17:44 rewatching this after gaming the XC 6x at the end of the season. I also have the 1k White in a 6TX which I love, what you’re describing here is exactly how the 1k feels as well.
Currently play a Ventus Black Velocore 7x in my brnr mini and love it. Want to get a bit more seperation with my driver. Im interested in playing the 5x in the VF
Agreed I would have preferred a review of the lighterweight VF. I’m very tempted to get the 5x and I’m wondering whether the lightweight is going to make it feel like the club is “late.” I’m also not as fast tempo-wise as our reviewer here, so if you ended up going with the 5x let me know what you think!
Any suggestions for someone looking to decrease shaft weight but maintain stability? I have been playing Ventus blue 6s and was wondering how a vf 5s would compare.
I think testing a 5S VF would be a really solid start in terms of what you are looking for! Personally, I would build it 1”-1.5” longer than your current gamer and test it there, that will allow you some room to tip trim (if you find it necessary).
I have Ventus TR Black 5X in my Ping 10K and it is the most accurate and forgiving combo I've ever played. 45 1/2" 100 mph swing. I'm convinced that Ventus is the greatest graphite shaft of all time, no offense to AD, Diamana, Speeder and others.
XC vs VF - I hit both, XC in 6S and VF in 5S, opted for VF 5S and TripD head. Looking forward to more than SIM numbers.... Any more comment on the differences you saw in those two shafts? And think torque really plays in? I'm not sure it did in my fitting.
I’ve always been a big graphite design fan but lately it seems that fujikura has been really popular on tour with the Ventus stuff. Can we get a comparison between the brands?
Plus 3 here, around 115 with a driver. Why is it that I prefer softer mid sections like the DI? Could not fall in love with the Ventus Black or the Ventus Blue or really any of the firmer high quality shafts the market. Recently been testing a Tensei 1k Black 65tx and it feels to me like the perfect combo of not too boardy but not too loose.
There’s a lot of potential reasons you may prefer a softer middle, but unfortunately I couldn’t tell you exactly why. That said, Ventus Blue is a similar design to Tour AD DI, so I’m surprised you didn’t like it. I haven’t seen 1K black on EI, but I would suspect this has a much stiffer middle than some of the other shafts named. That said and based on what it seems like you are into, I think VF could be a great option. It’s not a true whiteboard or super mid-stiff shaft, but it takes some of the characteristics of the traditional “blue-board” and combines them with a stiffer, more “tight” feel and an overall stiffer profile on an EI graph. I would almost say like if DI and 1K Black had a kid, is sort of how I would describe the VF. Have you tried one yet?
@@mattstoremangolf4 The VF felt more rigid? That’s exactly what I felt as well in comparison to DI. Did you feel it was a closer match to the 1K Black you are currently liking?
@@TheEquipmentJunkie in my opinion the Ventus definitely feels a bit more rigid than the DI. (In the 6x at least). For some odd reason the 1K feels really good to me. And it was a stock option through titleist which is kinda crazy considering how good it is.
Interesting.. I currently play Ventus TR black. The only Graphite design shaft I really used was the GP series.. really liked it. I'm hoping the VF is similar.
Thoughts still remain the same. Reminds me of a smoother feeling OG Ventus Black, one of the main reasons I think Tiger is playing it. Little too stiff for me, but hard to beat if the profile fits you 👍.
For me: I have the 1K Pro orange and tried a VF. They are both very stable. The 1K PO feels more vague to me at the top of the backswing whereas the VF loads and sets into my hands really well and gives me confidence that I can go for it. Dispersion was awesome and spin also very low. I can hit harder when I’m flat or slightly negative AoA but it spins more. Tried with a Ai smoke TD set to 7 degrees and sent bullets down the fairway without swinging out of my shoes. But it is a bit higher spinning by 200 rpm for me vs the Pro Orange. I am not super fast, 105mph SS. VF got me 20 yards more carry than with a ventus black
Unfortunately Callaway range balls when doing range testing, but try to pick the most decent looking ones I can. Great idea! I’ll work on trying to get a Ventus Black and VF comparison done! Are you a current Ventus black player?
