Experience with RIP Beta?

Armypilot84 · February 5, 2014

I'm looking to replace the stock Diamana Kali'l S+ in my 913D2. I wanted to get something with a bit of an active tip, making it a little easier to hit my natural fade. I have heard some good things about the Aldila RIP Beta. (I like the price too.) Does anyone have experience with the Beta? There is not as much info out there about the Beta, it seems to be the red headed step child of the RIP family. Please let me know any input you have on this shaft. Thanks.

Stuart_G · February 5, 2014

I've got a Beta 60 and a second gen Kai'li 70 (not the plus series). I think it's a very solid, stable shaft for it's launch characteristics. Obviously this is all subjective but it sort of feels like it might have a firmer but/mid section and not too soft a tip (not noodle like at all) for a shaft of it's launch characteristics. The Kai'li (even in the heavier weight) felt less stable and softer to me in the driver (but turned out great for my 3wd after a little tipping).

My only concern for you would be that I don't know if you'll get the softer tip section you're looking when compared with the S+. I never compared the two on a LM. And there could be enough of a difference between the second gen Kai'li and the S+ to make my observations useless so take it with a grain of salt.

Not sure which but one of the OEM fitting carts should have a beta you could demo. Even if it's not the same head you can get a good idea of how the shaft will feel for you. TM + Callaway definitely offers the beta 60 as an option.

If you still have concerns after others get a chance to post, the DVS might be a better experiment (more likely to be softer tipped and less expensive).

RocketballzTP · February 5, 2014

I use the Beta a lot in my club fittings. There are a lot of shafts with similar characteristics (at various price points) and the Beta typically ranks pretty high in terms of performance and feel.

The Beta is on the softer side of the mid tip category. It works very well for people who need height and a bit of draw bias. My guess is that it may straighten out your fade a bit compared to the Diamana.

sherwin1987 · February 6, 2014

I love the feel of the beta. It's prefect for my 3 wood and works very well for hitting a baby draw or a 5-10 yard fade. It's definitely softer in the tip but I've never hit a 3 wood so consistently as when I started playing the beta.

Armypilot84 · February 6, 2014

I got a chance to go to a fitter yesterday. He actually said that he believes that my inability to hit a fade with the S+ is not because it is too stiff at the tip, but because it is flexing too much at the tip for me. He believes that is why I am hitting a lot of shots that start left, and stay left with it. (That seems to be just the opposite of my logic, but that is why he is a fitter and I am not.) He did not think the Beta with its soft tip would be very good for me. He recommended bumping up to the RIP Phenom in 70g or the Diamana D+. Does this make sense to anyone else?

I just found a Phenom on the Bay that has only been used one time and has the Surefit adapter on it, the guy only wants $109 for it. Should I pull the trigger?

Stuart_G · February 6, 2014

[quote name='Armypilot84' timestamp='1391706673' post='8609885']
I got a chance to go to a fitter yesterday. He actually said that he believes that my inability to hit a fade with the S+ is not because it is too stiff at the tip, but because it is flexing too much at the tip for me. He believes that is why I am hitting a lot of shots that start left, and stay left with it. (That seems to be just the opposite of my logic, but that is why he is a fitter and I am not.) He did not think the Beta with its soft tip would be very good for me. He recommended bumping up to the RIP Phenom in 70g or the Diamana D+. Does this make sense to anyone else?

I just found a Phenom on the Bay that has only been used one time and has the Surefit adapter on it, the guy only wants $109 for it. Should I pull the trigger?
[/quote]

If his diagnosis is correct, those would be good shaft recommendations - although maybe a little rough since the D+ is a bit stiffer in the tip than the Phenom. I would have put it closer to the NV but it is something that can be subjective.

As far as whether too soft or too stiff will cause the left misses is not something that is the same for everyone so no one here will be able to tell you which is the case for you. How did the stiffer shafts feel when you tested them and how were the results compared to your current shaft?

