Equipment
Matrix TPHDe shafts
Matrix’s new TPHDe shafts use the latest materials in a new construction that can improve ball speed, feel and stability, according to the company.
Like its predecessor, Matrix’s TPHD shaft, the TPHEe uses exotic materials such as Zylon, Boron and Gmat to stabilize the shaft without increasing weight or making the shaft feel stiffer.
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In Matrix’s TPHD, the HD section, or 16-sided hexadecagonal internal platform, was located in the upper portion of the shaft. In the TPHDe, Matrix extended the HD section down the body of the shaft. According to Chris Nolan, Matrix’s executive vice president for global operations, that allowed the company to make improvements to the shaft’s design that were not possible with the TPHD.
“In car terms, we’re trying to make sure the chassis is as stiff as possible,” Nolan said. “By extending the HD section, we’re able to increase stability without losing feel.”
The exotic materials and the construction of those materials, however, come at a cost. With a $1200 MSRP, the TPHDe is one of the priciest shafts on the market.
“We’re dealing with different raw materials that have different properties, and it’s a very technical process to get those materials to stay together,” Nolan said.
The TPHDe shafts offer a mid-launch, mid-spin trajectory and are available in weights of 50 grams, 60 grams and 70 grams in eight different flexes ranging from lady to XX-stiff.
They have a balance point that is about 0.5 inches higher (toward the butt section) than the TPHD, which allows golfers to retain traditional swing weights with today’s heavier club heads or build the driver to a longer finished length to increased club head speed.
Matrix’s TPHDe shafts will ship to retailers later this month.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
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Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
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xboxkilla
Jul 22, 2014 at 2:50 am
If you really want a $1200 shaft, but for way less than these guys are charging- go with a Penley shaft. They sell them on their site and the designer can be contacted almost anytime to answer questions-
check out the ET2 on there-
http://www.penleysports.com/products/penley-et2-shaft/
TheLegend
Apr 20, 2014 at 5:28 pm
lol nice trying to save this guy zak. He should never talk again. But you did a good job trying to find out what these shaft actually do better. But he had no real answer.
Zak Kozuchowski
Apr 20, 2014 at 7:43 pm
Guys,
I think you’re being a little hard on Chris. It was an impromptu interview about a very complex shaft. He’s an extremely kind, knowledgeable guy, and the fitters I speak to on a regular basis praise Matrix’s products as some of the best at creating a little extra ball speed.
Shaft companies spend a lot of time trying to explain their products to the masses, but the only real way to know how each will affect your performance is to find a custom fitter who stocks a lot of shafts and hit them for yourself. Most good club fitters will work within their customer’s budget, giving them several options at different price points. The TPHDe is certainly not for everyone, both in its cost and profile, but fitters such as Modern Golf in Toronto sell quite of few of them. To each is own.
brad
Apr 17, 2014 at 7:19 am
In his defense, it is quite difficult to push the tech boundary…these things are pricey in the beginning, but as it takes hold and materials and processes become more common, we’ll see similar shafts at “reasonable” prices. Remember, none of our wives or girlfriends understands why the thousand dollar irons we play are any better than the irons she saw at Target. If it were anyone but Matrix, I would call BS, but they’ve never let me down. Now we wait…
west
Apr 17, 2014 at 2:40 pm
Umm it’s not the price that I’m surprised by. Yes, the materials and processes used to make this shaft actually justify its cost. This shaft is like the Lamborghini of golf shafts, and while not everyone can afford an exotic or needs the performance of an exotic, it’s the people with excess cash who can justify the self indigence, no questions asked. What shocks the hell out of me is this “executive’s” piss-poor ability to market his company’s product. If I didn’t already know all the tech about golf shafts, and was just an average Joe golfer in the market, after seeing this interview I would not have any confidence in the TPHDe line or Matrix as a company. Just surprises me how unprepared this guy was to pitch his product…
west
Apr 17, 2014 at 4:04 am
This guy is the VP of operations? Seriously??
R
Apr 17, 2014 at 12:19 am
Gotta say I wasn’t impressed with this guys interview. Zak had to come in at the end and kind of bring some positivity back to it.
Nick
Apr 16, 2014 at 7:16 pm
For $1200 Im taking another golf vacation instead.
Petercybulski
Apr 16, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Well said
Petercybulski
Apr 16, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Gonna put those bad boys in my woods and irons!!!
Xreb
Apr 16, 2014 at 4:39 pm
You can see the guy struggling to explain the price point of the shaft, although I give him credit for keeping the BS to a minimum !