tour ad shaft for me

Choosing the Right Graphite Design Tour AD Shaft

And, Webb Simpson won THE PLAYERS 2018 Championship with the new higher launching Tour IZ 5X!

The Tour AD DI model is the first Graphite Design shaft design that was integrated with Toray Company’s original NANOALLOY material technology in the tip section of the shaft. This material technology has now come to be known as “DI Technology”. This unique material technology promotes additionally shaft stability without the loss of feel and allows the player to create greater club head speed and thus greater ball speed while still providing exceptional feel and control.

2018 Graphite Design Shaft Profile Comparison Chart

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Graphite Design Tour AD Wood Shafts

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Choosing the Right Graphite Design Tour AD Shaft

By DanSueltz August 9th, 2017

Graphite Design Tour AD shafts  have won 32 global professional tournaments in 2017, with over half of those being won with the DI, “Deep Impact” model.  The winners of the 2017 World Golf Championship – Bridgestone Invitational, Senior Open Championship both played the DI in their drivers and in some cases fairway woods and hybrids.  The winner of the Ricoh Women’s Open Championship played a Tour AD GP in her driver

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Graphite Design Tour AD VF Shaft Review

This shaft will win the victory as your gamer.

Tyler Fitzel Professional club fitter and author at Independent Golf Reviews

I love fall golf for many reasons, but one in particular is the Launch (pun intended) of the new Graphite Design Wood Shafts. I have used the Brand New for 2024 Graphite Design Tour AD VF Shaft for 15 rounds of golf and simulator testing with outstanding results.

This is the definitive Graphite Design Tour AD VF Shaft review.

This shaft was featured #2 in Our Best Driver Shafts 2024 article . 

New in 24’ Every V ictory will have a driving F orce with the Tour AD VF . Well known for high performance and premium golf shafts, the engineers at Graphite Design are continuously seeking to produce the optimal shaft for your game. With 5 weight options and 6 flex designations, the Tour AD VF shaft could be your Driving Force to Victory soon. Available 10/6/23 and already in play on the PGA Tour.

Jeopardy Style: “An unmistakable pattern of jet black and red rings on a shaft used for amazing Tour level Accuracy and Distance in golf.” “What is the NEW Tour AD VF ?”  Black and Red had been Sunday colors to me, but every day is Jet Black and Cherry Red now with the Graphite Design Tour AD VF . These colors POP and this shaft will match any club with style.

Stout and Crisp is how I would describe the new Tour AD VF shaft. Feel is always subject to the person making the comments, but this shaft is built for the golfer wanting to tighten up the loading and unloading feel. The profile of the new Tour AD VF is a contrast to most other shafts in the family. With a Firm+ (Butt Section), Stiff (Mid Section) and Very Stiff (Tip Section) this is one of the stiffest shafts we’ve seen for some time out of Graphite Design. I like how all the shafts for Graphite Design can be compared by Stiffness using the 3 zones of the shaft. From the perspective of a Fitter, the entire line up of Graphite Design shafts are laid out, so before you even try the shaft you can identify the key elements you need for the best fit.

Performance

The new Graphite Design Tour AD VF Shaft is designed to produce Low/Mid launch angles and Low-ball spin rates. After playing the 23’ Tour AD CQ since last fall, I found my Accuracy and Distance increased greatly. I’ve hit the driver this year with some of my personal best results, which I attribute to having a great head and shaft combination for my swing. The Tour AD VF , has a slightly lower launch angle, so I was able to turn up the loft on my driver and gain an advantage in peak high without as much spin. The stability of the shaft produced even more personal best yardages, both longer and straighter. Just when I think they have an incredible shaft for my driver, they come up with another one that works exceptionally well!

The new Graphite Design Tour AD VF Shaft utilizes the same TORAYCA ® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY ® technology as several Tour AD shafts from recent years. This provides the tip section of the shaft with additional shaft stability, exceptional feel and precise ball control. 

The Tour AD VF also utilizes TORAYCA ® M40X carbon-fiber pre-preg in the Mid to Tip section of the shaft as did the XC model in 2020. This strength in transition from Mid to Tip helps create a Low/Mid Launch and Low Spin characteristics, as well as give the shaft rotational stability for added consistency in shot dispersion. 

