Favorite Driver Shafts of All Time 🐐

[chisag]

On 5/9/2022 at 5:07 AM, bens197 said:

The GOAT in my opinion is the Grafalloy ProLite 35...The first premium shaft that paved the way for the Speeder, Diamana BB and others.  This shaft in a Callaway Great Big Bertha was pure.  I loved that setup.

 

... Prolite 35 was a terrible fit for me. So was the Aldila HM40. Both set a new standard for graphite shafts but just too stout for my swing and I really wanted to play them. The first shaft that just blew me away was the Graphite Design YS6 and I could probably still play one today. 

[Berg Ryman]

Put me down as another believer in the Aldila NV 65. When I got get fit for new woods this offseason, that's the starting point and we'll see if something goes past it. 

Shafts that I've always wanted to test but never had the opportunity that I would love to go for: AD-UB, AD-DI Orange, Oban Purple (maybe even Tour Reserve) 

[bens197]

58 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Prolite 35 was a terrible fit for me. So was the Aldila HM40. Both set a new standard for graphite shafts but just too stout for my swing and I really wanted to play them. The first shaft that just blew me away was the Graphite Design YS6 and I could probably still play one today. 

It makes sense because I never got along with the YS series.  They felt very loose on the lower end. Regardless, I’d still include GD YS series in that “game changer” category of great aftermarket options from 2002-2008. 
 

And as @Berg Ryman and @1puttparsaid. The NV and NVS are timeless and still relevant. 

[chisag]

12 minutes ago, bens197 said:

t makes sense because I never got along with the YS series.  They felt very loose on the lower end. Regardless, I’d still include GD YS series in that “game changer” category of great aftermarket options from 2002-2008. 

 

... You may remember that Titleist drivers had a bore thru and finding the right shaft was always difficult. The guys in the tour van's came up with a Hot Set Up where instead of trying to figure out what YS shaft was needed to go full bore, they took a shaft one flex stronger and then inserted it 1.5" only. PIA to do your self because you either had to cut the shaft at the top of the hosel and then drill down 1.5" or pull the shaft and then insert the new shaft 1.5" and install a piece of a shaft as a plug thru the bottom and then either sand the end or use an old Titleist bore thru shaft and just cut the tip off and use it as a plug. But the reward was an awesome driver shaft combo that had more pop than a full bore thru. YS7 was much more popular on tour but some played the YS6. Those were fun days! 

[bens197]

16 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... You may remember that Titleist drivers had a bore thru and finding the right shaft was always difficult. The guys in the tour van's came up with a Hot Set Up where instead of trying to figure out what YS shaft was needed to go full bore, they took a shaft one flex stronger and then inserted it 1.5" only. PIA to do your self because you either had to cut the shaft at the top of the hosel and then drill down 1.5" or pull the shaft and then insert the new shaft 1.5" and install a piece of a shaft as a plug thru the bottom and then either sand the end or use an old Titleist bore thru shaft and just cut the tip off and use it as a plug. But the reward was an awesome driver shaft combo that had more pop than a full bore thru. YS7 was much more popular on tour but some played the YS6. Those were fun days! 

I remember it fondly. 
 

I was a full bore guy and at one point played a UST ProForce 75X at 44” with the full bore in a 975D because I liked the feel better than the LFE and JVS.  It was stout and it would absolutely drive the ball. 

[GaDawg]

3 hours ago, Berg Ryman said:

Put me down as another believer in the Aldila NV 65. When I got get fit for new woods this offseason, that's the starting point and we'll see if something goes past it. 

Shafts that I've always wanted to test but never had the opportunity that I would love to go for: AD-UB, AD-DI Orange, Oban Purple (maybe even Tour Reserve) 

I just got fit with a Oban Purple in a TM Stealth and picked up over 20 yards. Honestly, it's the shaft and just goes to show me that a correct shaft makes all the difference.

Edited May 10, 2022 by GaDawg

[chisag]

5 minutes ago, GaDawg said:

I just got fit with a Oban Purple in a TM Stealth and picked up over 20 yards. Honestly, it's the shaft and just goes to show me that a correct shaft makes all the difference.

 

... Awesome, and I completely agree that the correct shaft makes all the difference!  If you are in the right profile shafts for your swing, a new one is not going to add more than a few yards, if any. But sooooooo many are in the wrong profile shafts for their swings and a fitting can certainly add 20 yds or more. Of course forum members sometimes stumble into a perfect fit, especially us shaft ho's. 

 

[RichL85]

I still enjoy hitting my old driver with a Graphite Design YS-6+ shaft. Always loved the feeling of that shaft. 

[mtcowdog]

Smitten with the Ventus black. Playing 7s. Works very well for me. 

