Graphite Design Tour AD Shafts - 2024 Forum Review

[Rob Person]

Re reading the intros I see some have already added some more stuff to them!  Good work all!

[GolfSpy_BNG]

Looks like the VF is already waiting for me

[Shrek74]

Is there a list of what testers are testing what shaft? I'd love to see that list if it exists.

[GolfSpy_BNG]

12 minutes ago, Shrek74 said:

Is there a list of what testers are testing what shaft? I'd love to see that list if it exists.

So all but 1 has been revealed in the intros. 
 

@WaffleHouseTour UB

@Nick_D CQ

@DukeStKing VR

@kam89 DI

@Alan Stewart. UB

@pete1276 IZ

@GolfSpy_BNG VF

@GolfSpy AFG TBD

[KC Golf]

5 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

So all but 1 has been revealed in the intros. 
 

@WaffleHouseTour UB

@Nick_D CQ

@DukeStKing VR

@kam89 DI

@Alan Stewart. UB

@pete1276 IZ

@GolfSpy_BNG VF

@GolfSpy AFG TBD

That’s a very nice dispersion over many GD Tour AD shaft options.  Looking forward to the testing!

[GolfSpy AFG]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_BNG said:

So all but 1 has been revealed in the intros. 
 

@WaffleHouseTour UB

@Nick_D CQ

@DukeStKing VR

@kam89 DI

@Alan Stewart. UB

@pete1276 IZ

@GolfSpy_BNG VF

@GolfSpy AFG TBD

[Shrek74]

13 minutes ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

[pete1276]

On 7/8/2024 at 1:07 PM, Nick_D said:

My intro is up! I'm taking nickname suggestions for the CQ (Conquest), maybe a famous conquistador? maybe goldilocks? 

I think I'll call mine Izzy.  You should call yours "El Conquistador"

Edited July 9 by pete1276

[kam89]

It has arrived

[pete1276]

35 minutes ago, kam89 said:

It has arrived

Looks thicker than I had imagined.

[GolfSpy AFG]

Sh!t's getting real folks!

[David Leighton Reid]

I am looking forward to your reviews on these Graphite Design shafts. 

[HikingMike]

On 7/9/2024 at 12:39 PM, GolfSpy_BNG said:

So all but 1 has been revealed in the intros. 

@WaffleHouseTour UB

@Nick_D CQ

@DukeStKing VR

@kam89 DI

@Alan Stewart. UB

@pete1276 IZ

@GolfSpy_BNG VF

@GolfSpy AFG TBD

[DukeStKing]

I got my AD VR today and I have to say it looks spectacular. The matte blue is stunning. 

The photo doesn’t do it justice. Maybe outside photos will show the pop. I really like the blue and the scheme better than the UB sorry @WaffleHouseTour

I already installed the adapter and will cut the butt end tonight after the 4 hour cure time. 

Then the grip (wish I had a red one- that’ll give the shaft a real nice patriotic flare.)

 

Imagine this baby in red, white, and blue! Stunning. 

I’ll be playing Friday. (Heading down the shore tomorrow… because “down the shore everything is all right…” especially when it feels like 105.) I’ll post my first impressions Friday night- stay tuned. 

[Alan Stewart]

Got mine today as well.  It has been photographed, unboxed and reverently carried to my local pro shop to be adaptered and gripped.  I should have it tomorrow and will get into the Trackman booth as soon as I can after that.

A few unboxing photos:

 

 

Sorry for the less then active nature of the photos, but a raw driver shaft only has so much sex appeal, compared to a driver loaded for bear with a new hot shaft.  I will add more images for a more formal unboxing/first impressions very shortly.  Looks great in the sunshine and the blue is better in person than shown on the website.

[DukeStKing]

All done assembling the AD VR 6S. I cut it to 45.25 inches and with my PING 430 Max 10K it’s barely at a D4  swing weight (which is exactly what the 10k came in at with the Mitsubishi Kai Li White 6 S). 

I weighed all 3 shafts I’ll be comparing and here is what they came in at:

So my work is done- now I’ll be on to the fun part! I can’t wait to hit this beauty. Now that I’ve assembled it, the dark blue matte paint job looks so good with the matte black PING head! 

