Graphite Design Tour AD UB

[Tarheelnation3]

Finally got my UB in this week. Taking it out for a round or two this weekend and we will see how it compares to my HD. Love the color/graphics as always. I bought it to help with the "lefts" as some others have pointed out. Hopefully it works as good as some of you have been saying!

[eric61]

27 minutes ago, Tarheelnation3 said:

Finally got my UB in this week. Taking it out for a round or two this weekend and we will see how it compares to my HD. Love the color/graphics as always. I bought it to help with the "lefts" as some others have pointed out. Hopefully it works as good as some of you have been saying!

The HD vs. UB is a comparison I'm really interested in. Eager to hear what you think.

[phizzy30]

6 hours ago, Tarheelnation3 said:

Finally got my UB in this week. Taking it out for a round or two this weekend and we will see how it compares to my HD. Love the color/graphics as always. I bought it to help with the "lefts" as some others have pointed out. Hopefully it works as good as some of you have been saying!

I have the UB and am waiting on a HD for a client of mine.  I will have the opportunity to test though.  We need to trade notes........

Edited November 10, 2021 by phizzy30

[third-times-a-charm]

Can anyone compare the UB to a Diamana ZF? I'll pickup a UB eventualy when someone lists one for under $200 on ebay 🤣

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Can anyone compare the UB to a Diamana ZF? I'll pickup a UB eventualy when someone lists one for under $200 on ebay 🤣

It just so happens I have both in my bag.  ZF has a little more kick to it.  Feels softer overall.  Much easier to turn over.  Both are mid launch for sure but spin is tough to say since one is in my driver and the other is in my 3 metal. 

[Jim53]

I was a huge AD BB 7x fan for several years. Thinking maybe the UB in 5X would be good for these old bones.

[Ereim]

1 minute ago, Jim53 said:

I was a huge AD BB 7x fan for several years. Thinking maybe the UB in 5X would be good for these old bones.

Loving the 5x so far. At 59 grams it’s not that far off from some lighter “60” class shafts.

[Jim53]

Playing the fuji pro 2.0 6x now, I was playing the BB 7x and at a PXG fitting the guy proved the fuji 6x was a better fit and it was a no upcharge shaft. But I do miss the feel of the GD shaft. Since I am 2 years older (60 then) and after 60 the years seem to hurt more a 5X makes sense. 

I tried a 44x Adila but the feel was just not there for me as I have always had better luck with the softer butt shafts.

[phizzy30]

5 hours ago, Jim53 said:

I was a huge AD BB 7x fan for several years. Thinking maybe the UB in 5X would be good for these old bones.

It will feel firmer than the BB.  Launch will be about the same but the UB might spin just a bit more for you. 

[Jim53]

2 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

It will feel firmer than the BB.  Launch will be about the same but the UB might spin just a bit more for you. 

Thanks, I think that might be a good thing now. 

[MMB1500]

Performance is king of course, but GD seriously nailed it with the graphics on this one. 

[MMB1500]

 

[Tarheelnation3]

Sweet baby Jesus...I've never decided on a shaft staying in the bag through 9 holes before, but today it happened. I went to play in my usual Saturday morning game. I figured, what the hell, I put this in the driver and went straight to the tee box. I literally missed on fairway today and it was because I didn't trust putting a swing on it which is my fault. Really like the shaft. Compared to my HD, it's definitely a little tiffer in the tip (in my opinion) and stouter than my HD. My miss is typically a pull to the left. I had zero of that with this shaft. I was able to put a more aggressive swing on the ball and wasn't worried at all about it going left. I was hitting fades all day and they were rolling out plenty far. Trajectory was definitely more of a mid-launch versus the HD. The shaft alone probably paid for itself today with my winnings in the money game as I was even for the round. Definitely keeping it in the bag for now.

Edited November 14, 2021 by Tarheelnation3

[GolfCarl]

35 minutes ago, Tarheelnation3 said:

Sweet baby Jesus...I've never decided on a shaft staying in the bag through 9 holes before, but today it happened. I went to play in my usual Saturday morning game. I figured, what the hell, I put this in the driver and went straight to the tee box. I literally missed on fairway today and it was because I didn't trust putting a swing on it which is my fault. Really like the shaft. Compared to my HD, it's definitely a little firmer feel in the butt section. My miss is typically a pull to the left. I had zero of that with this shaft. I was able to put a more aggressive swing on the ball and wasn't worried at all about it going left. I was hitting fades all day and they were rolling out plenty far. Trajectory was definitely more of a mid-launch versus the HD. The shaft alone probably paid for itself today with my winnings in the money game as I was even for the round. Definitely keeping it in the bag for now.