Along with TORAYCA ® and NANOALLOY ® is Graphite Design’s proprietary M aterial S tiffness I ntegration ( MSI ) design philosophy and technology. The way each layer of material is used helps create the unmistakable feel and performance in all Graphite Design shafts. This attention to detail in production is what makes Graphite Design one of the industry leaders. 

With 35 years of Tour proven A ccuracy & D istance… Maybe it’s time for you to experience the difference a premium, Graphite Design shaft can make! Many factors go into finding the optimal shaft for your swing, find an Authorized Dealer to help you get the right Tour AD shaft in your club.

If you are not “gaming” a Graphite Design Tour AD VF Shaft you might be leaving yards and accuracy on the table, and most certainly missing out on the amazing feel that is found in all Graphite Design Shafts.  The VF wants to give you Victory Force on every tee.

For more information: http://proschoicegolfshafts.com

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Club Junkie Review: Graphite Design Tour AD VF wood shaft

Graphite Design has been a legendary brand in the world of premium golf shafts since the company was founded in 1989. Graphite Design has had some popular shafts over the years, but they are probably most well known for the Tour AD DI that was released in 2010. Today we are talking about the newest shaft in the Graphite Design lineup, the new VF. The letters do stand for something, Victory Force, and according to Graphite Design every victory requires force! For a more in-depth review, please check out the Club Junkie podcast below or on any streaming platform. Just search “GolfWRX Radio.”

Out of the box, the VF has a very familiar look with a red handle section and a black tip section that are separated with the traditional 10 silver rings. The color combination is definitely more subtle than some of the other Tour AD shaft combinations. Graphite Design doesn’t make too many low-launching shafts, so the VF is filling that need. The VF will suit players looking for low/,id launch and low spin shaft to put in their driver or fairway wood.

The shaft profile is a firm+ handle section, it matches the stiffest handles Graphite Design shafts, with a stiff midsection, and finally a very stiff tip. Exotic materials are used along with MSI Design to maintain stability and consistency. Graphite Design uses Torayca M40X carbon fiber in the handle section to make it stiffer and enhance control of the shaft. Ultra-high modulus Torayca T1100G is used in the middle and tip section for added stability without losing that smooth feel.

I built up the VF shaft using a universal tip system that allows me to use the shaft in any driver head. The building went extremely smoothly as every Graphite Design shaft I have ever installed has a consistent tip diameter and I have never had any issues with a sloppy fit. Once the VF was cut to length and installed, the shaft has a great look that doesn’t jump out as distracting or eye-catching. If you are playing a TaylorMade Stealth 2, then the shaft blends in naturally and they look to visually be great partners!

You would expect a smooth and responsive feel from any Graphite Design shaft and you will get just that with the VF. For me the shaft was exactly as Graphite Design describes, being mid/low launch and offering a very penetrating ball flight. The Tour AD XC might launch a touch lower, but I like the feel and consistency I get from the VF just a little bit more. No matter what driver head I used, the VF seemed to offer ball flight in a similar window, slightly lower than the Fujikura Ventus TR Blue I was using. Even shots into the wind showed no real signs of rising or ballooning. Spin was also lower than I expected with the VF shaft. On the course, I noticed a penetrating, boring flight no matter where I hit the ball on the driver face. Shots struck low on the face held a good amount of distance and even the low heel strike seemed to launch lower and carry further.

I even took a couple of driver heads out to the range with a launch monitor and noticed that I rarely saw a spin number with a “3” in front of it. Almost every shot, good and not so good, seemed to spin around that 2,600 RPM number. With many fittings and shaft tinkering, that is usually on the lower end of what I find with my swing. As I said with the shaft being mid/low launch I was seeing an average of around 11 degrees while using a couple of 10.5-degree driver heads. On course, the VF was very straight and consistent and while it seemed easier to square up than I expected, it did not want to go left as easily as some other shafts. I would consider the flight just slightly fade biased but if you release the club properly you will be rewarded with a straight shot down the fairway.

Overall, the Graphite Design Tour AD VF is a really solid mid/low launch and low spin option with a smooth feel. It is starting to gain some traction on the professional tours and could be a great shaft for your swing as well.

Graphite Design Tour AD VF Specs

Photos from the 2023 Sanderson Farms Championship

Trending @ 2nd Swing Golf: Titleist T200 irons and 4 more hot products

I have been an employee at GolfWRX since 2016. In that time I have been helping create content on GolfWRX Radio, GolfWRX YouTube, as well as writing for the front page. Self-proclaimed gear junkie who loves all sorts of golf equipment as well as building golf clubs!

