Introduction
Something I was not aware of was that 3 of the Top 10 golfers in the world are armed with Matrix Ozik shafts. While most of us will never be as talented as the men on that list, it does not mean that we cannot take advantage of the same products at their finger tips. In fact, I think it’s a wonderful thing that we have the option to truly play what the pro’s play. While we may not sniff the weight and flex of shafts that the Pro’s play, we can benefit from the characteristics of what those shafts provide to the user.
I have been very fortunate to experience Matrix shafts in the past. In my research, it became very clear that Matrix is a company that puts every ounce of their energies into creating a high quality, unique product. Matrix designed the Ozik Series with the form and function of a bow and arrow in mind. Energy is accumulated in the butt section of the shaft until it is released towards the mid section of the shaft. With this high-energy butt section and gradient energy flow through the tip section, a giant, powerful fulcrum is created, greatly increasing the force that is applied to the clubhead and the golf ball.
So what makes the M3 different? Personally, I think the M3 is the perfect complement to Matrix’s vision as a premium shaft powerhouse. In my opinion, the M3 is not just another offering from Matrix, it is a piece to puzzle. The M3 is founded and developed on a foundation that has been proven by success on Tour, and especially in testing.
TECHNOLOGY
The OZIK M3 series represents the culmination of what Matrix has learned in recent years regarding what the young, aggressive power players on the PGA Tour demand. Designed on the industry leading and patented HD platform, the OZIK M3 features a flat, lower spinning ball flight often preferred by players with higher ball speed. The genesis of the M3 resonates from the flight model of the highly successful M2 series, a winner of numerous PGA Tour events including 2 Majors. Better players preferring additional stability in the tip section will benefit from the tightest design construct ever released by the Matrix R&D team.
Pretty awesome claims if you ask me! Matrix’s HD platform is tried and true, and finally, there’s a shaft that allows a golfer to be completely aggressive with the swing, at impact, and through the hitting zone, without having to make the jump to a shaft outside of the mid 60 gram range.
The 6M3 comes in 4 different flexes: Firm, Stiff, Strong, & X-Stiff, so there will be an audience that these simply do not cater to. The shaft comes stock from Matrix at 46 inches and features a 0.335’’ tip diameter. What I find most interesting (and appealing) about the line is the weighting. For example, the Firm weighs in at 63.5 grams, the Stiff at 64.5 grams, the Strong at 65.5 grams, and the X-Stiff at 66.5 grams. I love the fact that Matrix has provided the consumer with a low launching, low spinning shaft, that caters to an aggressive golf swing, in that weight range. Personally, I think it is pure genius. I’m not saying there aren’t other options out there that provide similar flex in similar weight ranges, but are those options engineered with a specific swing characteristic in mind? I’m not so sure.
LOOKS
I find it pretty fitting that a company named Matrix, comes out with a shaft that looks like the M3. A matte Black is the base layer of the shaft and the first thing that jumps out to me, is the white lettering of “MATRIX”. Upon further investigation, the interior of the lettering of “MATRIX” seems to be filled with some sort of scripted code, a la The Matrix. I think it’s a great design both visually and conceptually. I’m almost positive that was not the intent but it’s the first thing I thought of.
I’m also a bit biased because I love the simplicity of the design of the shaft. I’m not a fan of loud coloring in my golf attire or accessories, so the M3 fits perfectly to my eye. Honestly, the M3 just screams “Matrix” and for a shaft company, that’s a very good thing.
TESTING
I received the Matrix 6M3, in Stiff flex, to review. The shaft was shipped to me at the stock length of 46’’. I tipped the shaft with an adapter for my R9, butt trimmed the shaft to 45.5’’, and put a Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip on it. All range and on course testing was conducted locally, and all testing of the 6M3 was conducted in a Taylormade R9 driver at 9* of loft. I always leave the setting on Neutral for the sake of testing shafts.
My approach is, and always has been simple, report my thoughts based on what I am seeing, feeling, and experiencing on the range and in play. Before I get into my results I must admit that I do very little research on a shaft before I begin my testing. I prefer going into it blindly. I’m not sure if this is fair or not to the company, but in the end I would rather be recognized for putting my honest opinions out there as opposed to having a somewhat influenced mindset from the start.
At any rate, I was lucky to get 5 rounds of golf in, as well as 6 range sessions in with the 6M3. My first experiences with the shaft were actually on the course and not on the range. Not only was I fortunate to be able to try this shaft, I was blown away with how well it performed for me. I’m not the longest driver of the ball, nor do I have the fastest swing speed, and I’m certainly not the most accurate, but I typically look for a couple of things in a driver shaft for me: a lower ball flight and consistency! The 6M3 not only delivered, it delivered in jaw dropping fashion.
The ball flight provided was piercing. Not too low mind you, but almost at that perfect height, right below the tree line, as though your ball knew to stay below any oncoming conditions. What was truly a blessing was the feel and feedback. For a shaft to offer low spin and low launch, I would typically imagine it to be very stiff and rigid but with the M3, I didn’t experience that at all. Instead, I was shocked to find that I could easily feel the shaft loading and unloading, and the feedback after impact was very pleasurable on the senses. One thing I absolutely loved was that my natural shot shape with the driver (which is a fade) was minimized significantly. At first, I thought it was some sort of fluke but these consistent results kept showing up every time I hit a drive off the tee.
My FIR (fairway in regulation) leading up to putting the 6M3 in the driver was 8.71 per round. My average FIR’s with the 6M3, through 5 rounds of golf, was 10.8! I’ll definitely take an additional 2 FIR’s per round. I really do not want to compare numbers of the M3 to other driver shafts I have tested in the past, but I did want to put up some numbers that I averaged when I put the R9/M3 combo on the Vector:
Average Launch Angle: 12.9*
Average Ball Speed: 167 mph
Average Spin: 2377 rpm’s
Average Carry: 273 yards
My dispersion was very nice, in fact, tighter than almost anything I have tested to date. Take these numbers for what they are worth, as I’m not trying to compare this shaft to anything else. For me, the ball speed is faster than anything I’ve tested, the spin is on par with a couple of other shafts I have reviewed, but the launch angle is a good degree or more lower than most shafts I’ve tested in the R9.
CONCLUSION
Matrix continues to impress me! They make claims, they market their shafts, and so far, every bit of data I have collected supports those claims. To me, this is a beautiful indication of a company who knows what they are doing, especially in R & D. I don’t want to peg this shaft on a certain segment of the golfing population because in the end a fitting should determine the right shaft for a golfer, but for me; an amateur golfer with a moderate swing speed, and one who likes to “get after” the golf ball on the tee, the Matrix 6M3 shaft is a match made in heaven!
If you are interested in finding an authorized dealer or if you are looking for more information on the M3 Series, please visit Matrix’s website at www.matrixshafts.com.
Thanks for reading!
-TC
