While the brand has been established since 2023, Aretera Golf has seen a surge in popularity and discussion within the past year, specifically after the launch of their EC1 shafts. Although the Alpha One came before them, it was the EC1 which made its way into the golf world with success and accolades, especially impressing the group of THP Community members whose hands we put both driver and fairway shafts into for a thorough testing.
However, Aretera isn’t here to try and be a one trick pony, as we recently discussed in a feature article about the brand, they truly are built different. That is why they are announcing their next premium shaft design creation, the AO2.
Aretera AO2 Shafts
The AO2 shafts are a culmination of intense research and testing by Aretera to take some of their initial concepts and ideas into account while blending them with even more modern technological advancements. At their core, the AO2 line of shafts are a design which have a firmer tip and middle but maintain a more active butt section.
As Aretera describes it, this makes for a more enhanced connection for what they refer to as “hand feel” golfers who want torsional stability and maximum power transfer efficiency without sacrificing the feel under the hands. As you might guess, this combination of design traits makes for a very unique EI Profile, which can be seen below:
The ability to create such an interesting profile comes back to the technology which Aretera hangs their hats on, namely PowerGrid and Coreless Design. For the former, that comes down to the company’s relentless pursuit of the most premium materials available. Ultra-high modulus exotic fibers woven into spread tow fabric which is thinner, lighter, and possesses more multi-directional benefits compared to more of the standard materials.
That PowerGrid application is then taken to another level when combined with the Coreless Design aspect. With the way most shafts are made, the layering process creates a natural bias both in how the materials are applied as well as the natural tendency of one trait to overwhelm the other when it comes to flex versus feel. For Aretera, the PowerGrid materials along with the alternating staking process means they use 16-20 plies compared to the traditional 5-7.
Those added layers mean more fine tuning in terms of being able to create torsional stability, feel, and flex in unison as opposed to the usual give and take battle that occurs. Not only has Aretera been able to place material where the most stresses and deformations occur, but it is key to creating the “Aretera Feel” which THP’ers in particular have long raved about.
The Details
Aretera is unveiling the new AO2 shafts not as a replacement to the EC1, but a sibling within the lineup. As has become standard for them, there will be both Gray and Blue models with the main difference being a 7% stiffer tip section in the Gray. This aspect combined with the multitude of weight and flex options opens up a very unique fitting matrix compared to others.
This is officially Aretera AO2 shafts launch week and it drops with a price of $419.99. The line will be available at their ever growing network of certified fitters across the nation. For more information visit their website at areteragolf.com.
