Shafts Buyer's Guide 2006The fact that golfers feel they need a $300 shaft upgrade says a lot about what these ultra-high-tech models can do for your game
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Fujikura Speeder Series
www.fujikuragolf.com
(800) 728-6420 | $300+
 One
of the most expensive and highest-quality shaft lines currently
available, the Speeder Series from Fujikura is both technologically
advanced and diverse.
Features: The key to all Speeder shafts is
the company’s proprietary Triax material, which is a carbon fiber
that’s woven in a honeycomb structure, giving each shaft greater
resiliency and a better ability to withstand force.
Advantages: Speeder shafts deform less during the golf swing than many
competitive models, resulting in more consistent performance, better
vibration dampening and enhanced energy transfer at impact.
Benefits: Better players.
What We Like: The Speeder Series is about as good as it gets.
Material: Graphite
Weight(s): 42g-77g
Torque(s): 2.5˚-4.4˚
Flex Point: Mid, Mid/High
Flexes: X, S, R |
Grafalloy Prototype Comp NT
www.grafalloy.com
$79
 One of 2005’s top designs continues to be a popular choice among discerning golfers.
Features: The Comp NT is built with carbon nanotubes in its resin
system, which dramatically increases the strength properties of the
shaft, as well as the uniformity of the material from the butt to the
tip.
Advantages: This feature helps provide greater resiliency during the
swing and a greater transfer of power for increased ball speed. Another
benefit of the Comp NT’s makeup is a low amount of twisting (torque),
which helps produce less dispersion and more accurate drives.
Benefits: All players.
What We Like: The Micro-Mesh tip, which provides great consistency.
Material: Nano composite
Weight(s): 65g, 85g
Torque(s): 3.1˚ (65g), 2.7˚ (85g)
Flex Point: Mid
Flexes: X, S, R | Graphite Design YS-6 Type II
www.gdintl.com
(888) 707-6132 | $73
 A more player-friendly version of the very popular YS-6+ model.
Features: Shaft construction features the use of a very high grade of
modulus graphite geared toward producing a more responsive feel and
superior playability. These shafts feature a higher degree of torque
than the original YS-6+ models.
Advantages: The high-quality materials utilized by GD always lead to
greater accuracy and an increased transfer of energy at impact. In
addition, the higher degree of torque makes the Type II easier to hit
for a wider range of golfers.
Benefits: All golfers who desire a premium-quality aftermarket driver
shaft that provides excellent distance characteristics and feel.
What We Like: More torque.
Material: Graphite
Weight(s): 69g
Torque(s): 5.0˚
Flex Point: Mid
Flexes: X, S, R
| Fujikura Rombax
www.fujikuragolf.com
(800) 728-6420 | $350
 The most advanced model yet from a company known for
producing the ultimate in high-performance composite shafts.
Features: Anyone familiar with Fujikura’s line of Speeder composite
shafts knows how well they perform and how good they feel. The new
Rombax, which is said to surpass the Speeder in overall performance,
takes Fujikura’s patented Triax technology (used in the Speeder) and
combines it with another box weave to form a new patented technology
called—you guessed it—Rombax. Other features include the extremely
high-quality materials normally used by Fujikura as well as a stiffer
overall profile and lower torque, resulting in more boring trajectories
and lower spin rates.
Advantages: The new Rombax design helps the shaft maintain its shape
and resist deformation during the loading and unloading that occurs
during the swing, producing an earlier squaring of the clubhead and
more consistent impact. Greater stability for oversized clubheads
provides superior shot dispersion, as well as superior clubhead speeds
and distance.
Benefits: Designed primarily for more accomplished players who desire
the ultimate in high-quality materials, construction and overall
performance, particularly for oversized drivers. However, this shaft
will work for a wide variety of players.
What We Like: Fujikura’s dedication to innovation and quality.
Material: Graphite
Weight(s): 55g, 65g, 75g
Torque(s): N/A (low)
Flex Point: High
Flexes: X, S, R |
How To Buy A Shaft
Virgil Herring, PGA, owner of the Higher Performance Golf Academy in
Nashville, is a shaft expert. Being a two-time Middle Tennessee PGA
Teacher of the Year, he’s seen many golfers opt for the wrong shaft.
His advice on getting the right shafts: “I strongly recommend you go to
a place with a launch monitor, one where you can see the ball fly. Hit
as many different clubs with different shafts so that you can see what
kind of feel and trajectory you like. Sometimes people might be playing
the right shaft but they’d rather hit it higher. So they go from
extra-stiff to stiff, or stiff to regular.”
With balls being made the way they are now, the higher you hit it, the
better off it’s going to fly for you. “That’s certainly true,” says
Herring. “Those are the two big keys to me. Experiment with different
shafts in the clubhead that you like at places that have launch monitor
technology, preferably where you’re hitting from indoor to outdoor or
just outdoor completely. Get accurate information about how far and how
high each ball goes from each shaft. As for steel versus graphite, I
haven’t hit any of the graphite iron shafts lately, but I understand
from Tour players that they are equal to steel now. Graphite in irons
is supposed to be unbelievably good. The quality is no different than
steel—graphite is just lighter.”
—Scott Kramer
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