after 50 plus years playing at this game I can now really see a plus for getting an after market shaft, my opinion but that's what is important to me. Good video post James, thanks.
great video!
For a 300£ upcharge I would expect an alien aircraft to pick up my ball and drop it 500 yards down in the middle of the fairway!
£100 a yard on a windy day, retry the test on a calm day and see what difference the higher trajectory makes then. Brilliant video, still can't believe you only have 7.5 k subs
Thanks Stuart! A lot of people wanting to see this test on a golf course so might do that on a calm day. Yeah hoping for 10k next month and just keep building. Hard to get discovered!
What to expect if I get a 300 pound shaft?
An angry wife.
😂😂😂😂
Regret!
@Pragmatic Constitutionalist Party far from it....
let's hope it's not a 300 pound angry wife
Stephen Poole and some slaps in the face
I got fitted with Adila Rogue orange 55g shaft on my Ping GMAX driver . Cost $250 but saw improvement on performance.
Bang on the money James. People buy them to look good 🤔 pros get given them to play good. Stock shafts in clubs for a reason that they are perfect for the majority of golfers out there.
Cheers Andy! Thanks for watching mate!
I paid 140 quid extra for an Odan devotion shaft in my callaway Rogue. Love it. Just on feel alone I was sold but out performed other shafts I tried. 55g so pretty light but stiff winning combo. If only I could hit a wedge 😂
All boils down to short game Anthony doesn’t it mate!!!
James Robinson Golf certainly does. If I had a pound for every time I’ve hit a decent drive then thinned a wedge through the green or duffed it ten yards I could prob afford that orange shaft 😂
FINALLY!!! These are the reviews I want to see! I’m fairly new to the channel but your content is second to none. You’re putting out the best videos!! Keep it up
Thanks Tyler! Comments like that which keep my motivation so high! Appreciate it.
It worked for me, a 12 handicap!!! (Impact Precision Golf, Houston)
I have been out of golf for a little while recently due to health issues. I'm having trouble understanding what "Golden Years" means. I had wanted to hit the Left Hand Callaway Epic Driver. I was not happy with my former Cobra F6 or Mizuno drivers. I was getting a little fade on the ball. I didn't want to be losing the distance. Average drive was 225 - 235 yards. I visited Impact Precision Golf in Houston where I knew most of the Master Fitters for years. The purpose of my visit was to have them custom build me a Cobra 2 hybrid (F6) with a Mizuno shaft to match my other Mizuno hybrids plus I wanted the club spine aligned. This worked PERFECT as soon thereafter I hit a 190 yard Hole In One with the club. Please note that Mizuno did not make 2 hybrid lefthanded.
I then spotted the Callaway Epic Driver Head in 10.5 degree LH. I told Brett how much I was looking forward to hitting it. He asked me about my current driving statistics. He then apologized that they were having a big demo day at one of the Major clubs on the south side of Houston and had taken most of their best shafts with them. After reviewing what remained, he said let's try this Project X Yellow HZRDUS shaft in Regular. I had just played 18 holes so I was already warmed up. I took 5 swings with every ball on Trackman going down the middle with a draw with the last ball going 275 as I came out of my shoes to hit it. Not bad for 66 years old! I also hit every ball dead center in the middle of the face off a spot the size of a pencil eraser. I didn't want to trip the wire on a Driver fitting so I stopped at that point. Scared to ask, I looked back and said, "OK. How much?" to which he replied $950 which meant the shaft was $450.
I was retiring in a month so I pondered getting the Driver with a stock shaft at my club where I had some money left to use after doing well in the tournaments over the year and then bringing the club to Impact to finish the job as my Going Away Present (Who needs another gold watch). Callaway was having demo day at my club in 10 days. I thought they had 4 great shafts to choose from of which I was hitting them so badly that the Callaway Rep put on face tape to try and tell where the ball was hitting the face. It was a disaster. Then I spotted the Yellow HZRDUS shaft in his bag. I said "Let me try that." Bam. Everything exactly back in the center of the face. The Yellow shaft was $270 upgrade. I said OK. Give it to me in Regular. He says, "Opps! We only picked it up in stiff".
OK. I used other means to get the shaft in Regular and had it spine aligned (LH). Two days later at the Thursday afternoon scramble with typically about 50 players, the rack spotted the Yellow shaft and asked "How Much?" I said $950 and they all laughed heartily and quite frankly, made many somewhat disparaging remarks. I think they were trying to hurt my feelings. One month later, I had taken $400 off my buddies. Seriously, we don't play for hardly any money at all. Now they are all asking, "If I buy a $950 driver will I hit the ball like you?" Of course, the answer is only if they get "fit" for the shaft. Nine of the 13 scratch golfers at my club ALL have custom shafts.
