Shaft Comparisons (Question for someone out of the game)

[Antnee94]

To make a long story short, I took a 3 year hiatus from the game. Came back last year and realized I lost my swing speed and outgrew my old clubs from 10 years ago. I bordered on Stiff/X-Flex in shafts. I was playing in my Driver, FW, and Hybrids: Diamana D+, Speeder 661, Fujikura Rombax Type S, and Matrix Ozik Red Ties.

 

Now, I was just fitted into the Tensei AV Blue, with XLink at 55 grams (Titleist TSR2) in a driver. By the way, I also played my driver back in the day at 44 1/2 inches and now was told and recommended by my golf pro and fitter to play the 45 1/2 inch standard to help with my loss of swing speed. Talk about a blow to my ego. LOL!!!

 

My kick point has gone from mid-high, to mid. My spin is now mid, and seems like the weight is down 10 grams across the board (D, FW, Hybrid).

 

I don't want to get rid of my 3 & 5 woods, which are TM RBZ's (3) and Tour Edge Exotic Beta (5), one with a Red Tie and the other with the Rombax Type S (both mid 70 gram shafts).

In my Hybrid, I had the White Board (D+ HY92). 

 

In the fitting, I hit a few woods and I'm looking for a new shaft on the discount level (ebay or sideline swap).

Do I just match it to my Tensei Driver Shaft in the FW and Hybrid (Blue)? Is there something similar that I can look at like the HZDRUS 4G Silver or other brand.

 

Once I got better, I stopped buying and looking at clubs because I was so happy with everything I got back in 2012-2014. I could fit myself back in the day. But now I'm relearning all the specs and product. I also don't have the time like I did, so that's why I'm reaching out. 

 

Anyway, that's my story. Let me know if anyone has any recommendations for me.  

Thank you in advance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Crafty Lefty]

Luckily, dropping 10g of weight and moving to a shaft design in which you have a firm butt, softer mid-section, and firm tip should give you plenty of options.

 

If you are looking to stay on the less expensive side of things, you can actually stick with Mitsubishi pretty easily in the weight classes you need, and you don't even need to go the Ebay route.

 

For the woods, the Diamana S+ has the classic Blueboard profile in the mid-60s weight you are looking for.  I tried it in an inexpensive 3 wood experiment and liked it so much that it stayed in the bag for a few years.

https://www.golfworks.com/mitsubishi-rayon-diamana-s-graphite-wood-shaft/p/mr0034/

 

In the hybrid, the TENSEI CK is a really inexpensive option that comes in right at 80g with very similar characteristics to your driver shaft.

https://www.golfworks.com/mitsubishi-tensei-blue-graphite-hybrid-shafts/p/mr0077/

 

Both are pretty inexpensive options that you won't feel bad about replacing if in a few months you wind up adding some speed back as you get back into the swing of things.  Heck, they may even hold up even if your swing speeds up a bit.

 

[Pepperturbo]

15 hours ago, Antnee94 said:

Now, I was just fitted into the Tensei AV Blue, with XLink at 55 grams (Titleist TSR2) in a driver. By the way, I also played my driver back in the day at 44 1/2 inches and now was told and recommended by my golf pro and fitter to play the 45 1/2 inch standard to help with my loss of swing speed. Talk about a blow to my ego. LOL!!!

I hear ya.

 

This is the only thing I would take issue with a fitter; going to 45.5.  That, IMO and experience, is easier said than done.  Most people, including me, would incur an increase in dispersion at that length.

 

I choke down on Driver as well as other clubs, thus the additional length which allegedly adds distance, ends up being similar to gripping 44.75 Driver at the end.  There may be a few extra yards, but guessing, the added dispersion is not worth it to me.

 

I have 44.75, and 44.5 driver shafts, and others at 45.  The one I use is 44.75; it's only 245+ carry but near zero dispersion.

