Tour AD-VR - My Early Experience

[MysteryV]

So picked up a VR recently to test in my G400 Max head (coming from a Tensei PO at 45.5"). I've played the DI in my 3 wood, 5 wood, and hybrid for quite some time, and really like the profile.

 

While I love my PO (which won out over the Fuji Evo V after quite a bit of range and on-course testing), I recently brought out the old Epic with a Tour AD-TP, and was consistently 10+ yards longer than my GMax with the PO. That said, it was definitely a bit less consistent for me, which I attributed to the head.

 

Rather than get the TP retipped, I found a VR on BST, gave it a shot, and am quite pleased with the results. While the VR plays at 45 versus the 45.5 of the PO, it's been a few yards longer on average for me, which significantly less variance in dispersion. It has the smooth feel that you'd expect from a GD shaft, and a mid / mid-high trajectory as advertised. The one thing that I miss from the PO is the distinctive kick that I felt when I put a good swing on the ball, however that kick really only came with my best swings whereas the VR's smoother profile seems a bit more forgiving when something goes awry.

 

I'd add that the looks of the VR are absolutely top notch. The blue and white color scheme looks extremely sharp, and way better in person than in pictures.

 

In my first round with it yesterday, I was hitting absolute bombs (by my standards), and was a good 30 yards past friends who usually hit the ball about the same distance (on good strikes). It was fun to hear them make excuses like "you must have hit the firm part of the fairway and got a good bounce and then some roll on that downslope - I hit this thick stuff and just stopped."

 

If you're a fan of the GD feel, the VR is a fantastic iteration, and an absolute winner both in the hands of a hack like me (who also coincidentally shot hit career best score with it the first time out (though caveat - it was an extremely easy par 70 course)) - and in the hands of a pro like Brooke Henderson.

[Valtiel]

Nice review! I always find it interesting to see how very different shafts perform for people that are sensitive to such things. The AD-VR and the Pro Orange are quite different in terms of profile and it makes sense that one would suit someone more over the other. If you grabbed the spot in which the Pro Orange would appear to load the most in the EI profile and uniformly softened that area for easier loading, you would have the AD-VR. The stiffer handle of the VR may also feel more comfortable to some in transition and could lead to a better release and more clubhead speed. That is what experimenting is good for!

[MysteryV]

Thanks! I really, really love my PO - and will almost certainly come back to both it and the Evo for further testing. I've been doing a lot of work on my swing recently, and it continues to be a work in progress. I have no doubt that as my swing changes, my optimal shaft will change as well.

 

Interestingly enough, I never really thought of myself as particularly shaft sensitive until recently where I started to be able to really feel the kick of the PO on good swings, and lack thereof on bad ones. The most surprising part of all of my recent testing has been that, regardless of shaft, I cannot get my LST head to work for the life of me! The balls just fall out of the air and I lose 20 - 50 yards regardless of shaft / loft. It's SHOCKING how poorly it performs for my swing (though I'm admittedly a low spin player with the driver).

[GC70]

I love the VR.

[Valtiel]

> @MysteryV said:

> Thanks! I really, really love my PO - and will almost certainly come back to both it and the Evo for further testing. I've been doing a lot of work on my swing recently, and it continues to be a work in progress. I have no doubt that as my swing changes, my optimal shaft will change as well.

>

> Interestingly enough, I never really thought of myself as particularly shaft sensitive until recently where I started to be able to really feel the kick of the PO on good swings, and lack thereof on bad ones. The most surprising part of all of my recent testing has been that, regardless of shaft, I cannot get my LST head to work for the life of me! The balls just fall out of the air and I lose 20 - 50 yards regardless of shaft / loft. It's SHOCKING how poorly it performs for my swing (though I'm admittedly a low spin player with the driver).

 

If you are a low spin guy then that tracks as well since that tends to imply high/slightly toe side contact, which aside from moving strike location is remedied by using a higher MOI driver, of which you are using one of the highest. Increasing MOI will decrease spin reduction on "low spin" strikes so you're definitely using the right tool there.

[MysteryV]

> @Valtiel said:

> > @MysteryV said:

> > Thanks! I really, really love my PO - and will almost certainly come back to both it and the Evo for further testing. I've been doing a lot of work on my swing recently, and it continues to be a work in progress. I have no doubt that as my swing changes, my optimal shaft will change as well.