Best of luck finding a great fitter and make sure they have a Trackman...Bob in Houston
Tbh, even ignoring the numbers I feel another big factor is just how the ball feels when you hit it. Even you said how amazing that strike felt when you hit a good one. So to me if you are someone that is driven by the feel of the club rather than the numbers, then it would be a great club for you!
Low launch low spin shaft vs high launch low/mid spin shaft. So yes you should get more carry and more spin from the upcharge so the 3 yards weren’t because of exotic it was higher launch and spin keeping ball in air longer.
It was actually launching 1.4 degrees lower, though... Spinning 500 more, sure. But not launching higher, as you've said.
$300 extra for 2.8 yards and a spinny shot? No. Based on those drives, I bet you can get the Even Flow to go straighter and longer than the upcharged one.
Good video, and what I expected. from watching a lot of fitting videos recently, I get the impression that grip choice has more potential for impact than fancy shafts.
Watching the videos are so insightful and as a low handicapper one allways try out new technology. The Tensei orange shaft looks great and I'M off to try one. However in the end it is about the feel and control one gains that will matter most; it has to increase your confidence and for that I will pay pay gladly.
Great video as always, straight to the point and not sugar coated . Disappointing gains for the money but having been fitted for the even flow you couldn’t expect too much.
Would like to see a comparison of same shaft but different weighs.
Cheers Russ! Appreciate that mate!
Very interesting shaft test,but I would say that if you get fitted by someone you trust then stick to what they fitted you with and trust their judgement don’t go by what your favourite tour player is using. Great work James and loving the videos (slowly catching back up)
I was never a shaft believer for 10 years until I got Graphic Design BB6. It’s not about distance. It’s about the kicking point that let you feel comfortable of the timing to swing hard.
This is a dream video for me. I have the Ad Di 6X in my M1. Was debating whether to keep it when I get my ts3
Great video, thanks. Over the last 20 years I’ve snapped 3 stock shafts just above the driver head. I have never broken any of my aftermarket shafts. Not much difference in performance but feel is better.
It’s good to see Titleist using original versions of these shafts instead of the watered down “made for Titleist” version.
Great Video James. Shafts are timing devices which may or may not help you achieve better results. Cost is no guarantee of improvement. Find the right one for your swing or the best compromise for your budget. Sometimes the stock shaft will be perfect. Finally don't worry about flex. If the ladies shaft feels great and performs use it, if the tour x-stiff works for you, then use that. Try and take the ego out if you can. Get fit by a reputable independent fitter would always be my advice.
I am a Certified Professional Clubfitter, member of the two leading international clubfitting organizations, with nearly 30 years experience fitting golf clubs, and before seeing the results my opinion is that there should be very little performance difference between these two shafts in James Robinson’s hands. Both are extremely good shafts and seemingly both shafts fit James pretty well. If anything, I expected to see the Evenflow Black 65-X perform quite well in this comparison.
Great hypothesis Doug! Thanks for watching mate!
I gotta ask, you basically with your experience you knew there wouldn't be much difference -- so why the steep price for the upgrade? Is it just them ripping us ignorant folks off, or are these upgraded shafts something that only the pros could really appreciate?
Chris Kennedy - A lot of the added price goes for advertising and marketing, as well as the endorsement deals that Graphite Design has with the tour professionals. The Evenflow Black offered by Titleist is actually a “real deal” (not “made for”) shaft, so in actuality, Titleist could charge extra for that one, too.
@@dougmael exactly to say one shaft is £300 more than the other is unfair. How much would that even flow cost if you were paying to upgrade?
@@ashleyjukes1460 - The difference in price between the Evenflo Black and the Graphite Design Tour AD is only about $100.
Great staff as usual James. Paid £300 for an Oban kiyoshi about 5 years ago. Thought it was great and worth it at the time. Material wise you do get what you pay for 😎 the tip section of the GD is softer than the even flow which could account for the increase in spin and trajectory. Sorry James but I’m a terrible gear geek 😂😂
TS3 with even flow 65g stiff is my exact setup! Love it..
Both of those shafts are not cheap to begin with even with one being a stock option. It's actually kinda nice that Titleist is offering up these higher end shafts as a stock option, maybe means people will look at getting one of their drivers to avoid up charge on other drivers where these shafts are not a stock option.
Agreed!
