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The Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo rounds out the company’s offering of super lightweight iron shafts.  Wonderful, smooth feel.  Effortless to swing.  Surprising levels of control given the lack of weight.

Introduction

While we all aspire to swing as fast as the pros, the reality is that there are far more players trying to get their drives to 200 yards than 300 yards.  Nippon recognizes this reality and builds their line up accordingly.  The new Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo is their third super-lightweight iron shaft, joining the Zelos7 and the NS Pro 750GH.  I tested a set to see what performance benefits it can offer to golfers.

Looks

Graphically, the Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo is identical to the previous models in this line, the 850 neo and 950 neo [review HERE].  The stepped steel shaft has a chrome finish, and its graphics are a unique shade of green.  As is their norm, Nippon prints the graphics right on the shaft, which is a huge improvement over stickers that can tear or wrinkle over time.  Another big plus is that the graphics are only on one side, allowing for a “logo down” installation, if you prefer a totally clean address look.

Feel

While iron shafts over 125 grams are something I left behind several years ago, I’m always amazed at how much farther light weight can be pushed.  My gamers, the Modus 115 [review HERE], never feel heavy to me, but swinging the Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo feels absolutely effortless.

During the swing, the 750GH neo is as smooth as any steel shaft I’ve ever hit.  Getting it to load and kick requires very little force.  In this way, this shaft has a strong familial resemblance to its heavier brother, the 850GH neo [review HERE].

Comparing the Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo to their two other 70 gram iron shafts, the neo sits in the middle.  Per Nippon, the standard 750GH will be the firmest of the three, and the Zelos7 [review HERE] will be the most active.  When I had them side-by-side, I could tell the difference, but in the larger context, they’re all very smooth and fairly active.

Performance

For players my age and older, an iron shaft in the 70 gram range seems wild, especially when it’s made of steel.  We grew up when there were two “real” choices: Dynamic Gold and Project X, both over 120 grams.  But the benefits of dropping weight are obvious.  For a lot of players, going lighter will add substantial swing speed and distance.  It’s also a major factor in reducing fatigue.  Sure, we can all swing a heavy shaft on the third hole, but what’s happening on the back nine?

Additionally, the Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo has higher launch and spin, just like the other neo shafts.  This works in concert with the lighter weight to serve the target golfer.  Players who will benefit most from the lighter weight typically need that higher flight to maximize their distance and hold the green.  The 750GH neo delivers on both counts.

What always surprises me about Nippon’s lightweight offerings is how well they hold up for a player who is, at least on paper, not a fit for lightweight.  When I keep my transition smooth, these shafts are nearly as consistent as my gamers, which are much stiffer and heavier.  They also give me good control over trajectory and shot shape, though they do have a natural tendency to fly a bit higher.

Comparing the Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo to Nippon’s other 70 gram offerings, the performance is in the middle, just like the feel.  The torque rating sits between the 750GH and the Zelos.  The 750GH produces a lower ball flight for most players.  Looking across the neo line, Nippon recommends the 750 for players using larger irons, the 950 for small or mid-size heads, and the 850 for those in between.

The Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo shafts are currently offered in regular and stiff flex.  They have a tip diameter of 0.355 and come in 3-PW lengths.  Uncut weights range from 74.5 grams to 78 grams.

Conclusion

According to Nippon, if you’re playing a driver shaft at or below 50 grams, a 70 gram iron shaft might be great for your game.  I’d suggest an even wider range of golfers give the Nippon NS Pro 750GH neo a try in their next fitting.  If you want a shaft that will keep you energized and add distance to your approach shots, this is it.

Visit Nippon Shafts HERE

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The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red shaft adds slightly higher launch and spin to the tight dispersion that the Ventus family is known for.  Much tighter feel than most “high launch” shafts.

Introduction

Few products show the difference between those that know and those that think they know like the Ventus Red shaft.  Head to the golf forums and you’d barely know that Ventus Red exists – they all need the 2024 Ventus Black [review HERE] for their 140 MPH swings.  Talk to a fitter, however, and you’ll hear about how often they put Ventus Red into golfers’ bags to optimize launch and maintain control.  I tested the new Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red to see if it can improve on this high level of performance.

Looks

The graphics on the Fujikura Ventus shafts belong among the best logos: immediately recognizable without being overbearing.  As such, they carried forward to the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red.  Nike isn’t ditching the swoosh, is it?

Two changes were made for the 2024 version, one large, one small.  The larger change is the finish on the shaft which is now a matte red.  Less obvious is the change to the Ventus branding which is now outlined as opposed to solid, making it more understated.

Feel

The rating of the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red shaft will surprise many golfers.  Per Fujikura, it’s “Ultra Stiff” in the handle, “Firm” in the middle, and “Stiff” in the tip.  Also, the torque ratings aren’t very high – at 6-X, it’s 3.2 compared to 3.0 in the 2024 Ventus Black and 3.1 in the 2024 Ventus Blue [review HERE].  Again, the difference between reality and perception can be enormous.