 

Tarheel,

 

Where did you play today in la la land?  It was hot!

[eric61]

39 minutes ago, Tarheelnation3 said:

Sweet baby Jesus...I've never decided on a shaft staying in the bag through 9 holes before, but today it happened. I went to play in my usual Saturday morning game. I figured, what the hell, I put this in the driver and went straight to the tee box. I literally missed on fairway today and it was because I didn't trust putting a swing on it which is my fault. Really like the shaft. Compared to my HD, it's definitely a little firmer feel in the butt section. My miss is typically a pull to the left. I had zero of that with this shaft. I was able to put a more aggressive swing on the ball and wasn't worried at all about it going left. I was hitting fades all day and they were rolling out plenty far. Trajectory was definitely more of a mid-launch versus the HD. The shaft alone probably paid for itself today with my winnings in the money game as I was even for the round. Definitely keeping it in the bag for now.

Really interesting that you found the UB to feel firmer in the butt than the HD, given that GD describes the HD as having the firmer butt. I find the HD to have a nice kick in the middle — does the UB have a comparable kick?

[Tarheelnation3]

2 minutes ago, eric61 said:

Really interesting that you found the UB to feel firmer in the butt than the HD, given that GD describes the HD as having the firmer butt. I find the HD to have a nice kick in the middle — does the UB have a comparable kick?

 

Sorry, I meant stiffer in the tip. Brain fart. Adjusting my original posting to reflect that. As for the kick, no, I didn't really feel that in this shaft. Just smooth throughout and stouter if that makes any sense.

[phizzy30]

Just now, eric61 said:

Really interesting that you found the UB to feel firmer in the butt than the HD, given that GD describes the HD as having the firmer butt. I find the HD to have a nice kick in the middle — does the UB have a comparable kick?

I will be testing the HD tomorrow and report back.  Playing golf with one of my clients and he's letting me try it.  Will report back. 

[phizzy30]

I can say that the HD is closer in profile to the typical blue board where it's super smooth with more kick than the UB.  Messed around on top tracer over at Glen Oaks before heading on down a couple miles to Glendora CC for 18 and the HD launches slightly higher than the UB by 1 to 2* on average.  Very tempting to switch but I want to wait for the Kai'li white and blue protos to be released in January and test those before pulling the trigger. 

Edited November 14, 2021 by phizzy30

[Tarheelnation3]

12 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

I can say that the HD is closer in profile to the typical blue board where it's super smooth with more kick than the UB.  Messed around on top tracer over at Glen Oaks before heading on down a couple miles to Glendora CC for 18 and the HD launches slightly higher than the UB by 1 to 2* on average.  Very tempting to switch but I want to wait for the Kai'li white and blue protos to be released in January and test those before pulling the trigger. 

 

I would agree with that assessment. Are you gaming the UB now and thinking of switching to the HD? If so, why? Do you like the higher ball flight or do you like that "kick" feel?

[phizzy30]

3 hours ago, Tarheelnation3 said:

 

I would agree with that assessment. Are you gaming the UB now and thinking of switching to the HD? If so, why? Do you like the higher ball flight or do you like that "kick" feel?

I have the UB in the bag atm.  I like the higher flight of the HD.  In regards to kick, I can take it or leave it as long as a shaft doesn't have too much of it.  I feel like I have to swing 100% with the UB in order to really get the most out of it while with the HD, I can swing 80% and still get it up high enough for max carry.  I feel as though the UB is more stable though and it doesn't want to go left on me which is good.  I swing in to out so and it's easier to turn the ball over with the HD whereas with the UB my tendency is to hit a push fade.  This tells me that there is a possible difference in shaft deflection and/or strike location at impact between the two shafts.

Edited November 15, 2021 by phizzy30

[Tarheelnation3]

58 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

I have the UB in the bag atm.  I like the higher flight of the HD.  With kick I can take it or leave it as long as a shaft doesn't have too much of it.  I feel like I have to swing 100% with the UB in order to really get the most out of it while with the HD, I can swing 80% and still get it up high enough for max carry.  I feel as though the UB is more stable though and it doesn't want to go left one me which is good.  I swing in to out so and it's easier to turn the ball over with the HD whereas with the UB my tendency is to hit a push fade.  This tells me that there is a possible difference in shaft deflection and/or strike location at impact between the two shafts.