Play what works , some made for cheaper shafts will work for some and not for others , the main difference is the tolerance on upgraded real deal shafts are tighter ,also you get get fitted for driver with the standard shaft and when you get yours it may not feel the same .If you like to get a premium shaft buy one of the previous models ( they can be had for about £100.00 or less ) Example is I have 2 Mitsubishi Diamana b series shafts ,the new bf series is about £300.00,just because it's the new model ,I saved over £200.00 on each .It also depends on what you want out of a driver ,but also what works the best .
Swing consistency, contact consistency, and wow factor on the tee among partners all factor in.
Aldila NV for about $45.00 is one of the best all around ahafts available according to several club makers ive spoken to. Unless you're a pro or have too much money in your pocket, I don't get spending tons of money on golf equipment. Its always the magician, not the wand. I play with a guy who is scratch and he uses a different set of irons each time we play and none of them are newer than 1990s. He also plays older drivers. We have hit new ones in comparison and with a potential increase of 7 yards, we save the money and buy more beers. To each his own.
I have a Callaway RAZR fit. Found the stock regular shaft encouraged my wilder tendencies. Bought a Matrix Ozik black tie 7M3 in stiff from my club pro. Felt unforgiving on mis hits to start with but much tighter dispersion and now I am used to it I really enjoy it. Oh, and it cost me £25
Great video James, when I did my clubfitting at Golfsmith UK, I remember being told that when Fujikura came to the market they were taking on the giant Graffaloy with there legendary Pro lite shaft, how did fuji compete with Graffaloy they doubled the price of there shaft, because hey if its double the price it must be twice as good right LMAO. Well it worked like a lucky charm for Fuji, and the rest is history. James would love to see you put a Graffaloy Pro lite up against the latest and greatest. Mr Ian Poulter himself was still playing Pro Lite until last year I heard.
All of this testing is a waste of time and money IF you do not have the both shafts Spine and FLO aligned to the head before the tip adapter is installed on the shaft. My 18 years of club making experience shows that Spine and FLO alignment of ANY shaft can make a big difference in profromance with the club. Even the high end shafts that cost $500 or more only work really well IF the shaft is aligned properly in the head. This fact is the main reason I am NOT a big fan of todays adjustable drivers that forge the golfer to Rotate the shaft to adjust the loft of the driver. Doing this, Negates the shaft alignment of the shaft and defeats the purpose of having the shaft aligned. A lot of high end shaft companies will tell you that their expensive shafts do NOT need to be Spine and FLO aligned, as they are nearly perfect as they come. This is TOTAL GARBAGE. Please believe me when I tell that EVERY shaft I've tested, from the cheap factory installed OEM shafts, up to shafts that sell for $500 or more, they ALL deliver better proformance when the shaft is properly aligned in the clubhead. Truth is a misaligned shaft can CAUSE a golfer to hit a big nasty SLICE with a good swing and a good head. Just by properly aligning the shaft in the head, can change a driver that hits a slice into one that hits the ball on a straight line or even give you a little draw. Same shaft and head, with a properly aligned shaft. I see this kind of difference every day when aligning shafts in all clubs I build. Irons to drivers, it can make a huge difference.
ANY HIGH PRICE SHAFT IS A WASTE OF MONEY IF THE SHAFT IS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED AND INSTALLED IN THE HEAD. Save your money, Try having the factory shaft Spine and FLO aligned BEFORE you spend big money on a new shaft. I's rather play a properly aligned factory shaft in any of my clubs over a high end after market shaft that is not properly aligned in the head.
What would I expect to see from a $380 upcharge shaft? Better accuracy, better overall performance, a few extra yards. Overall, I would expect to see tighter dispersion (e.g. - more fairways hit, and better flight, meaning optimized launch and trajectory). The most expensive shaft that I have ever owned and used is the extremely rare Matrix TP6HDe shaft that retailed for $900 to $1,000 and is currently in my M3 driver (I didn’t pay anywhere near that much for it!). I am definitely seeing improved ball flight, carry distance and overall accuracy with it. However, if I had to pay even half of the retail cost for this shaft, I would never have purchased it!
By the way, I love your TH-cam videos, James!
If you're from Tennessee in the USA you like the Orange! James (school colors are orange and white)....but we still wouldn't pay $350 for 4-5 yards....lol. Great video......as always.
For a 300 pound upcharge shaft I would like a small car added for free.....great video pal.
Agreed! Haha thanks mate
Thanks a lot for the great review ...i can't agree more ... for average golfer it really doesn't matter at all ...coz their inconsistency in hitting the center is far greater than the inconsistency of the stock or cheap shaft ... however for a player who can hit the center most of the times, the expensive shafts do matter ... they are very consistent... and help hit the center
I have a Tour AD GP shaft in my 3-wood, and it's 100% worth the extra money. It's the best, most accurate, and longest fairway wood I've ever used. I've hit 3 shafts from Tour AD. The DI, MT, and GP. I've enjoyed them all a lot. And much more than stock/standard shafts like Fujikura, Diamana, Aldila Rogue etc. I do like the EvenFlow and HZRDUS shafts though.