When I was swinging the 2024 Ventus Red, I felt that it was only slightly softer than the Black and not necessarily softer than Blue but different.  There was more of a distinct hinge in the middle than the smooth, longer kick in the Blue.  The tip section of the Red felt very stable, even on toe or heel strikes.

Performance

One of the phrases that I used frequently as a golf instructor was, “Feel is not real.”  That came to my mind often as I tested the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red.  I typically favor mid or low launching shafts, so I struggled to find a consistent, agreeable feel with the Ventus Red.  But despite how I felt, this shaft produced overwhelmingly solid results.

The feel should have clued me in to the fact that the 2024 Ventus Red isn’t your normal “high launch” shaft (technically it’s billed mid/high launch by Fujikura).  This is the highest launching Ventus, but it’s not that high.  The “Medium Spin” categorization is about right – it spins more than the other Ventus shafts, but it’s nowhere near high spin in the larger landscape of shafts.  While I didn’t test the original Ventus Red extensively, the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red reminds me a lot of the Ventus TR Red [review HERE].

While the strong flight was a small surprise, what left me consistently scratching my head – in a good way – was the dispersion.  Though I didn’t feel like I could call my shots, the ball kept finding the fairway.  The 2024 Ventus Red did have a slight preference for a draw over a fade, but the curves were moderate.

The only area where I the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red acted like a “normal” higher launching shaft for me was when I dialed up my speed and transition to 100%.  In those instances, I did know where the ball was going – hard right.  As always, this is only how this shaft interacts with my swing; your mileage may vary.

The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red shaft is available in five weight classes.  Three flexes are offered at 50 grams: R2, Regular, and Stiff.  At 60 grams, that bumps up to Regular, Stiff, and X.  Stiff and X are available at 70 and 80 grams.  The 90 gram 2024 Ventus Red is offered only in X flex.

Conclusion

The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Red is an important addition to the Ventus family.  For players that want tight dispersion but need slightly more launch and spin, it hits the sweet spot.  Ditto for those that don’t get the feel they want from Ventus Black or Blue.  Try all three with your Fujikura fitter to see which one can help you get the most from your woods.

Visit Fujikura HERE

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The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black shaft makes modest technical changes to one of the most successful shafts of the last decade.  Low launch, low spin, and total control of your shots.

Introduction

Since its launch five years ago, the Fujikura Ventus Black has been a favorite among aggressive swingers in search of lower launch, lower spin, and control [review HERE].  It had a place in my driver for a time, and it’s been a frequent visitor to the winner’s circle on professional tours worldwide.  The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black takes it place this year, powered by the new VeloCore+.  I tested one to see how the performance has changed.

Looks

Much like the 2024 Ventus Blue, the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black makes very modest changes to the look of the original.  And there’s no reason to change.  Most tour pros – and golfers in general – don’t want something totally wild looking, but the geometric design below the grip is instantly recognizable to any gear nerd.

The two aesthetics changes are the finish and the Ventus branding.  The 2024 Ventus Black has a matte finish in contrast with the shiny, polished finish of the original.  Additionally, “Ventus” is now printed in a more subtle outlined font instead of a solid one.

Check out the higher launching 2024 Ventus Red HERE

Feel

“Hello darkness, my old friend.”

Having gamed the original Ventus Black for a while, the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black felt immediately familiar.  This is a shaft that isn’t going to do anything extra – for good or ill.  It can stand up to the most aggressive swings without doing anything weird, but it’s not going to put any extra juice into your modest efforts.  There is very little kick and no feeling of twisting or torque.

The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black is rated as “Ultra Stiff” in the butt and tip and “Stiff” in the midsection.  This differs from the 2024 Ventus Blue in the handle, which is “Firm” [Blue review HERE].  That is two full steps softer, which I think it about right – I found significantly more action or sensation in the Blue.

Performance

Throughout my testing of the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black shaft, I remembered why it was that I gamed the Ventus Black for so long…and why I stopped.  On the plus side, this shaft is the prototype for what a low launch, low spin shaft should be.  There may not be a shaft that produces more satisfying shots on your best swings.  When you pure the ball, you know you earned every part of that good shot: the squared face, the centered contact, and every ounce of energy.  And the shots that are created are gorgeous: cannon blasts that look like they would laugh at gale force winds.

That virtue – being responsible for every bit of the result – can also be a vice.  When you don’t give this shaft your all, the ball speed can be mediocre.  If you get lazy with a swing, you can expect to find the ball in right field.  But, back on the positive, it’s hard to hook this shaft.  Actually, I found it fairly hard to curve the ball either way – I hit pushes, pulls, or straight shots almost exclusively.

