Connect with us

Equipment

GolfWRX Members Choice: Best driver shaft of 2022

Published

on

What is the best driver shaft in 2022? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. Needless to say, that extends to GolfWRXers’ views on the best driver shaft of 2022.

The bedrock of GolfWRX.com is the community of passionate and knowledgable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members—the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Check out the full results and see what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums. 

Best driver shaft of 2022: The top 5

1. Fujikura Ventus Blue

What Fujikura says: “A multi-material bias core construction that delivers ultimate stability through transition and impact (maximizing clubhead MOI) – increasing velocity and smash factor. The multi-material core is crafted with full-length, ultra-high modulus Pitch 70 Ton Carbon Fiber — 150% stronger and more stable than T1100g — for ultimate stability, and 40 Ton bias layers ensure incredible feel.”

From our launch piece: As a refresher: Ventus relies on Fujikura’s proprietary VeloCore Technology to tighten shot dispersion and enhance performance on off-center shots. “As swing speeds increase on Tour over the last few years, the Tour player is seeking tighter dispersion to hit more fairways,” said John Hovis, Tour Operations & Technical Services Manager at Fujikura. “We challenged our engineers to develop a stable, low spinning, stiff tip shaft to improve control and ball speeds and the result was Ventus.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

2. Fujikura Ventus Black

What Fujikura says: “A low launch/low spin profile with an ultra-stiff handle and tip section for players with a quick transition that prefer minimal flex during the swing.”

From our launch piece: “The Ventus Black is an extremely stout profile designed for more aggressive players with a stiffer profile in the butt section and especially in the tip section compared to the original Ventus Blue profile.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

3. Fujikura Ventus TR Blue

What Fujikura says: “Fujikura’s Product Marketing Manager, Spencer Reynolds: “Essentially, there’s a standard carbon weave and then there’s a Spread Tow carbon weave. What a Spread Tow does is it takes all these individual strands of carbon and irons them flat into a tape, and then weaves those over-under, over-under almost like a checkerboard pattern. So there’s very little space for resin to accumulate, you get super low resin content, and then you also get a lot of strength in varying directions. It can take pull and load in multiple directions. Another benefit is that it’s super lightweight. You’re getting an incredible amount of strength, in an ultra-lightweight package.”

From our paunch piece: “Fujikura has developed a new Ventus TR Blue shaft. Like the original Ventus Blue, the TR version is a mid-launch shaft, except it’s stiffer in the mid/handle section to improve stability and consistency of strike While VeloCore is still used throughout the Ventus TR shaft, the new construction features “Spread Tow” fabric in the butt-end section to increase torsional stiffness. Spread Tow, essentially, is a checkerboard-like design that weaves fibers together to increase strength and reduce weight. According to Fujikura, the torque is 10 percent stiffer in the section that uses this design.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

4. Graphite Design Tour AD DI

What Graphite Design says: “The Tour AD DI also utilizes premium, aerospace quality 50t carbon-fiber materials to provide the best performing shaft available. The softer mid-section bend profile of the Tour AD D allows the player to load the shaft properly, yet it maintains a firm enough tip section through impact promoting a high launch and low spin ball flight condition.”

From our launch piece: “The Tour AD DI “DEEP IMPACT” is designed to provide golfers with more power and stability in a golf shaft. It is the brand’s first shaft design that was integrated with Toray Company’s original NANOALLOY material technology in the tip section of the shaft. This material technology is known as “DI Technology” and aims to offer players additional shaft stability without the loss of feel.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

5. Fujikura Ventus Red

What Fujikura says: “A mid-high launch/mid spin profile with a softer tip section for players seeking increased launch and spin without sacrificing stability.”

From our launch piece: “The Ventus Red is designed to achieve slightly higher launch and spin than the current profile of Ventus Blue — which can be both helpful in the driver and fairway woods.”

You can read what other golfers are saying in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here.

