Fujikura Member Trip and VeloCore Fitting Experience Live at Fujikura HQ! Follow Along Here!

[gvogel]

On 8/29/2023 at 9:37 AM, hammergolf said:

Well that’s a good one, since I’ve played HZ Red before and the Alta CB shaft from Ping. For me, the Ventus Blue has the same handle feel as the HZ Red, but is more stable and has more kick at impact. Similar trajectories, but more ball speed and much tighter dispersion. 
The Alta CB isn’t near as stable in the driver. Yes, it has a very soft feeling mid section to me, but with less kick to me. It was a good fwy wd and hybrid shaft for me, but I don’t get along too well with CB driver shafts. 
I think you will really like the TR Blue 5R or R2 depending on the amount of stiffness you like to feel. The R will feel stiffer in the handle than the 5.0 HZ Red, but won’t feel like rebar. Flex wise the R2 is closer to the 5.0

Well, without going for a fitting, and because the season is getting nearer the end, I ordered a Ventus Blue 5 R2.  We'll see how it works out.  I was hitting the G425 with the Alta reg pretty good last night, starting to get a nice higher flight, and straight, after working on tempo with the Lag Shot driver.

 

If it doesn't work out, I'll go to Club Champion for a recommendation.  Fujikura's on-line fit recommendation would be the Motore X F3 5 R2 for a higher ball flight.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, gvogel said:

Well, without going for a fitting, and because the season is getting nearer the end, I ordered a Ventus Blue 5 R2.  We'll see how it works out.  I was hitting the G425 with the Alta reg pretty good last night, starting to get a nice higher flight, and straight, after working on tempo with the Lag Shot driver.

 

If it doesn't work out, I'll go to Club Champion for a recommendation.  Fujikura's on-line fit recommendation would be the Motore X F3 5 R2 for a higher ball flight.

Great! Looking forward to reading about how well it works for you.

[GolfTurkey]

I really hope that @Fujikura Golf gets these into OEMs as upcharge options.

 

I fear that Axiom will be a niche product if it only remains available via the current channels, which would be a shame.

[gvogel]

Somewhat by mistake I ended up with a Ventus TR Red 5 R driver shaft for my Titleist TSR2.  After getting on a launch monitor a couple weeks ago, I was sure that I needed the senior, R2 flex.  I had spoken with the pro at my club about the TR Red 5 R, since that is the softest Ventus shaft that Titleist offers.

 

Well, he ordered it, it arrived, and I tried it last night.  After warming up and hitting a TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver, and the TSR2 with the HZRDUS Red 50 5.0 shaft that the Titleist fitter suggested earlier this year, I changed to the Ventus Red.  After striping 10 drives in a row, I quit and went to dinner.

 

Hope it works as well on the course today!

[968cab]

It will.  You’re going to LOVE it. Point and shoot!  👍🏼

[GolfTurkey]

8 hours ago, gvogel said:

Somewhat by mistake I ended up with a Ventus TR Red 5 R driver shaft for my Titleist TSR2.  

Hmm, that sounds a lot like the intro to the stories I tell my wife when another golf delivery arrives at our house.

[JLP_GOLF]

Trying to order a single shaft to test against my gamer.  Grips for less has a 125x and a 125tx on their site.  Is that an error?  First time I’m hearing of a tx.  Thanks!

Edited September 25, 2023 by JLP_GOLF

[CactusGolf]

15 minutes ago, JLP_GOLF said:

Trying to order a single shaft to test against my gamer.  Grips for less has a 125x and a 125tx on their site.  Is that an error?  First time I’m hearing of a tx.  Thanks!

The last I looked there was only a 125x.  I can't imagine what the TX would feel like.

[gvogel]

On 9/15/2023 at 9:01 AM, gvogel said:

Somewhat by mistake I ended up with a Ventus TR Red 5 R driver shaft for my Titleist TSR2.  After getting on a launch monitor a couple weeks ago, I was sure that I needed the senior, R2 flex.  I had spoken with the pro at my club about the TR Red 5 R, since that is the softest Ventus shaft that Titleist offers.

