Equipment
Aldila X-Torsion Black and Green Mamba shafts
Is the next new driver shaft craze on the way from Aldila?
Aldila’s new X-Torsion Black Mamba and X-Torsion Green Mamba shafts have a new design and use a “MAMBA” (Multi-Axial Material Bias Angle) material that’s designed for extremely low torque and spin — lower than any other shaft in the company’s stable, according to John Oldenburg, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Aldila. And PGA Tour players are already taking notice.
At the 2016 RSM Classic, George McNeil and Charles Howell III used the Black Mamba shafts (designed for very low spin and launch), while Anirbahn Lahiri, Lucas Glover and Tad Ridings used Green Mambas (designed with a slightly softer tip, but still low spin and torque).
For many golfers with fast swing speeds, it’s beneficial to have a golf shaft that reduces twisting through impact, according to Oldenburg, because it allows the shaft to “recover” faster. Less torque and more torsional stability allows stronger golfers to “go at the ball” without worrying about the ball ballooning or spinning too much. Therefore, the goal, especially for Tour players with high swing speeds, is to design a shaft that has very high torsional stability. And Aldila’s new Mamba shafts have the highest torsional stability currently available from the company.
Both the X-Torsion Black Mamba and X-Torsion Green Mamba shafts use what Aldila calls a “flat-weave” construction in its tip section (the bottom part of the shaft), which is where the majority of shaft twisting occurs during a golf swing. The construction method weaves together individual fibers that are positioned in opposing 45-degree angles in an over-under structure that creates a thin, strong and highly consistent woven graphite fabric.
Aldila says its woven technology is superior because it’s used on both the interior and exterior of the shaft, which enhances stability. Most weaves are placed on the interior of the shaft to protect the weaves from abrasion, but Aldila’s unique “lay-up and sanding process” protect the integrity of its flat weave, allowing it to be used on the outside of the shaft as well.
The flat-weave construction is also novel because of it spreads and flattens the graphite fibers used to create the shaft, allowing them to be thinner and thus improving the precision of the weave. Those graphite fibers are also are stronger than typical graphite weave materials. They use intermediate modulus materials that measure 44 MSI, according to Aldila, 33 percent stiffer than 33 MSI fibers typically used. That further enhances stability.
So how does Aldila show off all that technology in a shaft named Mamba? A snake-skin-esque exterior, of course. See what GolfWRX members are saying about the shafts in our forums.
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- Michael S. Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 8 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 95 X (3), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (52-12F), SM10 (56-14F), WedgeWorks Proto (60-L)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300
Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.
Putter: L.A.B. Link.1
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 1.0P 17
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.
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TaylorMade is leaning in even further to the retro vibes with the 2024 edition of its BRNR Mini Driver.
Patterned after the Carlsbad-based company’s iconic late 1990s Burner driver design, the 2024 BRNR Mini features similar copper styling and a retro version of the TaylorMade logo.
Featuring the same technology as its 2023 BRNR Mini Driver, the 2024 edition continues to play the hits that saw the unique club land in the bag of tour pros, such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp.
- Check out details on the technology in our 2023 BRNR launch story.
- See more in-hand photos and read what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
Why play a mini driver?
In general, TaylorMade finds two types of golfers gravitate toward a mini driver. In the first case, it’s an addition to a standard driver: Players looking for a “fairway finder” driver without giving up too much distance that can also be hit off the deck. Second, TaylorMade recommends giving a mini a go to golfers who struggle to hit 460 cc drivers, particularly choppers. It’s a better alternative than a 3-wood off the tee.
Tommy Fleetwood’s endorsement of playing a mini driver
“For me, if I HAD to hit a fairway, I’m more comfortable hitting a driver than a 3-wood. I would tee the driver down, and I would hit a little cut, or a neck-y cut in the fairway. The 3-wood isn’t for that. The 3-wood, generally, is a pretty hot club that I’ll hit from 270 or 280 in the fairway on a par 5. You get some courses where a 3-wood is not always necessary. [With the BRNR] you put a normal swing on it, and I’m more comfortable hitting it straight. It’s a replacement for a 3-wood, basically.”
Pricing, specs, availability
TaylorMade’s new BRNR Mini Driver Copper clubs will sell for $449.99 in 11.5 (RH/LH) and 13.5 (RH) degree options, and they will be available for custom orders.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/5/24): I think I ‘Blacked Out’ trying to love these irons
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 set of blacked out P770 irons
From the seller: (@hammertime1515): “Just one single iron set up for grabs today. Got these right before they quote selling them at the end of February. Only played 3 full rounds with them and a couple short range sessions. 7 iron shows the most wear and 8 iron has a sandy mark on the toe (ball striking out of winter wasn’t the strong suit) Just not right for me no matter how much I wanted them to be. Price is shipped and OBO……
P770 Black Out irons. 4-PW. —New Tour Velvet Align Midsize Grips —1/2” over TM standard —2 degrees upright —Standard Lofts —Dynamic Gold 105 X100 shafts —PW has never been hit, most of them have been hit sparingly. Tried to capture the wear on the 7 iron and the toe mark on the 8 iron the best I could. Soles have virtually no scratching from use and no bag chatter. -If more pics are needed just ask ——PRICE: $1000 OBO” & Shipped
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Blacked out P770 irons
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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Matt K
Dec 15, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Is this the Rogue M-ax rebranded? A lot of the commenters hated the graphics and name for the M-AX. This is undoubtedly better, wonder if the profile/material is the same though.
Mat
Dec 13, 2016 at 5:18 am
X-torsion. Most accurately named shaft in the history of golf equipment. 🙂
Dave R
Dec 12, 2016 at 1:53 pm
One guy peed, someone’s noodle is to soft and so is his butt and he hopeing for a stiff shaft. What type of forem are we on here? The Anti guy is right get some rebar and go play.
Rd
Dec 13, 2016 at 3:16 am
And you’re so excited, you can’t type nor spell
KK
Dec 11, 2016 at 8:23 pm
I peed a little just looking at the pics
Snope
Dec 11, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Just make them feel as solid as the RIP Alpha and Beta, I’ll take 10 each
Teaj
Dec 11, 2016 at 2:12 pm
I wonder if this is going to transition into an iron and hybrid/driving iron shaft line? Has anyone seen the specs for these bad boys? or even just weights?
Matt
Dec 11, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Again I hope that the shaft isn’t soft in the mid section or the butt. There are a lot of low spin shafts that feel like noodles
LaBraeGolfer
Dec 11, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Unfortunately, a shaft has to have a soft point in the bend profile.
The Anti-Smiz
Dec 11, 2016 at 1:33 pm
you guys should just go swing some literal re-bar with your super-fast-in-an-internet-forum swing speeds.
Port
Dec 11, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Love it!
Matt
Dec 12, 2016 at 6:54 pm
Soft is a relative term. I find the Tour AD to be soft, the non-TS Fuji Motore, the 70g version of the White/Blue felt soft to me. I prefer the V2, Protopype, F7M2 Ltd, etc.