Hzrdus shafts for the sluggish.

[sfdoddsy]

I've always been fond of Hzrdus shafts. Initially because I thought the hazard graphics were cool.

 

But my swing is the opposite of the Hzrdus 'ideal'.

 

Smooth tempo, not that fast any more. The Mizuno Swing Analyser thing usually recommends something like Riptide, or Atmos.

 

Yet I played the original Hzrdus Black for a few years and really liked it. I didn't like the (more suitable) Red.

 

I was fitted for a GD AD VR and it was OK, but I never fully trusted it. Ditto a Ventus.

 

I've since gone back to a Hzrdus Smoke Black and am loving it.

 

High with a slight draw. I've not done a Trackman session but distance is as good or better so I assume spin is OK.

 

Anyone else enjoying  these fine shafts which should be wrong, but are right?

 

 

 

 

[MisterT]

I have a HZRDUS Red 5.5 in my 3 wood after having a Red 6.0 in there previously. They just seem to work well for me in that club. 

[Stuart_G]

22 minutes ago, sfdoddsy said:

I've always been fond of Hzrdus shafts. Initially because I thought the hazard graphics were cool.

 

But my swing is the opposite of the Hzrdus 'ideal'.

 

Forget those concepts of what's someone else (even the shaft manufacturers) think might be "ideal" for you.  

 

The shaft couldn't care less about how you swing and it wont perform inherently any better or any worse with any particular type of mechanics or player.  Those results are based on VERY rough generalizations of what types of players tend to do ok with the shaft.  Not on any real hard science of from how the shaft actually works in the swing.     So they can only provide a starting point for the fitting process, they should never be used to actually make the final decision on which shaft is a good fit or not.

 

22 minutes ago, sfdoddsy said:

Smooth tempo, not that fast any more. The Mizuno Swing Analyser thing usually recommends something like Riptide, or Atmos.

 

The Mizuno analyzer is clueless when it comes to the subjective aspects of shaft fitting - and those subjective aspects can be WAY more important than the objective criteria that the tool uses or knows about.

 

 

22 minutes ago, sfdoddsy said:

I've since gone back to a Hzrdus Smoke Black and am loving it.

 

High with a slight draw. I've not done a Trackman session but distance is as good or better so I assume spin is OK.

 

That will always be the only thing that ever really matters.

 

22 minutes ago, sfdoddsy said:

Anyone else enjoying  these fine shafts which should be wrong, but are right?

 

You are far from being alone in that.

Edited November 30, 2021 by Stuart_G

[Nateyeight]

I am a regular shaft flex in my irons, hybrids and woods. Average swing speeds, however I tried a HZDRUS Smoke 6.0 80g in a hybrid and it was a match made in heaven. Now in the bag. Who knew!

[Gerr]

Just turned 50, wanted a step down from stiff driver shaft, but many regulars are too soft for my moderate tempo 94mph swing.  Tried a HZRDUS Smoke Black 60 5.5 and never looked back!

[SwooshLT]

Just got into a hzdrus blue rdx smoke 5.5 and never been as straight or as confident in past 10yrs or so......got me so high that I'm gonna try catalyst 80cw in irons hoping for same magic

[Denny100]

On 11/30/2021 at 12:39 PM, sfdoddsy said:

I've always been fond of Hzrdus shafts. Initially because I thought the hazard graphics were cool.

 

But my swing is the opposite of the Hzrdus 'ideal'.

 

Smooth tempo, not that fast any more. The Mizuno Swing Analyser thing usually recommends something like Riptide, or Atmos.

 

Yet I played the original Hzrdus Black for a few years and really liked it. I didn't like the (more suitable) Red.

 

I was fitted for a GD AD VR and it was OK, but I never fully trusted it. Ditto a Ventus.

 

I've since gone back to a Hzrdus Smoke Black and am loving it.

 

High with a slight draw. I've not done a Trackman session but distance is as good or better so I assume spin is OK.

 

Anyone else enjoying  these fine shafts which should be wrong, but are right?

 

 

 

 

 

If the shaft works well, keep using it, dont listen too much to the marketing words.

 

Id say one potential option that has a HZRDUS type playability but good feel would be the VA Nemesys line.

 

Im also quite sceptical of the mizuno swing DNA to be honest. I think it tends to recommend shafts that are quite heavy, and needlessly so in some cases.