This shaft does live up to its low launch, low spin billing.  As a low spin player, it was rare for me to see a spin number over 2,000, and the launch was visibly lower than my normal ball flight.

Comparing the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black to the original, the new model feels a little more stout.  The differences are minute, but the 2024 is a little closer to the Ventus TR Black [review HERE] than the original was.

The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black shaft is offered in five weight classes.  Stiff and X flex are available at 50, 60, and 70 grams.  The heaviest versions, 80 and 90 grams, are offered only in X flex.

Conclusion

Much like the new Ventus Blue, the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Black preserves everything players loved about the original while adding a little extra stiffness.  This is a true low launch, low spin shaft that will help high spin players find more distance and more fairways.  As always, make sure to visit your local Fujikura fitter before deciding to put one of these in the bag.

Visit Fujikura HERE

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The Mitsubishi Diamana BB shaft updates the classic Blueboard with the latest material innovations.  Classic smooth Diamana feel.  Works well for a huge range of swings.  Consistent performance.

Introduction

For twenty years, Mitsubishi’s Diamana line has been the gold standard for quality and feel in graphite shafts.  Across numerous generations, these shafts have been consistent winners on worldwide professional tours and in fitting bays.

To celebrate this milestone, Mitsusbishi is bringing back the original names and profiles.  We saw the WB – Whiteboard – earlier this year, and the end of summer brings the Mitsubishi Diamana BB, the successor to the Blueboard.  I tested one to see how the latest material technology can make this classic even better.

Looks

The Mitsubishi Diamana BB shaft brings back all the classic elements of the original Diamana line with its own twist.  Just below the grip, the flowerband wraps around the shaft in white and silver on a matte black background.  The traditional Diamana surfboard logo sits between the flowerband and the BB designation.

While the original silver base color is the classic, I like the matte black even more.  It allows the blue to pop without being a “Look at me!” shaft.  I also like that you can get a totally clean look if you install the shaft logo down.

Feel

The key word with any Diamana shaft has always been “smooth,” and that’s never been more true than with the new Mitsubishi Diamana BB.  This shaft doesn’t have a clear hinge or kickpoint; the energy pours seamlessly from grip to club head.  This makes sense given Mitsubishi’s rating of the shaft as Medium+, Medium+, Medium from butt to mid to tip.  For comparison, the new Diamana WB [review HERE] is rated Firm, Firm+, Medium+.

From a feel perspective, what stood out to me is how consistent it is regardless of effort.  I could dial my speed down to the high 90s and still have the smooth sensation.  Going all out over 110 MPH, the feel was the same, and the shaft held up.

Performance

Building on that idea of consistent feel across speeds, the Mitsubishi Diamana BB gave me the confidence to hit all types of shots at all different effort levels.  After a recent round with rental clubs, I’ve been playing with a lot of 75% driver swings, and the Diamana BB was sensational for this.  It felt like the shaft was adding some extra speed without opening up my dispersion.  When I turned my effort up to 100%, the BB kept up rather than asking me to fit my swing to the shaft.

Before going any further, I want to highlight the thing that stood out most: the ball speed.  Mitsubishi states that the 80-Ton Dialead Pitch Fiber in the butt section maximizes energy transfer.  I can’t speak to that level of technicality, but I can report that the Diamana BB gave me some of the highest ball speeds and smash factors I’ve seen at every level of swing speed.  This added pop would be a major factor in giving me the confidence to take my 75% swing to the course.

Another thing that was consistent across effort levels was the BB’s preferred shot shape.  Regardless of how hard I swung, the Diamana BB preferred a tight draw.  For my hook-prone swing, cuts required a bit of effort.  As with any equipment choice, this has its positives and negatives.  While I prefer to see a cut, I felt like I could aim the Mitsubishi Diamana BB down the right edge of any fairway and not worry about losing the ball.  And, as always, your results may be completely different which is why fitting is so important.

Comparing the Mitsubishi Diamana BB to the WB, the launch and spin are higher.  The BB is billed as mid launch and spin, the WB as low launch and spin.  While the difference is not night and day, the numbers were significantly different* and there was a visible change in the ball flight.

*The numbers in this review are not comparable apples-to-apples with the numbers in the WB review.

The Mitsubishi Diamana BB is available in five weight class designations: 43, 53, 63, 73, and 83 grams.  The lightest BB comes in five flexes: R2, R, SR, S, and X.  Both 53 and 63 are available in five flexes, too: R, SR, S, X, and TX.  BB 73 and BB 83 are offered in S, X, and TX.

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi Diamana BB is a worthy heir to both the Diamana and Blueboard legacies.  It delivers the smooth feel that this line is known for while using the latest materials to add an infusion of speed.  Whether you’re a smooth swinger or an aggressive hitter, put this in the lineup during your next driver fitting.