James, you should do a grip test on irons, standard VS Midsize VS jumbo. normal swing and see the difference. does grip size effect ball flight. traj/shot shape/ direction. Great video.
Great idea! Have something in the pipeline you may like!
I can attest to the difference. Have been playing mid size forever. As I've gotten older swing speed has slowed down of course. To try and take my hands out of it a little more when I feel like I'm swinging to hard I put jumbo grips on my clubs at the start of this season. I played 2 rounds with them and promptly got home and cut them off and went back to the midsize. Everything went right. Everything. Even wedges from 95y out. And I play with a fairly strong grip. I'm not going to try to wrap my head around why...but there was a massive difference between midsize and jumbo. My $.02.
Grips are cheap, but for someone who does not have $300 to try std, mid, and jumbo, it wouldnt be bad to have someone who tests all three to show IF there is a difference. if you have small hands and try jumbo, what could go wrong, if you have large hands and try small grips, what could go wrong. I have tried all three and have m\L hands as well, however, when I get comfortable hitting, the end result is i cant turn my hands over. What is cheap to some is expensive to others. Thats why these guys do these videos, to test and give an opinion before we spend the money. I get that its just an opinion. tests and product reviews have saved me TONS of money.
HAPPY GOLFER agree...cheap grips are cheap. I get Golf Pride New Decade Midsize. Local golf/sports stores they’re $9-11/each.... X’s 13 clubs X’s 3 different changes and yes it is not cheap. I install my own so it’s pricey without the labor charge. I don’t have Trump $ nor do I live under a bridge...it’s just pricey.
Pragmatic Constitutionalist Party 1) you got way too much time on your hands, 2) I failed geometry. 😆
Biggest upcharge I spent was $200 dollars for a 3 hybrid Rogue st max os. Nice video.
That was really interesting, not much difference there then, hardly 300 pounds worth of improvement. Keep up the great work. Loving it.
Thanks Tony!!!! Appreciate that mate!
A shaft is a timing mechanism for power delivery. It can either be :
1) be moving forward / adding to clubhead speed in its oscillation stroke
2) be moving backwards / subtracting clubhead speed in its oscillation stroke
3) be at the point of changing directions in its oscillation stroke / neither adding nor subtracting clubhead speed
For most men's type driver swing speeds, the difference between the max of #1 & #2 above is max about 3mph of club head speed from videos / calcs I've seen.
With all the above said, and it certainly factored into the numbers as your swing speed was changing, when you really look at your data, the 1st 3 drives with your new shaft (which from the video were your first 3 swings) were slower (speed was building) and you launched them much higher (you were finding your swing). After that you settled down and the numbers look consistent between the shafts.Your furthest drive was with the new cheaper OE shaft. It might just be that your brain likes a heavier shaft to time your swing (the expensive shaft) but you can hit it furthest, not as consistently with the lighter new fitted shaft.
Wow a lot of thought gone in to that Paul thanks! I had a warm up before the video as normal so wouldn’t say it was building. Try to make it as fair test as possible in those regards. Definitely agree that mentally I like the heavier feel, but disagree with the expensive comment. It’s a Shaft I’ve used for a number of years so probs just feel more comfortable with it. Overall I thought the experiment went just how I thought it would. No huge difference to say it’s a man hitting balls and not a machine. Thanks for taking the time as always Paul! Appreciate the insight!
A similar/fun test would be to buy a used 5 year old, $40 driver head, add an expensive shaft and compare it to a brand new driver. Would be a similar price. Like the vids
Thoroughly enjoyed the video mate.. I cant help but notice that the shaft you've been fitted with tended to have a much higher variation in spin rates (some of them were down to almost 1900 rpms and some as high as 4000rpms) but the up charge shaft had a much lower variation. Think that is probably the big difference there. For players who demand a consistent performance (read: tour pros and playing pros only), the expensive stick may suit their needs better, though it will likely be an overkill for us mortals.
great video, i have that same EXACT tour ad di 7x in my 917d2, hopefully soon to be my TS3 or TS2!! appreciate and grateful for your videos james!! i paid 150 for my tour ad di 7x pre owned with a titleist tip and new grip
Hey mate, like the content! If you got fitted for both shafts in that driver head i think you’d find with the orange shaft you may have a C1 setting (7.6 loft and slightly open). Try that as a more defined comparison - you want to aim for the same spin rates to compare shafts with regard to accuracy and distance
Enjoyed the information, really confirmed what I was already thinking. Got fitted two weeks ago and could not find a new driver head and shaft that would out perform my Exotics from the factory. Had some improvement with my iron setup but for the price of $3100 I decided I’d pass. Now I feel like I made the right decision. I love the tech stuff keep it coming
Great video James - I really like the way you produce and edit these. Very entertaining and educational at the same time. I think that it is also good that you have an above average swing speed but not super elite - makes your reviews more related to us mere mortals.
