Driver shafts, especially in professional golf, are very similar to putters. As with changing putters to make more putts, golfers change out driver shafts semi-regularly looking for more distance or more fairways, but preferably both. And much like with putters, when another player switches to a new driver shaft and finds success, other golfers take notice. Every year it seems there is a “hot” driver shaft that players gravitate toward; in recent years, the Aldila Rogue comes to mind.

We wanted to figure out what the “hot” driver shaft is of 2018. To do so, we investigated the top-50 golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings as of July 25 to figure out what driver shaft they were using. Below are the results.

Note: To qualify for the “hottest shafts” of 2018, the exact shaft model must have been used by more than one golfer in the top-50 of the OWGR. Order was determined by number of top-50 players using the shaft, and ties were broken by combined ranking of players using that shaft.

8) Fujikura Atmos Black Tour Spec

Shaft is used by: Matt Kuchar (No. 26 in the OWGR) and Daniel Berger (No. 40)

Fujikura says: “The Atmos Tour Spec line is geared towards the performance golfer looking to keep the ball flighted down with low spin… Atmos is a true tour flighted line of shafts with a simple color coding – red as the higher launching, blue as mid launch, black as the lowest launch – similarities include keeping the handle flexes the same for feel, but adjusting mid and tip sections for launch and spin to achieve your desired ball flight.”

Read GolfWRX member reviews of the Atmos Tour Spec shafts here

7) Graphite Design Tour AD-BB

Shaft is used by: Xander Schauffele (No. 18) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (No. 39)

Graphite Design says: “The Tour AD BB ‘Blue Bullet’ wood shaft model is designed to promote a low/mid launch angle and lower ball spin. The Tour AD BB design features an increase in stiffness from the tip to the mid-section resulting in a higher kick point for lower launch angles.”

Learn more about the Graphite Design Tour AD-BB shaft here

6) Aldila NV 2KXV Green

Shaft is used by: Rickie Fowler (No. 9) and Kevin Kisner (No. 25)

Aldila says: “Aldila has created NexGen Micro Laminate Technology – new, even thinner high performance carbon fibers combined with today’s advanced fiber resin technology…. The 2KNV provides for even better feel and performance. Available in the Green design for those seeking a lower ball flight, the Blue design for those seeking a mid ball flight, and the Orange design for those seeking a higher ball flight.”

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Aldila NV 2KXV Green shaft

5) Project X HZRDUS Black

Shaft is used by: Dustin Johnson (No. 1) — although he’s been switching off and on between a Project X HZRDUS Black and a Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution 2.0 Tour Spec — and Rafael Cabrera Bello (No. 29)

Project X says: “The shaft features increased stiffness along the full length of the golf shaft, which allows golfers to put more power behind the ball. HZRDUS Black is a low spinning and low launching shaft that is available in models for both woods and hybrids.”

Read more about DJ’s Project X HZRDUS here

4) Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ

Shaft is used by: Jordan Spieth (No. 8) and Webb Simpson (No. 21)

Graphite Design says: “The new Tour AD IZ shaft has a firm stiffness starting at the handle, and medium center section and a firm+ tip profile to promote a high launch angle and low ball spin rates. The new Tour AD IZ also utilizes Torayca T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with Nanoalloy technology in the tip section of the shaft for additional shaft stability, exceptional feel and precise ball control.”

Read more about the Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ shaft here

3) Mitsubishi Kuro Kage

Shaft is used by: Rory McIlroy (No. 7) and Tommy Fleetwood (No. 11)

Mitsubishi says: “This series of shafts feature two key technologies: Low Resin Content pre-preg and Titanium Nickel (TiNi) Wire. After first using TiNi Wire in our ultra-light products, we wanted to see how it would perform in heavier, tour-weighted shafts. Kuro Kage fiber plus wire equals power.”

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Kuro Kage here

2) Project X HZRDUS T1100 

Shaft is used by: Henrik Stenson (No. 17), Phil Mickelson (No. 22) and Charl Schwartzel (No. 48)

Project X says: “The new HZRDUS T1100 is the lowest spinning and lowest launching shaft in the HZRDUS family. HZRDUS T1100 uses T1100G fiber, the strongest fiber available, to build a shaft with an extra stiff tip section that is also counter-balanced. With a bend profile that is stiff throughout, HZRDUS T1100 is the ultimate spin killer for the game’s most aggressive tempo players.”

GolfWRX Members review the Project X T1100 here

1) Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange

Shaft is used by: Justin Rose (No. 2), Alex Noren (No. 12), Sergio Garcia (No. 20), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (No. 31), Ian Poulter (No. 32), Charley Hoffman (No. 34), Haotong Li (No. 42) and Tiger Woods (No. 50)

Mitsubishi says: “Tensei CK Pro Orange expands the Tensei CK Series – which features a multi-material design that incorporates more performance-oriented materials than we’ve ever used in a shaft. This first of its kind bend profile for MCA Golf uses a counter-balanced design along with an extreme tip-stiff design to provided added versatility for the stronger player. The Tensei CK Pro Orange incorporates the same Carbon Fiber/DuPont Kevlar (CK) weave found in the butt-section of all Tensei CK shafts – providing enhanced stability and maximum feel in this highly versatile design. This series also incorporates High Modulus, premium 40-Ton hybrid pre-preg infused with tungsten powder in targeted positions throughout the shaft. A tip-section reinforced with MR70 – Mitsubishi Chemical’s strongest carbon fiber to date, delivers lower torque, and delivers tour preferred control and stability.”

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Tensei Orange shaft in our forums

Other driver shafts used by the top-50 golfers in the OWGR

• Accra Concept Series (Brian Harman)
• Accra Tour Zx 465 M5 (Tony Finau)
• Accra Proto (Pat Perez)
• Accra Tour-Z RPG (Gary Woodland)
• Aldila Rogue Silver 130 (Kevin Chappell)
• Aldila Rogue (Patrick Reed)
• Alidila Tour Green (Jon Rahm)
• Fujikura SIX (Branden Grace)
• Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution (Kyle Stanley)
• Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution IV (Marc Leishman)
• Grafalloy Bi-Matrix (Bubba Watson)
• Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8TX (Hideki Matsuyama)
• Graphite Design Tour AD Quattro Tech (Satoshi Kodaira)
• Graphite Design Tour AD-GP (Kevin Na)
• Mitsubishi Diamana D+ (Brooks Koepka
• Mitsubishi Diamana White D+ (Luke List)
• Mitsubishi Diamana BF (Justin Thomas)
• Mitsubishi Diamana Blue (Zach Johnson)
• Mitsubishi Diamana White LEX D+ (Paul Casey)
• Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S-Series (Patrick Cantlay)
• Mitsubishi Fubuki K (Tyrrell Hatton)
• Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue (Ross Fisher)
• Project X Even Flow (Louis Oosthuizen)
• Project X HZRDUS Smoke (Bryson DeChambeau)
• TPT (Jason Day)
• UST Mamiya Elements Chrome Prototype (Cameron Smith)