Equipment
UST Golf Shaft’s 2008 Preview
Based in the heart of the DFW Metroplex, United Sports Technologies has quickly become a force in the golf industry. For 2008, they continue to improve and refine their line of high performance golf shafts.
UST made its first big splash with the original Proforce shaft which became very popular for its combination of control and solid feel. UST built on this legacy with the introduction of the Proforce V2 three years ago, which quickly became one golf’s most popular shafts. The flexible tip section of the V2 combined with low torque gave the shaft the high launch angle many players desired without sacrificing control or feel. It also paired very well with a wide variety of heads and has become a staple offering in woods among most OEMs. For 2008, UST is building on the legacy of the Proforce brand, introducing the new HMOI, and V2 iron shafts, along with not-yet-introduced-tour-only AXIVCore shafts which have just been spotted out on the PGA Tour.
The new trend in golf clubs today is MOI. Heads are being engineered with maximum forgiveness in mind and weight is being pushed further back and to the perimeter of the club head to accomplish this. According to Jamie Pipes UST’s Manager of Field Research and Product Testing, this has began causing unique design challenges for shaft manufacturers, "The CG of the heads are moving further from the shaft’s axis or center line. This can cause the shaft to load, lag and/or droop differently. We strive to make shafts that compliment the heads and perform at the highest levels of consistency."
The Proforce HMOI has been designed to work in concert with the new breed of high MOI heads. As MOI has increased, so has head weight with many drivers tipping the scales at 205 grams or more. The HMOI has a higher balance point helping to produce a more playable swing weight. The increased head weight also causes greater shaft droop at impact. In order to prevent this, the HMOI has been designed with a more stable tip section which prevents droop and allows players to swing aggresively through the ball.
UST has just introduced a new prototype called the Proforce AXIVCore, an extension of the HMOI. The shaft should fit the gap providing a higher launch than the V2 but still lower than the V2 High Launch series. According to Mr. Pipes, "AXIVCore line will be UST’s highest launching, low spinning shaft to date. The AXIV Technology weaves carbon fiber in four critical directions to provide what we call Rapid Shaft Recovery for consistency and feel and the counter-balanced technology provides the flex profile for high launch, low spin."
Although the Proforce AXIVCore is still a prototype, it has already been in play on the PGA Tour. Rod Pampling put it in the bag the first time he tested it at the WGC Match Play event. Although the initial reactions have been very positive, UST plans to bring a tip-stiff version for testing to Tour as well as to suit players who prefer the a tip-balanced shaft over a counter-balanced one.
Photo: Matt York AP
UST has also introduced new Proforce V2 iron shafts. The 95-gram constant weight shafts will provide consistency throughout the set for better ball flight control and feel. The middle weight is a good compromise for players who want to switch from steel but still want some heft in their iron shafts.
However UST is still actively pursuing R&D in the field of graphite iron shafts. "Possibly lighter and heavier models in the V2 irons. Even better, possibly a whole new line of iron shafts? We believe that graphite iron shafts have a huge potential," according to Mr. Pipes.
Last but not least, UST is also introducing a training aid called the Easy Flex Tempo Trainer. Available for both woods and irons, the Easy Flex is a super flexible shaft designed to help golfers maintain a smooth tempo throughout the swing and square the club face without being overly handsy.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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UST V2 HL
Jun 11, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I play college golf and i have an english handicap of +1, i recently bought a G10 driver with the UST V2 HL shaft, and i have to say i have gained 40yards carry on this driver over my old one. The feel is unbelieveable from this shaft. Also you get a lot of roll from this shaft which increases the distance even more. Everyone should try one! Awesome!
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