Any Idea How the new GD Tour AD VF Shafts Compare to Say a Ventus Black Velocore?

[WSUWarriorPGAPro]

I see that the new Graphite Design Tour AD VF shafts are now out and El Tigre has now been spotted with one in the new TaylorMade driver he is testing before getting going for the year in his Hero Challenge tournament.  

 

Since this shaft is now declared as more "White Board like" than the original shaft he was using.  (The Tour AD DI which made no sense to me with the mid launch and spin of it.)  How does this new Graphite Design Tour AD VF shaft compare to say a Ventus Black Velocore from Fujikura?  I like the Ventus Black and I use a 6 S (tipped 1/2" in my driver.)  I was using a Tour AD VC 6 X (untipped) in my driver previously.  I had to use the Tour AD VC shaft in an X flex, because it seemed a bit soft in the S flex.  I have hit both the Ventus Black and a Tour AD VC in my Stealth head and a Stealth 2 head in a fitting this past summer.  (Didn't see enough improvement to change heads.) However, BOTH of those shafts were within a yard of eachother and spin was very close.  I love the smooth feel of the Graphite Design shafts and would love to get a GD shaft that felt a bit stiffer, reduced spin, and wasn't a piece of rebar in feel.

 

I would be interested in trying a Tour AD VF, provided that it is somewhat close to the Ventus Black Velocore.  Or someone could tell me what it is somewhat close to?

I realize this is somewhat subjective and opinionated, but I ask anyway...  because its interesting to see the discussion.  😁

 

 

[Jsp3316]

curious as well

[easyyy]

curious as well

[0cean]

Your sentiments are similar to how the shafts feel to me. I’ve been gaming the Ventus Black 6S at 45.25 untipped in a 9.0 SIM2 head lofted up one setting to 9.75 that swing weights to about D3.5 since both came out. I’m working on a setup with the TSR3 9.0 head that has a bit more feel in loading and testing the length at Titleist standard length of 45.5 for a bit more swing speed and I am using a 6g weight (-2g from standard) to drop the swing weight a bit to around D3.5 to D4, which I’m more comfortable with. I’ve been testing the Ventus TR Blue 6S untipped at 45.5 playing at D3.75 and it’s a bit too soft for me in the lower mid section. I feel like I can lose the head sometimes especially when I load the shaft. But I do get really good ball speeds and carry when swung right. I’ve also been testing the TR Black in 5S also untipped at 45.5 playing at D 3.75. I prefer the profile of this shaft but can spin it a bit too much on certain shots when I go after one. Both TR shafts has that sharp/brittle feedback feel like the Tensei shafts, which I can get used to but it’s not my preference. I’m picking up a VF 6S and will report back after I get some range and on course testing.

[0cean]

On 12/16/2023 at 8:28 PM, 0cean said:

Your sentiments are similar to how the shafts feel to me. I’ve been gaming the Ventus Black 6S at 45.25 untipped in a 9.0 SIM2 head lofted up one setting to 9.75 that swing weights to about D3.5 since both came out. I’m working on a setup with the TSR3 9.0 head that has a bit more feel in loading and testing the length at Titleist standard length of 45.5 for a bit more swing speed and I am using a 6g weight (-2g from standard) to drop the swing weight a bit to around D3.5 to D4, which I’m more comfortable with. I’ve been testing the Ventus TR Blue 6S untipped at 45.5 playing at D3.75 and it’s a bit too soft for me in the lower mid section. I feel like I can lose the head sometimes especially when I load the shaft. But I do get really good ball speeds and carry when swung right. I’ve also been testing the TR Black in 5S also untipped at 45.5 playing at D 3.75. I prefer the profile of this shaft but can spin it a bit too much on certain shots when I go after one. Both TR shafts has that sharp/brittle feedback feel like the Tensei shafts, which I can get used to but it’s not my preference. I’m picking up a VF 6S and will report back after I get some range and on course testing.

 

Summary:

- Been playing Ventus Black 6S since it came out in a SIM 2 9.0 head lofted to 9.75 playing at 45.25 untipped which had a swing weight of D3.5.

- Graphite Design VF set up: 6S in a TSR3 9.0 head with 6g weight (-2) at 9.0 degrees playing at 45.5 untipped and swing weight of D4.25.

 

The SIM head has the CG higher in the head, and made it harder to load the shaft and I didn't get great ball speeds. It has a much better load in a Stealth 2 Plus head, but I couldn't get along with the head. So I wanted to do a new driver build for better ball speeds. My VF and TSR3 set up is much easier to swing and I'm getting really good ball speed. You can feel the flex profile difference, the Black being stiff throughout, while the VF gradually gets stiffer and is softer in the handle and mid section vs Black. I gamed the GP shaft and loved that feel and like you wanted to get back to a GD shaft for the feel but has the very tip stiff shaft that creates the stability that made the Ventus popular and the VF has it. I've only hit it in a sim. I'll see how it preforms for me on the course this weekend.

[COmedic]

On 12/21/2023 at 10:18 PM, 0cean said:

 

Summary:

- Been playing Ventus Black 6S since it came out in a SIM 2 9.0 head lofted to 9.75 playing at 45.25 untipped which had a swing weight of D3.5.

- Graphite Design VF set up: 6S in a TSR3 9.0 head with 6g weight (-2) at 9.0 degrees playing at 45.5 untipped and swing weight of D4.25.

