Equipment
Graphite Design’s new Tour AD F-Series fairway wood shafts
One of the most difficult shots in golf is the 3-wood “off the deck.” No matter what your level of play, it can be difficult at times to hit a fairway wood high enough and consistently enough to make it a reliable weapon on the course
With this in mind, Graphite Design has created a new line of Tour AD F-Series fairway wood shafts ($300 each) that can help golfers improve their fairway wood play. The shafts have a mid-spin design, and their construction includes a stiff butt section that’s paired with a medium-stiff mid section and a softer tip section. The soft tip will help golfers create more launch and spin at impact — meaning more forgiveness for many — while the medium-stiff mid section and stiffer butt end will help stabilize the shaft throughout the swing.
The shafts have a similar look to Graphite Design’s recently launched Tour AD-TP shafts, with the same black-gold-and-white color schemes. Like the Tour AD-TP shafts, the Tour AD F-Series fairway wood shafts are made in Japan using high-modulus, premium-aerospace carbon fiber. The Tour AD F-Series uses 40-ton carbon fiber, however, instead of the 50-ton that’s used in the Tour AD TP shafts. According to Bill McPherson, VP of Sales at Pro Choice Golf Shafts, the different material results in slightly higher torque, which is necessary to help golfers create optimal height when hitting fairway woods from the turf, and may help the golfer make better contact.
When deciding on a fairway wood shafts to your driver shaft, McPherson recommends that golfers choose a model that’s heavier than their driver shaft by roughly 10 grams. So if you’re playing a 65-gram driver shaft, a 75-gram fairway wood shaft will likely create the best results.
Graphite Design’s new Tour AD F-Series shafts will become available through authorized Graphite Design dealers on June 1, and are currently available for pre-order.
Specs
Since the F-Series shafts are intended only for use in fairway woods, the stock lengths are 44 inches, two inches shorter than its driver-specific shafts.
- LIKE66
- LEGIT6
- WOW7
- LOL2
- IDHT3
- FLOP2
- OB2
- SHANK11
- Callum McNeill what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Mizuno ST-X 230 (9.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7 X
5-wood: Mizuno ST-G (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi (3), Mizuno Pro 243 (5, 6), Mizuno Pro 241 (7-9)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 95 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (5-9)
Wedges: Mizuno T24 (46, 50-08S, 56-10D, 60-06X)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0 17
Grips: Spada
Check out more photos of Callum McNeill’s equipment here.
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
- Jimmy Stanger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya LIN-Q Red M40X 6F5
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya LIN-Q
7-wood: Titleist TSR2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya LIN-Q Blue M40X 8F5
Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: UST Mamiya LIN-Q White M40X 100 (3), KBS $-Taper 125 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-08F, 56-10S, 60-04T), WedgeWorks (60-A)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat II, Scotty Cameron Tour Rat II
Grips: Lamkin Crossline Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Jimmy Stanger’s equipment here.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Project X let us into the world of HandCrafted shafts with the 2015 HZRDUS Black shaft, which was a big success on professional tours and at retail. Almost 10 years later, we still come across some of those original HZRDUS Black and Yellow shafts in bags on the PGA Tour.
The HandCrafted label on a Project X shaft was the mark of high-end, low-volume manufacturing where the shaft was hand rolled in the company’s San Diego R&D lab. Since then, Project X retired that label and moved on to the “Small Batch” nomenclature. Many golf shaft degenerates have begged for Project X to bring back the HandCrafted shafts, and now, the squeaky wheels are getting the grease with a brand new Project X HZRDUS T1100 HandCrafted shaft.
“We are beyond excited to be able to bring back a HandCrafted line of graphite shafts,” Don Brown, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation for Project X said. “When producing a HandCrafted shaft, each shaft is rolled by hand, painted by hand and the logos are even applied by hand, all in our San Diego lab, ensuring the utmost care is taken along the way.”
The newest HandCrafted shaft is a reintroduction of the famed HZRDUS T1100 from 2017 (View our original launch story HERE). The chrome ion finished HZRDUS T1100 was beloved by higher-speed players for its ultra-stiff profile with very low launch and spin. Toray T1100G carbon fiber was at the heart of the shaft and the strongest fiber available for Project X to create an ultra-stable shaft for the fastest swingers in golf.
The new 2024 Project X HZRDUS T1100 HandCrafted shaft will be low launch and low spin with a very stiff profile for the fastest swingers. 4D Optimized Carbon utilizes a spread tow weave that is used in specific parts of the shaft to enhance stability and control. This spread tow woven fabric is angled at 45 degrees through to increase torsional resistance in the shaft to control the twisting of the head during the swing. Each HZRDUS T1100 HandCrafted shaft is rolled in Project X’s San Diego Lab, like the original, and trimmed to final frequency to ensure consistent performance and precision.
Project X went with a graphics package that will pay homage to the original shaft with a HZRDUS logo done in silver with bright neon green outline in the middle of the shaft and the HandCrafted logo just below the grip. The shaft will have a silver sheen to it, but you will also be able to see the spread tow carbon fiber through the paint in the sun.
The new HZRDUS T1100 HandCrafted will be available in 60- and 70-gram weights with 6.0 (stiff) and 6.5 (X-stiff) flexes while the 80-gram model will only be available in the 6.5 flex.
We don’t have a retail date yet for these new HZRDUS shafts, as Project X can only create so many per day. The first ones have been sent to tour — we spotted them at this week’s Valero Texas Open. We will keep you updated on an official launch date.
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE7
- LEGIT3
- WOW2
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
The Wedge Guy: Golf mastery begins with your wedge game
Tour pro calls Anthony Kim a ‘f*****g idiot’ following Instagram comeback post
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Anthony Kim WITB 2024 (February)
This Rory McIlroy post-round ‘The Match’ moment is going viral…but all is likely not what it seems
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Anthony Kim’s speculated LIV Golf sign-on fee may surprise you
The total sum that Sergio Garcia needs to pay in fines if he wants to return to DP World Tour revealed
Callum McNeill WITB 2024 (April)
Callum McNeill what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here....
Jimmy Stanger WITB 2024 (April)
Jimmy Stanger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
David Lipsky WITB 2024 (April)
David Lipsky what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Ben Taylor WITB 2024 (April)
Ben Taylor what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
-
19th Hole1 week agoJohn Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
-
19th Hole2 days agoThings got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
-
19th Hole1 week agoCharlie Woods finds it tough going on American Junior Golf Association debut
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoEdoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
-
Equipment3 weeks agoBest driver 2024: The best driver for you, as recommend by expert club fitters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoScottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoJon Rahm dealt fresh blow to hopes of qualifying for 2025 Ryder Cup
Kenneth Boucher
May 19, 2017 at 8:11 am
$300 for a fairway wood shaft? It may be the difference between hitting the ball solidly or the big old slice. You need a good quality shaft if you wish to play well. Once you hit the Graphite design Tour AD models you will understand. Also the correct shaft for the swing you own.
Brian
May 21, 2017 at 6:17 pm
A $300 fairway wood shaft is no different from most of the stock offerings or at least a $100 upcharge. Coming from someone with a graphite design shaft(AD-TP) yes I like the feel more but I get the same numbers with a Fujikura 74 tour spec
Joey5Picks
May 18, 2017 at 3:43 pm
$300 for a fairway wood shaft? That money could be spent on a series of lessons that will go much further toward lower your scores.