Visit Mitsubishi Golf HERE

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The Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft delivers on its bold promises of improved accuracy and spin.  Softens impact feel.  Three weights to fit most players.

Introduction

For the last seven years, Breakthrough Golf Technology has been one of the leaders in advancing the putter shaft with their Stability line [check out my gamer, the Stability One Tour HERE].  They’ve also branched into the long game with their Brava wood shafts [review HERE].

As good as all those products are, their biggest innovation may be the ZNE wedge shaft [review HERE].  Among true gear heads, ZNE was a sensation for its ability to tighten dispersion.  Never ones to rest, BGT is back with a new version, the RedZNE wedge shaft, and I tested it to see if it’s even better than the original.

Looks

The most obvious change from the original ZNE to the Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft is the look.  The RedZNE has one consistent color scheme throughout each of the three weights where the ZNE changed color to indicate the weight.

Appropriately, the RedZNE features bold red branding on a glossy black background.  The black carbon fiber upper transitions to a thinner, matte black section about halfway down the shaft.  While this is an unusual look, I didn’t find it distracting at address as the transition is quite far from the ball.

Feel

There are a lot of feel similarities between the new Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft, the original ZNE wedge shaft, and BGT’s Stability putter shafts.  At impact, the feel is softer and “cleaner.”  I say this to mean that I can more clearly sense where the ball met the face without any excess vibrations.  The shaft enhances the feedback.

Breakthrough Golf states that the RedZNE is even stiffer than the original ZNE, so it’s no surprise that it has the same stout, one-piece feel.  It’s not harsh, but you shouldn’t expect any kind of kick or action through impact.  Players currently gaming a shaft like Dynamic Gold will make the transition easily.

Finally, the new Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft features a carbon fiber tip, which has changed the balance of the shaft.  Per BGT, “We redistributed the weighting of the shaft to create a slightly higher balance point.”  This higher balance point allows players to achieve “normal” swing weights while playing their wedges longer or using heavier heads.  As someone who plays all his wedges at 36″, this is a great change for me.

Performance

In addition to changing the tip section from steel to carbon fiber, the new Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft has a “Stiffness Stack” that’s 54% stiffer than the original, per BGT (the Stiffness Stack is the section above the taper).  In their testing, they found that this makes the RedZNE launch lower and spin higher than the ZNE.  Against steel shafts, BGT states that the RedZNE has “92% better distance control” and “10% tighter dispersion.”

For my testing, I gathered data on pitches, half shots, and full shots with a 53 degree Edison 2.0 wedge [review HERE] with a steel shaft.  Then I pulled the steel shaft, installed the Breakthrough Golf RedZNE, built the club to the same specs, and hit the same series of shots.

Find out how RedZNE fared in Golf Myths Unplugged HERE

The results I saw from the RedZNE were just as impressive as those from the ZNE test.  My launch angle dropped about 1 degree and spin went up 500 RPM.  More importantly, my left-right dispersion was minute.  From pitches to full shots, having the ball end up more than a couple yards off the target line was a surprise.

Looking at distance dispersion, I saw improvements in my full swing but not my short shots.  The RedZNE and the steel shaft were peers on distance control for touch shots.  When I made a full swing, however, the RedZNE cut the distance from my shortest to my longest shot almost in half.

The Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft comes in three weights – 90, 115, and 130 grams.  Unlike the original ZNE, all three weights feature a carbon fiber tip .355 section.  The butt section is slightly larger than average in the heavier weights – .610 at 115 grams and .615 at 130 grams – versus .600 at 90 grams.  Finally, as the weight increases, the frequency goes up (430 to 500 to 530 CPM) and the torque goes down (2.3 to 1.6 to 1.5 degrees).

Conclusion

At $199 each (including installation), the Breakthrough Golf RedZNE wedge shaft is not cheap, but it does back up its strong claims.  This shaft gave me lower launch, higher spin, and a significant improvement in dispersion.  If you want to see more of your wedge shots end up next to the pin, consider getting fit for RedZNE wedge shafts.

Visit Breakthrough Golf HERE

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The Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft produces high, long, soft shots.  Demands a smooth swing.  Gentle, unhurried feel.

Introduction

Despite being less than a year old, Newton has already bagged a professional win with their Newton Motion driver shaft.  More importantly, they’ve made converts out of countless recreational golfers.  Building on that success, they’ve expanded their line to include the Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft.  I tested one to see if it could deliver the same performance into the green as it does off the tee.

Looks

The Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft is almost identical to the driver version.  What stands out most is the stunning, color-shifting paint job.  A blend of blues, purples, and greens, the exact hues shift with the light.  To me, it’s one of the best looking shafts in recent memory.  I like even it more for its subdued tones which don’t scream for attention or cause distractions at address.