@@TheEquipmentJunkie This would be great - to see a comparison. I’m a devotee of GD - have been gaming AD-DI 6X in driver and 7x in 3w for a LONG time. I also game a 95x hybrid in a beefed up 3 iron that’s essentially a deuce. I have moved into a 6S Ventus Black after a head change. I can’t argue with the numbers I’m getting from the ventus, but the feel is nowhere near the AD-DI. However, the trajectory and dispersion has been far superior to my DI. It feels like I “overload” the DI when I really get moving, and I’m getting an apex that is just too much. It would be great to see a comparison between ventus black and VF because I am really interested in testing the VF. SS 113, BS 167, Index 0.3
Graphite Design profiles are going to be similar “feeling”, the profile differences are all about how each person loads and transitions throughout the golf swing. It’s brilliant engineering. I game an XC 5X in 10* TSR3. At 112-115 club speed, and a smooth transition, the XC is the best performing shaft I’ve ever used. I gamed the Diamana BF 60X for years. I gained 12 yards of carry overnight.
It’s fantastic! Definitely a pretty true blue-board style profile. I played the UB for almost a year in all of my woods before switching over into the DI.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie awesome. Going to throw it into a g400 max head which should arrive this week off of Ebay. I bought the Costco driver and actually liked it more than my srixon zx5 mkii LS. The Costco driver has a draw bias in the 10.5 setting. Apparently the AD UB shaft is draw biased?
@@ericzellershow G400 Max is one of the most solid heads of all time. You won’t be disappointed! My only recommendation is potentially tipping the UB to get the CPM’s to match in the Ping head. Ping tends to be 10g ish heavier than most OEM’s which will soften the flex of the UB, just a hair. I haven’t tested the Kirkland head yet, but does seem like a lot of people like it. Hard to beat at that price for sure! As for the UB being draw biased, it’s really all relative and just depends on how much it droops within your golf swing. It will likely be more draw-biased vs. certain shafts, but also more fade-biased than others. Just hard to really say without seeing you hit shots or knowing what you’re currently gaming.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie I’m going to show this to the guys at Golf Galaxy to see what they think on tipping the UB. But I actually would prefer having a shaft a little too soft rather than a little too firm.
@@ericzellershow Sounds good. Tipping definitely isn’t a necessity, but say you loved the UB at *insert* flex and weight in a 195g head… As you add more head weight, the shaft will have more load on the end of it and will become softer. The easiest way to fix that is to just tip it and CPM match it. Unfortunately without an actual CPM/Frequency machine, it’s hard to say how much to tip it, but just a thought 👍
Judging how you were talking it honestly sounded like you like the DI more. Seemed like you really had to get after the VR and you were able to just rip the DI with ease. Cool video
If you google "Tour Ad Launch Chart" there's a chart someone put together of where the trajectory (left/right AND high/low) tends to sit with all the major Tour AD shafts. As 5 handicap, 106-108 ss, chart is accurate. I've hit VR7X, DI7X and IZ7X and actually preferred IZ7X (similar profile to DI but softer in tip section) because it allows me to "wait" at the top more before coming down and isn't too stout/boardy at impact. DI would be good if I had smoother tempo and maybe 3-5 more MPH swing
@@miken2686 Just actually put on my 5w as well after trying dozens of shafts. Here are my current woods: Driver - IZ6X, 44.5" - 265 Carry 3W - VR7X, 43" - 245 Carry 5W - IZ7X, 41.5" - 230 Carry 7W (for when I play courses where I need one): IZ7X Hybrid, 40.5" - 215 yd carry
Thanks for this. I just got a fitting where the dude used AI and some computer numbers. My ballspeed is 177 range and the computer told him to put me in a Stiff flex. And he couldn’t understand why my spin was 4400 at 16 launch. Finally he put me in the VF 6x and was so surprised it was perfect. 😆 that shaft is gold. Has some feel.
Helpful review! How does the UB compare to these three GD Tour AD shafts? I've heard the UB is basically a newer version of the DI - newer materials and little more stiffness across the shaft but same profile. Thanks.
UB has more a more aggressive tip stiffening than the DI from what I can feel. It’s a hair more stiff throughout, but as a whole I don’t think it’s quite an smooth because of how hard it stiffens in tip. Have you tried the OG Ventus blue? This a shaft I find the UB pretty comparable to.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie Cool thanks. I've tried the OG Ventus blue - still have one in an old 3wood. Was more into Ventus black but now trying to ease up on the swing a bit so interested in the UB. Have one on the way so looking forward to testing it. That new VF looks intriguing though.
Yes I have tried IZ! I find the IZ to be very similar in design, but just softer overall with a bit more launch and spin vs. DI. Are you currently gaming IZ?
