Extra Stiff Blue profile vs. Stiff Black/White profile

[sirphilliam]

hello,

 

I swing the driver around 102-105mph cruising speed on the course. On the range I can swing the driver up to 106-108mph, but thats with max effort. I've been a bit curious what type of shaft I would best fit in. I definitely feel like I'm in between profiles and or stiff/XS, which makes it a bit confusing so seeking some advice. 

 

I was gaming a Ventus 6S blue velo+ and I was getting high ballflights with my tsr4 9.0 and avg distances of 260-280 total, but would get occasional left misses (pull hooks) every round. This shaft feels very active to me (in a good way), but I didn't like the occasional miss with it every round. 

 

I switched over to a Tour AD VF 6S and this shaft was very straight for me. Dispersion wise, it was either a small fade, straight, or a minimal straight pull. In hand the shaft feels much more stout, but during the swing it still feels active. I could tell I was losing a little distance compared to the Ventus blue+ 6s, but still very good height and distance. 

 

I also tried a Diamana GT 60s and this was all over the place for me. It felt very loose to me, and I was hitting hitting high cuts with this shaft. I couldn't seem to time it even after a few swings. 

 

I also tried a Diamana WB 53x at my local fitting store and this legit felt like rebar to me. The results were decent, but I don't think I was swinging fast enough to feel the shaft. 

My question, is a blue profile extra stiff stiffer than a black/white profile in stiff? Would I fit better into extra stiff blue versus a stiff black/white? Extra stiff in white/black profile seems to be too much for me to handle. 

 

Thanks! 

 

[Urb]

Since there are no standards for flex, hard to answer.

 

I am a S/X tweener as well but it has more to do with how I create speed with my shorter back swing.  I play the Tensei 1k blue 55x.  The 55s is way too loose.  I like the Tensei blue as it has some handle/mid stiffness to put up with my transition.  

 

However, put me in a Hzrdus green, and I'm an S.  I can swing the X but it's work.  Same with RDX black.

 

The left miss on your VB+ is potentially due to softness in the butt.  You could try the TR or maybe a Tensei or Kai'li blue in X.  They might have a little more stiffness in the handle.  

[rsballer10]

1 hour ago, sirphilliam said:

My question, is a blue profile extra stiff stiffer than a black/white profile in stiff? Would I fit better into extra stiff blue versus a stiff black/white? Extra stiff in white/black profile seems to be too much for me to handle. 

There's a million different factors at play that make this question impossible to answer. The variables you've tested:

• manufacturer
• flex
• weight
• profile

that's essentially every variable for shaft fitting 😀

 

1 hour ago, sirphilliam said:

I was getting high ballflights with my tsr4 9.0 and avg distances of 260-280 total, but would get occasional left misses (pull hooks) every round.

IMO no shaft can prevent a pull hook, or push slice. Big misses = swing fault. Shaft profile/stiffness = fine tuning.

1 hour ago, sirphilliam said:

I also tried a Diamana GT 60s and this was all over the place for me. It felt very loose to me, and I was hitting hitting high cuts with this shaft. I couldn't seem to time it even after a few swings.

I'd say steer clear of this one. Shaft = timing device, if you feel your timing off move on.

1 hour ago, sirphilliam said:

I also tried a Diamana WB 53x at my local fitting store and this legit felt like rebar to me. The results were decent, but I don't think I was swinging fast enough to feel the shaft.

it could be weight, flex, or profile that's leading to the loss in feel. 

 

My suggestion is if you really want the answer - find a good fitter, or at least someone willing to let you test a bunch of different shafts. If not:

• find the weight you prefer. shaft weight >> shaft flex in terms of importance.
• test different shafts within that weight class
• pick a shaft that has the most consistency in impact location
• make sure you are OK with the feel of said shaft
• fit driver head/loft/CG location to change ball flight - not the shaft.

the biggest issue I have with all the shaft questions in the tech forums is that people are majoring in the minors, and expecting shafts to do things that they simply cannot do.

