X-Flex Driver Shaft

In another post, I've been discussing my need for a stiffer shaft that will let me feel the head of my driver during the swing. Well low and behold, my local golf center was having its annual demo days and I had a chance to hit the new Nike SQ drivers. On a lark, I tried the 9.5* head with an X-flex Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana shaft. All I can say his Holy Smokes Batman!

For the past several months, I've been playing a Harrison Striper Senior-flex in my current driver. That whippy shaft feels great and really hits it long - if you time your swing perfectly. I turned 50 in October and figured softer flex shafts were what I needed. I figured this X-flex Diamana would feel like a hoe handle. Man was I wrong. Not only could I feel the driver head through my entire swing, this sucker is as tight as a drum (dispersion wise)! I've read several posts from others that try and educate idiots like me as to the virtues of X & XX flex driver shafts, however, I really had to experience it to understand. I tried the exact same SQ head in a stock regular-flex NV65 and even though I could feel the driver head, I was spraying balls all over the grid. I'd go back to the X-flex Diamana and it was one bomb after another down the center. The more I "stepped on the Diamana, the better it performed.

Nike also had a launch monitor that used a digital voice (in lieu of print outs) to tell you information about each swing. According to the feedback from this device, my ball speed was between 155-160 mph with 2800 to 3200 ball spin. Unfortunately, I never heard the thing state my swing speed. At 6'-3", my ball flight is always on the high side, however, with the Diamana there was no ballooning. Even with a head wind, the ball would go to altitude, flatten-out, and fly down range. By the way, I was hitting the ball just as far with the X-flex as I was with the regular-flex. Freakin' amazing!

As far as I am concerned, everyone needs to try an X or XX flex shaft (from one of the "high-end" manufactures) in their driver. I am convinced that, with the right shaft for your swing, it can help turn your driver into a fairway hitting machine. On top of everything else, the X-flex Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana shaft that comes stock in the SQ feels great. I can't imagine what a tour version feels like.

Now I've got a couple of questions, how would a X-flex Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana shaft would in my G5, and can you achieve the same performance/feel with X-flex steel shafts in my irons?

Your SS is between 105-110mph. I find Diamana plays soft to flex or that the X-flex Diamana is same or similar to my S-flex Tour AD M75. Since you're "rocketing" the SQ, sell the G5 and buy the SQ or keep the G5 and buy the SQ ....

Your SS is between 105-110mph.  I find Diamana plays soft to flex or that the X-flex Diamana is same or similar to my S-flex Tour AD M75.  Since you're "rocketing" the SQ, sell the G5 and buy the SQ or keep the G5 and buy the SQ ....

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acrazygolfer:

 

Unfortunatley, I am an unabashed Ping player. Accordingly, I want my G5 to work with the Diamana like the SQ.

 

Do most "high-end" shafts have the "feel" in X & XX flexes that I experienced today with Nike's SQ Diamana? Is it even better with non-OEM Diamanas? If yes, what Diamana would duplicate or improve upon feel and performance of Nike's stock SQ shaft? How would that Diamana perform in a Ping G5. I believe Ping's ad in the most recent addition of Golfweek appears to show Ryan Moore using a Diamana in his G5. I'd really love my G5 to perform the way that SQ was today. While I think the SQ is a good driver, I've got to believe that X-flex Diamana was the primary reason.

 

Any thoughts on a Diamana to match the feel/performance of the SQ in a Ping G5?

Dont know who told you to play senior flexes... with ballspeed in the 155-160 range your SS is around 110. You can definately play an X flex..or a tipped stiff with no issues.

Your SS is between 105-110mph.  I find Diamana plays soft to flex or that the X-flex Diamana is same or similar to my S-flex Tour AD M75.  Since you're "rocketing" the SQ, sell the G5 and buy the SQ or keep the G5 and buy the SQ ....

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acrazygolfer:

 

Unfortunatley, I am an unabashed Ping player. Accordingly, I want my G5 to work with the Diamana like the SQ.

 

Do most "high-end" shafts have the "feel" in X & XX flexes that I experienced today with Nike's SQ Diamana? Is it even better with non-OEM Diamanas? If yes, what Diamana would duplicate or improve upon feel and performance of Nike's stock SQ shaft? How would that Diamana perform in a Ping G5. I believe Ping's ad in the most recent addition of Golfweek appears to show Ryan Moore using a Diamana in his G5. I'd really love my G5 to perform the way that SQ was today. While I think the SQ is a good driver, I've got to believe that X-flex Diamana was the primary reason.

 

Any thoughts on a Diamana to match the feel/performance of the SQ in a Ping G5?

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As stated, both the stock Diamana in my Nike Ignite+ DFI and the US retail Diamana to be weaker in flex while the Japanese version to be more true to flex. I've yet to hit Ping's G2 or G5 so I can't compare. I demo'd the SQ with stock Diamana and like you, found the s-flex to be soft while the X-flex felt good. Also, I hit the 10.5* SQ better than the 9.5* SQ(?). We both have similar SS. I'm awaiting a driver to be blue printed by Joe Kwok with Tour AD I65 S-flex tipped 1/2" shafted to an Alpha Reaction C830.2 9.5*. I'll give you a review on this head/shaft combo in a few weeks. Search this forum as there bound to be a review or two on a G5 with S or X-flex US retail Diamana.

Interesting thing about how shafts feel: the one that feels the best may not be the best for you. Last year, I was getting fitted for a driver on an outdoor launch monitor. (I could see the ball flight, but I couldn't see where the balls were landing.) The fitter would hand me a club with an unmarked shaft, have me hit a few, then switch it for another club (all the driver heads were identical). Afterward, we talked about the results. There was one setup that I really liked when I was hitting--I felt like I was absolutely crushing the ball. I had mentioned this to the fitter, and he told me the club I liked most was a soft R, and it was by far the shortest club I was hitting! The best results (distance and dispersion) came from low torque X shafts.

 

Ya just never know. :tongue: