tour ad tp 5 shaft review

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Tour AD TP Shaft Review!

By EntourageLife February 9, 2017 in WRX Club Techs

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Entouragelife.

Tested the new GRAPHITE DESIGN TOUR AD TP today. Paired the 6X with new Cobra F7+ driver. Hadn't played Graphite Design in over 12+ years since old YS-7 line (which I really liked). Compared this Tour AD TP to Agera "S" tipped 1/2 inch and Veylix Roughneck "X". Agera is extremely low-torque and best way to describe is you'd better be loose and warmed-up before you swing. Roughneck, despite it's reputation, is a smooth shaft for me. It'll launch higher than Agera but definitely a draw bias shaft (there's no debate it's easier to turn Roughneck over).

Tested shaft hitting several drives on par-4 hole. I'll hit 3-4 rounds (6-8 balls each round).

TOUR AD TP REVIEW:

- Definitely launches higher than most "high-end" shafts but still holds flight well

- Not much curve to flight either.

- Smooth feeling but you still better generate some clubhead speed...

- Very accurate

I still need to put it in play for final results but so far so good. Most pleased about getting higher launch which is something I've been searching for while maintaining accuracy.

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I just ordered my Epic SZ 9 degree with a TP 6-S

Very excited

I got to hit this shaft about a month ago and found it to be very straight and no less longer than my DI (hitting it 250 to 270, not a big hitter.

If this shaft finds more fairways, thats all Im looking for.

I used to hit 10 to 12 fways a round as a junior player, and now im down to 7-9 per round. Gotta change that

markheardjr

IMO sounds very similar to Nippon Regio Formula M which is higher launch, lower spin, overall fairly stout, does well in wind, excellent control. With the Regio I found that I had to go at it pretty much fill every time. Wasn't very forgiving on easier swings. Elevated easily, dropped bombs. Sound similar to you with respect to forgiveness/rigidity/feel?

TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9° w/ PX HZRDUS Gen4 Black 75 6.0

TaylorMade SIM ROCKET 14.5° w/ PX Handcrafted EvenFlow Black 75 6.5

TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Rescue 3-19° w/ PX RDX Smoke 90 6.5

TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Rescue 4-22° w/ PX RDX Smoke 90 6.5

Srixon ZU85 5 26° w/ PX RDX Smoke 100 6.5

Srixon ZX7 6-PW w/ Nippon Modus Tour125 X

Cleveland 588 RTX 52° w/ Nippon Modus Prototype C10 S Srixon WG-706 56° w/ Nippon Modus Prototype C10 S Scotty Cameron SSS Circle T Newport Beach w/ UST Frequency Filter

To be fair I just had the one test session. It did feel smooth. We had a ton of rain in Tampa night before and some areas of fairway were plugging, some were rolling a bit. Tough to tell total distance.

I really liked what I felt so far. Need to follow up with more.

Thanks for the review.. .. I do have a question if you don't mind.. what is your swing speed? I have the same shaft on order and am hoping I have the speed to handle it...

Titleist TSR4 8*  Ventus Black TR 6x Titleist TSr3 13.5 Ventus Black TR 7x Mizuno Pro 221 4-pw Modus 125x Vokey SM9 52.08F 56.08M 60.04T Scotty Newport Button Back or Scotty Select 1/500 Newport Black Mist

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Tour AD TP Shafts

Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the Tour AD TP wood shaft is available in 40g R2, R1 and S flex, 50g R2, R1 and S flex, 60g SR, S, X and TX flex, 70g S, X and TX flex and 80g S and X flex.

The Tour AD TP , like all of the premium Tour AD wood shafts, utilizes premium, aerospace quality 50t carbon-fiber materials in order to deliver the best feeling and performing shaft available to golfers.

Designed around new tooling, the Tour AD TP utilizes a technology called F ast T aper T echnology or “ FTT” .  This technology incorporates a faster taper rate from the lower mid-section to the tip of the shaft than previous Tour AD wood shaft models.  The Fast Taper Technology provides the overall feeling of greater club head control at impact and an increase in club head speed through the swing.

The Tour AD TP shaft has a medium stiffness starting at the handle thru the mid-section of the shaft and a stiff tip profile to promote a mid/high launch condition and low spin.  The new Tour AD TP 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.

During independent robotic golf club testing, the new Tour AD TP-6 Stiff Flex shaft gained +3.5 yards in Carry Distance and +3.8 yards in Total Distance while maintaining tight dispersion rates vs. comparable Tour AD 65g wood shaft models.

Make a change in your Driver or Fairway metal wood today to the same shaft that the professionals use, the new “ T our P roven” Tour AD TP model of premium Graphite Design graphite golf shafts with FTT – F ast T aper T echnology.

Revolutionary technology, design and the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, resulting in the highest quality premium golf shafts on the market today. Validating the company’s “Tour AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s Tour proven shafts are specifically designed to promote a gain in A ccuracy and D istance.

Features & Technology:

• FTT – Fast Taper Technology
• TORAYCA ® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY ® technology for increased stability in the mid to tip region and unsurpassed feel.
• 50 ton ultra-premium, high modulus, aerospace quality carbon fiber materials.
• Graphite Design proprietary M aterial S tiffness I ntegration (MSI) design philosophy and technology.

Bend Profile:

Performance:

• TP-4 is designed to promote High Launch angles with Mid ball spin rates.
• TP-5, -6, -7, and -8 are designed to promote Mid/High launch angles with Low ball spin rates.

Tip Trimming for Std Bore:

• Pro’s Choice encourages consulting a PGA Professional or qualified club builder to help you determine the correct shaft and length for your swing profile and to meet your goals.
• Always leave a minimum of 0.5″ of the parallel tip section of the shaft above the hosel to maintain shaft durability and prevent shaft failure/breakage.  For example, if the head has a hosel bore depth of 1.5″ and the shaft has a parallel tip length of 3.0″, the tip trim length should not exceed 1.0″.
• Improper installation may affect the intended performance of the shaft. Warranty is for material and workmanship of our products. Improper installation voids warranty of product.

Specifications:

Where to buy (click here or on map to view store locations).

Click on the map to find a location near you

Graphite Design AD TP Shaft Review

This shaft is a game-changer, designed to optimize your swing speed and ball flight. It's crafted with the preferences of skilled golfers in mind, providing unmatched stability, feel, and control. The Tour AD TP Shaft sets itself apart from the competition by delivering superior performance attributes that will have you dominating the course. With the Tour AD TP Shaft, you'll experience a level of stability that sets the bar high for performance.

Updated February 2024 to update current pricing information.

The Tour AD TP, “Tour Proven,” shaft is a subtler design from Graphite Design. This shaft is perfect for the golfer looking for a smooth feel, a mid to high launch and low spin . A company made famous by putting the orange AD DI shaft in the driver of Tiger Woods , Graphite Design makes a home in many elite golfer’s metal woods . Built with the same signature rings common of all Graphite Design shafts, the AD TP is distinguished by it’s gold and grey colorway. The AD TP can help any golfers game by complimenting fairway woods that need to be versatile from the tee box and the ground or giving them longer drives from higher launches and less spin.

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Key Features

• Robot testing concluded that the Tour AD TP improves upon previous Graphite Design models and gives golfers over 3 yards of carrying distance.

Graphite Design Tour AD TP Detailed Review

Design and technology.

The Tour AD TP shaft is a standout shaft for lower lofted fairway metals and drivers. Graphite Design uses their Fast Taper Technology, FTT, to create a shaft that offers an overall feeling of total club head control and increased club head speeds. T1100 fiber is used among shaft manufacturers to help increase tip stability and give high swing speed players more control over their impacts. Graphite Design’s incorporation of their TORATCA® pre-preg with NANOALLOY® creates additional stability when striking the golf ball. I have used the Graphite Design Tour AD TP in my 3 wood for the last two consecutive seasons, and have been playing Graphite Design shafts for over five years now. The AD TP has been an absolutely perfect fit for my 3 wood. This shaft has increased my ball speeds and made my 3 wood more versatile from the tee and from the turf. In my 3 wood, I prefer a shaft that is smooth to swing and helps me hit low spinning tee shots yet high launching shots from the fairways and rough. The AD TP shaft checks all of those boxes. It has made my 3 wood long off the tee , but capable of launching high approaches into greens that stop quickly. Playing for a position from the tee and taking advantage of par-5s is easier thanks to this shaft. I have never been more confident with a shaft that feels so good.

• Mid to high launch and low spin can create long drive or perfect fairway ball flights
• Fast Taper Technology gives golfers a one-of-a-kind feeling and clubhead control
• Premium material ensure that every shaft created is built to the tightest tolerances
• Premium material come at a price, the Tour AD TP shaft MSRP is around $380
• Some players may feel distracted when looking down at a grey shaft in their woods
• Lack of availability to test in demo clubs as local pro shops and retail golf stores

The Tour AD TP shaft is made for all metal woods and is available in weights of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 grams. The 40 g and 50 g options are available in regular and stiff flexes, the 60 g and 70 g shafts are available in senior, stiff, extra stiff, and tour-extra-stiff options and the 80 g shaft is available in stiff and extra stiff options only. After testing several drivers and fairway wood shafts, I put the Tour AD TP shaft in my bag. Currently, I play the Callaway Epic fairway wood in 15 degrees at the standard hosel settings. My shaft of choice is the Graphite Design Tour AD TP 80g X-flex played at 43 inches with a D4 swing weight. All of my clubs are gripped with the Golf Pride Tour Velvet standard.

The Graphite Design Tour AD TP shaft is the best fairway wood shaft I have ever played. My overall confidence and performance with my 3 wood have improved thanks to the performance of this shaft. Offered in a variety of weights and flexes, players looking for a mid to high launching, low spin driver or fairway shaft should consider the AD TP from Graphite Design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i request a different grip or customized length for the shaft.

Yes, you can request a different grip or customized length for the shaft. Just let us know your preferences during checkout, and we’ll gladly tailor the shaft to your needs. Your satisfaction is guaranteed!

Is the Wrench Included With the Purchase of the Shaft?

Yeah, the wrench is not included with the purchase of the shaft. However, you can request different grip or customized length options when checking out. Just send us a message and we’ll be glad to help.

How Can I Provide Feedback if I Found a Lower Price for the Product?

I can provide feedback on a lower price by signing in and submitting it. The company may not match every price, but they aim for competitive prices. Customer satisfaction and price matching are important to them.

Are There Any Additional Shaft Weights Available for This Product?

Yes, there are additional shaft weights available for this product. You can also customize options like grip and length. Just send a message when checking out. All workmanship is guaranteed.

Can I Choose a Different Driver Adapter for the Shaft, or Is It Only Available With the Specified Options?

Yes, you can choose a different driver adapter for the shaft, allowing for custom adapter selection and shaft customization. This ensures the perfect fit for your driver head, providing a personalized experience.

How Does the Graphite Design AD TP Shaft Compare?

Mitsubishi tensei ck pro orange.

The Tensei CK Pro Orange is another low launch, low spin shaft that offers stronger players more stability and control. One of the most popular shafts currently on golfing tours, the Tensei Pro Orange is a must try for players looking for high performance golf shafts. The CK Pro Orange uses carbon fiber DuPont Kevlar, MR70, low resin content, and tungsten power to deliver an ultra-tip stiff design made for golfers looking for maximum performance. Tungsten powder allows Mitsubishi to elevate the balance point of the shaft near the butt section to promote increased swing speeds with a counter-balanced feel. Tensei Pro Orange is a must try for players looking to add a high end shaft to their favorite driver.

Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange Shaft Review

Aldila Rogue Silver 130 MSI

The Rogue Silver 130 MSI builds on Aldila’s massive success of the Limited Edition Rogue 125 MSI golf shaft. The Rogue 125 MSI shaft was a release that found its way into many elite golfer’s bags even at an unforeseen price tag. The all-new Rogue Silver 130 MSI combines DIALEAD pitch fiber and NexGen Micro Laminate Technology to give players a higher balance point in a shaft that promotes low launch and low spin. Higher balance points give golfers a chance to increase clubhead speeds and improve driving distance through better timing and club head delivery. Aldila integrates aerospace grade materials to deliver their most complete golf shaft ever in the Rogue Silver 130 MSI.

Aldila Rogue Shaft Review

Project X HZRDUS Yellow

The HZRDUS Yellow is the low launch, low spin shaft made to compliment the HZRDUS Black and HZRDUS Red golf shafts. HZRDUS Yellow is a backweighted golf shaft designed for the strong but smooth golfer. Players looking to reduce spin and launch with a smooth tempo will love the performance and feel of the HZRDUS Yellow shaft. High-performance materials and a tapered mid-section allow the HZRDUS Yellow to load effortlessly yet remain stable. High swing speed players with an even transition will love the HZRDUS Yellow shaft.

Project X Hzrdus Yellow Review

As the Founder of Golfers Authority Paul Liberatore Esq. has spent the last 7+ years writing about the best golf equipment or instruction from the top golf instructors in the world. He has been a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated Golf and GolfWRX. After graduating with honors from Purdue University, he realized that he had a passion for the golf business and the law. When he's not practicing law, or creating golf content on YouTube, he can be found on his syndicated Behind the Golf Brand podcast talking with the most prolific leaders in the golf industry. 

Amazon Associates Program We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Graphite Design Tour AD TP Golf Shaft Review

Graphite design tour ad tp driver shaft.

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

The Tour AD TP is new for the 2017 season. It is designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory. As I measured the bend profile of the shaft I knew immediately this shaft is a winner, it is a refinement of the Graphite Design Tour AD DI.

To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership. Russ

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft Review

There’s one day each year that I count down the days in excitement. My birthday? No. Christmas? Nope. It’s the day when Graphite Design releases their new shaft! New for 2022, the Tour AD UB shaft (nicknamed “Up and Beyond” ) will present an option for players looking for a mid launch and low/mid spin rates. They offer up a new twist on their classic paint scheme and the most modern materials and shaft technology.

Bold and blue! The Graphite Design Tour AD UB comes in with a sparkling and vibrant light blue color scheme that fades into a deep silver at the tip. This blue has a metallic shimmer to it and has notes of teal and sky blue depending on what light you’re in. (You can tell I’m a whiskey fan if I’m detecting “notes” in my…golf shaft paint colors too…) It’s a similar look as the nearly all black Tour AD XC from two years ago with a darker paint job, but your eye will catch the more neutral silver color when addressing the ball. While the Tour AD UB may not have the boldness of the bright orange of the hyper popular Tour AD DI , it’s as distinctive as ever.

How Does it Feel?

I’ve been able to hit most of Graphite Design’s shaft lineup, and I’d describe the Tour AD UB as a stout but responsive golf shaft. What I’ve always liked about this brand is that they’ll accurately present what their shafts will feel like (in relation to other Graphite Design shafts) so you can choose what you like best. For example, most will describe the Tour AD BB and the Tour AD XC as feeling softer in the hands and firmer in the tip, or the Tour AD DI feeling all around “smooth”. The Tour AD UB feels as they say it does – medium through the hands and mid section, then a bit stiffer in the tip section . In my testing and on course experience, that describes it well.

I won’t describe this shaft as particularly smooth, and I don’t detect a huge “kick” to it either. It’s a pleasing feeling, kind of a “really hard hit” if that makes sense . It definitely feels a bit more stout and substantial than most Graphite Design shafts I’ve tried. While I’m no bomber, I’ve settled in to 70g X-Flex shafts for most models. The 6X is all I can handle here. For a long time, I’ve been waiting for a profile that can dial me in that last little bit. It’s now highly possible the Tour AD UB can give my gamer some challenges for 2022!

On-Course Performance

For the last 18 months or so, I’ve played 75%+ of my rounds with the Graphite Design Tour AD TP. I love it because it has a fun, smooth kick to it and I can really feel where the clubhead is during the swing. It pairs well with my preferred driver head, and I get reliable contact and distance with it. However, at times it launches a touch high and a sometimes a bit spinny (described as mid/high launch and low spin profile). That’s where the Tour AD UB comes in…

This shaft has seemed to hit the right trajectory windows for me so far. It’s that true mid-flight that I’m looking for, but not a hint of ballooning. Lately I’ve been trying to eliminate the left side of the course, so I attempt a straight ball or a power fade. When I square it up, the Tour AD UB gives me exactly what I want, and it’s deep bombs down the right-center of the fairway. If I leave the club face a bit open, yeah, it’s got a stiffer tip section so it will exaggerate the fade, but that’s on me.

Final Thoughts – Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft

With the Graphite Design Tour AD UB, we have another worthy addition to an already loaded menu of premium golf shafts. This year’s offering fills the need for a mid flight, mid/low spin profile with their usual visually recognizable styling. It may not have the most distinct feel to it, but it’s the golf shots you hit that matter most.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve become a big fan of Graphite Design shafts. Once you become familiar with the brand, you can make those subtle adjustments among shafts, flexes, and weights without significantly changing the feel like you would if you went brand to brand. I bet you if we did a “blind taste test” on the range, I could pick out a Graphite Design! Oh and if we’re doing a taste test, make sure to bring the Lagavulin, the Springbank, and the Bruichladdich too.

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12 Comments

Hi Jon, would you say the AD UB is comparable to the Ventus Blue (if you have tried the Ventus Blue)? I moved from the AD DI 6X to the Ventus Blue 6X this year and was hoping the AD UB would be similar to the Ventus Blue based on the Medium+, Medium+, Stiff+ butt to tip profile. Thanks!

This is actually something I can comment on considering I’ve used the AD DI a lot and the Ventus Blue is in the bag a lot too! All 6X btw. My opinion is that they get firmer and a wee bit harsher as you go along from the AD DI to the Ventus Blue to the AD UB. Performance in all three is great. I typically hit the AD DI longest, but it can get offline. The Ventus Blue is a bit more controllable, and I too am hoping the AD UB can kind of steal away a few more yards but maintain the control. By my “eye test”, all of them seem to launch in about the same window and I don’t have any issues with too much spin on any of them. TL/DR, if you like those two shafts, I think you’ll like the AD UB too. Plus, it looks rad.

I gamed the VENTUS BLUE 6-X all last year in TSI3 9 deg. I was at 65-75′ apex with 155-158 mph ball speed 2200 rpm typically. With the AD-UB-6-X it kicks the ball higher for me, 85-95′, same spin, and tighter dispersion. Loved the VENTUS BLUE but I find the AD-UB-6 more optimized for my game and a slightly higher launch.

Both great shafts and both I’ve a had a lot of time to play with. Your take is pretty similar to mine. Both really good products!

For me Tour AD DI still my best choice since 2014

There’s a reason it’s still winning tournaments on the PGA Tour. It’s legendary.

Great review. When u say not overly smooth, is there any shaft in your mind that is similar in feel?? Cheers

Hard to say, as I’ve not hit EVERYTHING out there. In relation to other Graphite Design shafts, most of them are butter smooth and have a satisfying kick. I don’t often play other brands at this point. I think my comment above was that it’s a “hard hit” feeling.

Hey Jon, your comment comparing and contrasting the AD UB with the Ventus Blue and AD DI was super helpful. I wondered if you might similarly share some thoughts on how the AD UB stacks up against the AD HD?

The two shafts I’ve used the most over the last year have been Ventus Blue and AD HD. I love, I mean LOVE, the feel from the AD HD. I like a mid-soft shaft that kicks, and the AD HD does that for me. Problem is, it sometimes tends to get high and spinny on me. Ventus Blue gets me into a slightly better window, but — and maybe I’m crazy here, but this is how it feels to me — it’s a little soft in the handle and the kickpoint is higher than I’d like, and that can cause some timing issues.

I’ve wondered if the AD UB might give me something similar to the AD HD, just tightening things up a bit. I’m a little concerned about what GD describes as a softer handle in the UB … which has me thinking it might be time to revisit something that’s more stiff-soft-stiff like the RDX Blue. Or the new Ventus TR seems really interesting as well.

Hey thanks! Just so happens that we both have a lot of experience with all those shafts. I really like the AD HD and the Ventus Blue. I’m still trying to figure out the AD UB. They call it Medium+, Medium+, Stiff, but I have found the AD UB to be pretty stout and just… heavy feeling. Hard to describe. My good swings are laserbombs, but I’m trying to figure out how to control it. To my eye, spin is probably the least of all of them with the UB, and the handle feels the stiffest. AD HD feels way softer in the hands IMO. Totally anecdotal, others may have wildly different experiences with it.

I’m going to spend more time with the AD UB this spring, but it’ll take a lot to get me to move away from my current faves, the AD TP or AD VR. I’ll also say that I’m pretty psyched for the updated Ventus TR too…

Hi Jon, greetings from the island of Borneo, Sabah, Malaysia. I have been gaming UB 5s for the past 1 year. Stock shot is high baby fade. Thinking of changing to a less stout shaft that could still generate a lower ball flight and more roll upon landing. Would DI 5s be something worth trying OR would the DI be something too similar to the UB?

Hard to say! That’s a fine tuning that is best left to a professional fitter. In my hands, the UB and the DI feel very different. They’re not too far off in profile, but the DI is way smoother, the UB more stout the whole way.

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Graphite Design Tour AD GT: Editor Review

Pros: Extremely smooth, and stable. The mix of blue, white and silver looks awesome.

Cons: Costs as much as most new drivers — $380.

Bottom Line: The Tour AD-GT shaft is a great extension of the Tour AD line, providing all of the smoothness Graphite Design is known for in a profile that’s slightly softer than the company’s low-launch, low-spin Tour AD BB shaft . That makes it great for players who need more spin, or as a fairway wood shaft for players who enjoy the BB in their driver.

With the addition of the GT, Graphite Design’s premium line of Tour AD Shafts now comes in four different profiles.

The company’s best-known shaft, the Tour AD DI, is the orange-and-white model that has been used for several years by Tiger Woods. The company’s next most-popular shaft, the Tour AD BB, is the company’s lowest-launching, lowest-spinning shaft.

Graphite Design’s Tour AD DJ is a slightly spinnier version of the DI. That means it’s a good fairway wood shaft for golfer’s who like the feel of the DI in their driver, and also works for golfers who don’t spin the ball enough with the DI.

[youtube id=”44pPUFLwZYo” width=”620″ height=”360″]

The GT has the same relationship to the BB. But while it’s slightly softer than the BB, it’s slightly stiffer than the DJ, providing a lower trajectory with less spin.

According to Graphite Design, the GT has a mid-trajectory, while maintaining an optimal amount of spin.

The GT is available in five different flexes, from R2 to X, and four different weights, from 50 to 80 grams. Like the rest of the Tour AD line, the GT sells for around $380.

I’ve been a fan of Graphite Design shafts for a very long time. Years ago, I loved the company’s “Tour AD Quattro Tech” shaft so much that no matter the driver head I was playing, that pretty green shaft would be in it.

Through the years, I’ve experimented with pretty much every high-end shaft made, from prototypes to retail, and have always come back to a Graphite Design shaft in my driver. There’s something about the feel that has always worked well for me.

Recently I’ve been playing the Graphite Design Tour AD DI. I’ve loved everything about it and have actually had it in play for the last three years.

Although I did a little experimenting with the Tour AD DJ and BB, I always went back to the DI. It wasn’t so much the ball flight changes or spin differences between the shafts, as I found them minimal for myself. My confidence in the DI had grown so much and I had come to build so much trust in it, it was hard for me to make a complete change. Yet when the Tour AD GT came out, like the DJ and BB, I had to give it a try.

Performance

I was really pleased with the smoothness of the shaft through the impact area. It was slightly more tip stiff than the DI, but in no way had a boardy feeling. My clubmaker built it exactly to the same CPM’s that I had in my other Miura SIT 460 driver with the DI, so I was comparing apples to apple. And the differences were genuinely noticeable

I found the trajectory to be a tad lower with the GT —  about 1 degree on a launch monitor — but I was still able to get quite a bit of carry with it. What I particularly enjoyed about the GT was that no matter how hard I swung, the shaft never felt overpowered. I’ve never been one to believe the torque numbers that shaft companies specify, but according to the Graphite Design website, the GT 6X that I tested has 3.1 degrees of torque in a 46 inch shaft (I tested it at 45.5 inches).

The past months of testing have also proven to me the workability of the GT. Although I have a Tour AD DI set up identically in a Miura SIT 460, I’ve found the ability to control my trajectory a bit more simpler in the GT over the DI.

Spin numbers have also been great with the GT — about 200 to 300 rpms lower and very consistent — and the extra yards I’ve been getting out of my driver have been extremely pleasing.

Looks and Feel

The GT has the familiar AD paint job in a lustrous blue color with white rings, and the blue fades to a silver blue towards the butt. I can’t lie, as ridiculous as it may sound, one of the features that immediately grabbed me wanting to try it was the color. I love the looks of the shaft!

The Takeaway

Graphite Design has produced another super shaft with the Tour AD GT. Its feel, workability and playability have been astounding. Even the looks of it, which initially grabbed my attention, are sweet!

Anyone who’s played and liked Graphite Design shafts in the past will immediately find a familiar smoothness in the GT, however, it’s bumped up a few notches. The GT is a true tribute to the Graphite Design ideals of never letting a shaft hit the market that doesn’t excel in feel.

If you get a chance to try a friend’s driver with a GT or if your clubmaker stocks them, do yourself a favor and give it a swing. I highly recommend it as one of the best new shafts of the year.

Build Specs for Graphite Design Tour AD GT 6X

Club head: Miura SIT Driver (9 degrees, D3 swing weight)

Cut weight: 67.5 grams

Length: 45.5 inches (Installed untipped)

Installed at Aloha Golf Center, Graphite Design specialist in the State of Hawaii.

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Reid's been an avid golfer for more than 40 years. During that time, he's amassed quite a putter collection and has become one of GolfWRX's leading equipment nuts. Reid tries all the latest equipment in hopes of finding the latest and greatest of them all to add to his bag. He was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where the courses are green and the golf is great!

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Insider photos from tiger woods’ launch event for his new “sun day red” apparel line.

On Monday evening, inside the swanky, second-story “Coach House” event center in the Palisades Village, just minutes down the road from the 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods and TaylorMade officially announced their new apparel/footwear/accessory line, called “Sun Day Red.”

The Sun Day Red website officially launched on Monday night during the event, and the products are set to go on sale starting May 1.

The “Sun Day Red,” or “SDR” name will be self-explanatory for most golf fans, since he’s been wearing a victory-red shirt on Sunday’s for his entire professional career, but Woods explained the meaning of Sun Day Red at the launch event:

“It started with mom. Mom thought – being a Capricorn – that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments. Lo and behold, I go to a university that is red; Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”

The Sunday Red outfit has worked to perfection for his 82 PGA Tour victories, including 15 majors, so why not make an entire apparel line based on the career-long superstition?

As I learned at Monday’s launch event, the new Sun Day Red line includes much more than just clothing. To go along with a slew of different golf shirt designs and colorways, there were also windbreakers, hoodies, shoes, hats, headcovers, ball markers and gloves on display.

The upscale event was hosted by sports media personality Erin Andrews, with special guests David Abeles (CEO of TaylorMade) and Tiger Woods himself.