 

Edited July 11 by DukeStKing

[TJ Hall]

These shafts are awesome looking!  Can’t wait to see how they perform!

[DukeStKing]

5 minutes ago, TJ Hall said:

These shafts are awesome looking!  Can’t wait to see how they perform!

The pictures really don’t do the VR justice! I may keep it in play no matter how I hit it because it’s that purdy… and I’m just that vapid! 

[bens197]

6 minutes ago, DukeStKing said:

The pictures really don’t do the VR justice! I may keep it in play no matter how I hit it because it’s that purdy… and I’m just that vapid! 

From what I’ve seen you guys are doing an awesome job.  They look great!  

[GolfSpy_APH]

Funny got fit into a GD shaft for my GT fitting... I will let everyone speculate on what you think it may have been. 

[GolfSpy AFG]

I'll be gaming the stock Ping Tour 2.0 through my 18-hole round Sunday morning, then leaving it and the GD shaft with the pro to build for me while I'm away on a work trip until Friday.

I was able to get out for a 9-hole round with my son last night.  No warm-up and no range time, and keep in mind I'm still getting acclimated to the Ping versus my TSR2, but I do have some initial observations:

1) The PING G430 Max 10K is as advertised...fairway finder. It's no magic elixir, it won't save a bad swing, but a slice will slice less, and hook will hook less, etc.

2) The PING Tour 2.0 Black is advertised as a low launch shaft and I agree. Couple that with the 9 degree head and this was definitely flying below my normal window. On the par 5 6th hole of my course, it's a dogleg right and I regularly saw the dogleg off by flying the trees on the right with ease with my TSR2. Last night I did everything I could to manufacture a high shot, struck it well, and still clipped a few leaves trying to carry it.

So, let's just say I'm VERY excited to get the GD shaft in play.  What shaft?  Drumroll....

The UB is billed as Medium+ in the butt and Mid sections and Stiff+ in the tip; the PluggedInGolf review labeled it a shaft built for high booming draws.  That's music to my ears and hopefully what I get!

[kam89]

The Graphite Designs tour AD Di has showed up and the orange is absolutely stunning. The shaft feels almost weightless. I'm headed to get it built today. Here are a few pictures of the beautiful shaft.

I'm also including a baseline and dispersion chart with my current driver a taylormade M6 Mitsubishi chemical 606 r. 

[Nick_D]

The CQ arrived yesterday! I'm pairing it with a Golf Pride ZGrip Cord and my Ping G430 Max

[HikingMike]

13 hours ago, DukeStKing said:

 

Hey, this guy got two! lol

I'll be interested to hear about the difference compared to the Kai'li white since that is a common stock option for Ping.

1 hour ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

the PluggedInGolf review labeled it a shaft built for high booming draws.  That's music to my ears and hopefully what I get!

That sounds awesome to me

[rarce_torres]

can't wait to see this one!

[DukeStKing]

40 minutes ago, HikingMike said:

Hey, this guy got two! lol

I'll be interested to hear about the difference compared to the Kai'li white since that is a common stock option for Ping.

That sounds awesome to me

I’ll compare the Kai Lai White in the simulator with both the UB and VR. But first my plan is to get some rounds in with the VR. I have a lot of data with my Garmin with both the Kai Lai (played exclusively in the beginning of the season) and the UB (I switched in the past month because my dispersion was better). Hopefully, the weather in NJ will cooperate and I’ll get my first round in on Friday with the VR. If not, I’ll head to the range. 

[Leo1982]

Congratulations to you all!

[DukeStKing]

Maiden voyage!

[GolfSpy_BNG]

23 minutes ago, DukeStKing said:

Maiden voyage!

Good luck!  Love me some morning golf when the sprinklers are still going!! 

[pete1276]

Mine came in yesterday, I grabbed some quick shots while unboxing before running off to my fitter to get it mounted and gripped.  Here are the raw shaft photos I snapped.  I'll be submitting more of the complete setup later this afternoon and this weekend.

 

I love the matt black finish 

The lettering is raised, a nice touch.  You can tell this is a premium quality shaft.

This set of photos isn't too exciting, but it's just a preview with more to come!  I will be heading to the simulator this afternoon and playing a round with it as well.  I'll be updating my review with first impressions very soon.