Aldila 2KXV Hybrid Golf Shaft Review

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Aldila 2KXV NV Hybrid Golf Shafts 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

The 2KXV NV is not a new shaft. I measured the Orange and Green models in 2016 according to my notes. I did not measure the 2KXV Blue and therefore never published the review. In looking through shafts that had not been reviewed I was sent the review shafts with the 2KXV Blue Driver Shafts. Many of my fitting friends work with these shafts. From what I see in the measurements they are one of the best deals in the market. 

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Russ

Fujikura Fuel Hybrid Shaft Review

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FUJIKURA FUEL HYBRID SHAFT

By Kirk James & Mark Vallier, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
MK Golf Technologies,San Antonio, Texas

Fuel_Hybrid_Image

The Fujikura Fuel hybrid shaft utilizes the same Fuel technology found in the other driver and fairway shafts in the Fuel line of shafts. This technology results in an extremely stable feeling shaft at a fairly moderate price point. These shafts have the same tight, low launching characteristics of the other Fuel shafts that will generate greater distance and accuracy on a more consistent basis.

HB Fuel EiGjTb

The Fuel’s torque numbers shown above are very impressive for a moderately priced hybrid shaft. These torque numbers are very similar to steel, which in our fitting experience means lateral dispersion control. The design of this shaft creates a low boring trajectory with excellent lateral dispersion. It may feel slightly harsh for the slow to average swinger, but is an excellent choice for the stronger player that can load the shaft on the downswing. The Fuel hybrid shaft is highly recommended for the stronger player looking for a boring trajectory, good dispersion and a moderate price point.

 

 

Oban Devotion Shaft Review

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OBAN DEVOTION DRIVER SHAFT

By Woody Lashen, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Pete’s Golf, Mineola, New York

Oban_Devotion_Driver_ImageThe OBAN Devotion was one of the original shafts introduced by Oban. They come in 4 different weights plus a hybrid version.  Designed to for mid launch and low spin; as with many shafts they vary in launch and spin as the weights change.  As with all Oban shafts they do not use words for flex, they use a number system from 1-6 to designate flex.   The 45 model ranges in weight from 46 t0 49 grams, and is offered in 1 to 4 flex.  It runs much softer than the rest of the line with a very smooth feel and high launch high spin launch conditions.   The 55 model is 53-59 grams and is available in 2-5 flexes.  As the weight s starts to get heavier flex’s get stiffer and the launch and spin come down, the 55 is still a mid to high spin and launch shaft.   The 65 version is 66-69 grams and available in 3-6 flex’s.  It is one of the best mid 60 gram shafts for lowering spin while keeping the smooth feel of the devotion line.  The 65 runs much stiffer then the two lower models, even for the highest loader of the shaft the 5 flex will be sufficient, in the many years of fitting this shaft we have not had the need to use the 6 flex in any of the versions of this shaft.

The technical discussion and measurements are available only to registered readers

To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership.
Russ

To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership.
Russ

Diamana Series W Golf Shaft Review

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 Mitsubishi Diamana W-Series Third Generation White Board

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

MRC DiamanaW ImageThe third generation Diamana White Board is a departure from previous designs. Like many shafts in the 2013-2014 season of super low launch head designs, it creates a higher launch tendency presentation of the head to the ball.

Three Generations of Diamana White Designs Compared

MRC Diamana 3Gens
There was little change between the first generation Diamana White Board and the second generation ‘ahina. Torque was unchanged, weight went down slightly as the era of higher density materials began. A stiffer tip area required an adjustment to the mid section of the shaft and a quicker loss of stiffness in the mid-tip transition zone.

In the third generation Mitsubishi Diamana W Series we see a huge change in the EI profile of the shaft. The Tip to Butt ratio, a simple indicator of launch tendency is unchanged, but the path there is quite different. The signature profile of the White Board, and its cousin, the Mitsubishi Fubuki Alpha, a mid shaft bump in stiffness is gone. What we see now is a profile that is similar to many shafts, a consistent loss of stiffness from butt to tip. The signature mid shaft bump is still there, albeit lower and softer. And, unlike previous generations, there is a slight but significant change in profile as the Diamana W series gets heavier.