Oct 12, 2023 at 11:59 am

You mentioned the Tour AD GP was one of your favorite Graphite Design shafts (same here). How did the VF compare to it? Do you think it’s the GP replacement essentially?

Brian Knudson

Oct 12, 2023 at 12:45 pm

To me the VF launches just a little lower and definitely spins less. I also find that I have a little less draw, more straight, ball flight with the VF.

Oct 3, 2023 at 6:08 pm

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Whats in the bag, russell henley witb 2024 (march).

• Russell Henley WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.

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7-wood: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees)

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Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 (50, 54, 58)

Putter: Ping

Ball: Renegade Mbu

Check out more photos of Vince Carter’s WITB here.

From the Forums: I need more forgiveness in my irons – Looking for recommendations

In our forums, our members have been discussing the most forgiving irons currently on the market. WRXer ‘TheShark1’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons, saying:

“Currently gaming the Mizuno Pro 225’s but think I need more forgiveness in my irons. My well struck shots are real nice, but my mishits are not performing as good as I had hoped anymore. I really like hollow body irons so if I could find something more forgiving in a hollow body iron that would be great. Open to any and all recommendations other than Ping. Can’t hit Ping irons at all.”

And our members have been sharing their best suggestions in our forum.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

• AvidSwampThing66: “Another vote for the super forgiving and fast Paradym irons.   They look really good for being a GI iron.”
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Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review

Graphite design tour ad hd.

In the most surprising and wacky year of my lifetime, one constant showed up right on time. The Q4 release of a new Graphite Design shaft, that is! For 2021, they’ve again modernized one of their most popular profiles and given us the Tour AD HD. The Tour AD HD will play firm throughout the handle, midsection, and tip – giving it a “one piece” feel, but still enough action to be fun. As always, it’s packed with cutting edge materials and tech, and looks amazing.

What I like about Graphite Design is that they’re consistently bold in the graphics department. Consistent in that they keep the same paint schemes for nearly their entire lineup (art deco-style lettering and usually a two-tone coloring on each side of a distinctive ring pattern.) Bold in that they often choose vibrant, eye catching, solid colors to make their shafts instantly noticeable.

The Tour AD HD – the shaft that’s going to take your game into “Hyper Drive” clearly delivers in the visual appeal department. The mostly matte white finish comes with subtly sparkly light blue lettering with some black accents. This thing contrasts amazing with a dark clubhead, and of course, everyone will know you’re gaming a Graphite Design on that first tee.

How Does it Feel?

The days of shaft companies offering merely a high, medium, low launch option are of course long gone. We all know that. What Graphite Design has done is create a diverse menu of shafts that caters to the infinite number of golf swings out there. They have a shaft that matches your swing characteristics AND what you’re looking for in feel. Adding to that, they’re now updating many of their most popular profiles with new materials and techniques. For this edition, the Tour AD HD is packed with Graphite Design’s exclusive Fast Taper Technology, TORAYCA M40X carbon-fiber in the mid through tip sections as well as T1100G material to add stability.

The Tour AD HD will feel firm from tip to grip. The designers created it to have a “one piece feel” that users of the ultra yellow Tour AD MT will find very familiar. While I have not hit the AD MT much, I’ll agree that the AD HD feels pretty stable throughout the whole swing. There’s not a lot of give in the hands, and you’ll get a tiny little kick near the tip when you impact the ball. You are most definitely NOT going to get the super smooth feel from this shaft like you will with an AD DI, but I still love it.

On-Course Performance

From swing number one, I knew the Tour AD HD was a winner. It gave me exactly the mid launch and mid/low spin that I like to see. I have a downward angle of attack (too much) and any extra spin causes me trouble. My preferred shot shape is typically a mid or low bunt type shot, and the AD HD lets me hit it where I need to hit it. I was able to take it to Sand Valley in Wisconsin and got to play on perfect firm and fast turf. This thing was letting me hit perfect, mid/slow screamers all weekend. I probably hit two bad drives during that visit, and I’m often what we at Driving Range Heroes call a “COMPLETE HEAD CASE” from the tee box.