Your backswing at the top looks almost exactly in the same position as my son! Some swing coaches have tried to change it. Just not sure if we should… it’s a little upright and across the line
Love it! Yes it’s definitely unique, but I think at some point the golf swing is part of your D.N.A. It’s easy to try and change it to make it “look” better, but if it’s already functional I think it’s best to work with what you’ve got and be the best with what your body knows what to do consistently.
I just bought a XC shaft, and was looking for a review. Had no clue this is only 4 hours old! Haha, my lucky day
Love it!
17:44 rewatching this after gaming the XC 6x at the end of the season. I also have the 1k White in a 6TX which I love, what you’re describing here is exactly how the 1k feels as well.
I just bought a GT2 driver with the VF shaft. Upgraded from an old Callaway epic driver.
Currently play a Ventus Black Velocore 7x in my brnr mini and love it. Want to get a bit more seperation with my driver. Im interested in playing the 5x in the VF
Agreed I would have preferred a review of the lighterweight VF. I’m very tempted to get the 5x and I’m wondering whether the lightweight is going to make it feel like the club is “late.”
I’m also not as fast tempo-wise as our reviewer here, so if you ended up going with the 5x let me know what you think!
Any suggestions for someone looking to decrease shaft weight but maintain stability? I have been playing Ventus blue 6s and was wondering how a vf 5s would compare.
I think testing a 5S VF would be a really solid start in terms of what you are looking for!
Personally, I would build it 1”-1.5” longer than your current gamer and test it there, that will allow you some room to tip trim (if you find it necessary).
I have Ventus TR Black 5X in my Ping 10K and it is the most accurate and forgiving combo I've ever played. 45 1/2" 100 mph swing. I'm convinced that Ventus is the greatest graphite shaft of all time, no offense to AD, Diamana, Speeder and others.
Love the video, been on the market for a new shaft! Thanks for the breakdown!
Glad it was helpful!
Any other shafts you’d like to see reviewed?
XC vs VF - I hit both, XC in 6S and VF in 5S, opted for VF 5S and TripD head. Looking forward to more than SIM numbers.... Any more comment on the differences you saw in those two shafts? And think torque really plays in? I'm not sure it did in my fitting.
I’ve always been a big graphite design fan but lately it seems that fujikura has been really popular on tour with the Ventus stuff. Can we get a comparison between the brands?
Great idea!
Are there any specific shafts from those companies you want to see go head to head?
The ventus blue and black seem most popular so maybe just whatever graphite design shafts are closest in profile to those?
Ventus black velocore v graphite design tour ad vf please as I'm gaming velocore 7x and 8x and looking to maybe switch
Love this ..I play these shafts and they do perform. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
I noticed you cut your driver down to play 44.25”. Can you explain how much weight you added to the head? If any at all
I don’t build off of a swing-weight system, so no weight was added to the head(s) I play 👍
Currently play a UB 7X tipped an inch. Will the VF feel more similar than different?
VF in the same weight, flex and tipping will feel much stouter throughout imo.
Plus 3 here, around 115 with a driver. Why is it that I prefer softer mid sections like the DI? Could not fall in love with the Ventus Black or the Ventus Blue or really any of the firmer high quality shafts the market. Recently been testing a Tensei 1k Black 65tx and it feels to me like the perfect combo of not too boardy but not too loose.
There’s a lot of potential reasons you may prefer a softer middle, but unfortunately I couldn’t tell you exactly why. That said, Ventus Blue is a similar design to Tour AD DI, so I’m surprised you didn’t like it.
I haven’t seen 1K black on EI, but I would suspect this has a much stiffer middle than some of the other shafts named.
That said and based on what it seems like you are into, I think VF could be a great option. It’s not a true whiteboard or super mid-stiff shaft, but it takes some of the characteristics of the traditional “blue-board” and combines them with a stiffer, more “tight” feel and an overall stiffer profile on an EI graph.
I would almost say like if DI and 1K Black had a kid, is sort of how I would describe the VF.
Have you tried one yet?
@@TheEquipmentJunkie felt more rigid throughout compared to the DI in my modest opinion.
@@mattstoremangolf4 The VF felt more rigid? That’s exactly what I felt as well in comparison to DI.
Did you feel it was a closer match to the 1K Black you are currently liking?
tensei k is pretty nice, same with u,ventus just does not fit my feelings.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie in my opinion the Ventus definitely feels a bit more rigid than the DI. (In the 6x at least). For some odd reason the 1K feels really good to me. And it was a stock option through titleist which is kinda crazy considering how good it is.