 

The SIM head has the CG higher in the head, and made it harder to load the shaft and I didn't get great ball speeds. It has a much better load in a Stealth 2 Plus head, but I couldn't get along with the head. So I wanted to do a new driver build for better ball speeds. My VF and TSR3 set up is much easier to swing and I'm getting really good ball speed. You can feel the flex profile difference, the Black being stiff throughout, while the VF gradually gets stiffer and is softer in the handle and mid section vs Black. I gamed the GP shaft and loved that feel and like you wanted to get back to a GD shaft for the feel but has the very tip stiff shaft that creates the stability that made the Ventus popular and the VF has it. I've only hit it in a sim. I'll see how it preforms for me on the course this weekend.

Any updates? Seems we have similar views on clubs and shafts. The VF has really peaked my interest, and I’m debating 5S or 6S in my TSR2 head. Would probably do 5S with a little tipping.

[0cean]

On 1/18/2024 at 10:27 AM, COmedic said:

Any updates? Seems we have similar views on clubs and shafts. The VF has really peaked my interest, and I’m debating 5S or 6S in my TSR2 head. Would probably do 5S with a little tipping.

The VF 6S performed great on course. But I think that because I've been playing 45.25 for the last 10 years, my timing is off a bit with the 6S at 45.5 even with a 6g (-2) head weight to counter the heavier swing weight the VF 6S creates. But playing a lighter shaft, the Ventus TR Black 5S at 45.5 with the 6g (-2) head weight, does make me feel more comfortable with swinging the club. I just actually received the VF 5S that I will probably test first at 45.75 untipped in a standard Qi10 head when it comes out on Feb 2. FYI, Sydney Golf Tech on Youtube does good reviews on shafts and has similar sentiments to me as well. The only difference in feel I have from him is that I think I'm a bit quicker in the transition and like loading a bit faster — he likes the TR Blue but I'm not a fan of it because I feel like at times I the mid-tip section is a bit too soft for me when I get a bit quick.

[COmedic]

1 hour ago, 0cean said:

The VF 6S performed great on course. But I think that because I've been playing 45.25 for the last 10 years, my timing is off a bit with the 6S at 45.5 even with a 6g (-2) head weight to counter the heavier swing weight the VF 6S creates. But playing a lighter shaft, the Ventus TR Black 5S at 45.5 with the 6g (-2) head weight, does make me feel more comfortable with swinging the club. I just actually received the VF 5S that I will probably test first at 45.75 untipped in a standard Qi10 head when it comes out on Feb 2. FYI, Sydney Golf Tech on Youtube does good reviews on shafts and has similar sentiments to me as well. The only difference in feel I have from him is that I think I'm a bit quicker in the transition and like loading a bit faster — he likes the TR Blue but I'm not a fan of it because I feel like at times I the mid-tip section is a bit too soft for me when I get a bit quick.

I saw that review. Between that one and the Club Champion review with Ian, it seems like the 5s might work out well. I’m planning on 45.5” but may cut down 1/4” to my usual playing length. I don’t “need” more distance, but if I can find more distance without the risk of going OB it’ll be a winner!

[0cean]

1 hour ago, COmedic said:

I saw that review. Between that one and the Club Champion review with Ian, it seems like the 5s might work out well. I’m planning on 45.5” but may cut down 1/4” to my usual playing length. I don’t “need” more distance, but if I can find more distance without the risk of going OB it’ll be a winner!

Same. With my Ventus Black 6S at 45.25 in the SIM2 head, I know I was leaving some distance on the table but even on a not so great swing, the dispersion was tight, but it also felt like I had to keep my speed up, which caused consistency issues. For my next driver set up, I know there will be a bit of a trade off with more distance at the expense of dispersion (Ian got much better ball speed with the 5S but on his recent course vlog, Chasing Red & Breaking Par Consistently, he played the VF in 6X, because it kept his dispersion tight) but it would allow me to swing easier without losing distance, and therefore be more consistent, given that I play about once a week, don't practice, and I'm a parking lot to first tee player. At least that's my theory.

Edited January 20 by 0cean

[OspreyCI]

Been playing the Kaili White two different times with good success, floated GD XC 5s, really liked the TR Blue 6s, but a VF 5s sounds interesting. At 100 SS and aggressive load, would a VF 5s be a good try? 

[0cean]

21 hours ago, OspreyCI said:

Been playing the Kaili White two different times with good success, floated GD XC 5s, really liked the TR Blue 6s, but a VF 5s sounds interesting. At 100 SS and aggressive load, would a VF 5s be a good try? 

I tend to have a quick and aggressive transition. I'll let you know how the VF 5S works out. But FYI, I did not like the TR Blue 6S. the mid-tip section was too soft for my transition.

[Wardman]

How is the VF holding up?  I go for a fitting on Tuesday, but have a VF5S on order already :-).  TSR2 head...

[byoshio82]

Only experience I have with both was a Ventus Black in a 6X TSR4 and a TSR2+ with a VF8X in it so hard to compare apples to apples. Feel wise the black you really have to go after but the VF was more lively to me kinda reminded me of the old whiteboard where it’s very stiff thru out the whole swing but not hard to load. 

[Wardman]

On 2/11/2024 at 12:07 PM, byoshio82 said:

Only experience I have with both was a Ventus Black in a 6X TSR4 and a TSR2+ with a VF8X in it so hard to compare apples to apples. Feel wise the black you really have to go after but the VF was more lively to me kinda reminded me of the old whiteboard where it’s very stiff thru out the whole swing but not hard to load. 

Hit the VF5S totday in a TSR2, D4.  had some spinny numbers and hodge-podge of left and rights.  I'll admit, it felt great.  Now I need to dial in the dispersion with either different head, or maybe the 6S.  Fitting on Tuesday to see what happens.  Numbers from e GC Quad.