[phizzy30]

One thing I noticed is that you seem to do better with shafts that have a stiff mid and tip with a softer handle.  Shafts that are opposite with a softer tip and stiff mid/tip don't seem to work.  Flex is part of it as well, however as @rsballer10stated, one OEM's X maybe another ones S.  Weight is definitely a significant factor as well.       

[sirphilliam]

10 hours ago, rsballer10 said:

IMO no shaft can prevent a pull hook, or push slice. Big misses = swing fault. Shaft profile/stiffness = fine tuning.

12 hours ago, sirphilliam said:

I went to the range and took the Tour AD VF and Diamana GT with me and saw how my swing responded to them in real time. Tried the VF first and hit about 10 shots that I'd be very happy with on the course. I throw in the Diamana GT 60s and it's an instant high cut. Only after trying to adjust my swing did it became a more playable high cut. I quickly switched back to the VF and its back to business. I know that it's my own swing faults that produce the ball flight with xyz shaft, but the differences back to back were a surprise to me. I'm currently a 3.3 hcp. 

Edited May 8 by sirphilliam

[phizzy30]

24 minutes ago, sirphilliam said:

I went to the range and took the Tour AD VF and Diamana GT with me and saw how my swing responded to them in real time. Tried the VF first and hit about 10 shots that I'd be very happy with on the course. I throw in the Diamana GT 60s and it's an instant high cut. Only after trying to adjust my swing did it became a more playable high cut. I quickly switched back to the VF and its back to business. I know that it's my own swing faults that produce the ball flight with xyz shaft, but the differences back to back were a surprise to me. I'm currently a 3.3 hcp. 

You know it's funny you say that because I have the VF in driver and GT in 3 metal.  Totally different EI profiles but it just works.  I normally get along with DG profile/whiteboard but can also make blue board profiles work BUT, only if it's stable enough and doesn't kick like a mule.  

[noodle3872]

VF and GT are very different bend profiles and balance points. I suspect the higher balance point of GT in conjunction with the super stiff handle section with quite firm mid and tip is what’s causing your swing block fade. As others have said, the soft handle is likely the key to your success with VF. 

[SnowbirdTom]

17 hours ago, Urb said:

Since there are no standards for flex, hard to answer.

 

I am a S/X tweener as well but it has more to do with how I create speed with my shorter back swing.  I play the Tensei 1k blue 55x.  The 55s is way too loose.  I like the Tensei blue as it has some handle/mid stiffness to put up with my transition.  

 

However, put me in a Hzrdus green, and I'm an S.  I can swing the X but it's work.  Same with RDX black.

 

The left miss on your VB+ is potentially due to softness in the butt.  You could try the TR or maybe a Tensei or Kai'li blue in X.  They might have a little more stiffness in the handle.  

 

I'm with @Urb  I hover at 100 +/- mph swing speed also and am playing the Tensei Blue CK Xflex 60g in my metals across the bag. I tried their stiffs, but control wasn't as good. Best thing I can suggest is try them at a fitting and see how they work for you.  We're all different in various stages of the swing. 

[Ty_Guy]

I am in the exact same boat as you with similar conclusions. 105 swing speed.

 

A blueboard profile like AD DI or diamana, I go X flex. A firmer profile, I will go S flex. Though, this has been getting tossed on its head lately. I've played a decent amount of LA Golf and Ventus shafts. They both feel much stiffer, and no matter the profile, I prefer these two brands in S flex. Diamana WB & Kaili White, though, give me X flex all day. I'm even looking at a R flex in LA Golf's shaft. LA Golf runs stiffer than the norm already. Add that in with the very firm butt and mid sections and that makes for a stout shaft. I think since Ventus will go a little softer in the mid section, I prefer their S flex.

 

For stock options, a Hzrdus Gen 4 Silver S was too active for me. Tensei Av Blue worked in S a bit better, but I would like to try it in X or the 1k Blue in S.

[benz5521]

I’ve debated the same too. Started playing again recently and when I was fit I was swinging 100-105 in to a tensei 1k black stiff. But now I swing more like 110+. The tensei black doesn’t feel stiff but I want to try a Ventus Blue X or something like that in it.