> >

> > Interestingly enough, I never really thought of myself as particularly shaft sensitive until recently where I started to be able to really feel the kick of the PO on good swings, and lack thereof on bad ones. The most surprising part of all of my recent testing has been that, regardless of shaft, I cannot get my LST head to work for the life of me! The balls just fall out of the air and I lose 20 - 50 yards regardless of shaft / loft. It's SHOCKING how poorly it performs for my swing (though I'm admittedly a low spin player with the driver).

>

> If you are a low spin guy then that tracks as well since that tends to imply high/slightly toe side contact, which aside from moving strike location is remedied by using a higher MOI driver, of which you are using one of the highest. Increasing MOI will decrease spin reduction on "low spin" strikes so you're definitely using the right tool there.

 

You absolutely nailed that one. My (extremely frequent) miss is high tow. Well played sir.

[Valtiel]

> @MysteryV said:

> > @Valtiel said:

> > > @MysteryV said:

> > > Thanks! I really, really love my PO - and will almost certainly come back to both it and the Evo for further testing. I've been doing a lot of work on my swing recently, and it continues to be a work in progress. I have no doubt that as my swing changes, my optimal shaft will change as well.

> > >

> > > Interestingly enough, I never really thought of myself as particularly shaft sensitive until recently where I started to be able to really feel the kick of the PO on good swings, and lack thereof on bad ones. The most surprising part of all of my recent testing has been that, regardless of shaft, I cannot get my LST head to work for the life of me! The balls just fall out of the air and I lose 20 - 50 yards regardless of shaft / loft. It's SHOCKING how poorly it performs for my swing (though I'm admittedly a low spin player with the driver).

> >

> > If you are a low spin guy then that tracks as well since that tends to imply high/slightly toe side contact, which aside from moving strike location is remedied by using a higher MOI driver, of which you are using one of the highest. Increasing MOI will decrease spin reduction on "low spin" strikes so you're definitely using the right tool there.

>

> You absolutely nailed that one. My (extremely frequent) miss is high tow. Well played sir.

 

Hah, well you certainly have one of the best drivers to help with that! Should you ever feel like taking the experimentation further, shortening your playing length and adding more weight to the back of the G400 MAX will further increase it's MOI and will bring your spin up a bit on high toe strikes to keep them from knuckling. That is of course if a shorter playing length is something you want to try.

[MysteryV]

It wasn't super clear from my write up - but the VR is actually 0.5" shorter than my previous shaft - and so far, so good. I'm going to get the tip replaced soon so that it sits a little more nicely in the head as, unfortunately, the shaft came with a counterfeit Ping adapter (which obviously irritates the hell out of me). Will make nominally shorter as well.

[GC70]

I love the VR.

[J13]

I've been posting about the VR in my WITB thread. It's a STELLAR shaft and the hype is starting to build around GD's new offerings. I also agree on the aesthetics, easily one of the coolest looking shafts I've seen in a long time. They aren't cheap but if you can find one for a good price GRAB IT!!!

[jetmech879]

I just pulled the trigger on a VR 7x for the driver. What has been everyone’s experience with tipping these shafts? Will tipping these actually soften up the tip like the GP? Or is that a myth?

[OspreyCI]

Just picked up a VR 6s for my Sim Max. Most say it plays like the IZ. Hope so. Replacing an experiment with AD DI 5s after using the 6s before that and the IZ.

Will be going against Aldila MSI 130 shafts too. I am just a GD AD guy.

[MysteryV]

I actually tried an IZ 7x in my SIM Max, but I just don't have the swing speed for it. Currently playing the Ventus 6s, but was fit into a IZ 7s for the SIM, so may try to sell / trade the 7x.

In my limited experience, the DI feels a lot more active than the IZ, which is kinda boardy. The TP is somewhere between the the DI and IZ in terms of feel, while the VR is between the DI and TP.

Again, TOTALLY subjective, but to me in terms of "active" feeling it's DI VR TP IZ from least to most boardy. Somehow, all feel smooth, and I have yet to sell any GD shaft - even if they're gathering dust. I just kinda love them (even though I'm playing the Ventus in the driver).

[nova6868]

Same. To me it's very similar to IZ. The VR launches a touch lower.

[MysteryV]

Anyone still gaming the VR? Considering changing tips once I settle on a head.

[jetmech879]

I just ordered another one. I gamed it at the end of last year and loved it. But sold it for some dumb reason or another. Dispersion was tight and feel was smooth. Looking forward to trying it in my M5.

[Habitual Flipper]

Just put  a 6x in my Ping 410 LST and 7x in my 16.5^o 917F2. 

 

First SIM session hit record club head and ball speed numbers with the driver (166 and 119, on different shots). Can't wait to get them outside!