 

Well, he ordered it, it arrived, and I tried it last night.  After warming up and hitting a TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver, and the TSR2 with the HZRDUS Red 50 5.0 shaft that the Titleist fitter suggested earlier this year, I changed to the Ventus Red.  After striping 10 drives in a row, I quit and went to dinner.

 

Hope it works as well on the course today!

I had my best day of the year with a driver last Friday with the TSR2/Ventus Red TR 5R. 

 

Earlier in the day I went to Club Champion to see if any other shaft could be better.  The Ventus Blue TR 5R was a bit straighter, but not as long.  So I went to the course with confidence in the Red TR.

 

Of course, being a good WRX'er, I will order a Blue TR 5R to test in on course conditions, especially since straight driving is a prerequisite where I play.

[Trippels]

22 hours ago, JLP_GOLF said:

Trying to order a single shaft to test against my gamer.  Grips for less has a 125x and a 125tx on their site.  Is that an error?  First time I’m hearing of a tx.  Thanks!

They say it does exist in a tx, but sold out for the year

 

"Yes, the AXIOM shaft is available in a 125/TX flex, however they are currently sold out until early next year.

 

Fujikura does recommend that you can tip an X-flex by 1/2", and this would allow the shaft to play at a TX-flex as wel"l:

 

Edit. Nevermind, they don't exist. Confirmed by fuji

Edited September 26, 2023 by Trippels

[radiman]

I played the MMT for a couple of seasons with pretty great success.  I was thinking of going back to graphite for next season.  Can't find Axiom as an option through any OEM.  Just priced them out.  Holy crap.  Definitely in the "have to be fit before purchase" price range.  The downside is that getting fit for a shaft like that isn't an option.  MMT again it is.  Well, at least until Axiom is actually available in an OEM fitting cart.  

[JLP_GOLF]

1 hour ago, Trippels said:

They say it does exist in a tx, but sold out for the year

 

"Yes, the AXIOM shaft is available in a 125/TX flex, however they are currently sold out until early next year.

 

Fujikura does recommend that you can tip an X-flex by 1/2", and this would allow the shaft to play at a TX-flex as wel"l:

That’s a huge bummer.  I’m returning the X flex I bought and giving up on axiom.  Don’t want to tip and not willing to wait that long.  Wanted to try this but not worth hassle.  
 

granted I know nothing about production and lead times but this seems like a missed opportunity for Fuji.  Surprised these are so hard to get a hold of given the strong buzz of the last 3-4 months

Edited September 25, 2023 by JLP_GOLF

[JLP_GOLF]

18 hours ago, JLP_GOLF said:

That’s a huge bummer.  I’m returning the X flex I bought and giving up on axiom.  Don’t want to tip and not willing to wait that long.  Wanted to try this but not worth hassle.  
 

granted I know nothing about production and lead times but this seems like a missed opportunity for Fuji.  Surprised these are so hard to get a hold of given the strong buzz of the last 3-4 months

Spoke to someone from Fuji and they said no official plans for a TX release.  Best bet is to tip the X I guess or roll with it as is.  

[gvogel]

On 9/25/2023 at 1:11 PM, gvogel said:

I had my best day of the year with a driver last Friday with the TSR2/Ventus Red TR 5R. 

 

Earlier in the day I went to Club Champion to see if any other shaft could be better.  The Ventus Blue TR 5R was a bit straighter, but not as long.  So I went to the course with confidence in the Red TR.

 

Of course, being a good WRX'er, I will order a Blue TR 5R to test in on course conditions, especially since straight driving is a prerequisite where I play.

I must say, the Ventus TR Red 5R is the nicest thing to happen to my golf equipment in years.  I am now playing it in an old 910 D2 12* head, and hitting it a little higher and straighter than when it was in the TSR2 11* head (tuned to 12.5*).  Maybe I needed a little more spin from the old 910 D2.

[CactusGolf]

1 hour ago, gvogel said:

I must say, the Ventus TR Red 5R is the nicest thing to happen to my golf equipment in years.  I am now playing it in an old 910 D2 12* head, and hitting it a little higher and straighter than when it was in the TSR2 11* head (tuned to 12.5*).  Maybe I needed a little more spin from the old 910 D2.

