Shaft for R7 425

rodto3rd · September 1, 2006

aldila vs proto or diamana blue board???

I was wondering if anyone had any experiences using these two shafts and which felt better? I would like to swap out the stock shaft and upgrade to one of these, I'm leaning towards the blue board, but I also see that there is a red board too. I have read the post on blue being low and red being high-but how about the difference in feel.

All in all, which shaft would make the better fit in my 425?

arkstorm · September 1, 2006

I play the R7 425 (non-tp version) with the Diamana Blue. Its perfect, boring flight, not too low, just perfect. Plus the shaft feels smooth as butter. Unless you're a very low ball hitter I would avoid the Red as the Blue goes plenty high.

dpriester · September 1, 2006

I've had my 425 since February. First combination I tried was the stock shaft. I then hit the Aldila NV 65 and it was a night and day difference. Distance was 15 to 25 yards better with Aldila, trajectory was more consistent and accuracy seemed better (time has proven this to be accurate). You best bet is to hit the various combinations available to you. My best combination is not necessarily your best. Good luck...

rodto3rd · September 1, 2006

thanks guys, arkstorm any reason why you went with the 63 vs the 73? I am a little confused as to what to get since the stock shaft is 65 so do I want to go down in weight or go up a little, granted 3-5 grams should not make a huge impact.

ryanks · September 1, 2006

I have the r7 425 with a redboard 73, the shaft feels lively and the tragetory is nice and flat. I had a nvs75 on my old r7 but like the redboard much better. The nvs tended to balloon a little. I used a friend's r7 with a blueboard, the shaft felt to boardy (aka felt stiff like a telephone pole).

I think that it just matters how you want your shaft feel. Ballflight is one thing, but liking how the shaft kicks is important. True the redboard goes a little higher than the blue, but it by no means, goes too high.

IMO 65 gram shafts feel a little too light, especially if your swing is not the smoothest (like mine). The 73g shaft keeps me a little more in control and it doesn't fell too heavy.

Daimana shafts are great, the problem is spending almost as much money on a shaft as a whole club.

rodto3rd · September 1, 2006

So does the red board have the similar feel to that of a NV or NVS?

rodto3rd · September 1, 2006

Almost forgot, Looking on ebay--I'm looking for the Japan ION version and all the tips are 335, while the TM line you need a shaft with a 350 tip is this correct, or do I have all this wrong?

arkstorm · September 2, 2006

thanks guys, arkstorm any reason why you went with the 63 vs the 73? I am a little confused as to what to get since the stock shaft is 65 so do I want to go down in weight or go up a little, granted 3-5 grams should not make a huge impact.

I went with the 63 to maximize swing speed. I don't have control issues with the 63 and feel like I can just swing it faster. My swing speed is somewhere around 100, but higher swing speed players often like to go with the 73 to slow them down a little bit and for extra stiffness. The stock shaft weight had nothing to do with my decision, I just always prefer something around a 65 g. shaft in my drivers.

So does the red board have the similar feel to that of a NV or NVS?

Neither of the Diamanas feel similar to the NV in any regards. However, if you want to force a parallel, the Blueboard will offer a ball flight more similar to the NV and the Redboard more similar ot the NVS. But in reality, they feel a lot smoother than the Aldila shafts and load a lot more evenly in my opinion. The Blueboard almost feels like it doesn't have a specific kickpoint, just smooth load and unload.

rodto3rd · September 2, 2006

What about the tip size? Do i need to find one with a .350 tip or can I get one that is .335?

Guillotine007 · September 2, 2006

i've got the redboard 73 ION in my R5 TP and it is a 335 tip. i'm guessing the 425 is the same.

ryanks · September 12, 2006

Yeh, I am pretty sure that all TPs are .335 and non-TPs are .350. I think that Daimana only comes in a .335, and I know that the NVS comes in a .335 (I don't know if it comes in a .350). Anyway, you can always just shim the .335 if you you need a .350.

I have to agree with the earlier post that the Diamana feels much more smooth. I have also noticed that I don't hook or slice that ball as bad with the Daimana. I still get pushes and pulls, but not with the added bonus of the "big" hook and "big" slice. I don't know if it is my imagine, the next step of evolution in my ever changing terrible golf swing, or a combination of both.

Has anyone else noticed that the Daimana helps with a slice or hook? Is it the low spin of the shaft?