One thing I will hammer home again is to get someone that knows what they’re doing to fit you into this shaft. The Tour AD HD in 6X feels stiffer than my beloved AD DI in 7X. Actually, that AD DI is a bit of a Frankenstein. I bought it off the ‘Bay because I can’t ever pass up a good deal and I “needed” another AD DI. It was a mangled, misrepresented item in that it was originally a fairway shaft that was tip trimmed 1.5” TOO MUCH then sold as a driver shaft. Well, I extended it and tossed it in my driver and it’s awesome. However, it’s still not as stiff feeling as the AD HD. Moral of the story – figure it out right the first time.

Final Thoughts – Graphite Design Tour AD HD

The new Graphite Design Tour AD HD plays firm but responsive. For me, it flies far, feels awesome, and looks super, icy cool. As a guy that gets to try a bunch of new golf shafts every year, it’s a rare occasion where I will say “this one just fits me and I’m keeping it for a while” – and that’s exactly what I’m going to do with the AD HD. The Tour AD HD will be available at your favorite club fitter on October 1st. Pack some peanut butter sandwiches into that staff bag and get in line now.

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Graphite Designs Tour AD DI Shaft Review

More in reviews:.

50 Words or Less

The Graphite Designs Tour AD DI shaft feels great and put up some spectacular numbers.  Easy to see why it’s such a hit on the PGA Tour.

Check out the low launch, low spin Tour AD VF HERE

Introduction

The goal of any manufacturer is to build hype around their product organically.  Smothering the consumer with ads is fine, but it’s nothing compared to the consumer seeing all of their friends talking about and using a product.  That latter scenario is what seemed to happen overnight with the Graphite Designs Tour AD DI shaft.

From Charles Howell III to Tiger Woods to Adam Scott, it felt like every PGA Tour pro was playing the orange “Deep Impact,” and every forum was chattering about it.  The momentum continues to the 2016-2017 season as Hideki Matsuyama uses one in his driver to stack up wins.  We put this tour-proven shaft through the paces to see how it performs for those of us without PGA Tour swings.

Love the AD DI but want something new?  Check out the Graphite Design Tour AD UB HERE

Graphite Designs has a formula for the graphics of their Tour AD shafts, and the DI doesn’t vary from it.  It’s primarily one solid color with some rings in the mid-butt area and very simple graphics .  While some of the colors are bold, the graphics are no nonsense.

Unlike most of their line up, the AD DI does come in two flavors: black and the signature orange .  Go stealth or stand out, the choice is yours.

Somehow I missed out on the AD DI craze a couple years ago, but after one swing I immediately understood what all the fuss was about.  This shaft has a tremendous kick to it, but it never feels out of control.  The company’s description is “Medium” in the butt and mid and “Stiff” in the tip, which matches my assessment exactly.  You get a smooth, powerful kick through impact, but the tip doesn’t feel loose or torque-y, even on mishits.

As an aside, kudos to Graphite Designs for taking all the voodoo out of shaft descriptions.  For each of their shafts, they describe the butt, mid, and tip sections on a scale that ranges from “Very Stiff” to “Soft.”  This makes it easy to figure out what you might like and what you want to try next.

Performance

When I love the feel of a shaft, chances are its going to perform well for me.  That was certainly the case with the Graphite Designs AD DI.

I started my testing with the stiff flex version of the AD DI.  The smooth kick made me feel like I was delivering effortless power to the ball, and the results were very solid.  When I bumped up to the X flex, things got even better.  The kick was slightly less pronounced, as you’d expect, but the consistency of the results was through the roof.  Every shot was near the center of the face, and the monitor was showing the same push-draw time after time .

For players who haven’t hit Graphite Designs shafts and can’t make use of their feel chart, I would say that the AD DI is a mix of the Diamana Blue and White shafts.  It has the smooth feel and pronounced kick of the blue with the strong tip of the white.  For me, that adds up to great consistency with tremendous feel .

Prior to this review, my experience with  Graphite Designs  shafts had been minimal, but now the AD DI is making a serious push to go in the bag.  It blends some of the best attributes of my favorite shafts, and the performance simply can’t be argued with.  Waiting to get this into play is just one more reason that this winter is going to feel really long.

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31 Comments

First of all, I thank you for your website. Passionate about golf and about gear of golf , you are for me , the website number one on the subject .

I particularly appreciated your review of the ADDI shaft. GRAPHITE DESIGN being one of my favorite trademarks. I hope that others tests of the range are going to follow. Thank you again ! Excuse-me for my broken English. Patrick

Hey Matt, always enjoy reading your reviews. This GD Tour AD DI is a shaft I keep hearing about and seeing in clubs over the years. It was no surprise to hear you were impressed by it, but it was really interesting to see that you were concentrating on the proper flex for yourself(S vs. XS). With that said, I was wondering what your thoughts are on the Stiff shaft. I know you will ultimately fall back on getting fit….understood. But given what you experienced for yourself, which appeared to be that you need the XS shaft for your swing speed to maximize accuracy, what would you venture the S flex would be good for in terms of swing speed? Assuming a smooth swing and 102-103 mph….S flex? Once again, I know a fitting is absolutely a must, but what swing speed range do you think might benefit best from the S flex AD DI shaft?

The thing that impressed me about the AD DI is that I could have been very happy playing the S, I just preferred the shot shape with the X. The S is also so smooth, I think it could work all the way down to, perhaps 95 MPH. Around 100 MPH is probably the sweet spot.

Matt, surprised it has taken so long to try out this iconic shaft. I am 100 SS and the GD DI 60 Stiff is the shaft I keep coming back to. Best feel yet never seems overpowered. Also agreed with the comment that it sits between the Diamana Blue and White. More stable than the Blue and more feel than the White.

And if you want that next level of stiffness / low ball flight try the BB. I noticed Kaymer just moved from DI to BB in driver, but kept DI in other woods. It also comes in Black which I think was a special order/ request from Adam Scott a few years back.

First of all I thank you for your site !

For me you are the number one ! I particularly appreciated your review of the ADDI ; GD being one of my favorites trademarks I hope that others tests of the range are going to follow

thank you again Patrick ( paris)

We will have a review of the AD TP coming soon and hopefully more to follow after that. Any models in particular that you’re interested in?

Thank you Matt !

a review of the AD TP would be perfect ! AD MT too !

Thanks, Matt. As it is often said the shaft is the “engine” of the club and the key to proper fitting. For us mere mortals, may I presume that this shaft also comes in a “Regular” form for slower swing speeds? Thanks again. Steve

Yes, it’s available in R2 (senior) through X.

I have the AD DI-7s shaft in my TaylorMade 2017 M2 3 wood. It’s the best club I’ve ever owned. My swing speed is around 105mph, yet I feel as if however hard I swing with this shaft, it just copes and continues to deliver. The feel is exquisite. Now all I have to do is see if I can find a driver to put this shaft into!

Hi Matt, I have just purchased a Ping G400 Max Driver…Reg stock stand.shaft. I am 70 yo on 18 h/c. Would I benefit from fitting an Ad Di Shaft ? In a regular form. My swing speed is around 90 to100. Can I buy in Australia?

I’m not sure who distributes Graphite Design in Australia.

There’s no inherent reason why the AD DI would be better than the stock PING shaft. The only way it would be better is if it’s a better fit for your swing, which you could find out by working with a high quality club fitter.

Love the podcast!

Are these averages from the S or X flex?

This was a while back but I believe the X was the better fit.

What was your ball flight with the S?

I’m not going to be able to reliably tell you any more than is in the review, this was written quite a while back.

Great review. How would you compare this shaft to the Tensei series? Also, in the past have you ever put together a shaft comparison chart?

There are a lot of different profiles in the Tensei series, but overall both the Tensei and Graphite Designs shafts are consistent and high quality. I have not put together a shaft comparison chart because we encourage everyone to be fit.

Hi Matt, I have the choice of the Di 60g stiff or VENTUS Black 6 60g in New St200 G, VENTUS is newer to market, what do you think.?

I would suggest getting fit and finding the best option for your swing. If you want to know what fits my swing, you can see my WITB here: https://pluggedingolf.com/about/matt-saternus/matts-whats-in-the-bag/

Hey Matt, Hopefully you still remember the feel of this shaft since it was reviewed a number of years ago…. In the review you stated that the feel was somewhere between Diamana BF and DF. Now I am curious to know whether the feel of the AD DI is similar to the Diamana ZF in your experience since the ZF is considered to be in between DF and BF regarding feel. I know you did the review on the ZF already but maybe I am just looking for a confirmation. Hope you can answer my question, thanks!

Overall, yes, they’re somewhat similar.

would you recommend AD_D1 7x for a senior who’s swing speed is down?

A 70 gram X flex is not something I would recommend for someone whose speed is going down, unless it’s going down from a truly elite level.

Are you able to share what head(s) you had conducted this shaft review with? As always appreciate you and plugged in.