With such a bold color, the graphics don’t need to do much.  The Newton branding is fairly basic and confined to the mid section of the shaft.  “Fairway” has been added underneath “Motion” to differentiate this model.  You can get a blank look if you install the shaft logo down.

One final spot of interest is the array of dots below the Motion branding.  Newton uses these dots to indicate the weight and flex of the shaft.  This is a smart way to keep the loaded flex words – stiff, regular, senior – off the shaft.

Feel

Just like the driver, the Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft feels very loose when you give it the wiggle test.  It feels more like The Orange Whip than the low launch, low spin shafts that are popular today.

Plugged into my PXG Black Ops fairway wood [review HERE], the Newton Motion produced a smooth, unhurried sensation.  I could feel the shaft loading and unloading throughout the swing.  The kick isn’t snappy or energetic – everything this shaft does is more smooth than aggressive.

If you want to dabble in the smooth feel rather than going all the way in, you might try moving up a “flex”.  When I dialed back my swing speed, the Newton Motion was still smooth, but it was a little more traditional.

Performance

The Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft utilizes the same key technologies as the driver shaft.  If you want the full breakdown of all the tech, please check that out HERE.  In the interest of not repeating myself, I’m going to dive straight into the performance of this version.

Regular readers might guess that the Newton Motion FW shaft and I were not likely friends.  I am not a smooth swinger, and it’s only in the last few months that I’ve started carrying a fairway wood.  Thankfully, my experience with the Motion driver shaft had given me the keys for getting along with the FW version.

When I kept my swing smooth, the Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft produced some of the highest, softest FW shots I’ve ever hit.  The launch angles were the stuff of my dreams, and the spin was also quite high.  As always, I’ll emphasize that high spin is not a bad thing.  For many, many players, more spin will add carry distance in addition to producing softer landings.  It’s always a matter of matching your equipment to what your swing needs.

Unfortunately, when I reverted to my normal aggressive transition, the results were not good.  I hit a lot of fat shots.  When I did get the club to the ball cleanly, my shot pattern covered a wide range, and several of the shots ballooned.  None of this is a fault with the Newton Motion FW shaft, it’s just not a good fit for me.  For players who are naturally smooth, this shaft will work wonders.

Like the driver version, the Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft is offered in six variants, denoted by the number of dots on the shaft.  The lowest CPM, highest torque, lightest weight (55 gram) version has one dot.  As you move up in dots, the weight and CPM go up and the torque goes down.  The other end of the spectrum is the six dot version, suggested for players with driver swing speeds over 115 MPH.  This model is 80 grams.

Conclusion

If you’re a smooth swinger who wants to see your fairway wood shots fly higher and land softer, this is the shaft to try this year.  As with their driver shafts, the Newton Motion Fairway Wood shaft is sold direct to consumer in 3, 5, and 7 wood lengths with the adapter already installed.

Visit Newton Shafts HERE

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The Autoflex Dream 7 shaft has a very soft, smooth, active feel.  Higher launch and spin.  Built for smooth swinging players.

Introduction

In 2020 when the original Autoflex shaft burst onto the golf scene, it would have been easy to dismiss it as the latest short-lived fad.  Four years later, however, Autoflex is still going strong.  Many golfers have found more speed and distance in their lighter, softer shafts.  Their latest offering is the Autoflex Dream 7 shaft, and I tested one to see what new tricks they have up their sleeve.

Looks

The Autoflex Dream 7 shaft puts a major focus on looks.  It’s one of the few shafts that comes in multiple colorways.  There are five available: orange, green, black/orange, white, and black/green (seen here).  The black/green is the most sedate with the orange and green being the most attention grabbing.

While the colors are very bold, the graphics are limited to the mid section of the shaft.  The splashes of color form flowers of different sizes that wrap around the shaft.  “autoFlex” branding sits atop this graphic in a rainbow of colors.  “Dream 7” and the flex designation are marked just to the right.  While there is no clean, logo-down installation possible, there are no markings near the club head.

Feel

Much like the original Autoflex [review HERE], the Autoflex Dream 7 shaft has a very soft feel with an immense kick through the ball.  A gentle wiggle gets this shaft moving, and a full swing creates a complete load with an explosion of energy through the ball.

Again, like the original, the Dream 7 doesn’t feel like it has a clear hinge or bend point.  Instead, the Dream 7 feels like it uncoils like a whip.  It takes little effort to get this load and kick, so it’s a very satisfying choice for players with less aggressive swings.

Performance

Where some shaft companies overwhelm the player with tech talk and performance claims, Autoflex keeps things very hazy.  They tout the Dream 7 as the “ultimate in power and stability” but the only explanation is the 2nd generation of Korea Hidden Technology.  It is noted that the Autoflex Dream 7 is “slightly softer” than the original with an “upgraded” tip section, though it’s unclear what that upgrade is.

Overall, the Autoflex Dream 7 has a great deal in common with the original.  The light weight did allow me to ramp up my club head speed, but I got my best results with a more moderate effort.  Dialing my speed down to what felt like 50%, I was hitting lasers.  The ball was flying straight on a high trajectory with some roll out.

Stepping up to around 75% effort, the ball speed, club speed, and distance improved, but my dispersion became more normal.  The Autoflex Dream 7 did favor the left side of the range, but it wasn’t too extreme.  The ball flight continued to be on the higher side.

As I tried to push my effort and speed to the limits, I saw diminishing – and sometimes negative – returns.  The dispersion was wide and unpredictable, and the increased club speed did not translate to great ball speed.

All this to say, Autoflex needs to be fit to the right player.  This is true of any shaft, but it’s more true here.  I can make this work, but it’s meant for players who swing smooth naturally.  For an aggressive swinger like myself, it would be hard to trust this on the course.

The Autoflex Dream 7 shaft is offered in six variants – 305, 305X, 405, 405X, 505, and 505X.  The Autoflex website has a recommended swing speed for each version, ranging from 60MPH to 115 MPH.  Weights on the Dream 7 are as light as 39 grams and as heavy as 57 grams.

Finally, a note for those that would run to the original Autoflex review and try to compare the numbers: please don’t.  That review is over three years old.  It was a different driver head, and my swing was in a different place.  I have not tested the two shafts head to head.

Conclusion

If you have that smooth, Louis Oosthuizen tempo, first, I’m jealous, and second, you should take a serious look at the Autoflex Dream 7 shaft.  This soft, ultra light shaft can easily add more speed to your swing without asking for more effort.

Visit Autoflex HERE

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The Aretera Alpha One Series shafts have a smooth feel and excellent accuracy.  Alpha One Blue has a softer tip and higher spin than Alpha One Gray.

Introduction

Aretera is a new name in the golf space, but the the designer behind the brand is no stranger to high performance shafts.  Alex Dee, formerly the VP at Fujikura, was a major force behind the immensely successful Ventus shafts [review HERE].  His first line at his new company, the Aretera Alpha One Series shafts, shows that the success of Ventus was anything but a fluke.

Looks

The Aretera Alpha One Series shafts share an attention-grabbing bright white base color.  Off this stark background, the sharp gold, blue, and gray graphics really pop.  I think these shafts look good in pictures, but they’re really stunning in person.

Large Aretera branding covers the middle of the shaft on both sides, so there is no clean “logo down” look, though the weight and flex is only listed on one side.  The one aesthetic choice I find a bit confusing is the fade to gray near the tip.  In contrast with the bright white, I found this a bit distracting.

Feel

I do my best to enter every review with a clean slate, but I didn’t have that opportunity with the Aretera Alpha One Series shafts.  Several weeks prior to receiving these shafts, I was having a casual conversation with a trusted fitter and friend.  He mentioned that he got to demo these shafts and expressed his disappointment with how “boardy” they felt.

Trying to put his negative opinion to the side, I loaded the Aretera Alpha One Blue in my driver and swung away.  After the very first swing, I thought to myself that my friend and I have very different ideas of what “boardy” is.

In my opinion, the Aretera Alpha One Blue shaft is the furthest thing from boardy.  It’s extremely smooth, bordering on active.  The sensation is extremely pleasant with energy flowing from just below the grip to the club head.  It doesn’t demand that you swing it gently, but it encourages it by kicking hard even on moderate swings.

The Alpha One Gray is, per Aretera, almost identical to the Blue except for a 10% stiffer tip.  This translates to a feel that is still smooth but not as active as the Blue.  My notes say, “It barely feels like an X flex.”  If you want a stiffer tipped shaft with a smooth feel, this is it.

Performance

After getting a feel for the Aretera Alpha One Blue, I started focusing on the dispersion.  The feel had me thinking that I should be looking left and certainly not expecting laser-like shots, but that’s exactly what this shaft was producing.  Swinging normally, with effort ranging from 80% to 100%, I was seeing shots that didn’t appear to curve at all.  When I switched to the Aretera Alpha One Gray, I had high expectations, and the shaft delivered.  I saw more drives that started on line and motored straight downrange like they had blinders on.

As I continued hitting, I realized that there was a clue to this dispersion in the feel.  While both shafts have a smooth feel, neither feels like it has much torque in the tip.  Aretera doesn’t have a torque measurement on their website – and there are no industry standards anyway, so the number isn’t terribly meaningful – but I would expect that it’s low.  Even when I really went after Alpha One Blue, the shaft never felt like it lagged or twisted.

The key technology in Aretera Alpha Series shafts is called POWERGRID.  Per Aretera, this is a “structural interlocking” weave that “distributes forces more evenly and stores more energy.”  It also provides “more forgiveness in torsional stiffness in the butt and middle sections.”

