Custom Callaway Apex UW Shaft or stock shaft?

[JChip]

I recently tested the Callaway Apex UW 19 and seemed to hit it well with stock Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 which generated average ball speed of low 130s and backspin of 2700.  Launch Angle was 14.6. It did not give me apex but it had carry of 230 and distance of 250 which suggests a low apex?  The fitter only had this stock shaft.  I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a custom shaft that increases apex so it has similar loft as a hybrid. I tend to draw my hybrids significantly so I prefer not to get a hybrid and I wanted something more forgiving off fairway and rough than a 3/5 wood.  I also don't know best weight as my miss on the RDX 70 was a bit left thought the 80 seems like too big of a jump.  I hit 6S in my driver.  I appreciate your thoughts.  

[eric61]

I love the Apex UW but it was going too far and not spinning enough for me to work for the gapping I was looking for. I have one in the closet -- my plan is to install the new Graphite Design Tour AD CQ 8X in it once that shaft is released this winter and I can get my hands on one. The descriptions so far suggest it'll be a higher-launching, higher-spinning shaft, not identical but perhaps in the same sort of universe as a Ventus Red. 

 

I do think a Ventus Red would be a good one to look at. Or if you want to try something cheaper, what about maybe a Riptide or a Tensei Blue? (In both cases, it might be cheaper to just buy a new Apex UW with one of those shafts and sell your current one, since they're offered as no-upcharge options.) Or a Diamana BF, the previous-generation blueboard? 

[JChip]

Thanks - would you think 7s or 8s for me or is there something in between?

 

[eric61]

2 minutes ago, JChip said:

Thanks - would you think 7s or 8s for me or is there something in between?

 

Tough to know -- what are you playing in your driver and second-longest club? Typically you'd go up a weight class each club. Like, 6X in driver, 7X in 3W, 8X in 5W, that sort of thing.

[JChip]

Graphic Design HD-6S in ping g425 max driver

[tilasan]

The 22' Tensei av blue 75 should launch higher then the smoke and feel a lot better also.

[Arlin964]

I would agree a Tensei blue would be good. I really like that shaft. 
 

If you somewhat like the hzrdus smoke RDX, I would also try the hzrdus RDX blue. It feels a bit more responsive than the smoke so I’d expect you could fly it higher. I am normally a 6S in my driver with most shafts, sometimes a 6X depending on the profile. I went with the hzrdus blue 6.5 in my 17UW thinking the “softer” profile matched with the extra stiffness would be a good fit. Honestly I could have been ok with 6.0. But at least I know I will avoid the lefts with the 6.5. 
 

80 gram weight class for your 19 degree seems appropriate to me. 

[Zena]

I am going to say… whatever your preferred shaft would be in the corresponding wood. For the UW 19, that would be your 5 wood. So the generality is same shaft/flex as 3 wood but go up one weight class.

 

The stock RDX Smoke Black is what keeps the club on the low-low end for launch and spin. If you check the UW thread, plenty of people have installed other shafts with great success.

[hitnfades]

Throwing this info out there since I play GD shafts in the top of my bag. 
 

I was looking for a higher launch/apex so I went to the IZ in my driver shaft. IZ reminds me of what you are looking for in a higher apex with the GD line. Others have used it in 3-5 wood and UW’s on other threads for similar reasons. 
 

In my driver, I play the Tour AD IZ 6x in Epic Speed head 9* or 10.5*. I play the IZ 6s in the winter in these heads as well. In my Epic Max 3W, I just added the Tour AD UB 7x after playing this shaft in my UW 21*.  I had the Evenflow Riptide 7s when I ordered this club from Callaway at it’s launch.  This is a nice shaft, but just was not stiff enough for me. Also, the IZ replaced the Riptide 6s in my driver as well. 

 

I have the UW’s in 17* and 21*.  17 has the Tour AD DI 7x and 21 has the Tour AD UB 7x.  DI is a bit tip loose comparably to the UB for me. I will eventually move to the UB in the 17 as well since I have a right miss at times. The UB feels like a stiffer DI.
DI, UB and IZ are all great shafts. 

 

Below is GD video from McGolf and chart below shows some GD shaft comparisons. You could compare other GD shafts to your HD.  This is what I did since my first GD shaft was the DI in my 17* UW. This chart is pretty spot on from my experience with their shaft lines. (The info at the bottom of the photo got cut off a bit - 5 stiffest and 1 softest) 

 

 

[JChip]

Thanks - hitnfades

Curious - what is your gapping from Driver - 3w - 17-21?  

[Fairways_and_Greens]

On 8/19/2022 at 12:27 PM, JChip said:

I recently tested the Callaway Apex UW 19 and seemed to hit it well with stock Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 which generated average ball speed of low 130s and backspin of 2700.  Launch Angle was 14.6. It did not give me apex but it had carry of 230 and distance of 250 which suggests a low apex?  The fitter only had this stock shaft.  I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for a custom shaft that increases apex so it has similar loft as a hybrid. I tend to draw my hybrids significantly so I prefer not to get a hybrid and I wanted something more forgiving off fairway and rough than a 3/5 wood.  I also don't know best weight as my miss on the RDX 70 was a bit left thought the 80 seems like too big of a jump.  I hit 6S in my driver.  I appreciate your thoughts.  

Get the 21?