 

Just hearing that, my vote would be for you to go to the HD (I also like the colors better as a UNC fan, haha). I do love the HD, but I'm pretty sure the UB is sticking in my bag. We shall see as nothing truly "sticks" in my bag for all that long.

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, Tarheelnation3 said:

 

Just hearing that, my vote would be for you to go to the HD (I also like the colors better as a UNC fan, haha). I do love the HD, but I'm pretty sure the UB is sticking in my bag. We shall see as nothing truly "sticks" in my bag for all that long.

The only club I have a problem with in my bag that I'm prone to tinker too much with is driver.  The rest of my bag is set for awhile I have no desire to switch anytime soon.  My f***** up brain thinks that there is a shaft out there that would fit me even better than whatever I have in the bag, lol.  Honestly, the Ventus Black worked great but then doubts kept creeping into my head and I've been on the hunt for the perfect shaft ever since..............

[Tarheelnation3]

1 hour ago, phizzy30 said:

The only club I have a problem with in my bag that I'm prone to tinker too much with is driver.  The rest of my bag is set for awhile I have no desire to switch anytime soon.  My f***** up brain thinks that there is a shaft out there that would fit me even better than whatever I have in the bag, lol.  Honestly, the Ventus Black worked great but then doubts kept creeping into my head and I've been on the hunt for the perfect shaft ever since..............

 

If it makes you feel better, I do the same and went so far as to try the damn AutoFlex which screwed up my driver swing for about 3-5 months afterwards I swear, haha.

[Tugu]

If one was to like this shaft in a TX for driver, what GD shaft may be suitable for a 3 wood?

[endy]

2 hours ago, Tugu said:

If one was to like this shaft in a TX for driver, what GD shaft may be suitable for a 3 wood?

Honestly I’d try it in 3 wood too, just a little heavier If needed

[eric61]

Interesting comment from Russ Ryden in his review. I won't post much of it because his site requires a subscription, but I believe just a very short snippet would be acceptable: 

 

"The Tour AD UB is a remake of the Tour AD DI. The EI flex distributions are identical. The difference is material. If you play the DI you should test the UB."

 

I know the DI is a shaft lots of people have used. I have a 7S in my fairway wood right now and love it. Is this a comparison that others who have used the UB would agree with?

[third-times-a-charm]

1 hour ago, eric61 said:

Interesting comment from Russ Ryden in his review. I won't post much of it because his site requires a subscription, but I believe just a very short snippet would be acceptable: 

 

"The Tour AD UB is a remake of the Tour AD DI. The EI flex distributions are identical. The difference is material. If you play the DI you should test the UB."

 

I know the DI is a shaft lots of people have used. I have a 7S in my fairway wood right now and love it. Is this a comparison that others who have used the UB would agree with?

 

I read that, too. It's funny because while on paper it might have the same profiles - anyone who has tested the UB and DI will say they are nothing alike.

[andrewk8]

Anyone have experience trying both the UB 6TX and the 7TX? I’m sitting at 115 and getting faster, and I’ve always played a 70 gram+ shaft. 6TX is very alluring to me though…

[JNewsted]

2 hours ago, third-times-a-charm said:

 

I read that, too. It's funny because while on paper it might have the same profiles - anyone who has tested the UB and DI will say they are nothing alike.

 

I'm not at all knowledgeable enough to dispute what their machines say.  They might in fact be a similar profile on paper.  But yeah, the UB and DI are drastically different in feel.  I've yet to really dial in the UB (thanks winter), but both it and the DI give me great ballflights and results on good hits, but my misses do wildly different things...  

[eric61]

4 hours ago, third-times-a-charm said:

 

I read that, too. It's funny because while on paper it might have the same profiles - anyone who has tested the UB and DI will say they are nothing alike.

 

1 hour ago, JNewsted said:

 

I'm not at all knowledgeable enough to dispute what their machines say.  They might in fact be a similar profile on paper.  But yeah, the UB and DI are drastically different in feel.  I've yet to really dial in the UB (thanks winter), but both it and the DI give me great ballflights and results on good hits, but my misses do wildly different things...  

Yeah I was really surprised to read that too, because based on the comments in this thread, no one had really been drawing that comparison at all. 

 

The DI is excellent for me as a fairway wood shaft -- it's what I'm using now. I have an HD in my driver but am planning to look this winter for something that gives me a little lower flight and spin, and comments here have me thinking the UB is one to test. But the DI launches higher and spins more than the HD, not less. 

 

@JNewsted, how do your misses differ?

Edited December 6, 2021 by eric61