Oban AirBurst Cobolt Driver Shaft Review

By Russ Ryden, Fit2Score, A Dallas Fort Worth Club Fitter & Club Maker
The Highlands Performance Golf Center, Carrollton Texas 
Golf Digest Certified America’s 100 Best Club Fitter

When I looked at email this morning there was an announcement from Oban that the AirBurst shaft is now available. I called Ralph for review samples and he told me the protos I had measured last year were the final versions. Much to my delight I was not going to have to spend a half day measuring shafts for the knowledge base and this review. When the TaylorMade M3 arrived in January it went into my bag. Over the last few months I have played a number of 50 gram shafts. The AirBurst was in the bag last month and between storms and cold weather it got played for a few rounds.

Over the years I have learned that light weight driver shafts are not created equal. The lighter the shaft the thinner the walls. Thin wall driver shafts without premium material play like wet noodles. You can hit them straight by slowing down your swing and waiting for the head to show up. It is like a bunt. With a little practice, you can get the ball to go straight. They are actually a good training tool if you are out of sync and need to get your feel back. But should you go after the ball, there is no telling where the head is or how it will be positioned at impact.

Then there are the premium shafts made with high density thin ply prepreg. The thin sheets let the designer use enough bias plys to stabilize torque. With enough torque, the head will be aligned with your hands at impact. Then, the light weight shafts let those of us who’s swing speeds are age challenged get our speed back. Define the term “premium light weight shaft”? In dollars, the definition has become $700+. Add a head and we have an $1100 driver. For the record, I am currently alternating between two 50 gram shafts in this price range. And I have not missed any fairways over the past two months.

Ralph and Woody start the discussion about the Oban Airburst driver shafts at the 5:15 mark on this video shot at the 2018 PGA Merchandise show.

Lets take a closer look at the Oban Airburst.