[jayjay0808]

On 5/10/2022 at 8:38 AM, Shapotomous said:

The Grafalloy ProLaunch Red in my Ping G10 was my holy grail for about 10 years.  

Yes yes yes the ProLaunch Red was solid... I had one in my 07 Burner TP and it was so good until the face absolutely collapsed and a ball went through it. 

[LeftyMatt89]

I’ve tried a lot of shafts over the last few years but I remember my favorite combo was the original Rogue 125 Tour x in a 915D2 head. I tried the rogue 125 in more recent but it wasn’t as good. It is very interesting that shaft very much needs to pair with a head to be most effective. Typically what will fit my swing is a low launch low spin and currently went back to something I played good golf with last year in the Ventus 6TX black. Works very well in the triple diamond head. LAGP AXS blue 6x is an awesome shaft too. Shafts may be the most fun to try if all golf equipment in my opinion 

[juspoole]

The Proforce v2 was a really nice shaft for me.  Also since I've used ventus over the past 2 and half years it definitely seems to help limit the large misses.

[funkyjudge]

On 5/8/2022 at 1:50 AM, Jldillard1 said:

Just like the title says. Your favorite driver shafts ever. Which magical unicorn shaft is your personal GOAT

MATRIX OZIK TP6HDe was my all-time favorite (I also used and really liked the TP7HDe in a driver for about two years and still have a couple of them in adapters).

My current favorite driver shaft is the Fujikura Ventus Blue TR with VeloCore.  I like the smooth feel of the standard Verntus Blue with a stiffer tip section which is closer to the Ventus Black and the Ventus Blue TR gives me this.

[chisag]

5 hours ago, juspoole said:

The Proforce v2 was a really nice shaft for me.  Also since I've used ventus over the past 2 and half years it definitely seems to help limit the large misses.

 

... Shafts are just so interesting. Perforce was another shaft that didn't work for me after a fitting and custom install one Pilot Season in LA. Such a hot shaft at the time but too stout for a smooth swinger and went back to a YS6. 

... Several shafts that did work really well for me were the GD CP-02, Matrix Code 6, UFO 2.2 and Fujikura SIX. All shafts with a kick and the opposite of the popular Proforce and ProLite 35. 

[chisag]

5 hours ago, funkyjudge said:

MATRIX OZIK TP6HDe was my all-time favorite (I also used and really liked the TP7HDe in a driver for about two years and still have a couple of them in adapters).

 

 

... Hey Doug, do you remember the name of the Thermo Plastic shaft that was so hot and then disappeared? Gray shaft that had a ton of kick but I just can't remember the name. 

[Golfspy_Lukes]

15 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Hey Doug, do you remember the name of the Thermo Plastic shaft that was so hot and then disappeared? Gray shaft that had a ton of kick but I just can't remember the name. 

Pheonixx 

http://clubmaker-online.com/phoenixx.03.html

[chisag]

5 minutes ago, jlukes said:

Pheonixx 

http://clubmaker-online.com/phoenixx.03.html

 

... Awesome thanks! That is the shaft and I hit my longest drive ever using the Reactor LT. 

[MrHogan]

All time fav was the real deal Fuji 757 Speeder that TM matched with the R510 TP. Heavy, low torque, low spin. 

[Everardo]

Gamed a lot of cool stuff over the years

Hybrex - This actually stayed in my fairway wood a long!

Stulz - Took a while to get the right flex but when I did it performed pretty consistently. Ultimately one of my customers begged and gave me too good an offer to pass up to buy it from me. 

Accuflex Evolution - Loved this one in my Callaway FT-3

 

 

But I still game some Matrix OZIK shafts (the Apache versions, not LA GOLF) and I still game some original Project X and Rifle Spinners shafts back from when they were made by Royal Precision. I ended up buying a bunch of Matrix shafts before I closed my shop for my own stash. Also my Rifle Spinners just keep moving to my wedges when I replace them. 

 

 

Edited May 13, 2022 by Everardo

[funkyjudge]

2 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... Hey Doug, do you remember the name of the Thermo Plastic shaft that was so hot and then disappeared? Gray shaft that had a ton of kick but I just can't remember the name. 

Sam, you are not referring to the SWIX shafts, are you?  Edit: I see that someone has already answered your question, and it’s the Phoenixx shaft.

There was one classic shaft that I absolutely loved, and I still have one sitting in my shop unused but it would be far too stiff for me these days. That is the Innovative UFO 2.2 shaft. I think that those shafts weighed between 83 and 88 grams, depending on flex, which would be very heavy for use in a driver head by today’s standards. I actually used a UFO 2.2 shaft (stiff flex) at full bore depth in a Titleist 975D and a 983K driver.

Edited May 13, 2022 by funkyjudge