The Ventus TR Red has been a game changer for me.  Driving distance has averaged a minimum of 10 yards higher and offline strikes don't go remotely as far offline as they used to.

[Mookie91]

On 9/1/2023 at 12:15 PM, EagleGSU said:

Axioms secured 👍

 

 

What are your impressions of the 105S.  I’m debating 105 S vs X

[hammergolf]

On 10/3/2023 at 12:40 PM, CactusGolf said:

The Ventus TR Red has been a game changer for me.  Driving distance has averaged a minimum of 10 yards higher and offline strikes don't go remotely as far offline as they used to.

I was actually going to post an update. I’ve had the same experience. I’ve picked up at least 10yds since switching to the TR Blue. I’ve always driven it pretty straight, so can’t say if I’m hitting more fairways, but definitely not hitting less. As discussed before, there is much less curve on shots. It’s been a great change for me as well.

I’ve had the same results with my fwy woods and hybrid. Don’t know how or why, but the ball just curves less with these than previous shafts I’ve tried. 

[EagleGSU]

5 hours ago, Mookie91 said:

What are your impressions of the 105S.  I’m debating 105 S vs X

I wish I could give more feedback. I haven't been playing much with them recently so I can't tell yet to give a great review. My ball striking went to crap, and I switched back to my more forgiving Apex DCBs for the past couple months. Ball striking is feeling a bit more consistent now, and going to switch back to the Mizunos here soon, because I just love the feel of them. And the shafts do feel really nice, and feel a lot more effortless to swing. But you gotta be on point with your striking or you get a lot bigger mishits compared to the Apex. But that has more to do with the head versus the shaft. I'll report back when I give them more testing.

 

 

[gvogel]

3 hours ago, hammergolf said:

I was actually going to post an update. I’ve had the same experience. I’ve picked up at least 10yds since switching to the TR Blue. I’ve always driven it pretty straight, so can’t say if I’m hitting more fairways, but definitely not hitting less. As discussed before, there is much less curve on shots. It’s been a great change for me as well.

I’ve had the same results with my fwy woods and hybrid. Don’t know how or why, but the ball just curves less with these than previous shafts I’ve tried. 

I'm using a Ventus TR Red 5R and I am back to driving the ball in the fairway after suffering the driver yips. I have it on a Titlesit 910 D2 12* head, which is just great for this 70 year old with a swing speed of 80+.  

 

The shaft is great for my swing.  I am going to pick up a TSR1 driver 12* and try it that way.  I have a TSR2 11* head and adjusted to B4, and that works as well, maybe longer than the 12* 910 D2, but not as accurate.

 

It is great fun for me to try different heads and shaft set ups with the Ventus TR Red 5R.

 

I suppose I could try the non TR - Ventus Red with the TSR2 11* head to see how that would work.  If only I had unlimited funds.

 

Happy in late October to find a combination with which I have confidence.

 

[eric61]

As the golf season reaches its end here in the Chicago area, just jumping in here to talk more about how much I love my AXIOM 105X iron shafts. 

 

Lots of irons are being released this fall, and I've done a couple fittings. I did a Titleist fitting, where they fitted me into T150s with X100s. And I did one at a local golf club -- I have a bunch of Callaway credit and am thinking about using it to build a back-up set to leave at my in-laws' place; they fitted me into the new Apex Pros with DG 115 Mid X100s. (One interesting common denominator: I always seem to be fitted up a flex from what my swing speed would seem to suggest would be ideal for me. At 87ish mph on a good day with 7 iron, I'd think I'd be in stiff ... but X-stiff always wins out.) 

 

However, nothing has beaten out my i230s with AXIOM 105X. Dispersion, height, spin -- the numbers are just better with that set-up than with anything else I've tried. 

 

I've also tried other graphite iron shafts in the 105-ish weight category -- Recoil Dart 105 F4 and MMT 105S and 105TX. I'd say the AXIOM has a more stable handle and more of a kick in the mid-section vs. the Dart, which feels to me like it has a softer handle but maybe tightens up in the middle ... almost like blue vs. white profiles comparing these two. The MMT in both flexes felt a bit closer to AXIOM but less stable throughout. 