Thanks, Mike

I always test with my gamer, the PING G425 Max.

I demoed the DI-6s with a fitter a while back and he thought it was my best fit from what we had available. However my club head SS is only mid, maybe high 90s, which according to GD suggests a stiff- regular. The fitter doesn’t have a SR with a Ping tip to demo. I’m playing a Ping tour 65 stiff ok right now but the DI was better.

If anything, the DI-6 stiff plays smoother/less demanding than the Ping tour stiff, true? Apparently the DI-6s might play ok down to mid 90s as you mentioned? Otoh worst case, a stiff-regular wouldn’t be flimsy, true?

Thanks for any thoughts…$370 shaft, good grief:-)

Yes, I think the AD-DI will feel softer/smoother than the PING Tour in the same flex. Personally, I would be hesitant to buy anything I hadn’t tested, especially for $370. If you thought the stiff felt good and it worked well, I would stick with that rather than taking a chance on the SR.

Does anyone have experience with the 105x hybrid/driving iron shaft? Thoughts? Is it “too stiff”?

Good morning! I wanted to see if you could share a thought or two comparing the Tour AD DI vs the Ventus TR Red. Thanks

I have a full review of the Ventus TR Red here: https://pluggedingolf.com/fujikura-ventus-tr-red-shaft-review/

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Graphite Design Tour AD VR-6 Shaft

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Mid/high launch, low spin. The Tour AD VR shaft profile is firm to stiff starting at the handle, medium/firm in the center section and has a firm tip to promote a mid/high launch angle and low ball spin rates. The Tour AD VR 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.

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Product Specs

Shaft configurator.

Graphite Design Tour AD IZ Graphite Wood Shafts

Shaft services optional, description.

Graphite Design introduces the latest in the Tour AD premium line of golf shafts, the Graphite Design Tour AD IZ – “ Into the Zone” . Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the new Tour AD IZ wood shaft has a very stealthy look to it in black with white/orange accents and a sleek new matte finish.

The Tour AD IZ , 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.

The new Tour AD IZ shaft has a firm stiffness starting at the handle, and medium center section and a firm+ tip profile to promote a high launch angle and low ball spin rates. The new Tour AD IZ 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.

• 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 Material Stiffness Integration (MSI) design philosophy and technology.
• High launch, low spin design
• Three weight options

Click here for Trimming Instructions

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This product can expose you to chemicals including black (airborne, unbound particles of respirable size), which is know to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov .

Shaft Services

Important Note: Please provide Current contact information. Customer service may require further information before proceeding with your order.

PUREing - $25.00

SST PURE identifies asymmetries that exist in every golf shaft and locates each shaft's most stable orientation. This results in more consistent performance and uniform feel from club to club.

Tip Prepping - $2.95

Shafts are tip trimmed (if required) to manufacturer’s recommendations. For steel shafts, we abrade the tips. For graphite shafts, we remove the polyurethane coating. When you receive your shaft, all you need to do is mix epoxy, install and align. After the epoxy is cured, cut to your final playing length from the butt end and install the grip.

Tip & Butt Trimming - $4.95

Shafts are tip trimmed (if required) to manufacturer’s recommendations. For steel shafts, we abrade the tips. For graphite shafts, we remove the polyurethane coating. After tip trimming and prepping, the shafts are butt trimmed to the desired final playing length*.

Club Playing Length

Our playing length chart is available here .

* The exact model, club head number, and desired final playing length is required for butt trimming to be possible.

* The club number and or loft is require for tip prepping on most parallel (.335" and .370") golf shafts.

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Shaft Review – Graphite Design Tour AD VR

• BY Tony Covey
• Oct 24th 2018
• Read all comments

While I’m not what you’d call a fan of dropping temperatures and falling leaves, I do appreciate that autumn almost invariably brings with it the release of a new Tour AD model from Graphite Design. For the 2019 season, it’s the Tour AD VR.

Cosmetically, the VR (which, FYI, stands for Vanquish All Rivals ) is everything you’d expect from the AD line. Colors may change, but Graphite Design maintains a consistent look. You know it’s an AD because it looks like an AD. While that means the graphics might not be as bold or ostentatious as others, it’s a dependable no-nonsense approach that seldom results in a color scheme anyone would consider an eyesore.

