Heavy X flex seemed to tank distance in hybrid

I recently got back into the game and had some money saved up so I went on an equipment spree. My favorite hybrid of all time is the Adams Pro mini 18 degree. I have one with the stock Aldila Green 85g Stiff shaft at 40.5". I can hit that thing almost 250 off the tee and 225 into greens on long par 5s. However I have to slow my swing down to hit it accurately -- at setup when hitting that club I have to say to myself "ok now remember to take it back slow and make a smooth transition". Because of that and having money in my pocket I thought I would get my old favorite hybrid shaft, the Tour AD DI Hybrid. Now, when I played competitively a few years ago when I was 13-16 years old I used a 75g stiff version and I was playing KBS Tour 90g stiff shafts in my irons. Now at 21 years old and tons of time in the gym I have gained 20 pounds of muscle and 30 pounds total. I can bench 165 lbs for 5 reps (my bodyweight). I now play KBS Tour 130g x stiff in my irons and I had my driver swingspeed measured at 108 without feeling like I was swinging out of my shoes. I average around 280 and often hit drives around 300. Sooooo I went with the Tour AD DI hybrid 105g x stiff cut down a 1/4" of an inch to 40.25" between the spec for a 3 and 2 hybrid even though it is a 2 hybrid. Swingweight is around D3 so nothing crazy. I cut it down mainly for control, 1/4" down on woods feels perfect to me.

TLDR: Going from Aldila Green 85g Stiff at 40.5" to Tour AD DI Hybrid 105g X Stiff 40.25" I lost around 10-15 yards carry. I hit it straighter now, but the ball feels like it falls out of the sky. Has anyone else experienced this? I know 105g is heavy for a hybrid, but I like the 130g shafts in my irons and I play a BB 7x in my 3 wood so 100g seems like it was right in the middle. Could cutting it down 1/4" make that much difference in speed?

It’s likely not the 1/4” length but the 20g heavier and a full flex stiffer.

you went stiffer, heavier and shorter which is basically the recipe for lower and shorter.

I am happy with the ball flight, plenty high there. It just hit the ground before I am used to haha. I didn't expect it to be further. I thought the flight would come down a little (it did) and it would be straighter (it did), but I was surprised my the loss in distance. I think the 85g x would have been a better fit. I don't think I'll have too much trouble getting someone to trade, but it is a bit of a bummer since I bought the shaft new.

Yeah I hear you. It’s fun finding what works for you though.

you could try a 85x or a 100 gram S flex. Someone will probably chime in and say “go get fit!!” but it’s fun to fit yourself. And you’ll learn a lot in the process.

of course if you stick only with Graphite Design it’ll likely be an expensive journey haha

I generally buy new open box through trusted Ebay sellers or I hound some club hoes at the country club who are always looking to change. I've never spent more than $175 on a GD shaft. That's not saying its cheap, but the resale value is great. I've used clubs with a GD DI in it for 2 years and then sold it for $40 less than what I payed. The orange candy cane demands a high price for people enamored with the thought of breaking out an exotic shaft when they show up at their weekly foursome. I should get fit, but everywhere is closed right now around me.

not all that crazy, if you're going up 20-30G in weight you are gonna see a swing speed decrease. And coupled with a stiffer shaft not surprising at all what you are seeing

You really gotta move it to max out a shaft like that. I played a 90g protopype in a driver once like 12 years ago when i swung 118mph. Now even at 110~ that shaft would make me feel like less of a man haha

Some things online say that cutting a shaft down makes it stiffer, others say that only makes it stiffer if you cut the tip. I had this cut down from uncut 42" to play at 40.25" with the head. That's a decent amount cut off of the butt, which I thought would make it play slightly weaker? Is it true that tip trimming makes it stiffer and butt trimming makes it softer?

Butt trimming does not means it weaker, but tip trimming absolutely makes it stiffer.

Have you been able to hit the side by side on a simulator? The Tour green would be lower spin than the ADDI. With the way you described the ball flight it sounds like you are spinning it to much.

Worrying about minutia like that is the wrong focus here, you need data. Assuming you are making solid contact still, losing distance means you're either producing less clubhead speed or your launch conditions have suffered (launch angle and spin relationship). Figure out what those numbers are and you'll have your answer, anything other than that is fairly pointless guess work, especially when it comes to the small amount that shaft trimming impacts performance.

The move from 85 Stiff to 105 X is quite a bit, and maybe something in the middle is what is best for your swing. 105 X on the DI hybrid is typically reserved for 3 or 4 hybrids, or someone who REALLY moves the ball (maybe ~250 consistently with a 2 hybrid), or who has a really quick tempo and needs the additional weight to help keep the ball on line. I would recommend something like the DI95 hybrid, or even the Aldila Rogue Black 95TX, which is at 97 grams uncut, or the 85TX, which is 89 grams uncut, both with 2.4* of torque (iron-like resistance).

I'm a little shorter than you (typically about 290), and I've found that a low 90s gram X flex works the best for my 2 hybrid. I got the no-upcharge Diamana S+ 90 X shaft in mine, which has been perfect at mid 2s torque, 92 grams, and low-mid launching. I've contemplated getting the newer version (Tensei Pro Blue 90TX), but it's hard for me to consider when this shaft performs as well as it does. Maybe if I had a few hundred I didn't know what to do with, I would. I know my hybrid is 5 years old, but until it starts losing some of its pop, I'm not switching it out!

Thanks for the response! I think I found someone who will trade their 85g X with the 105. I think it is just the difference in weight. I hit the 105 really straight and swing it more like an iron, but I thin that is the way to go.

Not yet, but I am going to soon. I am getting a short fitting for iron and wood shafts. Just looking at swing speed to determine flex and weight. I will do a side by side when I do the fitting.

Yeah I know I get way too into equipment. I've always been a bit of a gear head though. Same thing with triathlon/cycling.

That sounds like a good idea - the DI hybrids are pretty amazing. I would love to have a DI 95 in mine, but the performance and specs are pretty similar between what I have and that shaft. I'm a big fan of GD shafts - have a DI6 X that is wonderful but prefer my gamer slightly, and of course have an MJ in my three wood.

That shaft is a beast and it doesn't sound like you have the strength or speed for it. 108mph with driver is good but guys using that hybrid shaft are probably swinging that fast with their hybrid.

I don't have the speed. I tested on a launch monitor and Aldila Green 85g Stiff (40.5") was carrying an average 239 and Tour AD Di 105g X Stiff (40.25") was carrying 224. I'm going to go to an 85g DI and maybe even experiment with 85X vs 85S.