 

I really love that Fujikura built these shafts with a low enough balance point that builders can get to heavier swing weights. My set is D4 up to D6-ish in the wedges, and it's worked perfectly. 

 

The driver shaft has been good, but I haven't seen the kind of improvement that others have talked about. I sometimes feel like I'm fighting it. This offseason, I want to spend some time seeing if I can really dial in something that has a soft mid-section like the TR Blue, but where I feel that softness a bit more lower-mid than upper-mid. The Speeder NX is at the top of my list, given the potential it seemed to have to add some speed when I tested it before.

[CactusGolf]

20 hours ago, hammergolf said:

I was actually going to post an update. I’ve had the same experience. I’ve picked up at least 10yds since switching to the TR Blue. I’ve always driven it pretty straight, so can’t say if I’m hitting more fairways, but definitely not hitting less. As discussed before, there is much less curve on shots. It’s been a great change for me as well.

I’ve had the same results with my fwy woods and hybrid. Don’t know how or why, but the ball just curves less with these than previous shafts I’ve tried. 

Not even a question.  The amount of straight balls that I've played since June is impressive.  Took a while to adjust, but I've been very happy with them.  

 

And the combination of a Paradym Triple Diamond fairway and TR Red has been such a saver.  Average distance has ticked up a few yards to 266 to just over 273.
 

The only thing I'd like to add is figure out the shaft for my hybrid.  I don't like the stock shaft that came in the Paradym, so I really was thinking about doing another Axiom 105S.

[hammergolf]

3 minutes ago, CactusGolf said:

Not even a question.  The amount of straight balls that I've played since June is impressive.  Took a while to adjust, but I've been very happy with them.  

 

And the combination of a Paradym Triple Diamond fairway and TR Red has been such a saver.  Average distance has ticked up a few yards to 266 to just over 273.
 

The only thing I'd like to add is figure out the shaft for my hybrid.  I don't like the stock shaft that came in the Paradym, so I really was thinking about doing another Axiom 105S.

I put a Ventus Blue HB in my hybrid and have been really pleased with it. 

[CactusGolf]

1 minute ago, hammergolf said:

I put a Ventus Blue HB in my hybrid and have been really pleased with it. 

I'm debating between that and the Axiom.  

 

I also switched balls based on that ball fitting app to the Tour BX and its been a huge difference maker too.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, CactusGolf said:

I'm debating between that and the Axiom.  

 

I also switched balls based on that ball fitting app to the Tour BX and its been a huge difference maker too.

I think @Puppetmaster put an Axiom in his Cobra hybrid. I agree on the BX, it’s been my ball for the last year or so. 

[gvogel]

5 hours ago, eric61 said:

As the golf season reaches its end here in the Chicago area, just jumping in here to talk more about how much I love my AXIOM 105X iron shafts. 

 

Lots of irons are being released this fall, and I've done a couple fittings. I did a Titleist fitting, where they fitted me into T150s with X100s. And I did one at a local golf club -- I have a bunch of Callaway credit and am thinking about using it to build a back-up set to leave at my in-laws' place; they fitted me into the new Apex Pros with DG 115 Mid X100s. (One interesting common denominator: I always seem to be fitted up a flex from what my swing speed would seem to suggest would be ideal for me. At 87ish mph on a good day with 7 iron, I'd think I'd be in stiff ... but X-stiff always wins out.) 

 

However, nothing has beaten out my i230s with AXIOM 105X. Dispersion, height, spin -- the numbers are just better with that set-up than with anything else I've tried. 

 

I've also tried other graphite iron shafts in the 105-ish weight category -- Recoil Dart 105 F4 and MMT 105S and 105TX. I'd say the AXIOM has a more stable handle and more of a kick in the mid-section vs. the Dart, which feels to me like it has a softer handle but maybe tightens up in the middle ... almost like blue vs. white profiles comparing these two. The MMT in both flexes felt a bit closer to AXIOM but less stable throughout. 

