Equipment
The 8 hottest driver shafts of 2018 on the PGA Tour
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
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- Kuchar’s Fuji Atmos Tour Spec shaft
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
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- Jordan Spieth’s driver shaft
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)
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Paul
Aug 19, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Doesn’t seem to matter what shaft Woods uses. He still can’t hit a fairway.
ogo
Aug 22, 2018 at 12:01 am
I predict he will soon be playing a Seven Dreamer autoclave cured graphite shaft because all oven cured shafts are too soggy and floppy in the tip section causing Tiger driving problems.
Kanko
Jul 29, 2018 at 9:24 am
Notice ZERO Seven Dreamers shafts lol where’s that Seven Dreamers idiot? Hopefully got BANNED
walterg
Aug 5, 2018 at 5:30 pm
WRX moderators doing their utmost to delete any comments that disturb the gearheaded neanerthals that love their WITB gonadal symbols of manliness.
Diamondback Billiards
Jul 28, 2018 at 11:01 am
These golf equipment is the best but it is still up to the player who knows his talent in being top golfer.
Jack House
Jul 28, 2018 at 1:15 am
Whats the best shaft for an regular player… 80 MPH swing speed…. tough to fit between Regular and Senior flex//
joro
Jul 28, 2018 at 11:23 am
Give the Mitsubishi Tensei Blue in reg. That is what I use at 79, it is a soft R and a very good accurate shaft.
Leftshot
Jul 28, 2018 at 12:12 am
What a disappointment. The subject line of the email I got from Golf WRX was: ” The 8 Hottest Driver Shafts of 2018″. To then find out this was just an incident count of the top 50 pro golfers was a real letdown. Most of us couldn’t find a golfer more dissimilar to us than the top pro golfers. Thus the obvious reaction: Who cares? Maybe 1% of us have a swing similar enough to the top 50 professionals.
Donald
Jul 27, 2018 at 8:54 pm
I only buy and play tour proven equipment because I can afford the best. Stiff shafts are the best. I bag PXGs too.
Matt
Aug 7, 2018 at 12:31 pm
Congratulations.
Doug lamb
Jul 27, 2018 at 1:19 pm
Exactly!!
Shaft Shack
Jul 27, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Demo these great shafts and more at ShaftShack.com!
Funkaholic
Jul 27, 2018 at 11:06 am
I am still gaming my Diamana ‘Ahina 70 x5ct x in my driver 3w and 19* rescue, I have yet to find a reason to change.
Travis
Jul 27, 2018 at 7:03 am
The Tour AD-IZ has more usage that what was listed above. Last I checked Keegan Bradley was using it and he’s been at the top of ballstriking and total driving categories for a good while.
Eric
Jul 26, 2018 at 9:18 pm
I would love to see this with fairway woods. I am not sure you could narrow it down but it may be even more diverse.
phil
Jul 27, 2018 at 1:17 am
I would love to see that too. I love my fairway woods. I love my hybrids too.
Harv
Jul 26, 2018 at 7:31 pm
These are super expensive shafts… to pay off the pros to use them….
~j~
Jul 26, 2018 at 10:37 pm
eBay. Get’m for less than $100
jgpl001
Jul 27, 2018 at 6:11 pm
A T1100 for $100 you wish…..
millennial82
Jul 26, 2018 at 5:58 pm
saw Tiger using the tensei white.. got it.. love it.. now he changed to orange and whites not even on the this list… kind of hurts my heart…
millennial82
Jul 26, 2018 at 5:59 pm
great post by the way GOLFWRX. Thank you!
Aaron
Jul 27, 2018 at 11:50 pm
Lamest reason to ever buy any shaft. Use what fits you.
PushFade
Jul 26, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Not bigger money than they’d earn from winning a tournament. Winning tournaments = bigger endorsements deals. Your statement is not only untrue, your premise is flawed.
Francis
Jul 26, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Doesn’t Rory use the Tensei Orange as well?
Curt
Jul 26, 2018 at 6:11 pm
Yes he was and I thought I saw he switched for the British.
Francis
Jul 26, 2018 at 5:14 pm
…Okay, Donald
jc
Jul 26, 2018 at 4:33 pm
I sure don’t know a shaft that starts out even lower than my standard ping shaft…I want something that takes off like a patriot missle going after a scud.
Michael Baker
Jul 26, 2018 at 4:26 pm
GREAT article – SUPER comprehensive and interesting….
Not sure about DJ in the HZRDUS black though. He used it recently but I believe he’s back in Fujikura Speeder DJ this week?