Check out the full results and see what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

Your Reaction?
  • 57
  • LEGIT5
  • WOW6
  • LOL5
  • IDHT3
  • FLOP0
  • OB1
  • SHANK20

We share your golf passion. You can follow GolfWRX on Twitter @GolfWRX, Facebook and Instagram.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. syllable Counter

    Sep 29, 2023 at 5:50 pm

    I’m looking for a new driver shaft for 2022. What are your thoughts on the best driver shaft of 2022?

  2. Dylan

    Apr 18, 2023 at 11:52 am

    curious, what is the difference between some of the ventus shafts listed above, VS the ventus shafts that come stock in the taylormade drivers?

  3. JM

    Jan 30, 2023 at 8:13 pm

    What a biased article. So many other great shafts besides Fuji.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Whats in the Bag

Sami Valimaki WITB 2024 (February)

Published

on

  • Sami Valimaki’s WITB accurate as of the Mexico Open.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond S (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ RPG 462 M5+

3-wood: Callaway Paradym (16.5 degrees @15.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 70 TX

Check out more photos of Sami Valimaki’s clubs in the forums.

Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (19 degrees), Callaway Apex MB (4-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype 105 X, True Temper AMT Tour White X100 (4-9)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (46-10S, 50-10S, 56-10S, 60-10J)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Check out more photos of Sami Valimaki’s clubs in the forums.

Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #1

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Check out more photos of Sami Valimaki’s clubs in the forums.

Your Reaction?
  • 4
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Whats in the Bag

Denny McCarthy WITB 2024 (February)

Published

on

Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 TX

Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

5-wood: Ping G430 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 9 X

Irons: Titleist T200 (4), TaylorMade P770 (5), Callaway Apex TCB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (48-10F), SM10 (52-12F, 56-08M), WedgeWorks Proto (60-L)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron GoLo N7
Grip: Scotty Cameron

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Check out more in-hand photos of Denny McCarthy’s WITB here.

Your Reaction?
  • 2
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW1
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Equipment

TaylorMade Qi10 driver review. All 3 models! – Club Junkie Reviews

Published

on

TaylorMade’s new Qi10 drivers are packed with new technology for maximum performance. Whether you are looking for maximum forgiveness or low-spin workability, there is a Qi10 driver for your needs. The faces are still 60 layers of carbon fiber, but in contrast to the Stealth line, feature a much more subtle blue tone. TaylorMade’s new Infinity Carbon Crown not only gives a weight advantage but also gives each driver a much cleaner and better look, to my eye. Each driver is a little different but built for maximum performance.

For the full, more in-depth review, check out the Club Junkie Podcast on every podcast platform and on YouTube.

TaylorMade Qi10 Max

This is the driver that is getting the most buzz it seems from the 2024 TaylorMade lineup thanks to its 10K MOI measurement. This 10K MOI means that the Qi10 Max head is extremely stable on mishits and will prevent the head from swinging open or closed.

The Max definitely has the largest-looking profile from address and has a more rounded shape to it compared to the other Qi10 drivers. I like the more rounded shape, and even though it doesn’t have the classic TaylorMade shape, it is easy on the eyes. The new blue carbon face is also more subtle and you don’t notice it compared to the previous red faces on the Stealth and Stealth 2 drivers.

Out on the course, or range, is where you will notice where the 10K comes into play. The first bad swing will be met with a shot that is more than likely more playable than you would have thought. The head keeps the ball on a straighter trajectory with reduced curve once in flight. You will still miss the fairway right or left with those swings but the shot will typically be straight to either side.

While my numbers from my most recent range session don’t show it, the launch on the Qi10 Max was more mid-high for me on the course. Ball speed was consistent and the Max held onto a good amount of it, even when you didn’t catch the center of the face. I went through my shots and was pretty impressed with the limited variation in ball speed throughout my session.