 

I really love that Fujikura built these shafts with a low enough balance point that builders can get to heavier swing weights. My set is D4 up to D6-ish in the wedges, and it's worked perfectly. 

 

The driver shaft has been good, but I haven't seen the kind of improvement that others have talked about. I sometimes feel like I'm fighting it. This offseason, I want to spend some time seeing if I can really dial in something that has a soft mid-section like the TR Blue, but where I feel that softness a bit more lower-mid than upper-mid. The Speeder NX is at the top of my list, given the potential it seemed to have to add some speed when I tested it before.

Would a Ventus Red offer that feeling of softness a bit lower?

[eric61]

1 minute ago, gvogel said:

Would a Ventus Red offer that feeling of softness a bit lower?

I tried the TR Red in my fitting at Fujikura, and found it went too far the other direction -- too stiff in the handle; I couldn't really feel anything. The standard Red might be worth trying for me, though. 

 

Others in this neighborhood I've had some success with before are the Speeder NX in limited testing, as well as the Graphite Design Tour AD HD and VR and the Diamana TB. So, blue profiles seem to suit me best, historically. I love the VR in Ping heads because it has a just slightly higher balance point, which pairs well with Ping's heavier heads.

[hammergolf]

Just wanted to give an update after 4 months since changing to Ventus shafts in my woods and Axiom shafts in my irons. It’s definitely been a big improvement in my game. I’ve went from a 4.2 index to a 2.7 and still trending down given my last two rounds. There are two major improvements that have brought about this change. 
As I stated earlier, since switching the Ventus TR Blue 5R I’ve picked up around 12 - 15yds of carry over my former shaft. Not a brag, but I’ve always driven it pretty good, but I certainly am not hitting less fairways. In fact I would say I’m hitting more fwys. So the added distance hasn’t come at the cost of accuracy. Another thing that really stands out to me is how much less shots curve since I switched to Ventus. Before I was playing a 10 - 15yd draw as my stock shot. Now the ball rarely curves more than 5yds. Another interesting thing is I can actually hit a small fade when needed. Couldn’t do that with my other setup. The extra yardage is obviously letting me hit one club less into the green now.
The second performance improvement has been in my iron game. When I made the switch I was excited what the Axioms gave me during the fitting. While the distance gains haven’t been to the level of the driver, I am carrying each iron about 5-7yds further. However, the biggest improvement has been dispersion and trajectory. Like the driver, I curve the ball less with the Axioms. I’m so much more consistent with my irons now, which was the weakest part of my game. I’m not a big stats guy, but I’m definitely hitting 1-3 more greens a round AND I’m hitting more shots closer and making more birdies. 
Well done @Fujikura Golf! Thank you for making my game better.

[eric61]

My golf season has reached its end. It's cold and rainy here outside Chicago, and we have a newborn ... which means a lot less time on my hands. But I did play a few rounds since my last update, and get a range session and a one-hour Trackman session in within the last few days, so I wanted to post an update. 

 

AXIOM VS. OTHER GRAPHITE IRON SHAFTS: I have a bunch of Callaway credit and wanted to experiment, so I had some new Apex Pro irons built up: a 5 and 8 iron with Recoil Dart 105 F4, and a 5 and 8 with Mitsubishi MMT 105 TX. I'm playing i230s, but in demoing the Apex Pros, I found them to be in at least the same neighborhood in terms of launch, forgiveness, spin and just overall profile. Not exactly the same, but close enough that a comparison wouldn't be meaningless. 

 

Honestly, my AXIOM 105X shafts blew them away. I've raved before about how the profile of the AXIOMs seems to just be a really great fit for me, and that's a big part of why they won out. My dispersion was just significantly better with them when I did my head-to-head testing. (I somehow botched emailing myself the Trackman reports, so I don't have as much data as I'd like.) 

 

-- Axiom 105X vs. MMT 105 TX: The MMT is a noticeably softer feel, and I found it wanting to go right on me (reminder, I'm a lefty). I'd say the MMT is softer throughout the entire shaft. Kind of a "blueboard" feel. The AXIOM does have some liveliness, but to me it feels more concentrated in the mid-section, and it's an overall more stable shaft. Launch and spin were comparable.