Now, I imagine you might be looking at the AD VR’s blue colorway and thinking that the AD VR must be a replacement for the popular AD BB. Not so fast, cowboy. While some of us would be totally onboard with that, Graphite Design describes the Tour AD VR as a slightly tweaked Tour AD IZ (which is a slightly tweaked Tour AD DI). Fans of the IZ (or the DI for that matter) shouldn’t freak out. Nothing is moving out of the lineup to make way for the new model. That’s not how Graphite Design does things. It can take fitters a couple of years to get comfortable with a shaft, so the company doesn’t find much value in yanking trusted models to make room for something unfamiliar. The Tour AD DI, for example, turns 9 this year, but it’s still in the lineup because the performance still holds up and it still moves the needle with golfers and fitters.

AD VR Performance Characteristics

Given how Graphite Design describes the VR, it’s reasonable to base our comparisons around the Tour AD IZ. The company says the AD VR has the softer tip of the two, but it’s important to remember that butt, middle and tip section measurements can vary tremendously based on how each section of shaft is defined by those taking the measurements. Using the  Cool Clubs S3  data as our standard, you’ll see, the AD VR comes out slightly firmer in the butt and tip sections with a mid-section that’s just a bit softer. According to Graphite Design, the kickpoint on the AD VR has been pulled up slightly to promote lower launch. The collection of changes makes for a shaft that the manufacturer describes as offering mid/high launch and low spin.

As with last season’s IZ and 2017’s AD TP, the AD VR features FTT (Fast Taper Technology), which, according to Graphite Design, “incorporates a faster taper rate from the grip to the lower mid-section of the shaft, providing the overall feeling of greater clubhead control at impact and an increase in clubhead speed.” The AD TP (first to incorporate FTT) was included in low spin shaft test, and our results suggest FTT may contribute to tighter dispersion.

While I would actively encourage you not to obsess over materials, I’m obliged to tell you that the AD VR, like other recent AD models, is made primarily from 50T carbon fiber and uses T1100G to strategically stiffen sections of the shaft without adding weight.

For our CoolClubs S3-powered comparisons we’ve chosen the to show the VR alongside the IZ. We thought that made the most sense given how Graphite Design describes the VR. It’s also worth noting that in July of this year, IZ was the best-selling shaft in the Graphite Design lineup. It’s the first time in the better part of a decade that anything in the lineup has outsold the iconic AD DI.

GRAPHITE DESIGN TOUR AD VR: THE COOL CLUBS S3 COMPARISON

“S3 Technologies utilizes the most advanced shaft testing technology in the industry. The Shaft Simulation System (S3), which was developed in 2013, is a fully-automated, all-in-one shaft profiling machine. In a matter of minutes, the S3 determines the following shaft specs: (Straightness, Consistency Profile, EI Profile, CPM Analysis and Torque. While some of the aforementioned specs can be obtained from shaft manufacturers, a lack of industry standards prevents that data from being used for accurate apples-to-apples comparisons. S3 Technologies ,  solves this challenge by testing all of our production in-house using the S3. This gives S3 Technologies a unique and in-depth understanding of the quality and performance of the industry’s shafts.”

Not only does S3 give us  standardized quantitative information  about the shaft(s) being reviewed, the data we share will provide you with a much better sense of how those shafts compare with similarly spec’d offerings on the market today.

TOUR AD VR LAUNCH CHARACTERISTICS

Cool Clubs S3  classifies the 65g stiff AD VR as a mid launch shaft. By comparison, the AD IZ is classified as a mid-high launch shaft. In this comparison, Neutral (the Mid reference point used to classify launch parameters) and the database average for similarly spec’d shafts are almost identical. The takeaway is that the AD VR can be expected to launch a bit higher than similar shafts, but a bit lower than the Tour AD IZ.

Tour AD VR ZONE EI

The following chart compares the stiffness of the Tour AD VR to the Tour AD IZ in the butt, mid, and tip sections. Measurements are based on the stiff flex versions of the 65-gram model.

Because each shaft manufacturer defines zones a bit differently, it’s not unusual for S3 measurements to deviate from OEM descriptions. In this case, we see a stiffer handle section relative to the AD IZ with a slightly softer mid-section and a slightly firmer tip. The frequency measurements (not shown) are effectively equivalent.

This is the first time we’ve included a compared EI profile in a shaft review, but in this case, I believe it’s especially helpful for visualizing the differences between the two models discussed. Note that the curve is depicted from the butt (left side of chart) to the tip (right side of the chart).