[mikes919]

I'm in a similar boat, got fitted for everything back in 2012-2014. DGS300 irons. A tip-stiff, low/low Black Tie 6m3 in driver. Coming back to the game more seriously now, I'm going Modus 105S in irons, trying out Kai'li Blue 50S in driver. Seems like it's not just an age thing, there is more of a trend towards lighter equipment nowadays. So don't feel too bad 😆

 

I would tend to agree that you should try and match the flex profile of your driver in your woods. In my (limited) experience coming back and demoing as much as possible, any of the Mitsubishi "blue" variants would probably be a good enough match. Dallas Golf offers the Diamana S+ (blueboard), cut to length with grip/tip installed for a good price. https://www.dallasgolf.com/mitsubishi-diamana-s-plus-limited-60-stiff-graphite-shaft-adapter-grip/

 

For the hybrid, personally I tend to swing a hybrid more like an iron than a wood, so I try to match my iron profile a little more closely. But everyone's different.

 

Also, I'll echo the comments about increasing length being a potentially risky move. My old driver plays at 44.5" and I don't think I would consider going longer than 45". I can't find the middle of the face when the driver gets too long.

Edited May 1, 2024 by mikes919

[Antnee94]

4 hours ago, mikes919 said:

My old driver plays at 44.5" and I don't think I would consider going longer than 45". I can't find the middle of the face when the driver gets too long.

I'm reluctant, but I can always cut it down if I cant. I kept my 915 & M1 just in case. I found a Blue Board with the M1 tip. Guy on ebay said he played it at 44 3/4. So, I can always compare those. 

 

7 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

This is the only thing I would take issue with a fitter; going to 45.5.  That, IMO and experience, is easier said than done.  Most people, including me, would incur an increase in dispersion at that length.

 

Trust me, I hear you. I've been seeing my old pro, taking lessons again, trying to get my draw back. LOL That's a post for another thread.

He was handing me off the rack clubs that played 45 1/2 and on the trackman, I was more accurate. Mainly because the shaft was more of a fit for me now. It's the only reason I'm willing to try it. 

[Antnee94]

Does anyone know if the XLink Tech in the Mitsubishi shafts make that much of a difference?

[Pepperturbo]

29 minutes ago, Antnee94 said:

Trust me, I hear you. I've been seeing my old pro, taking lessons again, trying to get my draw back. LOL That's a post for another thread.

He was handing me off the rack clubs that played 45 1/2 and on the trackman, I was more accurate. Mainly because the shaft was more of a fit for me now. It's the only reason I'm willing to try it. 

I suggest you take one or more of the longer rack clubs to the course and see what happens.  If you have the resources, buy an inexpensive shaft and have it setup to 45.5, allow yourself some time with it, that will be the tell.

 

IMO, trackman inside can easily mislead people into thinking what happens there is going to happen during play.  We hear it rather often where someone was fit into "x or y shaft", they're all excited, only a few months later things change.   

 

I am a big proponent of Mitsubishi shafts; I have many.  In regard to your XLink question; I first encountered it though Titleist in their Tensei AV Blue shaft.  I have two Tensei shafts, one with that tech, didn't notice anything special.  At first, I recall it marketed as technology that helps straighten out trajectories.  They've since changed direction.  I think it's only in 1K Pro White, now.

Edited May 2, 2024 by Pepperturbo

[Antnee94]

4 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

IMO, trackman inside can easily mislead people into thinking what happens there is going to happen during play.  We hear it rather often where someone was fit into "x or y shaft", they're all excited, only a few months later things change. 

 

Been there done that. I already bought the Titleist TSR D2 with the Tensi AV Blue 55 w/XLink tech. That will play 45 1/2 inches. 

I'm retiring the 915 D2 w/Speeder 661 and I also have an M1 with the same Speeder 661.

I have multiple set ups for the 915 D2, Aldila RIP Alpha, Fujikura Rombax Type S, Fubuki Alpha, Diamana D+, and Matriz Ozik Black Tie. All if them played 44 1/2 or 3/4. 

 

When I got fitted many years ago into the Adams Speedline Fast LS I was off the chart on the simulator I was professionally fit in. I got that think out on the course and I couldn't keep it on the planet. Two way miss. It was horrible. That's how I ended up with I believe the 913 D2 with the RIP Alpha. Eventually traded that in for the 915 D2. I still regret that, but the 915 was a good club for me. Fairway finder. Not as long. Then I bought the limited edition M1 (the year DJ won the US Open at Oakmont). And that was a beast for me! Distance and FW finder. The 915 went into the back up bag.