Would love to see a similar test on irons.....curious if the results would be the same
Thanks Anthony! Really appreciate the time taken for your comment. ⛳️👍🏼🎥
Brilliant vid again James ....really enjoying all your content keep it up mate ...... I got fitted for ping g irons 18 months ago and I could tell the difference in the shafts ... for me it was feel in the end on my irons and opted for kbs stiff 120 tour ...
Thanks Pete!
I once paid $385 for a custom fit Aldila Tour Green, pured and weighted just as needed for my swing, as the numbers were a huge improvement over the Kurokage. I must say it was worth it to me at the time. I was able to sell it for $180, so lost about $200 a year later. Now since then, I've found a shaft that is not expensive and is a better fit for me than what is generally offered stock. Now that said, what I've found is not the shaft to be the main issue, it is the profile of the right shaft and how it is properly tipped or not tipped, that makes the difference. Tolerances for most manuf has improved a lot. I think most OEM offerings could work for the mass majority, if they do at least get on a launch monitor and test them out. Put your money in your wedges and putter!! :). Find a stock offering that works.
Paid 375 for a callaway epic. Bought all the parts separate and cut and built it myself. (Saved 125) I love it. I hit it farther than my old driver.
I admire your honesty james , great video marra
James - you should install the DI-7 shaft in the correct orientation and test again. As you noted in the video - the grip was now pointing 90 degrees left. I am confident that this shaft was "aligned" or "pured" after the manufacturing process. There should be a mark somewhere on the shaft (maybe even under the grip) that shows how it is to be aligned with the tip that is assembled on it. The grip should have been aligned with this mark too. This aligning or puring is how the makers test the shaft - measuring bend consistency over all 360 degrees around the shaft. The optimal point is marked and when installed correctly will add up to more energy transfer to the ball and less dispersion of your shots. Good luck - hope to see an updated bank of data.
Yeah but I had the loft and face angle setting the same. The shaft is designed to be rotated
I was always under the impression that every shaft has a "spine" which is why you get it set up properly. I fully agree. I would have to think he is losing a bit of distance.
I had ad di sr in a TS2- fantastic combo. Unfortunately, I got talked into replacing with the SIM driver and Ventus shaft. The difference is chalk and cheese. Yes, the SIM runs out a bit more in distance but there’s no ‘satisfaction’ hitting the ball as there is with the TS2 - the ad di shaft is AMAZING for fairway seeking and feel. I deeply regret selling mine and now have to replace it and perhaps my missus too.......
Your club head Speed is all over the place, but your smash factor is pretty consistent.
There was a large distance dispersion difference 26 yards with the stock and 13 yards with the ad di, that’s a definite bonus plus being 4-5 yards longer. Definitely worth it for a better player, hell people buy new 400-500 drivers for less distance gains.
Loved this vid interesting to see the comparison, for me I couldn't justify the £300 outlay for such a small gain.
Thanks Malcolm! Appreciate the comment mate
James Bill in 🇨🇦. I would say. With authority if you swing below 100mph your wasting your money. Dozens of shafts from new atmos High end diamana Graphite design etc. 50$🇨🇦. Graffoly Out does them all I am 68 swing at about 90 to 95 on GC2 at home on sym. Not that others are bad at all but you do have to work harder and as round goes on you tire Keep that in mind Age and power matter must be acknowledged. Oh and and I have hundreds of shafts to interchange Bill🇨🇦
Absolutely see your point Bill!!!
I swing 120mph on a 45 inch driver. Will I see improvements on a high end shaft? I’m newish to golf.
Interesting test James. Difference is not worth 300. On a side note, really have enjoyed your TH-cam channel. Keep up the good work.