While both Aretera Alpha Series shafts had excellent dispersion, there was a clear difference in spin.  Alpha One Blue produced 400 RPM more spin for me, on average.  During some windy testing, Alpha One Blue did hit some ballooning shots when I really went after the ball.  Alpha One Gray was consistently lower spin and performed better in the wind, even on all-out swings.  Both shafts launched the ball toward the high end of my normal range.

There are ten total offerings in the Aretera Alpha One Series family.  Aretera Alpha One Gray comes in 65 or 75 grams, both in 4 (stiff) or 5 (X) flex.  Aretera Alpha One Blue has three weights options: 55, 65, and 75 grams.  The 55 gram version is offered in 3 (regular) and 4 (stiff).  Both 65 and 75 are available in 4 and 5.

Conclusion

The ARETERA Alpha One Series shafts are an impressive debut from this new company.  Pairing an exciting feel with superb dispersion makes them an immediate must-try for any gear head.

Check out the ARETERA Alpha One Series HERE

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50 Words or Less

The Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shafts bring the classic smooth Diamana feel to the putting green.  Two weights and two flexes create a lot of fitting options.

Introduction

Over the last couple years, high performance putter shafts have gone from the new hot thing to an established part of the golf equipment scene.  In both steel and graphite, every major shaft maker has entered the fray trying to help golfers find more success on the greens.

The Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shaft trades on one of the most esteemed names in golf while offering players different weights and flexes.  I tested the entire line to see how much shaft fitting can add to your putting.

Looks

Much like their MMT Putter Concept shaft [review HERE], the Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shaft has a unique look without screaming for attention.  At a glance, it’s gloss black from butt to tip.  A closer look reveals the visible 6K carbon fiber weave.  The weave turns into a solid black finish about 9″ from the tip to keep the address look distraction-free.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Diamana shaft without the signature flower band.  That sits just below the grip, above the “Diamana” branding and weight and flex designations.  Overall, I think Mitsubishi nailed the look, making the Diamana Putter shaft distinct from steel while remaining understated.

Feel

The Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shaft comes in two weights and two flexes.  The P105 has an uncut weight of 108 grams, and the P135 weighs 138 grams.  Mitsubishi offers the P105 in the softer 1.0 flex and the P135 in both 1.0 and 2.0.  I tested all three in identical Swag Handsome One putter heads [review HERE].

I found that the Diamana Putter P135 2.0 was the most like other premium graphite putter shafts.  It felt very stable during the stroke and held the putter head steady on mishits.  As I’ve found with other graphite putter shafts, the Diamana Putter also cleaned up the feel of impact, eliminating excess vibrations.

In terms of impact feel, the Diamana Putter P135 1.0 was my favorite.  I felt that it created the softest impact sensation, though the differences between the three are fairly small.  During the swing, the 1.0 is noticeably different than the 2.0, but it’s not loose or whippy.  If someone handed me the 1.0 by itself, I would have said that it felt smooth but not significantly more flexible than a traditional putter shaft.

Finally, I found that the Diamana Putter P105 1.0 delivered the crispest impact feeling.  I had the sense that it was a little more flexible than the P135 1.0, but it’s impossible to definitively separate the flex from the weight.

Performance

As with most high quality graphite putter shafts, the tech story behind the Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shaft centers on low torque.  Per Mitsubishi, the 6k woven carbon lowers the torque of the shaft which helps it to deliver the putter head more consistently and perform better on mishits.  The differences between Diamana Putter and a traditional steel shaft are measured in inches – sometimes fractions of an inch – but those add up on the green over the course of a round or a season.

To me, the bigger story with Diamana Putter is the fitting options.  If you’ve never experimented with putter shaft weight, I’d implore you to do so [Golf Myths Unplugged took on putter shaft weight HERE].  The weight difference between the P105 and P135 is immediately obvious, and it had a major impact on my putting.  With the P105, I felt freer, especially on long putts. The putter swung more easily.  For me, swinging the P135 could feel a little laborious, and I got nervous about hitting long putts too hard.  I want to emphasize that these are my reactions to the shaft weight, and they may be completely opposite of yours.

The difference in flex was not as dramatic as the weight difference, but it still affected my results.  With the P135 1.0, I felt like some of the additional weight was negated by the smooth feel.  The shaft doesn’t kick or add energy, but it feels like it has a little life to it.  With the P135 2.0, I got out only what I put in, and the putter head was rock solid throughout the entire stroke.  For me, the 1.0 was the better fit, but other players may prefer the stability of the 2.0.

All three models of the Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shaft have a .355 tip diameter.  The butt diameter varies slightly, with the P135 1.0 at .595″, the P105 at .596″, and the P135 2.0 at .602″.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to breathe new life into your flat stick, the Mitsubishi Diamana Putter shaft is definitely worth a try.  The quality and smooth feel are exactly what you expect from Diamana, and the different weights and flexes give you room to experiment and find your perfect fit.