As explained by Abeles, the Sun Day Red brand is an independently-run business under the TaylorMade umbrella, and is based in San Clemente, California (rather than Carlsbad, where TaylorMade headquarters is located), and it’s run by a newly-formed, independent group. Brad Blackinship, formerly of Quiksilver and RVCA, is the appointed president of the new brand.

As for the logo itself, obviously, it’s made to look like a Tiger (the animal), and is comprised of 15 tiger stripes, which correspond with Woods’ 15 major championships. While the logo may need a 16th stripe if Woods adds a major trophy to his collection, it makes perfect sense for the time being.

The golf/lifestyle line is meant to combine premium precision and athletic comfort, while still having plenty of wearability and style off the course. Like Woods said on stage at the event, he wants to be able to go right from the course to dinner wearing Sun Day Red, and that was exactly the aesthetic on display at the event on Monday.

Following the official announcement from Woods and Abeles, they revealed multiple pieces of clothing, accessories and footwear for the event-goers to ogle (and photograph). Check out a selection of product/event photos below, or head over to our @GolfWRX Instagram page for video coverage…OR, head into our GolfWRX Forums for even more photos and member discussion.

Enjoy this exclusive look at Tiger Woods’ new Sun Day Red apparel lineup below.

See more photos from the Sun Day Red launch event here

Titleist launches new Vokey WedgeWorks 60 “A” grind wedge

The menu of grind options just got more expansive for Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks consumers, with the addition of a “60A” wedge to the lineup.

Previously, Vokey offered seven main grind options for players with various needs :

• T Grind: The narrowest sole option, which is widely used by PGA Tour players, and has low bounce
• L Grind: The lowest bounce option, with heel, toe and trailing edge relief for maximum versatility
• F Grind: An all-purpose grind that’s best for full wedge shots played with a square face
• S Grind: A neutral grind, best for full shots played with a square face
• M Grind: A versatile grind that’s for players who want to open and close the face for various shots
• D Grind: A higher-bounce wedge that’s for players with a steep swing angle, but want to play shots from various club orientations
• K Grind: The highest-bounce wedge option, with heel, toe and trailing edge relief for versatility

Titleist has now added the “A” grind, which has actually already been played on the PGA Tour by golfers such as Tom Kim, who used an A-grind to win three times on the PGA Tour, Wyndham Clark, who won the U.S. Open using an A-grind, and Max Homa, who used an A-grind at the 2023 Open Championship.

According to Titleist, the Vokey WedgeWorks 60A wedge is a low-bounce option that’s for golfers with a shallow angle of attack, and who play in firmer conditions. It has a “smoothed-out” sole for a faster feel through the turf, helping some golfers slide under the ball easier at impact.

“The most important club for me, probably in my bag, is this A grind,” Clark said, according to a Titleist press release. “I use the SM9 60-degree A grind, which is a low bounce 60 that is very versatile. I’m able to – on tight lies, rough, wet lies, firm lies, whatever it is – hit the shot I want, and with the amount of spin I want, trajectory and everything.”  

Apparently, Geoff Ogilvy played a large part in the A-grind coming to life.

“I spoke with Geoff (Ogilvy), and we got on the topic of Australian golf courses and how they compared to courses in America, and around the world,” said Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill, in a press release. “I asked him some specific questions, which resulted in an idea to design another lob wedge grind option that complemented the firm links-style conditions that players face – not just in Australia and Europe – but globally. Geoff has always been a low bounce player in his 60-degree, so I took his 60.04L wedge and removed the ribbon, resulting in a grind that moves through the turf quickly with very little resistance.” 

The new Vokey A-grind will be available on Nov. 7, selling for $225 each. Custom options include up to six toe engravings, 10-15 character stamping options, the Flight Line alignment feature option, and custom shafts/grips/ferrules are available.

Click here to read more about why the bounce/grind of your wedge actually matters

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GolfWRXers put the Full Swing KIT’s accuracy to the test

Last month, four GolfWRX forum members traveled to The Grand Golf Club at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California, to test the Full Swing KIT launch monitor and to see how it stacks up against other launch monitors. If you’re not familiar with the Full Swing KIT , development began when Tiger Woods requested a launch monitor he could trust on the range as much as he trusted his Full Swing simulator in his own home. Later, the KIT earned Tiger’s seal of approval and has been seen with him at every tournament he’s played in since its release.