The stiffer handle section of the AD VR is readily apparent, as is the slightly softer mid section and the slightly firmer tip.

The profile shape is indicative of a good portion of the of the Tour AD lineup. Individual models are more similar than different and most share the sloping profile depicted. The shape isn’t dissimilar to what you’d find in most Speeder models or the Diamana Blue. For what it’s worth, it’s a shape that generally works well for me.

What you should glean from all of this is that it is subtle differences in zone stiffness, balance point, and torque that truly differentiate the individual AD models.

AD VR BALANCE POINT

The following chart compares the balance point of the AD VR to the AD IZ. Measurements are based on the stiff flex versions of the 65-gram model.

The S3 data suggests that the balance point of the AD VR is the same as the AD IZ. Both the VR and the IZ have balance points that are slightly higher than the S3 Database average for shafts with similar specifications.

As you may recall from our  Golf Geeks Story on Shaft Performance , a higher balance point allows for more head weight without drastically impacting the swingweight. For golfers seeking more distance (admittedly often at the expense of accuracy), this allows drivers to be built to longer playing lengths.

Swing Speed Recommendations

The chart below provides swing speed recommendations for the entire Tour AD VR lineup.

Note that these recommendations are based on the full range of  Cool Clubs ‘ building and fitting capabilities, including factors such as tipping and build length which can cause a shaft to play either softer or stiffer.

To simplify things a bit, you may wish to narrow these ranges. The sweet spot from a fitting perspective begins 25% from the slow end of the range. As a general rule, players with faster tempos, particularly in transition may fit into a stiff flex, while smoother swingers often fit into a softer flex.

From the Cool Clubs Fitting Team

For this discussion, we chose the VR-6 Stiff flex which is in the middle of the weight range for this shaft and compared it to Graphite Design’s IZ-6 S. The shafts both weigh 64.9 grams.

Consistent with their other shafts, the VR is made with high performance, high quality 50t carbon-fiber materials. They have continued to use their Fast Taper Technology, which differs from typical shafts in the amount of taper from the butt to the middle of the shaft. The iconic Graphite Design stripes are still readily visible and the rest of the shaft is very good looking in a deeper blue color with silver accents.

The GD Tour AD VR is designed as a mid-launch and mid to lower spin shaft. Available in a broad range of weights from 40 to 80 grams and flexes from R2 to X this shaft will fit a variety of players. The lighter VR-4 will launch the ball higher and spin more than the mid to heavier weight models.

When comparing launch the VR-6 is slightly lower than the IZ-6 but both are a little higher than the average launch of shafts in our database. Of these two shafts the VR-6 is stiffer than the IZ-6 in both the butt section and tip section. The shafts mirror each other through the mid section. The balance point is identical while the frequency is just slightly stiffer in the VR-6.

If you like the IZ-6 but want slightly lower launch and spin then the VR-6 is for you.

For more information on the Graphite Design Tour AD VR, visit Proschoicegolfshaft.co m .

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• about the author
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Tony is the Editor of MyGolfSpy where his job is to bring fresh and innovative content to the site. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he was instrumental in developing MyGolfSpy's data-driven testing methodologies and continues to sift through our data to find the insights that can help improve your game. Tony believes that golfers deserve to know what's real and what's not, and that means MyGolfSpy's equipment coverage must extend beyond the so-called facts as dictated by the same companies that created them. Most of all Tony believes in performance over hype and #PowerToThePlayer.

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Greg Morrison

5 years ago

The older Adams shaft KBS Tour 90 Is that the same shaft as the Wilson Staff C300 Irons?

After all this tech data. The two write in critic comments made the most common sense

To quote the straight talking Tom Wishon, there are only two types of shafts….. those that fit you and those that don’t. It is possible that the really expensive, newest, state of the art, ultra high tech material shaft fits you perfectly. But it is also possible that the $30, 10 year old technology shaft fits you perfectly.

I went way down the shaft rabbit hole last year. Tried tons of new shafts on the range and in play. They can be a lot of fun to play with, but I never found anything that could beat a 5+ year old whiteboard. What are we really getting from all this new tech? Didn’t seem like much to me.

JohnnyBgood

Pretty much EXACT same thing for me. After a few higher end shafts i ended up right where i started off. Old UST Proforce 65 Golds in 3 and 5 woods for the foreseeable future… $30/piece and didnt notice enough difference between the $200 shafts and these.

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