Tipping Measurement on AD TP is off, is it fake / counterfeit?

cvvorst · May 12, 2020

So back in January I purchased a Ping driver with AD TP 6s. I was measuring the AD TP today to determine tipping, and found 24 12/16 from the tip to the first ring. From what I read online, and from an email with Bill from Pro Choice, it is supposed to be 24 10/16 from tip to first ring. Based on that, it would see, that the shaft might be a fake / counterfeit. I will attach some admittedly poor photos. I will get better photos later, and pull the grip to check for etched serial (what Bill recommended) He mentioned their tolerances should be within 1/16 from shaft to shaft. Mine is 2/16 off.

What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards fake.

Krt22 · May 12, 2020

The stock numbers typically assume a bare shaft with to tip adapter. Depending on the brand, the adapter will add 3/8-1/2" or so to that measurement. Did you measure with or without the tip installed?

cvvorst · May 12, 2020

No adapter on it, Bill thought the same thing.

WristySwing · May 12, 2020

Is it possible the shaft from the original seller was not tipped accordingly? It looks real to me and I used to sell a fair bit of these.

cvvorst · May 12, 2020

My concern is that my measurement from tip to ring was 2/16 longer than an new uncut/untipped shaft should be. It's certainly possible that this shaft is real, and just a deviation from manufacturing tolerances. I should know for sure when I pull the grip and give that serial info to Bill. I will be sending him better pictures as well. Worst case scenario, I'll even send it in to him to confirm if it's real or fake. I am reassured that it looks good to you. I don't seem to have an eye for spotting differences in these Tour AD shafts.

t4t3r · May 12, 2020

I don't see anything that looks off, and no offense to Bill as I've exchanged some emails with him in the past and he's provided some good reference information here for measurements, but I would not rely on that 1/16" of an inch to mean anything. I see the paint "band" that runs from the Tour AD logo through the Graphite wording that is on the new paint-scheme models and the "ghost" GD and Distance logos in the white section up near the grip. The rings and other graphics should also have some texture to them. You could check for the holograph sticker but it's not entirely foolproof as they do sometimes come off from grip solvent and multiple regrips. Most of the older GD shafts I've had also had the model kind of screened lightly along the butt end of the shaft - that should hold up better to grip solvent and would hopefully see that.

Based on the admittedly average photos, it looks fine to me.

Edit: I've always used 24.75" to the first ring on wood shafts (except the outliers like the black version of AD-DI, hybrid shafts, etc). I just checked my untipped VR and it is right on 24.75. Yours is also 24.75.