Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Shafts Buyer's Guide 2007

The engine of every club is the shaft, and now is the time to get your engine running at top speed. Today?s shafts are, without question, better than ever.

By Staff

Fujikura E300 Series www.fujikuragolf.com (800) 728-6420 A company known for ultra-premium performance (and price) shafts offers a new, more affordable series that can fit almost any golfer. Features: Available in 55g (350), 65g (360) and 75g (370) models, all of which are built with the extremely high-quality materials and processes expected from Fujikura. Other features include a relatively high kickpoint and stiff overall profile, as well as attractive ion plating. Advantages: Range of weights and torques make the E300 Series perfect for clubfitting purposes. Fujikura’s top-quality materials provide outstanding consistency and distance. Benefits: Golfers who want a more boring trajectory and mid torque. What We Like: Top-notch Fujikura quality that doesn’t require a major investment of cash. Material: Graphite Weight: 55g, 65g, 75g Torque: 3.2˚-3.8˚ Flex Point: High Flexes: X, S, R	Fujikura Speeder Series www.fujikuragolf.com (800) 728-6420 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: Everything. It’s tough to beat the Speeder. Material: Graphite Weight: 42g-77g Torque: 2.5˚-4.4˚ Flex Point: Mid Flexes: X, S, R
Fujikura Rombax www.fujikuragolf.com (800) 728-6420 The most advanced model yet from a company known for producing the ultimate in composite shafts. Features: The new Rombax, which is said to surpass the Speeder in overall performance, takes Fujikura’s patented Triax technology and combines it with another box weave to form a new patented technology called—you guessed it—Rombax. 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. Benefits: Accomplished players who demand the ultimate in performance. What We Like: Fujikura’s dedication to innovation and quality. Material: Graphite Weight: 55g, 65g, 75g Torque: 3.8˚ Flex Point: High Flexes: X, S, R	Grafalloy Prototype Comp NT www.grafalloy.com One of Grafalloy’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 and carbon nanotubes that provide outstanding consistency. Material: Nano composite Weight: 65g, 85g Torque: 3.1˚ (65g), 2.7˚ (85g) Flex Point: Mid Flexes: X, S, R
Grafalloy EPIC www.grafalloy.com For years, golfers have wanted a shaft that combined the performance benefits of graphite and steel, and this is Grafalloy’s solution. Features: Constructed from a proprietary Nanofuse material made by harnessing the strength of nano-crystalline metals and fusing them together at the molecular level with a composite polymer substrate. Advantages: The tremendous strength of the Nanofuse material gives the EPIC an improved ability to resist deformation during the swing, producing superior accuracy and shot dispersion. Benefits: Any player who wants a lightweight shaft that’s made with arguably the most advanced material in the industry. What We Like: Extreme innovation and great, unique look. Material: Nanofuse Weight: 68g Torque: N/A Flex Point: Mid Flexes: X, S, R	Grafalloy ProLaunch RED www.grafalloy.com The original ProLaunch Blue was a great shaft that provided a trajectory that was a bit too high for some. The Red is made to solve the problem by providing a Tour-like ballflight. Features: The most prominent feature of the ProLaunch Red is Grafalloy’s proprietary Micro-Mesh tip technology, which is made possible by a blend of high quality materials and advanced processes. Advantages: The low-torque design of the ProLaunch Red combined with Grafalloy’s Micro-Mesh tip technology provide a boring, Tour-like trajectory, tight shot dispersion and an improved feel. Benefits: Advanced players who’re looking for a Tour-like trajectory off the tee. What We Like: Grafalloy quality. Material: High-modulus graphite Weight: 62g-66g Torque: 3.0˚ Flex Point: High Flexes: X, S, R