Visit Mitsubishi Golf HERE

The post Mitsubishi Diamana Putter Shaft Review appeared first on Plugged In Golf.

50 Words or Less

The Graphite Design Tour AD VF shaft is a low launch, low spin shaft that wants your most aggressive swings.  Excellent dispersion.  Stout, one-piece feel.

Introduction

The Graphite Design Tour AD VF shaft is at the center of one of the happiest coincidences in recent golf equipment history.  Shortly after its introduction, this red and black shaft made its way into the bag of the golfer who made red and black his signature, Tiger Woods.  With the kind of hype that money can’t buy, the VF – which stands for Victory Force – is now available to golfers everywhere.  I tested one to see if it can help power your on course victories this season.

Looks

While Graphite Design claims that the Tour AD VF wasn’t made with Tiger in mind, it would be hard to imagine a shaft more perfectly designed for the Big Cat.  The upper is a deep, rich red that is visually stunning, especially in contrast with the jet black lower portion.  It’s a great demonstration of the fact that you don’t need gaudy graphics to be eye-catching if you pick the right colors.

Speaking of graphics, the Graphite Design Tour AD VF sticks to the script of the Tour AD shafts that have come before.  The “Graphite Design” branding is split over the color shift.  On the “logo down” side, there are simply black and red rings.  With the exception of the small “Accuracy & Distance” mark, the lower third of the shaft is free of distractions.

Feel

The Graphite Design Tour AD VF sits at the top of the Graphite Design pyramid of stiffness.  This is their stiffest profile, rating a Firm+ (butt), Stiff (mid), Very Stiff (tip) from Graphite Design.  The shaft nearest in tip stiffness is the Tour AD UB [review HERE] which rates a Stiff+.

Giving the Tour AD VF a wiggle, I felt just a hint of flex in the mid section.  During the swing, that largely went away.  This is a shaft for the player that wants a “one-piece” feel without the shaft bending or kicking noticeably.  It’s not harsh feeling, but it does demand a strong effort from you.

In the past, I’ve described some super stiff shafts as laughing at your strongest swings.  In X-flex (the correct flex for my speed), the Graphite Design Tour AD VF didn’t laugh at me, but I knew I was never going to “win.”  It was like running with a friend who is much faster than you but isn’t trying to hurt your feelings.  When I bumped up to the TX, I did feel laughed at – I don’t have the speed to make that work.

Finally, I was able to compare the Tour AD VF to the modern classic Tour AD DI [review HERE].  Both shafts are rated low spin by Graphite Design, but the AD DI feels completely different with a smooth, pronounced kick.  This is a great illustration of the fact that not all low spin shafts need to feel the same.

Performance

The calling card of the Graphite Design Tour AD VF is low launch, low spin.  Those were the first two things that I noticed when I started my testing.  Virtually every drive came out on a piercing trajectory and hit the ground running.  If you’re looking to bring down your spin or get more out of drives in a windy environment, the Tour AD VF will deliver.  For players that want low spin without the low launch, you might consider the Graphite Design Tour AD IZ [review HERE].

As I noted earlier, this is a shaft that wants to be swung aggressively, and it encourages that by keeping the dispersion tight.  What’s unique about the Tour AD VF – at least for me – is that it’s not strictly “anti-left” in the way that some low/low shafts are.  I was able to hit a soft draw or a soft cut equally well.  Where it excels is in keeping those shot shapes gentle.  Unless I made a really poor swing, I didn’t see the ball curving more than I wanted.

When I went to the Graphite Design Tour AD VF in TX flex, it felt much more “anti-left.”  Even with an aggressive swing and a strong intent, I could barely square the face, let alone get the ball to draw.  If you’re seeking a hooker-killer, the AD VF can be it, you may just need a stiffer flex.

I also ran the VF against the Tour AD DI which felt world’s different.  First, I could dial my swing down to sub-100% effort, which was refreshing after numerous all-out swings.  Also, my dispersion shifted left.  I don’t think the AD DI is particularly draw-biased, but compared to the AD VF, it felt that way to me.

The Graphite Design Tour AD VF is offered in weights ranging from 40 to 80 grams.  At the lightest weight, the Tour AD VF is available in stiff, regular, and senior flexes.  Moving up to 50 grams retains those three options and adds the X flex.  At 60 grams, there is a stiff/regular, stiff, X, and Tour X.  The 70 gram model has just stiff and X.  Finally, at 80 grams GD offers X and Tour X.

Conclusion

While I would not typically suggest that recreational players emulate Tiger Woods’s equipment decisions, the Graphite Design Tour AD VF shaft is one that you might consider.  If you’re a high spin player who wants to get into more optimal numbers, this is definitely one to try at your next fitting.

Buy the Graphite Design Tour AD VF HERE

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