Equipment

Snedeker switches to a 45-gram driver shaft

Published

11 years ago

Sep 12, 2013

Brandt Snedeker doesn’t change equipment often, but when he does decide to switch he’s not scared to play something unconventional.

Snedeker already plays one of the lightest iron shafts on the PGA Tour, AeroTech’s SteelFiber i95, which weigh 95 grams. This week, he’s using one of the lightest driver shafts on the PGA Tour, a UST Mamiya ProForce VTS 4X shaft that weighs 45 grams (Click here to see the other clubs in Snedeker’s bag).

According to Danny Le, marketing manager for UST, Snedeker first used the shaft in Rounds 3 and 4 of the Deutsche Bank Championship. He was looking for a shaft in the 55-gram range to put in his TaylorMade SLDR, but he gained a little extra ball speed and consistency with the 45-gram model.

Most PGA Tour players opt for shafts that are made with low torque, which means they have a high resistance to twisting as a golfer unloads the club in the downswing. Many equipment experts believe the resistance to twisting can provide increased accuracy off the tee, especially for golfers with quick transitions. But Snedeker’s shaft has more than 5 degrees of torque, which is on the high-end of the range for Tour players.

Graham DeLaet’s 65-gram UST Mamiya ProForce VTS shaft has 5 degrees of torque, slightly less than Snedeker’s driver shaft.

And Snedeker isn’t the only golfer on Tour who has seen improved accuracy from a high-torque shaft. Graham DeLaet, who is No. 1 on the PGA Tour in Total Driving (a combination of driving distance and accuracy), uses the highest-torque model of UST’s ProForce VTS 6X driver shaft.

The point? Just because low-torque shafts are touted as the best shafts for high swing-speed golfers doesn’t mean they always are. Go get fit and see what shaft is right for you.

[button color=”black” link=”http://www.golfwrx.com/76769/brandt-snedeker-witb/”]Brandt Snedeker WITB[/button]

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Related Topics:shafts UST

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10 Comments

Josh

Sep 26, 2013 at 9:39 am

Love this play by sneds!!!! I have the cobra long tom with grafalloy blackbird shaft, originally comes in 48″. I have it tipped and then cut down to be 45″ so the orginal 50g shaft is now down around 45g. It feels so stable and have tons of control over it. Never thought a light weight shaft could perform this way but I am now a believer.

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Eric

Sep 19, 2013 at 3:13 am

I believe it is a UST Tour SPX Black shaft.

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BenDover

Sep 16, 2013 at 12:27 pm

More evidence that torque is overrated.

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- bill
  
  Sep 16, 2013 at 8:35 pm
  
  R1 black cut to 44.5 with stock 55g X, and lovin’ life off the tee. I added a dab of lead tap around the neck just above the ferrule to recover some feel, and I’m off and runnin’. The days of 72s, 45 and umpteen 1/4 length shafts are OVER!!
  
  Reply Report comment
Peyton

Sep 16, 2013 at 9:28 am

Oh wow

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John

Sep 12, 2013 at 10:12 pm

Callaway (I believe?) did a test with different torque shafts and found no difference in accuracy or spin/launch between high torque and low torque. They said it just alters the feel of the shaft, which translates into slightly different swings/deliveries with golfers, and ultimately different launch conditions.

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George P.

Sep 12, 2013 at 7:57 pm

I’m going to have to try the 45gram UST Mamiya VTS. Sounds awesome!

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naflack

Sep 12, 2013 at 7:51 pm

Good to see that if these shafts can handle those guys they can also handle me…

Reply Report comment
- Cannon
  
  Sep 16, 2013 at 10:29 pm
  
  Not like these guys swing any faster than guys on this forum. They just have the consistamcy and complete game that most don’t come close to.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - John
    
    Sep 25, 2013 at 11:38 am
    
    These guys do not swing faster than a lot of people on this forum. However, these guys do generate much more club head speed and swing speed than MOST of the guys on this forum. That is the reason many of these professional players use a low torque shaft because of the speed they are generating. Someone can swing as hard as they can and only generate 85 swing speed. Its not about how hard you swing, it is about how much swing speed you generate, which has a lot to do with the lower body.
    
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Whats in the Bag

Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB: 2024 PGA Championship

Published

2 hours ago

May 19, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees @10.1) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 70 TX (45.5 inches)

3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees @14.4) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 80 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Xander Schauffele’s clubs in the forums.

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees @19.7) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-10) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-10)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-10S @57) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-K @61) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Check out more in-hand photos of Xander Schauffele’s clubs in the forums.

Putter: Odyssey Toulon Design Las Vegas Prototype 7CH Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour

Check out more in-hand photos of Xander Schauffele’s clubs in the forums.

The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

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Whats in the Bag

Xander Schauffele WITB 2024 (May)

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Xander Schauffele what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees @10.1)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 70 TX (45.5 inches)

3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 80 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Xander Schauffele’s clubs in the forums.

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX

Irons: Mizuno MP-20 (3), Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-10)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid X100 (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-10)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-10S @57), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-K @61)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100