Thanks wade! Appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Well James, ive spend grands and grands on aftermarket shafts, but i think it honestly comes down to fitting of whatever 'stock' or 'exotic' offering, and IMHO in the last 3yrs or so, Stock offerings like the Aldila Rogue 110MSI or Evenflow T1100, have really stepped up the 'stock' game. But i do have to say, some exotic shafts really do feel better when you hit em, but that wasnt something measurable on a trackman
Played in a pro am with two pros and my self,my main project throughout the round was to stay on the fairways,which I managed quite well ,hit 12 out of 14 fairway and the other two where not to bad quite recoverable. To achieve this I wound back a bit,what I found was these guys were out driving me and on some occasions and by quite a bit,but on other occasions where I could let it rip a bit I was right up with them and on a few times pass them,but that not to say they where going big. On one hole where I let rip one of the pro inquired as to what driver I was using,I told him it was a 5 year old ,$100 Ebay Adams,needless to say he was not using a standard of the self driver,but the question is do shafts make a difference, the answer is marginal, hit an expensive driver at the range and was getting better distance than my driver and better accuracy,felt like a cheat.But I put that down to, a one of letting it rip experience that same club would still not help me on a bad golf day,and at the end of the day golf clubs are like tires you adapt your driving to your budget.
Excellent video James! Would I buy the upcharge shaft for 4 yards.. hmm probably. I just ordered the TS3 over my Epic for 4 yards - just trying (and hoping) new tech keeps my interest and gets me back to the golf course :) keep up the good work
I got custom fitted and for me one of the more expensive shafts gave me the best numbers. My fitter had me try 8 different types. But not all of the more expensive ones did better though. If your buying a driver off the rack don't waste your $ on a more expensive shaft, but if you can have an experienced fitter take you through the process, it might make a difference. For me the biggest difference was dispersion.
Well two points, one how do some players show they have more money than us unless they have a up charge shaft, on the other side, you could argue that spending $800 on a new driver for a few yards isn’t worth it,.......oh well I will just stick with my old m1 for now 😔 still though love the vid, keep em coming
Hahahaha great points! Thanks Daniel!
Great video as always and really awesome to find out you’re a #golfmate! 🙌🏻 Props to you for giving Liam a shoutout too. 👍🏻 Keep up the great work. I’m really enjoying all your content
Thanks Jay! Appreciate that mate!
Good video James and answers a lot of questions about expensive shafts. Still swinging flat I see - Lol.
James, I am new to your videos. First thing I noticed is how around your body you swing your driver. It looked like it was shoulder level at the top of your swing. Nice video. I will have to visit your site more often.
One thing not discussed was dispersion, Shaft torque.
I found replacing my Project X 3 wood shaft with my Fujikura Speeder 565 I hit more fairways. I have not looked at the numbers yet.
I switched from a Tensei av blue to an AD DI on a TS2 and there's no match. I have never driven the ball so well and confidently. The shaft's performance and consistency are stellar.
Not two swings are identical therefore I encourage you to try these shafts with a good fitter if you have a chance.
For me the difference was spectacular - which might not only be due to the quality but also to a better fit. Yet, it is normal to expect a 300$ shaft perform better than a 20$ one.
The other best thing I did for my game is play a 44.5" shaft for my driver. No one should play longer than this.
Some can say 300$ is a lot for a shaft yet are ready to change their 500$ driver every year or two...
Make the investment, you won't be sorry.
🔥🤑⛳️🎥
hey James i do not know how they do it in the UK but here in the U.S.A the way i do it is that i go to this thing call EBAY i buy low price shafts and like me i have two drivers a 910d2 and a 915d2 both 12" buy the shaft and take it to a golf guy that does repairs club fitting etc and used the tip that came with the club (reshaft of the club) or buy shafts that has titliest tips on it whole lot cheaper on both ends!!!
Entertaining video first time viewer. I like your presenting style. Keep up the good content
Thanks mate :)
No wonder you won longest drive, lol..Just fitted 😂
Really great vlog, too many average players like me spend crazy money trying to buy yards. And the price of clubs now are starting to get out of hand imo for most club golfers.
Love you channel James, telling it like it is. Keep up the great work 👍
Thanks Keith! Hahaha yeah all down to the fit! I drove it like sh*t the rest of the day! 😂😂😂
@@JamesRobinsonGolf
I'd swap swings with you any day, obviously, lol
Well done again on these. Love the look of your course. Going to try to pop over before December. Cheers
4 yards more WITH 500rpm more! Maybe a little less loft with the MUCH better shaft(Tour AD) and you will be looking at a lot more than 4 yards. 500rpm is a lot of energy, that shaft is transferring much more energy from you to the club head, you just haven't fine tuned it yet. Thanks for proving just how much better REAL shafts are than stock "made for" shafts are.
Not really. It only proves that the Tour AD is a better fit for his swing with this driver. He might get even better performance from a completely different shaft costing much less than the Tour AD if it fit his swing. Spending more certainly guarantees a lighter wallet, but it can't guarantee better results.