The spin numbers were also lower than expected and to be fair I was hitting a 9-degree Qi10 Max head, and I typically hit a low draw shot shape. I am not considered a high-speed or spin player, but the Qi10 Max didn’t spin a ton, even when hit low on the face. Only a handful of shots touched the low 3,000 RPM mark while most stayed lower than that. I think moving to the 10.5-degree head would be a better fit for me, adding some launch and a little spin to my shots would increase the distance by a few yards.

TaylorMade Qi10 LS

The model that we first drooled over in Rory and Tiger’s bags early this year! TaylorMade’s 2024 low-spin driver sports a new name, dropping the “Plus” designation. The LS model clearly has the traditional TaylorMade pear shape to it and a noticeably more compact look. A deeper face and shorter length from heel-to-toe give the look of a driver that the more skilled player will be able to easily shape shots with. The head also looks a bit more open than the Max head, and I love that TaylorMade has been able to create toplines that look more open than they appear.

The Qi10 LS creates some very long drives out on the course and range. This driver offers a little more feel and slightly quieter sound than the other two models, you can really feel the ball compress on the face at impact. For players who routinely hit the center, you will be rewarded with consistent fast ball speed and great distance. I hit my two longest drives with this head when I was going through my range session the other day.

Ball flight was flat, but the head is still easy to elevate and hit towering, boring tee shots. I thought the LS was actually going to come out really low, but I had no problem hitting higher shots with almost no spin. If spin is your problem with driver, the LS could be the pill you need as it is a very low spin head. I was rarely getting into the mid-2000s and had most shots in the high 1900 RPM. I never saw a ball go over 2,600 RPM, no matter where I hit it on the face.

Now the LS will show you a little less love when you aren’t swinging well and hitting it close to the center. For me, the start line of my shots was the farthest right of the three heads, but I saw more movement in the air on poor swings. There was also a little more drop-off in ball speed when the ball traveled away from center compared to the Qi10 and Qi10 Max heads.

TaylorMade Qi10

This is TaylorMade’s “bread and butter” head should fit a wide range of golfers. We have seen Rory move into this head, and we should see it in a lot of amateur bags as well this year. The Qi10 head bridges the gap between ultra forgiveness and low-spin distance with a little larger profile than the LS.

The shape is closer to the LS with a slightly more tapered line from the back of the hosel to the round back of the driver. I can’t stress enough how much I like the sleek look of the new Infinity Carbon Crown as it just gives a great view to the golfer.

This driver is the underrated one of the bunch in my opinion. While it isn’t the most forgiving or the lowest spin, it does everything rather well. It is pretty darn forgiving and definitely isn’t in a high spin category so plenty of golfers will find this head working for them.

I found the standard Qi10 the most consistent for me as it was easy to launch, and I think if you took away a few of the shots I hit higher on the face on the LS, this would have been the highest launching head of the group. The launch was mid-high and with that, the spin still never got wildly high. The misses were very straight and like the Max had less curve to them, more straight right or left.

To me, the ball speed numbers seemed to stay more consistent on mishits compared to Stealth 2 and center strikes had a softer feel to them. High-toe misses stayed in play with a more gentle draw and more carry than I expected, most of those shots ended in a pretty tight area. Swinging the Qi10 also felt a little different than the Max as I think the CG placement gives each driver its own unique feel through your swing. The Qi10 felt like it was a touch easier to release and rotated back to square at impact just a little faster than the Max. I don’t know if you could tell if you didn’t hit them side-by-side but if you do you can probably feel the difference.

TaylorMade definitely brought some changes to the Qi10 line, and I think, overall, they’ve crafted some really good drivers. The Qi10 Max will be great for those players who need the most stability they can to find the fairways, and I think will play to lower handicaps than expected. The Qi10 LS will be a skilled player’s wand to create shots and work the ball to positions on the fairway that allow them to score better. The Qi10 will fit a wide range of golfers who are looking for a driver that helps them on bad shots but still has the ball speed and spin to hit their longest drives.

Your Reaction?
  • 9
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending