Best Driver Shafts – 2021 reviews

Introduction

Most golf fans are aware that PGA players get paid to use the irons and woods that you see in their golf bags every weekend. Golf club manufacturers pay very substantial endorsement fees to these pros to carry and use their equipment.

However, the same cannot be said about the shafts that these players use. PGA players are not paid endorsements to use a particular shaft brand or model. Why is that? The reason is that shafts are just too important to a PGA player’s performance and actual ball flight to be used just because of an endorsement contract. The shaft is the engine of the golf swing and they know that the one that they select needs to have very specific characteristics that are custom-fitted to their swings.

There is a lesson here for the rest of us. If the best players in the world make such an effort to choose the right shaft because it can have such a significant impact on their performance, shouldn’t you do everything you can to make an educated decision when it comes to the selection of the shaft that is right for you?

With this article, we will attempt to help you with that decision. After evaluating the market, we are highlighting what we feel are the Best Driver Shafts available and we are dividing them into two categories: the best shafts for those with slower swing speeds (75-95 MPH) and the best shafts for those with faster swing speeds (95+ MPH).

If you don’t know your actual swing speed, you can use your driver carry distance to determine which category would be right for you. If your carry distance with the driver is under 230 yards, you should look at the shafts for slower swing speeds. If you carry the ball in excess of 230 yards, your focus should be on the shafts for higher swing speeds.

Best Driver Shafts for Faster Swing Speeds

As you’ll see in the description of shaft characteristics that follows our recommendations, players who possess fast swing speeds and aggressive tempos will need a shaft profile that is very different from the shafts that would be recommended for slower swingers or those with smooth tempos.

The profile for fast golf swings (> 95 mph) usually includes: a stiff or extra stiff shaft flex, a mid- or high kick point, lower amounts of torque, slightly heavier shafts in overall weight. If this profile describes your swing, here are the shafts that we have determined to be the Best Driver Shafts for you:

1. Mitsubishi TENSEI CK Pro White

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The TENSEI CK Pro White has a tip-stiff, low-launch bend profile preferred by stronger players, and incorporates a Carbon Fiber/Kevlar weave in the butt-section to provide enhanced control, stability and feel. Having created thousands of versions of carbon fiber and resin combinations, they were able to develop unique high-performance materials designed to make this lightweight, high-performance shaft. In fact, this model incorporates more performance-oriented materials than they ever used in any previous shaft. This is a superb shaft that stronger players will love.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
TENSEI CK Pro White 60	S	62	3.9	Mid/Low	Low
TENSEI CK Pro White 60	TX	68	3.9	Mid/Low	Low
TENSEI CK Pro White 70	S	73	3.3	Mid/Low	Low
TENSEI CK Pro White 70	TX	77	3.2	Mid/Low	Low

2. PROJECT X EvenFlow White T1100

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Project X designed the EvenFlow T1100 White to be a low-launch, low-spin shaft with a smooth bend profile and exceptional distance. Using the strongest “high modulus fibers” on the market, the EvenFlow T1100 White has a strong tip section that holds up at impact to deliver the promised results of the shaft. Overall the T1100 has a smooth profile, quality construction, good feel, and an ability to play from lower to mid-level trajectories. This makes it a very appealing shaft.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
EvenFlow White T1100	S	67	3.0	Low	Low
EvenFlow White T1100	X	68	3.0	Low	Low

3. Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black

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The HZRDUS Smoke Black has a flex profile that differentiates itself from its predecessor (the HZRDUS Black). The flex on the newer “Smoke” profile is extremely smooth and has a very noticeable load and release. The kick is smooth and consistent throughout the shaft. It is perfect for the player that wants just a little increase in launch and a bit more “action” throughout the swing.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
HZRDUS Smoke Black	S	59	3.5	Low	Low
HZRDUS Smoke Black	X	61	3.5	Low	Low

4. Fujikura Ventus Black

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The Ventus Black is the low launch/low spin model of the Ventus family. One of the best features of the Ventus Black is that does a good job of feeling firm and stable without feeling dead and boardy. Oftentimes, shafts in this low launch/low spin category end up lacking load and kick due to their stout overall profile. Not so with Ventus Black. This shaft is very stable, but you can feel a good energy transfer with some pop at impact. The Ventus Black is a premium shaft, and one of the best reviewed shafts of the year. But it also carries a premium price. If that doesn’t bother you, you will be getting an elite performer that feels great.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
Ventus Black 6	S	64	3.4	Low	Low
Ventus Black 6	X	65	3.1	Low	Low
Ventus Black 7	S	77	3.1	Low	Low
Ventus Black 7	X	78	2.8	Low	Low

Best Driver Shafts for Slower Swing Speeds

The profile for slower golf swings (< 95 mph) usually includes: a Regular, Senior, or Ladies shaft flex, a low kick point, higher amounts of torque, lighter shafts in overall weight. If this profile describes your swing, here are the shafts that we have determined to be the Best Driver Shafts for you:

1. UST Mamiya Helium

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UST Mamiya’s Helium golf shaft is the answer for players that need more stability and higher performance in an ultra-lightweight design. This all-new design features premium carbon fiber materials, low resin content, and a counterbalanced design for increased stability, more ball speed, and longer distance off the tee. Helium is for the golfer seeking to maximize distance and incredible control.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
UST Helium 4F1	L	50	6.2	Mid-High	High
UST Helium 4F2	A	54	6.2	Mid-High	High
UST Helium 5F3	R	58	5.5	Mid-High	High

2. Project X EvenFlow Red

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The Project X EvenFlow Red shaft features the softest tip, and highest launch and spin, of the EvenFlow series making it the ideal choice for golfers with slower to moderate swing speeds seeking increased carry and distance. Its design is aimed at creating a smooth transition in the down swing from the hands to the club head for the best feel possible.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
EvenFlow Red	L	56	5.0	High	High
EvenFlow Red	A	58	5.0	High	High
EvenFlow Red	R	59	4.6	High	High

3. Graphite Design Tour AD SL-II

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The Graphite Design Tour AD SL-II lightweight shafts were designed with lower swing speed players in mind. It comes in two versions: the SL-II 4 which weighs 49 grams, for players with swing speeds up to 70 mph, and the SL-II 5 which weighs 58 grams and is for players in the 61-85 mph range. These new Graphite Design shafts have a beautiful smooth feel and are designed to help increase your swing speed, which means you’ll achieve greater distance.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
Tour AD SL-II 4 RR2	L	49	5.3	High	High
Tour AD SL-II 5 R2	A	58	4.8	High	High
Tour AD SL-II 5 R1	R	58	4.8	High	High

4. Aldila Quaranta Blue

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Typically, ultra-lightweight shafts give up strength, flex, torsional stiffness, and overall stability in an effort to achieve lighter and lighter weights. That’s not the case with the Quaranta Blue shaft. Aldila’s engineers incorporated their NexGen Micro Laminate Technology to provide the highest level of performance in an extremely lightweight shaft. This design revolution eliminates inconsistent shots caused by shaft variability, while enhancing feel.

Shaft Name	Flex	Weight (grams)	Torque	Spin	Launch
Quaranta Blue 40	L	43	6.9	Mid-High	Mid-High
Quaranta Blue 40	A	44	6.8	Mid-High	Mid-High
Quaranta Blue 40	R	45	6.7	Mid-High	Mid-High
Quaranta Blue 50	L	51	6.9	Mid-High	Mid-High
Quaranta Blue 50	A	52	5.9	Mid-High	Mid-High
Quaranta Blue 50	R	53	5.7	Mid-High	Mid-High

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What You Need to Know About Driver Shafts

There are numerous characteristics of driver shafts that are important in determining their overall performance. As potential buyers, it’s crucial that you have an understanding of these characteristics, so that you can make informed decisions when looking at the various options on the market. Below, we’ll discuss the most important of these characteristics:

• Shaft Flex
• Kick point
• Torque
• Weight
• Length

Shaft Characteristics

Shaft Flex

One of your most important selection criteria when you analyze which shaft to buy will be the shaft flex. When we refer to the flex of the shaft, we are talking about its propensity to bend (or “flex”) during the golf swing, based upon the amount of force to which it is subjected. Someone with a very slow swing speed or who has a smooth swing tempo will not exert significant force on the shaft. Those with very fast swing speeds, or those who have a more aggressive tempo, will apply a great deal more force.

Many people may be unaware that the shaft actually physically bends during the swing. It’s not something that can be seen with the naked eye, but when viewed in slow motion, it is clear that there is an obvious deflection of the shaft beginning at the transition from the top of the swing and throughout the downswing.

This bend in the shaft is a good thing. It provides leverage to your swing that could not otherwise be achieved. But It is critically important that the amount of the bend is matched to your individual swing.