@@bdeheton6445 I was really responding to his suggestion that there wasn't much in it between them. If the Tour AD gives him more ball speed as well as more spin, then a lot more energy was sent to the ball. Of course it will depend on the player somewhat, but, I still say, one shaft sent a lot more energy to the ball than the other.
@@paulhartmann926 Yes, I can certainly agree with that. There was more ball speed and carry distance despite higher spin. My point was that might also be achievable with another stock or other non-premium (low cost) shaft depending on the individual. For very high speed players (110mph+), The higher tolerances, quality control, and perhaps design elements of more expensive shafts can often provide better performance. But, its not always the case.
Paul Hartmann that’s a real deal Even Flow shaft.
Nice one James. I would hope for 25 yards at least ! But the pros would benefit from just 5 👍
lovely video... for me (with the 913d) I went from the stock S shaft to the GD AD-BB 7x and had phenomenal results... this has been a few years though so maybe the stock shafts from titleist are improving in quality and closing the gap
Love enthusiasm and content James
Thanks Gordon! Really appreciate that
Most I’ve spent to upgrade my driver is a new grip and I can’t imagine a new “more expensive “ shaft would make all that much difference. Maybe years ago but not now.
Great video James ,boy it sounds windy ⛳️😁
Great stuff James keep it coming!
Thanks Peter! Great last name! ⛳️🔥😆🤙🏼
A professional club fitter and PGA Professional replaced the standard shaft that was in my Rogue driver with an Oban Revenge shaft, which presents as having design characteristics that better suited my modest out to in swing. Both on Trackman and on the course, the new shaft returned on average a 20% carry and total distance increase. As if not more importantly, the pattern of dispersion narrowed dramatically. Well worth the upcharge!
I rock the Tour AD-BB 7S and yeah shaft can play a huge roll. BB-7S is a rocket! I have a few others I've won off my friends, Odan is another one I have the Odan Limited Edition as a back but, delivering a higher launch but I love the Low-Mid launch here in Arizona. Now a shaft to consider is the Aldilia Rouge Silver very underrated but also the price you save 70% to high end brand and delivering about 90% same performance.
Noted! Cheers!
RIP PHENOM 50 gram is the best!
I have both the GD AD-BB 6X and the DI-7X.
The Blue Bullet plays like my Diamana White Board, but with more feel. The Diamana was the go to shaft for distance in the early 2000s.
As for the DI shaft, it allows for a slightly softer tip section to shape shots. Spin as you seen in the video will be higher.
I did hit a friend's Oban Kiyoshi Purple shaft fixed to his Titleist 910. I loved the feel and flight of it, but I never had a fitter local at the time offer Oban.
It’s Oban
The ol' blue bullet.. that would be a good Arizona shaft. My fav shaft is the 2nd generation blueboard. I use to play the whiteboard, and I liked it, but u don't get too much feel off the face. I get better feel with something more tip soft. Mid launch low spin is where it's at. I have also played the oban kyoshi (purple shaft). I played an xflex in that but my spin was a touch high. I tipped it half an inch and it was 💰. Love shaft and golf talk
I know this is an old video but I think it depends cuz you were also fitted for that other shaft. Most people just use the shaft that comes with the driver. I recently did a fitting and gained 27 yards, my smash factor went from 1.43 to 1.48 and the ball flight was way better after being fitted for a better quality shaft.
The point about an expensive up charge shaft over stock shaft should really be about whether it improves your dispersion. If both shaft are the right length and right flex for you there will not be massive differences in distance but there could be significant differences in left/right dispersion.
Personally I just am not a consistently good enough ball striker for a specialist 3rd party shaft to make much difference to my driver
You got an extra 4yds? When Titleist fitted me I only got an extra 3yds. Stock shaft for me.
Thanks for posting this video.
This is a very good video explaining the differences..
The dispersion would have been the most intresting to se the difference in.
On course test Magnus?
Great no nonsense video. Keep them coming. Can you do a 3 iron v driving iron comparison, I am thinking TM P790 as only 1 degree difference.
Thanks Simon! Absolutely will look into it!
I just swapped out my Speeder 667 factory shaft for the hand crafted Hazrdous Yellow and it was well worth the headache I caught from the wife. Anytime I can gain 10+ yrds is worth any amount of mouth I have to listen too.
Nice to see I’m not the only one whose kept the sticker on the wrench 🤣
Project X Evenflow White is Low Spin/Low Launch. Tour AD-Di7 is a Low Spin/Mid Launch. The HZRDUS Smoke(Low-Mid/Low-Mid) stock shaft would be a closer comparison, but still not identical.