 

-- Axiom 105X vs. Recoil Dart 105 F4: The F4 is the "stiff" Dart, but to me it felt more stout than the MMT in the TX flex. If the MMT feels like a "blueboard" driver shaft, the Dart is a "whiteboard." More feel in the handle, but more stout throughout the mid-section and tip, and lower launching for me. I did like the Recoil Dart, and if I was building a full set of Callaway irons with no-upcharge graphite shafts, I think these are what I'd go with. However, my dispersion was once again clearly better with the Axioms. The Axioms also launched about a degree higher and spun a touch more. 

 

I did give up on my 4 iron this year, because I just needed more height there to separate it more from my 5 iron -- went with an iCrossover at 23.5 degrees and flat with a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 95X, and it's suited me really well in that spot.

 

But 5 through UW, I'm definitely moving into 2024 sticking with the i230s with AXIOM 105X. I've tried lots of other stuff out there -- the Cobra King Tours came closest; the T100s, T150s, T200s, T350s; the new Apex lineup; the JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro and Forged; the Srixon lineup -- and nothing other than the Cobras really made me strongly consider a change. Even if I switched heads, the AXIOMs would stay. The D4 swing weight has also worked really well for me; I feel like I'm aware of the club head and fully in control compared to lighter swing weights I've played in the past. 

 

DRIVER CHANGE: Driver had been a real strength in my game, until the midway point of this year -- honestly around the time we all went to Carlsbad for this trip. I was working with a coach recently and he pointed something out: I had gotten really open with my driver set-up. Feet pointing into right-center field and shoulders tilted toward first base. I'd been fighting the club head to compensate for poor alignment. Fixing that has made a huge improvement in my accuracy lately ... just in time for the golf season to end, of course! Ugh. 

 

Along with that fix, I've really been getting along well with the Ventus TR Blue 6X lately. I did make a change, though: The G430 LST is on the bench, and I'm using a TSR3 8 degree head now. 

 

I have two Ventus TR Blues -- you all might remember the issue where FedEx lost my shafts, Fujikura sent replacements, and then weeks later FedEx found them and delivered them. I sent the duplicate set of AXIOMs back but Fujikura let me keep the Ventuses, since my name is on both of them. I put a Titleist tip on one and kept the Ping tip on the other. 

 

The biggest improvement is my start line. The G430 LST is super forgiving, but it just wants to go STRAIGHT. The TSR3, maybe because of the toe fall or the lighter weight or 1/4" longer shaft or who knows, starts left for me, which allows me to play my draw without worrying too much. Having the confidence in my alignment and my start direction is the only real reason I can think of to explain this: I was swinging around 105-106 mph on Trackman, up from my very low 100s most of the year. And my dispersion on Trackman matched what I've seen on the course: better accuracy. 

 

I'm a GolfWRX sicko, so I'm definitely going to try the G430 Max 10K when it comes out and try to dial in the ultimate fairway finding driver. I just can't help myself. But for now, this set-up is working well for me. 

 

I've added one more Fujikura shaft to the bag -- a Ventus Blue 8S in a Ping G430 3 hybrid. Loving that set-up, too. It's good for 215-220 carry for me. I play it instead of my 7W on windy days -- flight's about 20 feet lower peak height, but I can still stop it if I land it on the front of a green. 

 

That's all for now!

 

[hammergolf]

4 hours ago, eric61 said:

My golf season has reached its end. It's cold and rainy here outside Chicago, and we have a newborn ... which means a lot less time on my hands. But I did play a few rounds since my last update, and get a range session and a one-hour Trackman session in within the last few days, so I wanted to post an update. 

 

AXIOM VS. OTHER GRAPHITE IRON SHAFTS: I have a bunch of Callaway credit and wanted to experiment, so I had some new Apex Pro irons built up: a 5 and 8 iron with Recoil Dart 105 F4, and a 5 and 8 with Mitsubishi MMT 105 TX. I'm playing i230s, but in demoing the Apex Pros, I found them to be in at least the same neighborhood in terms of launch, forgiveness, spin and just overall profile. Not exactly the same, but close enough that a comparison wouldn't be meaningless. 