Slower swingers will need shafts that bend a fair amount. Faster swingers on the other hand will require much less bend in their shaft. If you have too much bend in your shaft based on your swing profile, it will result in a lot of inconsistencies in your ball flight. If you don’t have enough bend, you will struggle to square the club head at impact and you will see a lower trajectory than you’d like.

Shaft manufacturers have settled on some designations to display on the shaft label indicating the level of flexibility of a particular shaft, as follows:

• ‘L’ designates a shaft flex meant for Ladies (or for swing speeds under 75 mph)
• ‘A’ for designates a shaft flex meant for Seniors (or those with swings from 75-85 mph)
• ‘R’ designates a Regular shaft flex (for swings between 85-95 mph)
• ‘S’ designates a Stiff shaft flex (for swings between 95-110 mph)
• ‘X’ designates an Extra Stiff flex (for swings in excess of 110 mph)

Takeaway: Shaft flex is very important, and you should make sure that the one you choose has been carefully matched to your specific swing characteristics and speed. Getting it right can lead to better quality of contact, a more consistent shot pattern, and both better distance and distance control. Getting it wrong can cause several undesirable results.

Kick Point

The term “kick point” in a golf shaft refers to the area of the shaft that exhibits the largest amount of bend during the golf swing. It is also referred to as the “bend point” and sometimes as the “flex point.” Even though the term implies that it is a single point on the shaft, in reality it’s an “area.”

You’ll often see kick point emphasized in the specifications that manufacturers list for a shaft. Typically, you’ll see reference to a “low kick point,” a “mid-kick point,” or a “high kick point.”

In low kick point shafts, most of the bending happens in the low end of the shaft, closer to the club head. In high kick point shafts, it occurs higher in the shaft, closer to the grip end. And the bending in mid-kick shafts happens nearer to the shafts center.

What is the significance of these alternative kick points to the golfer? It mostly has to do with the trajectory that you can expect to see.

• Low kick point shafts will produce a higher launch angle
• High Kick point shafts will produce a lower launch angle
• Mid kick point shafts will launch the ball on a moderate trajectory (somewhere between the other two)

Takeaway: Kick point selection is another shaft characteristic that is player-dependent. That is to say that your decision on which one is most appropriate for you will be based upon the launch angle you are seeking. For slower swinging players, who can’t always get the high launch that they’d like, a low kick point can offer some assistance in getting the ball’s trajectory elevated. Conversely, fast swingers who want a lower, more penetrating ball flight, may want to choose among shaft models that have a higher kick point.

Torque

Torque is an important shaft characteristic but one which is not really understood by most amateur golfers. Simply put, the torque of a shaft describes its resistance to rotational twisting during the swing. All shafts have some torque, but the key thing will be to match the amount of torque in a given shaft to your swing.

In the designation of torque levels, they are expressed in degrees (indicating the amount that the shaft twists). A low torque level (2 or 3 degrees, e.g.) indicates a shaft that does less twisting, and a high torque level (4+ degrees) means that it twists more.

But because twisting in a shaft is a somewhat abstract concept, a much better way to think about torque for the average golfer is to consider the relationship between torque and feel.

When a shaft has higher torque (meaning that it is more able to twist), it will have a feel that is smoother and softer. Lower torque shafts, on the other hand, will tend to feel stiffer. What many players describe as a shaft that feels too soft or too stiff, thinking that this feeling is a result of the shaft’s flex, may not in fact actually be related to flex. Instead, what they may be feeling could be related to torque.

Takeaway: As with shaft flex, the amount of torque that is right for a given player is a very individual thing. Generally speaking, players with faster and more aggressive swings will benefit from lower torque shafts. Those with slower, smoother and more rhythmic swings often prefer more torque.

Weight

The average weight of a typical driver shaft has changed significantly over the years. Many years ago, all shafts weighed in excess of 100 grams. But in the past couple of decades, we’ve seen a dramatic decrease toward lighter and lighter overall shaft weights. For a while now, the norm for driver shafts has been around 60-70 grams, which in itself is considered very lightweight in comparison to its predecessors. But there are now more and more shafts being introduced that are even far lighter than this….with some even as low as 40 grams!

Why the downward shift in shaft weights? Well, as a general proposition, swinging a lighter shaft allows you to generate more club speed than you could by swinging a heavier shaft, and if you are creating additional speed, you are able to create additional distance. The quest for distance is often the primary reason that players seek out these lighter options.

But should ultra-lightweight be the goal for everyone? Would some players be better suited with a heavier shaft? In general, golfers with slower swing speeds and tempo can, and probably should, play a lighter shaft. And golfers with very fast speeds and tempo should probably play heavier shafts.

As always, though, you should try out shafts of various weights to determine which one produces the best results for you. For the most part, you should be able to tell which weight is best largely by feel. If you are swinging a shaft that’s too heavy, you will have the feeling that your swing is “labored.” In comparison, a shaft that’s too light will make it harder to have dependably solid contact. When you find the right shaft weight, your swing will feel more “efficient” and your ball flight will be more consistent.

Takeaway: As with flex and torque, the weight of your shaft is also an important decision criterion. Getting it right can lead to better and more consistent performance, while getting it wrong can lead to a whole host of ball flight-related issues. Rule of thumb: slower swingers will usually benefit from lighter weight shafts and fast swingers may like the feel of a little more weight.

Length

Shaft length is another area that has evolved significantly over the years. Back in the day, as they say, driver shafts were always around 43 inches in length. But nowadays, that’s the length of the average 3-wood! Most driver shafts today are about 45 to 45 1/2 inches.

And, once again, what is driving this increase in driver shaft length? Yes, of course, it’s distance. Generally, the longer the shaft, the farther you will be able to hit the ball. And everyone wants to hit the ball farther. In addition, distance is a key selling point of the club manufacturers, so they have monetary incentives to keep putting longer shafts in the drivers that they sell. If they can continue to market their model as the “longest driver on the market,” they will sell more drivers.

But shaft length, like so many things in life, is subject to the laws of diminishing returns. The longer a shaft becomes, the harder it is for the golfer to consistently find the sweet spot. And center-face contact is perhaps the biggest single factor in how far the ball carries. So, players can continue to opt for longer and longer shafts, but they will do so at the expense of a solid hit, and ultimately their yardage could actually suffer. This may explain why the average consumer driver length is 45 1/2”, but the average driver shaft length on the PGA Tour is 44 ½”. Those guys know the value of making quality, sweet spot contact!

Takeaway: Every golfer is unique. If you’re already blessed with a fast and powerful swing, you’re one who would probably benefit from a slightly shorter overall length which would maximize your control and your ability to find the sweet spot. But if you happen to have a slower swing speed, you may be better off with the distance that a longer shaft provides. It’s a balance that each golfer will need to determine.

Making Your Decision – How to Select the Right Shaft

The selection of a driver shaft is something that you should take very seriously. Too many golfers simply accept the stock shaft that comes with the driver without any analysis of whether the shaft is actually appropriate for their specific, and unique, swing profile. Leaving that to chance is a risk you shouldn’t take. Just as you would never buy a suit off the rack without making sure that the sleeves and the pants were the right lengths, and that the waist size was correct, you shouldn’t accept any “off the rack” driver shaft either.

The previous section was meant to provide you with a blueprint of how to go about making that decision. Check all the shaft characteristics that we described before making any purchase decisions. Make sure that the shaft flex is right for your swing speed and tempo. If you are looking for a higher trajectory or a lower trajectory, identify whether the shaft has the proper kick point. Regarding torque, the labels on a golf shaft don’t always indicate what it is, so you may need to do a little research there. Remember: lower swing speed players usually need more torque, and faster swingers usually need less. And, finally, decide whether you’d prefer an ultra-lightweight shaft (under 60 grams), a more traditional weighted shaft (60-70 grams), or a bit heavier model (70+ grams).

Follow the blueprint and test out various shafts with the right characteristics for your swing. We’ve done a lot of the homework for you with the recommendations we made. The shafts we identified above were selected for two reasons: 1) because they incorporate the proper characteristics that we described based on whether you have a fast swing speed or a slower swing speed, and 2) because they represent best-in-class options when compared to other models on the market.

Conclusion

The advancements in golf shaft technology have been amazing. Design and manufacturing processes have been dramatically improved, and the introduction of new and exotic materials has enabled engineers to produce more stable and consistent shafts at lighter and lighter overall weights.

But the potential impact of these technology advancements on your game will be diminished if you don’t make certain that the shaft you end up using is suited to your swing. With the right shaft, you will see a better, more consistent ball flight, enhanced accuracy, and improved overall performance.

Use the blueprint we’ve provided to make sure you’re taking full advantage of the technology. Good luck on your hunt for the perfect driver shaft!