[pjc]

On 8/30/2022 at 5:08 PM, Gerr said:

Just turned 50, wanted a step down from stiff driver shaft, but many regulars are too soft for my moderate tempo 94mph swing.  Tried a HZRDUS Smoke Black 60 5.5 and never looked back!

I'm thinking about this as well, 51 myself, but can still swing around 100 or a little more maybe on the course.  Isn't the Smoke Black even in 5.5 pretty stiff all around?

[Gerr]

On 11/1/2022 at 1:40 PM, pjc said:

I'm thinking about this as well, 51 myself, but can still swing around 100 or a little more maybe on the course.  Isn't the Smoke Black even in 5.5 pretty stiff all around?

Yes!  I would estimate it at a soft stiff compared to other stiff shafts.  But remember, it's designed for a aggressive or semi-aggressive tempo, so avoid if you are a smooth swinger.

[pjc]

Ended up going with the Evenflow Riptide 60 in 6.0 in the Srixon ZX5...we shall see.

[Whit1969]

+1 for the Hzrdus blue RDX

[sm_watts]

On 11/25/2022 at 7:05 PM, Whit1969 said:

+1 for the Hzrdus blue RDX

I would love to try one of these in my ping g425 max!

[hagimihale]

On 11/4/2022 at 11:16 PM, pjc said:

Ended up going with the Evenflow Riptide 60 in 6.0 in the Srixon ZX5...we shall see.

 

This would be my starting point. Riptide has a pretty linear profile, so its not a noodle.  But not quite as stout as the similar (weight/stiffness) shaft in the HZRDUS line.

 

I found the HZRDUS Smoke Black and Riptide to feel very similar (both in 60 6.0).  Riptide was easier to load, and Smoke Black held up better if I went after one.  

[pjc]

I have hit the HZRDUS Red (not CB) on the range in the 5.5, and to me that felt pretty stiff, but I have also heard that there really isn't much difference between the black and red.  Hopefully the Riptide won't feel quite as boardy.  It shouldn't since the HZRDUS Red has a torque of 3.2 and the Riptide at 4.4.  That should make a definite feel difference.

Edited December 5, 2022 by pjc

[hagimihale]

@pjc, HZRDUS Red is just a higher launching version of Black (softer tip).   See below picture of the EI profiles for each.  Credit to below goes to Golfshaftreviews.info.  Highly recommend a subscription if you like researching shafts on your own.

 

Note how the overall shape of Black vs Red is very similar. Red has slightly softer butt and tip.  But both have a relatively firm mid. 

 

I put the EI profile of Riptide below that.  Almost more linear than HZRDUS Black or Red.  But if you compare the shafts at same weight/stiffness (say, at 6.0 6.0), Riptide is about a gram lighter and the EI area is less (16 for Riptide vs 17 for Black).  EI area measures the aggregate stiffness along the length of the shaft, something about the total amount of the shaft that is above vs below the trend line.  So the Black will likely feel more stout than an equivalent Riptide.

 

 

[pjc]

Wow!  Thanks for the information!  Been trying to track something like this down.  Might have to get a sub for that site, I am familiar with it.  Now hopefully I can get a decent day (weather wise) out on the range to get a feel for what I have.

[pjc]

By the way, my Riptide does not say "small batch" on it in my ZX5.  Does that mean that it is not aftermarket and that it is like a "stock" made for shaft?  Not familiar really with Project X.

[hagimihale]

23 hours ago, pjc said:

By the way, my Riptide does not say "small batch" on it in my ZX5.  Does that mean that it is not aftermarket and that it is like a "stock" made for shaft?  Not familiar really with Project X.

 

The "small batch" just indicates that the shaft was rolled by hand, vs rolled via automated process.  Both are made in the same factory somewhere in asia. The original "handcrafted" versions of these shafts were hand-rolled in PX's facility in San Diego.

 

The only difference is that the hand-rolled have better quality control for tolerances.  If the specs say an Evenflow Riptide 60 6.0 is 63g, it likely is within a gram of that weight.  The non-handrolled could be +/- a few grams of that.  But they are using the same materials.

