Graphite Design Tour AD Utility / Driving Iron Shaft

cmb71 · July 19, 2017

I did not tip it (had Will People's build it as well), though I would likely try to tip it 1" or so if I was going to try it again.

I appreciate the heads up. I was shocked to see no tipping recommendation on their site. I may need to consider it, although I am not high SS... more towards the bottom end of the X Stiff range for most shafts. The good thing is I have at least a few days to decide as there is no head to put it in... yet.

jrshelby · April 8, 2018

I did not tip it (had Will People's build it as well), though I would likely try to tip it 1" or so if I was going to try it again.

I appreciate the heads up. I was shocked to see no tipping recommendation on their site. I may need to consider it, although I am not high SS... more towards the bottom end of the X Stiff range for most shafts. The good thing is I have at least a few days to decide as there is no head to put it in... yet.

.355 taper tip shafts don't get tipped. If you want a stiffer set up then putting a 3 or 4 iron shaft into a 2 iron head would be the way to go.

stk123 · October 13, 2018

I just finished installing the AD 95S in a 20* UDI, and the results weren't what I expected. Originally I bought a new 20* UDI that came with stock C-Taper Lite S flex. I play X-100 in my irons and bought this primarily for the head only as I caught an eBay auction dirt cheap. Played 2-3 rounds with the C-Taper, and honestly it was not that bad. My misses tended to be very pronounced hooks, but surprisingly to me, the ball flight was very low. That being said, the UDI is crazy forgiving, and a fricking cannon off the tee. I have never been this impressed with an iron off the tee before, and I have played MP H5 driving irons - and this will easily replace my 18* hybrid off the tee.

So I went ahead and ordered a new AD Utility/Driving Iron shaft in 95S. Had it installed this week, and played today. I didn't notice much of a difference from the C-Taper. Never had an issue with ball flight before, but again, this was way lower than I am used to, and I am afraid I will struggle to hold greens into par 5's with it as is. Hit several balls (course is pretty bare as it's 48* and windy now), but my 4 iron with X-100 still flew much higher and carry wasn't that much different from the UDI.

I've got to find an appropriate shaft to give me more launch, or I will have to admit I am not capable of launching the UDI high enough to keep, and that would suck - I love it off the tee.

Have you ever figured out the UDI? I am having the exact same issues. Very forgiving and long, but launches too low and some misses are ugly duck hooks, worse than hybrid hooks. Main reason I tried driving iron was to eliminate duck hooks.

I had that issue with Ctaper lite. Put in modus 120x, which is same as iron set and same issues.

Looking to try some graphite shafts to increase launch and eliminate the miss left. Feel like the duck hooks are due to the low launch and low spin, and a higher launching hybrid shaft will help.

TheBIIgCat · October 14, 2018

I would venture to say that this is a loft issue and not a shaft issue, especially with hitting the Graphite Design low. I have hit the Graphite Design line up extensively in weights 85 and up in stiff and x and found it to be higher launching than a lot of other options out there. I would get a higher loft UDI and then you could fine tune it a LITTLE by swapping shafts out.

stk123 · October 14, 2018

I don't have any issues with Graphite Design shafts as I haven't hit any yet in the UDI. I just purchased a used one and will put it into play in the next several weeks.

I don't think it is a loft issue, because I hit a 22* (Ft. Worth Hi) iron high and long with same shaft, so 18* UDI shouldn't be as big of an issue. I think they are just designed to go lower.

Working on strength and swing speed this offseason and will put in the AD 95x shaft to see how it works next spring. If still no good, then going back to hybrid (which is my current club in the bag).

andyk856 · November 14, 2018

Just ordered the 95 X for my 712U 2 iron. It will be replacing an X100 shaft. Hopefully it doesn't balloon on me,I kill the X100 but i'm just looking for a little bit more accuracy. I wanted to go with the hybrid 105 X but didn't want to bore anything out.

jokerusn · November 14, 2018

I tried the 95x and didn't like it. I love the feel of GD shafts but I found the driving iron shaft to feel dead comparatively. Went back to old faithful - PX HB6. Still haven't found anything better for a DI.

JB lefty · February 16, 2021

On 8/6/2016 at 7:06 AM, cvvorst said:

Had anyone tried the utility / driving iron shaft from Graphite Design?

It appears to have a similar profile to the Tour AD hybrid shaft.

Graphite Design describes the tour AD utility as mid launch with mid spin while the tour AD DI hybrid is mid launch with mid/low spin.

I'm considering ordering the Tour AD 95 X version from Will People's to test in my 915 H. I like playing my hybrid under 40, so the length should be fine. Hosel size is 0.355, but with a shim it should fit in the adapter. Just hoping someone here had tried it.

Yep, it an old thread but still worth giving a bump as I have questions?

I have a Callaway CF21 X forged UT iron 18 degree one and it has a .370 hosel. It currently has a steel shaft in it that I am not real thrilled with and when I did and iron fit for my Mizzy 921 SEL irons i hit a few afterwards with the UT iron and the fitter said I should try the Tour AD DI shaft in it at 95 in x flex as he felt it would give me a bit better flight and a few more yards. Basically I was hitting little low draws around the 200 metre carry mark and then running out a lot. I would like to get the flight up a touch.

After looking around at shafts I found there is the UT/driving iron shaft from graphite design and there is a AD DI hybrid shaft. I am a tad unsure which way to go because;

a - Shaft tip size is .370 and the DI iron shaft tip is .355 - I guess i could get it shimmed but is that the best way? Would the AD DI hybrid shaft be better as it is a straight in fit?

b - How big of difference is there really between the ad di utility iron shaft and the hybrid shaft? (considering i am looking at same weight and flex)

I mainly intend on using the UT iron for tee shots on short par 4 holes, or trying to chase one up on approach to long par 5. I carry a 4 wood as another option for the second shots into par 5 where i want to carry it all the way there. Any thoughts on which way would be better would be great. I would ask the OG fitter but i cannot get in contact ATM as he has moved on to start his own business. Your thoughts or guidance here guys would be most helpful.