The MCA Diamana is an iconic brand. The premium aftermarket shafts have been in my fitting system for as long as I can remember. The MCA profiles make my job easy. White, neutral mid, Blue soft mid, Tensei iK firm mid. It is a rational and repeatable process to find the fit and feel with that matrix. Unfortunately, the OEM Diamana S+ does not have a close profile match to the 5th generation premium aftermarket shafts. Nor does it have the upcharge price of the premium Diamana shafts.
To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ
The TrueTemper ELEVATE ETS is available in both taper tip and parallel designs. the Elevate ETS 85 and 95 are .370 parallel tip designs. The Elevate ETS 115 is a constant weight taper tip DYNAMIC design offered in R, S and X flex.
Here is what TrueTemper tells us about the ELEVATE ETS.
If you are not familiar with what I refer to as a DYANAMIC design it is explained with this illustration. Dynamic design constant weight taper tip iron sets are a shaft design archetype almost exclusively produced by TrueTemper. The EI profiles change with flex designation. This is discussed in the review of the Dynamic Gold. In many other taper iron sets stiffness is a byproduct of weight, as weight increases, stiffness increases while the EI profiles remain the same. The TrueTemper Dynamic archetype holds weight nearly the same from flex to flex while changing the EI profile. The Elevate ETS R, weighting 115 grams has a longer tip section promoting a higher launch. The Elevate ETS S weighs 116 grams and has a shorter tip section promoting a mid launch. The Elevate ETS X weighs 117 grams and has the shortest tip section promoting the lowest launch of the group. As you look at this illustration you can see how the tip to first step length differences creates three different bend profiles.
This is a vital understanding if you are considering the ELEVATE ETS taper shafts. You have the ability to pick a launch propensity while holding weight constant. Now, lets look at how these three profiles compare in overall stiffness and chart the profiles of the parallel designs.
To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ
TrueTemper is releasing a number of new Project X driver shafts in 2021. This is the first set I have measured. It is offered with several graphics. Lets listen to what TrueTemper has to say about this 2021 Shaft.
The Project X RDX Smoke Blue is available as a no charge option from some of the brands. Several models are available from TaylorMade. To compare the Project X Smoke Blue RDX to other shafts, lets look at the measurements.
To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ
The Covid-19 virus has had a profound effect on the golf season and the golf equipment vendors. The beginning of the year was slow and many equipment companies slowed factory and assembly production. Then, golf was recognized as a “safe” recreational activity and golfers escaped the isolation of their homes to the golf courses. Many looked at the 10+ year old set of clubs they owned and decided to update them. The equipment business was struck by lightening. As of the publication of this review, most are backordered 3 to 4 weeks.
The January 2021 PGA merchandise show, an annual event that bring together the golf suppliers and golf professionals will be virtual. New product releases will also be virtual. GolfShaftReviews and Devoted Golfer will be producing virtual interviews in place of the interviews we have traditionally shot at the PGA Merchandise show.
Here is our first look at a new shaft from KBS, the $-Taper HT. The shaft was designed in response to feedback from tour players. It is only available in Tour weights, 120g, 125g and 130g. Let’s take an look at it’s profile and then compare it to the $-Taper and the CTaper.
To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ
The Airburst Burgundy is the second shaft made by Olympic for Oban. Olympic is a premium Japanese fishing rod company. They specialize is fishing rods which are much like golf shafts, hollow carbon fiber tubes. The Olympic website has an in-depth discussion of carbon fiber properties of tubes. If you have never seen the manufacturing of a graphite golf shaft I recommend you watch this video about fishing rod construction. From 0:56 to 5:30 you are watching the process of the making of a graphite golf shaft. Graphite shafts are with few exceptions hand rolled. No one in the golf shaft business will publish a video about the manufacturing process they use. This is how it is done:
Ralph Reichert, owner of Oban Golf shafts discusses the making and technology of the Airburst golf shafts in this video from my my YouTube Channel, Devoted Golfer, We shot this discussion at the January 2019 PGA show.
Lets take a look at the second Airburst golf shaft from Oban.
To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ
The Graphite Design Tour AD HD released in September of 2020. It utilizes Torayca M40X prepreg in the mid to tip section and ultra-high Torayca T1100G in the tip section of the shaft. Like many Graphite Design designs, the changes from model to model are subtle.
This video is a round table discussion about Graphite Design golf shafts covering many of the recent designs.
Lets take a close look at the Tour AD HD.
To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ
By Russ Ryden, Fit2Score, A Dallas Fort Worth Club Fitter & Builder
