Equipment
Mitsubishi Rayon’s new Diamana BF-Series shafts
In 2005, Mitsubishi Rayon Composites introduced a mid-launching shaft that became one of the most popular shafts in history. Officially it was known as the Diamana S-Series, but golfers around the world came to know it as the “Blue Board.”
Diamana classics kept coming from MRC — the company later popularized a D-Series, or “White Board” shaft that offered a lower trajectory, as well as an M-Series, or “Red Board” shaft that offered a higher trajectory. Eleven years and many generations later, however, the Blue Board, with its mid trajectory and smooth bend profile, continues to be the company’s most popular model.
This fall, Mitsubishi Rayon has launched the fourth generation of its most premium Diamana Blue Board profile, which it’s calling the BF-Series. The new shaft is designed to replace the company’s third-generation (B-Series) Diamana Blue Board shafts.
Like the B-Series shafts, the new BF-Series shafts use Dialead Pitch Fiber in the butt section of the shaft, which is stronger than carbon fiber. It’s said to provide stability during the loading and unloading process in the transition of the swing, improving energy transfer.
For stability and strength in its tip section, MRC has introduced a new hybrid prepreg that’s never been used before. The hybrid includes boron and a new material called MR-70, which was first introduced in Mitsubishi Chemical’s aerospace sector. Boron adds strength to the prepreg, and the MR-70 material is 20 percent stronger and 10 percent higher modulus than standard carbon fibers, according to MRC.
For a laymen’s visual of what a prepreg is, think of a Fruit Roll-Up (click here for a reminder). Except instead of candy, the flat material is made of carbon fiber, boron, MR-70 and resin. That material is then rolled in specific directions around a mandrel, and baked in a really hot oven to fuse it all together.
The combination of strategically placed materials is designed to make the shaft profile smoother throughout the swing. The result? A slightly lower launch than the B-Series, with more stability, and — if it’s a fit for your swing — a tighter dispersion and more distance.
Mitsubishi Rayon’s new BF-Series shafts are available for $400 each in the specifications listed below:
- 50 (R, S and X-flex)
- 60 (R, S, X and TX-flex)
- 70 (S, X and TX-flex)
- 80 (S, X and TX-flex)
Below are the full specs, as displayed on Mitsubishi Rayon’s website.
Related: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the BF-Series shafts in our forums.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Danny Willett’s winning WITB, 2016 Masters
Driver: Callaway XR 16 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 60 X
Length: 45.5 inches
3-wood: Callaway XR 16 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 70X
5-wood: Callaway XR 16 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 80X
Irons: Callaway Apex UT (2, 4), Callaway Apex Pro (5-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (47-11 S-Grind) Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (54-11, 58-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Putter: Odyssey Versa #1 Wide (WBW)
Lie angle: 71 degrees
Ball: Callaway Speed Regime SR-3
Check out more photos of Willett’s equipment from 2016 here.
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Equipment
Project X Denali Blue, Black shaft Review – Club Junkie Review
Originally, Project X was known for low-spin steel iron shafts. However, the company might now be known for wood shafts. Denali is the newest line of graphite shafts from Project X. With the Denali line, the company focuses on feel as well as performance.
There are two profiles in the Denali line, Blue and Black, to fit different launch windows. Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin profile for players who are looking for a little added launch and Denali Black is designed for low-launch and low-spin. Both models are going to offer you a smooth feel and accuracy.
For a full in-depth review check out the Club Junkie podcast on all podcast streaming platforms and on YouTube.
Project X Denali Blue
I typically fit better into mid-launch shafts, as I don’t hit a very high ball so the Denali Blue was the model I was more excited to try. Out of the box, the shaft looks great and from a distance, it is almost hard to tell the dark blue from the Denali Black. With a logo down install of the shaft, you don’t have anything to distract your eyes, just a clean look with the transition from the white and silver handle section to the dark navy mid and tip.
Out on the course, the Blue offers a very smooth feel that gives you a good kick at impact. The shaft loads easily and you can feel the slightly softer handle section compared to the HZRDUS lineup. This gives the shaft a really good feel of it loading on the transition to the downswing, and as your hands get to impact, the Denali Blue keeps going for a nice, strong kick.
Denali Blue is easy to square up at impact and even turn over to hit it straight or just little draws and most of the flex of the shaft feels like it happens right around where the paint changes from silver to blue. The Blue launches easily and produces what I consider a true mid-flight with the driver. While it is listed as mid-spin, I never noticed any type of rise in my drives. Drives that I didn’t hit perfectly were met with good stability and a ball that stayed online well.