Interesting.. I currently play Ventus TR black. The only Graphite design shaft I really used was the GP series.. really liked it. I'm hoping the VF is similar.
Have you tried the VF yet?
@TheEquipmentJunkie any updated thoughts on the VF, are you gaming this rn?
Thoughts still remain the same. Reminds me of a smoother feeling OG Ventus Black, one of the main reasons I think Tiger is playing it. Little too stiff for me, but hard to beat if the profile fits you 👍.
Will the XC shaft work on a ping g430 driver
How does the VF shaft compare with the TENSEI AV Series White (xlink)?
For me: I have the 1K Pro orange and tried a VF. They are both very stable. The 1K PO feels more vague to me at the top of the backswing whereas the VF loads and sets into my hands really well and gives me confidence that I can go for it. Dispersion was awesome and spin also very low. I can hit harder when I’m flat or slightly negative AoA but it spins more. Tried with a Ai smoke TD set to 7 degrees and sent bullets down the fairway without swinging out of my shoes. But it is a bit higher spinning by 200 rpm for me vs the Pro Orange. I am not super fast, 105mph SS. VF got me 20 yards more carry than with a ventus black
I ended up with a 60g TX VF, I couldn't be happier with this shadt.
What balls were used? Would be cool to see Ventus Black vs VF comparison!
Unfortunately Callaway range balls when doing range testing, but try to pick the most decent looking ones I can.
Great idea! I’ll work on trying to get a Ventus Black and VF comparison done! Are you a current Ventus black player?
@@TheEquipmentJunkie This would be great - to see a comparison. I’m a devotee of GD - have been gaming AD-DI 6X in driver and 7x in 3w for a LONG time. I also game a 95x hybrid in a beefed up 3 iron that’s essentially a deuce. I have moved into a 6S Ventus Black after a head change. I can’t argue with the numbers I’m getting from the ventus, but the feel is nowhere near the AD-DI. However, the trajectory and dispersion has been far superior to my DI. It feels like I “overload” the DI when I really get moving, and I’m getting an apex that is just too much. It would be great to see a comparison between ventus black and VF because I am really interested in testing the VF. SS 113, BS 167, Index 0.3
The VF looks mean! Ironically I still play a 5 year old blueboard driver shaft and DI in 3 wood, Classy combo.
The VF is a definitely different and so far I’m a big fan. DI is an awesome fairway wood shaft, what are you gaming in the driver?
Great vid as usual. Would love to hear your thoughts on the IZ shaft, predecessor to the AD and supposedly a bit better in terms of stability.
Graphite Design profiles are going to be similar “feeling”, the profile differences are all about how each person loads and transitions throughout the golf swing. It’s brilliant engineering. I game an XC 5X in 10* TSR3. At 112-115 club speed, and a smooth transition, the XC is the best performing shaft I’ve ever used. I gamed the Diamana BF 60X for years. I gained 12 yards of carry overnight.
Hi, have you ever tried the tour ad tp ? I play the 7x in driver, but wondering how it would compare to xc or gp.
Tour ad tp is a good shaft just not as consistent as di
Thoughts on the AD UB shaft? Just got one.
It’s fantastic! Definitely a pretty true blue-board style profile.
I played the UB for almost a year in all of my woods before switching over into the DI.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie awesome. Going to throw it into a g400 max head which should arrive this week off of Ebay. I bought the Costco driver and actually liked it more than my srixon zx5 mkii LS. The Costco driver has a draw bias in the 10.5 setting. Apparently the AD UB shaft is draw biased?
@@ericzellershow G400 Max is one of the most solid heads of all time. You won’t be disappointed!
My only recommendation is potentially tipping the UB to get the CPM’s to match in the Ping head. Ping tends to be 10g ish heavier than most OEM’s which will soften the flex of the UB, just a hair.
I haven’t tested the Kirkland head yet, but does seem like a lot of people like it. Hard to beat at that price for sure!
As for the UB being draw biased, it’s really all relative and just depends on how much it droops within your golf swing. It will likely be more draw-biased vs. certain shafts, but also more fade-biased than others. Just hard to really say without seeing you hit shots or knowing what you’re currently gaming.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie I’m going to show this to the guys at Golf Galaxy to see what they think on tipping the UB. But I actually would prefer having a shaft a little too soft rather than a little too firm.