UltraLight vs 50 gram models

A 50 gram version has been added to the line.  The Diamana W series 50 gram model have higher torque, consistent with creating feel in a light weight shaft. The tips are softer, and in looks much like a stouter version of the ultralight Bassara W series. The line between ultra light shafts and light weight versions of standard Mitsubishi models is blurred with the introduction of 50 gram shafts in both the Diamana W and Diamana B shafts. The Bassara models extend down to 40 gram models, but the 50 gram Diamana’s bridge the gap between the 50 gram Bassara’s and the 60 gram Diamana’s.

MRC Diamana W EiGjTb

Radial quality of all the review samples was excellent. The Diamana W series is suitable for rotating hosels without any regard for alignment. As you can see from the chart above, it does not get any better than this.

Project X Hybrid Shafts Review

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True Temper Project X Black Hybrid Shaft
True Temper Project X Blue Hybrid Shaft

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

ProjectX_Hybrid_imageAt the time of this review the Project X Black and Blue Hybrid shafts have been on the market for several years. They represent classic hybrid shaft designs seen over and over from different brands. The Project X Black has a quick loss of stiffness tightening around 18″ from the tip and running from there into a long stable tip. This design is easy to tip trim into different loft hybrids, increasing the stiffness for the increased head weight as the lofts get larger. From my experience with similar profiles you will see a mid high flight with enough spin to create a nice drop and stop ball flight.

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Russ

If you have experience with these shafts, you can take that experience to other designs.  Look at the bend profiles and reflect on the feel and flight of other shafts reviewed here. I have done countless fittings with hybrid shafts with these designs. If it is working for you, stay with it.

 

Soft Stepping and Hard Stepping Iron Shaft Sets

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Adjusting Shaft Stiffness with Soft and Hard Stepping

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

Soft stepping is the term used to indicate changing flex of a taper tip shaft by adjusting the stiffness of a set of irons by putting the lower numbered iron shaft throughout the set.  For example, the 8 iron shaft is put in the 9 iron, the 7 iron shaft in the 8 iron and so on through the set. Hard stepping is just the opposite, putting the 9 iron shaft in the 8 iron, the 8 iron shaft in the 7 iron.  This practice applies to sets of shafts that are produced with specific designs and lengths for each iron in the set.

KBS_Tour_ETT_XP95_EiWhen we look at shaft sets we see two design philosophies. The consistent EI weight/flex designs and the True Temper Dynamics design . This is best explained by looking at some EI stiffness charts.The first chart shows the KBS Tour X, S and R flex shafts. The profiles and consistent, simply getting overall stiffer as they get heavier. Most True Temper shafts have different profiles. The tips are not only softer, but longer up the shaft in the R flex model. The tips get both progressively stiffer and shorter in the S and X flex models. In a shaft like the KBS, the difference between and R and an S is simply a little heavier and a little stiffer overall. In the Dynamics design, the profile of the S is significantly different from the R.

Now lets take a look at what happens when these different designs are hard or soft stepped to change stiffness. And, compare hard and soft stepping to changing flex.

KBS_Tour_SteppedHere again is the KBS Tour. Soft stepping, putting the 5 iron shaft in the 6 iron, moves the flex of the shaft about 1/3 of the way toward the R flex shaft.  A double soft step, 4 iron in the 6 iron will move the flex another 1/3 toward the R flex. The weight of the shaft changes very little with stepping. The 120 gram S flex is still 120 grams while having a stiffness similar to the 110 gram R flex model.

TT_XP105_SteppedNow lets look at the same EI chart of the True Temper XP105. We see the same change of profile from hard or soft stepping. A slight change of overall stiffness of the shaft. However, when we look at the R flex shaft we see that it has a significantly different Ei bend profile.

Fitting the True Temper Dynamic Designs

From a club fitting perspective EI Bend Profiles give us a new understanding of fitting the True Temper designs. Adjustment made with hard and soft stepping have a small effect on stiffness and flighting. Adjustment made with flex changes have a significant effect on both stiffness and flighting. To get a precision fitting it is important to work with a fitter that offers the options to hard and soft step the different flex offerings.