Project X Denali Black
When you hold the Denali Black in your hands you can tell it is a more stout shaft compared to its Blue sibling by just trying to bend it. While the handle feels close to the Blue in terms of stiffness, you can tell the tip is much stiffer when you swing it.
Denali Black definitely takes a little more power to load it but the shaft is still smooth and doesn’t give you any harsh vibrations. Where the Blue kicks hard at impact, the Black holds on a little and feels like keeps you in control even on swings that you try and put a little extra effort into. The stiff tip section also makes it a little harder to square up at impact and for some players could take away a little of the draw from their shot.
Launch is lower and more penetrating compared to the Blue and produces a boring, flat trajectory. Shots into the wind don’t rise or spin up, proving that the spin stays down. Like its mid-launch sibling, the Black is very stable and mishits and keeps the ball on a straighter line. Shots low off the face don’t get very high up in the air, but the low spin properties get the ball out there farther than you would expect. For being such a stout shaft, the feel is very good, and the Denali Black does keep harsh vibrations from your hands.
Overall the Project X Denali Blue and Black are great additions to the line of popular wood shafts. If you are looking for good feel and solid performance the Denali line is worth trying out with your swing. Choose Blue for mid-launch and mid-spin or Black for lower launch and low spin.
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Equipment
What we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
Bryson DeChambeau fired an opening-round 7-under 65 at Augusta National, hitting an impressive 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the process. Golf’s mad scientist’s play grabbed headlines and so too did his equipment. In place of the Ping i230 irons he had in the bag last week for LIV Golf’s Miami event, DeChambeau is gaming a prototype 5-PW set of irons from little-known direct-to-consumer manufacturer Avoda.
What is Avoda Golf?
Founded by Tom Bailey, also a Mike Schy student like Bryson DeChambeau, Avoda Golf is a direct-to-consumer golf equipment company that currently manufactures both single and variable-length irons in one model that are available for pre-order.
What irons is Bryson DeChambeau playing?
Per multiple reports, DeChambeau is playing a custom-designed set of single-length irons that incorporate bulge and roll into the face design. The two-piece 3D-printed irons were reportedly only approved for play by the USGA this week, according to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
Regarding the irons, DeChambeau told Golf Channel the irons’ performance on mishits was the determining factor in putting them in play this week. “When I mishit on the toe or the heel,” DeChambeau said. “It seems to fly a lot straighter for me and that’s what has allowed me to be more comfortable over the ball.”
What can we tell about the design of the clubs?
These days, it is a little hard to speculate on what is under the hood with so many hollow body irons. DeChambeau’s irons look to be hollow on the lower section as they do flare back a decent amount. That “muscle” on the back also looks to be fairly low on the iron head, but we can assume that is progressive through the set, moving up higher in the short irons.
A screw out on the toe is probably used to seal up the hollow cavity and used as a weight to dial in the swing weight of the club. From pictures, it is hard to tell but the sole looks to have a little curve from heel to toe while also having some sharper angles on them. A more boxy and sharper toe section looks to be the design that suits Bryson’s eye based on the irons he has gravitated toward recently.
What are bulge and roll, again?
Two types of curvature in a club face, traditionally incorporated only in wood design. Bulge is heel-toe curvature. Roll is crown-sole curvature. Both design elements are designed to mitigate gear effect on off-center strikes and produce shots that finish closer to the intended target line. (GolfTec has an excellent overview of bulge and roll with some handy GIFs for the visual learner)
What else is in DeChambeau’s bag?
Accompanying his traditional Sik putter, Bryson builds his set with a Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, a Krank Formula Fire driver and 5-wood, and a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, all with LA Golf graphite shafts.
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mr b
Sep 15, 2016 at 2:14 pm
yet to find anything to knock my blueboard 73’s out of my fw woods but will give these a try.
Emo
Sep 14, 2016 at 7:20 pm
GAwddammit. Not again. What’s with the current trend of extremely high torque for mid-launch shafts at lower weights? Whatever happened to the days of very low torque at lighter weights?
Mikec
Sep 14, 2016 at 3:27 pm
No would think not, simply stiffer.
Tipping is usually never done at he OEM level, but more at the build stage to tweak launch and feel around tip stiffness.
ultimate hacker
Sep 14, 2016 at 12:24 pm
is the TX tipped?