@@ericzellershow Sounds good. Tipping definitely isn’t a necessity, but say you loved the UB at *insert* flex and weight in a 195g head…
As you add more head weight, the shaft will have more load on the end of it and will become softer. The easiest way to fix that is to just tip it and CPM match it.
Unfortunately without an actual CPM/Frequency machine, it’s hard to say how much to tip it, but just a thought 👍
Judging how you were talking it honestly sounded like you like the DI more. Seemed like you really had to get after the VR and you were able to just rip the DI with ease. Cool video
If you google "Tour Ad Launch Chart" there's a chart someone put together of where the trajectory (left/right AND high/low) tends to sit with all the major Tour AD shafts. As 5 handicap, 106-108 ss, chart is accurate. I've hit VR7X, DI7X and IZ7X and actually preferred IZ7X (similar profile to DI but softer in tip section) because it allows me to "wait" at the top more before coming down and isn't too stout/boardy at impact. DI would be good if I had smoother tempo and maybe 3-5 more MPH swing
This is exactly the comment I was looking for. IZ is what I'm gravitating toward and you may have just solidified my thoughts.
@@miken2686 Just actually put on my 5w as well after trying dozens of shafts. Here are my current woods:
Driver - IZ6X, 44.5" - 265 Carry
3W - VR7X, 43" - 245 Carry
5W - IZ7X, 41.5" - 230 Carry
7W (for when I play courses where I need one): IZ7X Hybrid, 40.5" - 215 yd carry
Amazing setup. I’m gonna dabble for sure. R.I.P. bank account!
@@miken2686 Oh yeh it was definitely over a long time and from eBay. But the results don't lie!
Why do you play a 70g shaft at TX with a 110-115 swing speed?
With the shaft profile I like to play, going heavier/stiffer allows me to get the shaft droop in the spot I’m looking for.
XC is the most underrated shaft in golf.
Thanks for this. I just got a fitting where the dude used AI and some computer numbers. My ballspeed is 177 range and the computer told him to put me in a Stiff flex. And he couldn’t understand why my spin was 4400 at 16 launch.
Finally he put me in the VF 6x and was so surprised it was perfect. 😆 that shaft is gold. Has some feel.
Helpful review! How does the UB compare to these three GD Tour AD shafts? I've heard the UB is basically a newer version of the DI - newer materials and little more stiffness across the shaft but same profile. Thanks.
UB has more a more aggressive tip stiffening than the DI from what I can feel. It’s a hair more stiff throughout, but as a whole I don’t think it’s quite an smooth because of how hard it stiffens in tip.
Have you tried the OG Ventus blue? This a shaft I find the UB pretty comparable to.
@@TheEquipmentJunkie Cool thanks. I've tried the OG Ventus blue - still have one in an old 3wood. Was more into Ventus black but now trying to ease up on the swing a bit so interested in the UB. Have one on the way so looking forward to testing it. That new VF looks intriguing though.
Have you tried the IZ before? Curious to see how it compares to the DI. Can’t wait to try the VF since I’ve had success with ventus black in the past
Yes I have tried IZ! I find the IZ to be very similar in design, but just softer overall with a bit more launch and spin vs. DI.
Are you currently gaming IZ?
Your backswing at the top looks almost exactly in the same position as my son! Some swing coaches have tried to change it. Just not sure if we should… it’s a little upright and across the line
Love it! Yes it’s definitely unique, but I think at some point the golf swing is part of your D.N.A.
It’s easy to try and change it to make it “look” better, but if it’s already functional I think it’s best to work with what you’ve got and be the best with what your body knows what to do consistently.
I’m a scratch golfer and I’ve tried over 15 shafts when fitted. No better shaft in my opinion than the Velocore paired with the triple diamond
Tiger playing the VF 6x...very hot Shaft!
Tiger is putting the AD VF in play this weekend so apparently it meets his criteria..apparently his good friend JT has been using it as well..
Yeppppp. Great video and breakdown of three different profiles. My my only complaint with XC was the handle.
Which Graphite Design shaft is the highest launching?
In the current lineup, Tour AD IZ is definitely one of the more “high launch” Graphite Design shafts 👍
The DI needs to be delofted , I play 9 on a Smoke Max the VF 5S and 8 with the DI 5S .
Even the pros are looking for help. Thats a heavy low launching shaft. Only the longest drivers can get anything out of it.
Move your headrest down and you’d look a little taller
CQ anyone? Beuhler?
You’re carrying range balls 290? Bombs
Much love brother!
'promo sm'
you tee the ball up too low
Lol ok bud