[ChristopherMcDonald]

I bag a 6.5 70g RDX black. Shouldn't work for my swingspeed, AT ALL (105 on the best of days, currently) but I've never driven the ball better. It's all about how the shaft makes you deliver the head to the ball. This shaft just does it for me, think it gets overlooked

[pjc]

19 hours ago, hagimihale said:

 

The "small batch" just indicates that the shaft was rolled by hand, vs rolled via automated process.  Both are made in the same factory somewhere in asia. The original "handcrafted" versions of these shafts were hand-rolled in PX's facility in San Diego.

 

The only difference is that the hand-rolled have better quality control for tolerances.  If the specs say an Evenflow Riptide 60 6.0 is 63g, it likely is within a gram of that weight.  The non-handrolled could be +/- a few grams of that.  But they are using the same materials.

Thank you for clearing that up.  I have read some other crazy things, one from the reviewer in the Q&A section from pluggedingolf review of the shaft.  I didn't think it was made for really, but it's just weird that it doesn't even say Project X on it.  Probably under the grip or something like that.  You would think that they would have PX right next to the ER logo.

Edited December 7, 2022 by pjc

[Smith]

I recently started playing a Hzrdous Blue 60 RDX 6, ss is 93-96.  Low launch, low spin, good distance and the ball just wants to go straight.  Really liking it.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Smith

[pepperonipies]

Just got my hands on a HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 6.0 too and so far feels great, but need to cut it down to my playing length of 45" and really see.

 

If anyone is interested in it or has the Blue PVD and wants the black, I would love to trade or sell.

[deadsolid...shank]

I’m similar to the OP, I liked the graphics! Plus I played Project X 6.0 in my irons for probably 10+ years. 

 

But, even a few years back when I was between 105-110 the regular (not RDX) Black 6.0 just felt like it was too much work to load. I could make it perform, but if I got a little lax with the swing the results were not good.  So I stayed away for a lot of years. 
 

Then reading on here about how the RDX Blue played, a a little easier to load, I picked one up. I’ve really liked it so far. FWIW, I’m now right around 100. I don’t know that it has changed anything substantially performance wise (I switched from a Oban Revenge 4 flex ((I liked the color of the shaft, I have important criteria when it comes to choosing equipment)), but it very smooth and easy to swing. Although I’m not sure a 6.5 might work even a little better. But probably not enough to buy another shaft. 

Edited December 26, 2022 by deadsolid...shank

[gerger]

Mizuno Shaft Optimizer recommended the RDX Black as its top driver choice. See my screenshots for other shafts it recommended for me which may be similar to that shaft or at least work for someone that likes that shaft. Who really knows!

[Grouchykona]

Generally speaking, which of these 2 shafts plays stiffer/more stout:  

HZRDUS smoke red RDX vs Ventus red?

[sm_watts]

On 12/23/2022 at 9:34 PM, Smith said:

I recently started playing a Hzrdous Blue 60 RDX 6, ss is 93-96.  Low launch, low spin, good distance and the ball just wants to go straight.  Really liking it.

I just ordered a Tour Edge c721 with the Hzrdus blue RDX 60 5.5, mainly to tray this shaft.  My ss is similar to yours.

[503Mike]

Cool discussion. On a whim I purchased a Smoke im10 shaft to try on my driver back in May and absolutely love it. It doesn't fix any of my swing flaws, but it is a very stable shaft that seems to accommodate my swing-by-swing tempo changes admirably.

[Smith]

On 12/29/2022 at 8:18 PM, sm_watts said:

I just ordered a Tour Edge c721 with the Hzrdus blue RDX 60 5.5, mainly to tray this shaft.  My ss is similar to yours.

Let me know how this turns out for you. 

[sm_watts]

3 minutes ago, Smith said:

Let me know how this turns out for you. 

I hit it in the simulator two weeks ago with good results.  I'm playing again this afternoon, so I'll give another update.  I need to pay more attention to the settings on the simulator where we play.  Since I live at 5,000 feet elevation, sometimes they set the sim for that elevation and sometimes it gets set for sea level.  Either way, distance with the HZRDUS/c721 was better than my Ping g425 max/Tensei orange AV raw, but the Ping seemed to keep me on the fairway a little more.  I'm guessing that's the head more than the shaft.

[sm_watts]

Driver swing just wasn’t feeling it today. Only drive I was really happy with was on 18, but that was a towering 245 carry that rolled out to 265. That was set at sea level, so not bad for my 94 mph swing. I plan on waiting until we’re outside in April to choose between the TEE and Ping.