 

Honestly, my AXIOM 105X shafts blew them away. I've raved before about how the profile of the AXIOMs seems to just be a really great fit for me, and that's a big part of why they won out. My dispersion was just significantly better with them when I did my head-to-head testing. (I somehow botched emailing myself the Trackman reports, so I don't have as much data as I'd like.) 

 

-- Axiom 105X vs. MMT 105 TX: The MMT is a noticeably softer feel, and I found it wanting to go right on me (reminder, I'm a lefty). I'd say the MMT is softer throughout the entire shaft. Kind of a "blueboard" feel. The AXIOM does have some liveliness, but to me it feels more concentrated in the mid-section, and it's an overall more stable shaft. Launch and spin were comparable.

 

-- Axiom 105X vs. Recoil Dart 105 F4: The F4 is the "stiff" Dart, but to me it felt more stout than the MMT in the TX flex. If the MMT feels like a "blueboard" driver shaft, the Dart is a "whiteboard." More feel in the handle, but more stout throughout the mid-section and tip, and lower launching for me. I did like the Recoil Dart, and if I was building a full set of Callaway irons with no-upcharge graphite shafts, I think these are what I'd go with. However, my dispersion was once again clearly better with the Axioms. The Axioms also launched about a degree higher and spun a touch more. 

 

I did give up on my 4 iron this year, because I just needed more height there to separate it more from my 5 iron -- went with an iCrossover at 23.5 degrees and flat with a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 95X, and it's suited me really well in that spot.

 

But 5 through UW, I'm definitely moving into 2024 sticking with the i230s with AXIOM 105X. I've tried lots of other stuff out there -- the Cobra King Tours came closest; the T100s, T150s, T200s, T350s; the new Apex lineup; the JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro and Forged; the Srixon lineup -- and nothing other than the Cobras really made me strongly consider a change. Even if I switched heads, the AXIOMs would stay. The D4 swing weight has also worked really well for me; I feel like I'm aware of the club head and fully in control compared to lighter swing weights I've played in the past. 

 

DRIVER CHANGE: Driver had been a real strength in my game, until the midway point of this year -- honestly around the time we all went to Carlsbad for this trip. I was working with a coach recently and he pointed something out: I had gotten really open with my driver set-up. Feet pointing into right-center field and shoulders tilted toward first base. I'd been fighting the club head to compensate for poor alignment. Fixing that has made a huge improvement in my accuracy lately ... just in time for the golf season to end, of course! Ugh. 

 

Along with that fix, I've really been getting along well with the Ventus TR Blue 6X lately. I did make a change, though: The G430 LST is on the bench, and I'm using a TSR3 8 degree head now. 

 

I have two Ventus TR Blues -- you all might remember the issue where FedEx lost my shafts, Fujikura sent replacements, and then weeks later FedEx found them and delivered them. I sent the duplicate set of AXIOMs back but Fujikura let me keep the Ventuses, since my name is on both of them. I put a Titleist tip on one and kept the Ping tip on the other. 

 

The biggest improvement is my start line. The G430 LST is super forgiving, but it just wants to go STRAIGHT. The TSR3, maybe because of the toe fall or the lighter weight or 1/4" longer shaft or who knows, starts left for me, which allows me to play my draw without worrying too much. Having the confidence in my alignment and my start direction is the only real reason I can think of to explain this: I was swinging around 105-106 mph on Trackman, up from my very low 100s most of the year. And my dispersion on Trackman matched what I've seen on the course: better accuracy. 

 

I'm a GolfWRX sicko, so I'm definitely going to try the G430 Max 10K when it comes out and try to dial in the ultimate fairway finding driver. I just can't help myself. But for now, this set-up is working well for me. 

 

I've added one more Fujikura shaft to the bag -- a Ventus Blue 8S in a Ping G430 3 hybrid. Loving that set-up, too. It's good for 215-220 carry for me. I play it instead of my 7W on windy days -- flight's about 20 feet lower peak height, but I can still stop it if I land it on the front of a green. 

 

That's all for now!

 

Good stuff!

[ob1soccer]

where do i get an axiom 105s to demo?