GolfWRX members on the KIT’s accuracy

zap311: “The Full Swing team seems obsessed with accuracy when it comes to the KIT – The team talked about how this product officially shipped about 18 months ago and they are already on firmware release #20. They said they are regularly releasing updates (overnight via WiFi) to continuously improve accuracy and performance. That is pretty awesome and it’s nice to hear that they are not a company that “ships it” and moves to the next thing. I think they are on the right track since I saw virtually no differences in the data when testing vs. GCQuad and Trackman today.”

double or triple?: “In some cases the difference was less than half a degree on launch and less than 50 rpms on spin.”

hatrick11: “The differences were statistically nonexistent. I think it’s hard to believe for a lot of people when you think about the huge price disparity, but I can’t state enough how close the Full Swing was to trackman every single time, for each of us.”

“Outside, the data is just really really accurate. I know my numbers and know this particular range very well and the KIT was spot on all day. I also had some very variable quality golf balls in the bucket I hit and there was really only one spin rate in the whole session that had me raising my eyebrows at all.”

SwingBlues: “The GolfWRX Full Swing/WRX Experience showed Full Swing KIT produce numbers the same as the GC Quad (GC4) and the Trackman4. Dollar wise, both LMs are easily north of KIT, so this is HUGE to stand up there with the bigger boys on the Podium. For me, it seems more “apples to apples” to compare KIT to GC3. My own testing validates what we saw at the Experience. It shows critical data points like spin, carry, ball speeds are dead on or almost dead on for 40 yards and up on both GC3 and KIT.”

More on the Full Swing KIT

zap311: “The versatility of viewing data is impressive – Depending on usage, everyone has different preferences for viewing data. You have on-device, phone, tablet, monitor, smartwatch, or audio/headphones. I’m pleased to say that Full Swing covers all of these. You can use the app on iOS devices (they said Android is planned for the future). This includes viewing your last shot on the Apple Watch with a few options and turning on audio playback of your preferred metrics following each shot. I’ll post screenshots of this later. You can also choose between 4 data points or 1 data point on the device itself. It was easy to use the app to customize the top 4. For example, I was able to quickly change from launch angle on irons to swing path on driver.

“The KIT was very easy to use – Once you spend a few minutes learning the app and settings, it is very simple to select a club, line up the target line, and fire away. You don’t have to use a level or a laser to line up. KIT uses the built-in camera to tell you where to line up within the app or on-device screen. I was also able to boot up the KIT in less than a minute and drop it down on the tee box for our on-course trial today. Because of this simplicity, I can see it being more practical to bring to the course…

“The Full Swing team really thought through usability for the KIT. You can see up to four data points on the device’s OLED screen. You can see all 16 data points on your iPhone/iPad along with a video replay of the shot, you can view one primary metric from your Apple Watch, and you can enable audio playback for any of the 16 data points. For me, this was a dream as a full iOS user. One other feature I like is that you can star a particular shot to save it. You can also send shot data + the video recording to your coach if you want.”

double or triple?: “I was able to meet the teaching pro at the range I’m using for testing – PGA teacher/member Ryan Kolk. He and his team have 4 units amongst themselves and use them both personally and with their students during lessons. Ryan spent time dialing in his knowledge of the range balls vs proV1x (gamer) to better understand the FSK and he believes the consistency is there with the FSK and within trackman and GC/Foresight models. His preference is to use FSK while testing shafts and new product before using them in his personal playing bag which as a GolfWRX member is 100% appreciated. For his better students, he believes the information like Face to Path and Club Path that FullSwing Kit offers is great to help them understand what their swing is doing and use that information to better themselves.”

hatrick11: “It’s nice to know I can get super useful practice sessions in at my house, and can do in in ~20 min stints; with two little kids at home I can’t just go out for frequent or lengthy range sessions, so this is super valuable and I think will help me keep my game from degrading and allow me to spend my limited free time enjoying the occasional round with friends. In particular with the KIT, as opposed to the cheaper monitors or the other “mid tiers” like GC3, seeing path and face-to-path data is the key item that makes my practice sessions useful…when I am grooving it my path is almost always between 0-2* out to in, with face control being the main thing I need to work on. When my game goes sideways I start coming more in to out, and combined with face consistency being an ongoing issue, that brings the bad left miss into play. Previously I have struggled getting real use out of net practice, because the feels don’t always match reality. This data and video evidence really helps keep me honest, so it was great to see that I was eventually able to get that piece dialed in with KIT.”

SwingBlues: “One feature I am really starting to like is how easy to see the video of each shot. My buddy was not hitting it well, we went to the video and we could see the takeway was too far to the outside.”

“Using the app, it will display all 16 data points. Below is an example of one of my iron shots. Pretty impressive data captured by KIT. On KIT itself, the launch monitor display can be configured to show a single data point, or it can show a grid of 4 data points where the golfer choose which ones to display!”

Head over to the thread for more comments, reviews, and future updates as our members continue to test the Full Swing KIT. Don’t forget to become a member today for future opportunities like this, plus product member testing and giveaways!

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