Hybrid Shaft Fitting/Comparisons

[Cameaux]

I have a couple Ping G440 hybrids that are solid performers, but it feels like I don’t get along very well with the Tour Chrome 85s shaft they came with. It is what I hit in their fitting, but they honestly didn’t have any options other than a limited number of their stock options. I’m curious for those playing hybrids (and maybe specifically with the Tour Chrome shaft), have you switched to other options to pick up some extra launch?

 

I play Ventus Red VC 7S in three metal l, and love the feel and high launch. I’ve also played AD-DI 85s hybrid in a driving iron. With Fujikura offering Ventus Red HB now, has anyone compared it with AD-DI and/or Ping’s Tour Chrome with an eye towards increasing launch in a hybrid? Also open to any other shaft options/recommendations folks have found to increase launch in that 80-90g weight range. 
 

I wish there were places closer to me to actually try some options out, but it seems like it’s so hard to find places to test options for the space in the bag between three wood and longest iron.

[Ty_Guy]

Hybrid shafts are an odd beast but generally much simpler than they seem.

 

In order, I would try:

Tensei 1k Pro

AD DI

Ventus Red

Ventus Blue

 

My first recommendation for hybrid shafts is always to profile match the player's irons or what ever "similar" club shaft that has a feel you can connect. In your case, the Tensei 1k Pro would be where I would look. After those, and if you are more connected with you woods' shaft feeling, the Ventus wouldn't hurt to try. Ventus Red will be closer to your other shafts. Blue is the outlier with stiffness more biased to the tip.

 

The Tensei, AD DI, and Ventus Red all have similar profiles to your other clubs with the exception of your driver shaft's Ventus Blue. So, I'm assuming you feel a different swing with driver and the stiffer tip relationship is unique to your driver swing. All your other clubs have stiffer handle relationships. You've already tried variations of the above shafts, especially the AD DI. You are familiar with the feel of those. The 1k Pro's blueboard-type decending stiffness will jive very well between your 5i and 5w setups.

 

Ultimately, look to your favorite club, and compare that with how you feel when you swing your hybrid. Match what is most comfortable.

Edited July 28 by Ty_Guy

[Cameaux]

@Ty_Guy Thanks a ton for the thorough and thoughtful response.  

 

It is interesting that you bring up the difference between my driver shaft and the general profiles of the rest of my bag.  I've played that driver shaft since Ventus was first released.  It's been far and away the most constant piece of equipment outside of my putter, and I have been pretty comfortable with how it plays on the course.  However in connection with some swing changes, I'm going through a real funk with the driver right now that has me questioning whether it is a good match at the moment, particularly in light of the fact (as you mentioned) that it is such a different profile from the shafts I've fit into throughout the rest of my bag.  

 

I have really enjoyed the Project X IO's that I was fit into last winter.  It sounds like your recommendation of the Tensei 1k Pro would be something with a similar feel to my iron shafts to continue down through the hybrids.  I've actually been testing 4h and 2h vs. DI and 5w setup for those spots between 5i and 3w, and the two hybrid setup was a pretty convincing winner.  Thinking I will give the 1k Pro a shot to try and carry that feel from my irons down to 3w.

[phizzy30]

I've tested the Velo+ black/blue/red HB and the AD DI-HY.  I didn't get along with the DI-HY as it kept going left on me.  I found the same with the DI.  Based upon your post, I would recommend the  Velo+ red HB since you have the OG red in 3 metal and like it.  You know how it feels and performs so it would only make sense to transition it to hybrid, IMO.  However, the Velo+ red HB is smoother and feels a touch more linear than the OG red, so keep that in mind.   

[Cameaux]

@phizzy30 Appreciate the insight on the Velo+ HB family.  I likewise tested a DI-HY a year or so ago and dumped that after a couple of range sessions.  It was such a bad match I was struggling to ever center one with it.  

 

I'm honestly considering splitting the baby on this and trying the Tensei 1K Pro in the 4H to try and maintain some iron feel and trying the Velo+ Red HB in the 2H to be more of a wood feel.  I guess that could be a crazy approach, but the two clubs definitely serve different roles in the bag for me.