Spin Rate with the AD-Di7 is inflated due to a misread or a couple mishits likely low in the heel which shows a deviation of 900 RPMS. Shots 1 and 4.
The same can be said with shot 3 with Project X shaft. 1st shot with Evenflow was off the top of the face maximizing launch and low spin. Clubspeed is extremely variable so therefore smash isn't usable.
Deleting the two outliers will show there is very little difference. The VAST majority of ball speed/launch/spin comes from the head of the club. The shaft fine tunes what you want out of the head.
I would expect a slightly higher launch and spin from the Tour AD-Di7 with a softer feel in the middle and tip with zero effect on the ball speed unless that slight jump in confidence in feel magically makes you hit the ball in the center of the face each time.
Is an upcharge shaft worth it? If it works for you and feels the way you want it to, then go for it. Other than that, you can find something similar in the lineup without an upcharge.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Steven, hope you enjoyed the video
Well said, your analysis is spot on... I fit for Titleist and heel/toe strikes certainly create a huge swing in readings. When Titleist picks a shaft as a "stock" offering it typically does not do an up charge for a "premium " shaft.
Dave Gebhardt yes they do, but do most people always hit the ball out of the centre then? Every time? Discounting bad shots makes the testing false and pointless to me. Being a fitter I would think you’d get that David?
@@JamesRobinsonGolf Didn't think I was being contentious. That being said - as all good fitters do - I fit to consistency, so yes bad shots must be part of the matrix. And again - when Titleist chooses a premium shaft it becomes a stock shaft at no additional cost; i.e., when KBS was first introduced nearly all shafts were uncharged, now not so much. Any I enjoy your work, please keep it up!
Dave Gebhardt no not at all mate! I was picking your brains! Cheers
MARKS MADE IT
he’s been mentioned on a list of Tiger and Jordan!!!!!
I play with what works when it works, I've used the same tour AD as the one in this demonstration. I've used a rogue silver, rogue black, Diamana blue, and my current shaft the kurokage chemical. I've gone through shafts quite a bit in the past year but I've stuck to this one and love it. Perfect spin numbers, right launch angle, right ball speed. It just works well and it was $60.
Couldn’t agree more Jesse!
I'd expect feel to be vastly different in those two shafts with the Tour AD having more kick and launching a little higher. This should make it more user friendly on the golf course. Shafts are all about finding a feel that matches your swing... While you can shave or add spin, they're not magic yardage boosters.
1st, I have a torch you can borrow to remove the tag on the TM wrench if you can't get it off. 2, can you do another video with these shafts with dispersion in mind? Maybe on course with dog legs, shaping and tight fairways? I understand the small gain in distance, but I'd also hope for a gain in control and dispersion.
Hahahahaha brilliant Juan! You’ve felt my pain trying to get that thing off! I could do an on course one that’s a great idea!
I just bought an "as new" 16.5* 917f2 with a 75g Evenflow blue regular shaft for 100 pounds! :):) a slight upgrade from my 2008 Burner 3w hehe
I was told the T1100 Even Flow was an exotic shaft...not a "made for" like a lot of manufacturers con people with. Go back 10 years and a lot of my playing partners would demo exotic shafts and pay upcharges. Come forward to 2018 and the last couple of demo days I have attended have seen a lot more choice in iron shafts but the vans are carrying very few genuinely exotic shafts like the GD you were hitting. Either people are loathe to shell out another £200 on top of the basic purchase price or the companies are not seeing the demand so offering a much smaller selection. The Hzardus is the current fashionable shaft and I rarely see GD, Oban, genuine Diamanas or Fuji Tour Specs. OK many are poker stiff and low spin so not suited to more than 1 in 20 players but the upcharge habit is long gone where I live in Cumbria. Maybe different in Cheshire or Surrey.
Have to agree with you jean! I think the prices of drivers are that high now that people expect a lot more choice and less upcharges! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I agree, T1100 Even Flow and the AD DI-7 I would consider both to be aftermarket shafts. Either could be just as good as each other depending on your own swing. PGA Tour pros are using the Even Flow shaft so it can't be that bad. The only ones I am wary of are the 'made for' shafts, they are cheaper materials (more profit for manufacturer) and tend to be at least half a flex softer to stroke the ego of golfers.
Craig vN not sure how you can consider something aftermarket when factually Titleist offer it as standard?
I would like to see you use a Pro Launch red shaft.
I love the one I have over the Ping and seem to get 20 yards more out of it.
Picking up the club way to abruptly not enough shoulder turn away from the ball pretty decent follow-through
The shafts do what now ? 😂😂😂⛳️👍🏼