Armypilot84 · February 6, 2014

[quote name='Stuart G.' timestamp='1391710879' post='8610265']
[quote name='Armypilot84' timestamp='1391706673' post='8609885']
I got a chance to go to a fitter yesterday. He actually said that he believes that my inability to hit a fade with the S+ is not because it is too stiff at the tip, but because it is flexing too much at the tip for me. He believes that is why I am hitting a lot of shots that start left, and stay left with it. (That seems to be just the opposite of my logic, but that is why he is a fitter and I am not.) He did not think the Beta with its soft tip would be very good for me. He recommended bumping up to the RIP Phenom in 70g or the Diamana D+. Does this make sense to anyone else?

I just found a Phenom on the Bay that has only been used one time and has the Surefit adapter on it, the guy only wants $109 for it. Should I pull the trigger?
[/quote]

If his diagnosis is correct, those would be good shaft recommendations - although maybe a little rough since the D+ is a bit stiffer in the tip than the Phenom. I would have put it closer to the NV but it is something that can be subjective.

As far as whether too soft or too stiff will cause the left misses is not something that is the same for everyone so no one here will be able to tell you which is the case for you. How did the stiffer shafts feel when you tested them and how were the results compared to your current shaft?
[/quote]

I thought the Phenom felt really good, the launch monitor was broken though, and therefore could not track my progress. I did not enjoy the D+ though, felt way to "boardy". I did not anticipate though how much of a difference going up in weight would do though. I felt like I had much more control of the Phenom in the backswing, than I do the S+.

MadGolfer76 · February 6, 2014

Betas are more fun when you get into the heavier weights. Play kind of mid...

RocketballzTP · February 6, 2014

Kai'li is a firm tip with relatively low torque. In my experience, this shaft has a tendency to cause pulls for people with slightly out-to-in paths (like I expect you have). The Phenom has a fairly similar profile. I would try the Aldila Tour Green, Project X (Blue) or UST VTS Silver. These shafts have higher torque values than the Kai'li which seem to help the face stay open a little longer.

Stuart_G · February 7, 2014

[quote name='Armypilot84' timestamp='1391715892' post='8610843']
[quote name='Stuart G.' timestamp='1391710879' post='8610265']
[quote name='Armypilot84' timestamp='1391706673' post='8609885']
I got a chance to go to a fitter yesterday. He actually said that he believes that my inability to hit a fade with the S+ is not because it is too stiff at the tip, but because it is flexing too much at the tip for me. He believes that is why I am hitting a lot of shots that start left, and stay left with it. (That seems to be just the opposite of my logic, but that is why he is a fitter and I am not.) He did not think the Beta with its soft tip would be very good for me. He recommended bumping up to the RIP Phenom in 70g or the Diamana D+. Does this make sense to anyone else?

I just found a Phenom on the Bay that has only been used one time and has the Surefit adapter on it, the guy only wants $109 for it. Should I pull the trigger?
[/quote]

If his diagnosis is correct, those would be good shaft recommendations - although maybe a little rough since the D+ is a bit stiffer in the tip than the Phenom. I would have put it closer to the NV but it is something that can be subjective.

As far as whether too soft or too stiff will cause the left misses is not something that is the same for everyone so no one here will be able to tell you which is the case for you. How did the stiffer shafts feel when you tested them and how were the results compared to your current shaft?
[/quote]

I thought the Phenom felt really good, the launch monitor was broken though, and therefore could not track my progress. I did not enjoy the D+ though, felt way to "boardy". I did not anticipate though how much of a difference going up in weight would do though. I felt like I had much more control of the Phenom in the backswing, than I do the S+.
[/quote]

Feel is certainly very important - sometimes more so than the actual launch numbers. So it definitely worth it to trust your impressions from the session.

FWIW, with respect to the Kai'li (not the S+) vs the phenom, I agreed with you. The phenom felt tighter and more in control. If you stay in the same weight, for me, the beta was better than the Kai'li but still not as good as the Phenom. If you (for whatever reason) might want to go up in weight, then the beta might fit the bill as MadGolfer mentioned. If price of the Phenom is an issue, you might try the VS voodoo or even the older vs-proto. Very similar performance to the Phenom but maybe just a touch less soft feeling.