Many of us come to The Hackers Paradise for various reasons. For some, it might be for Tour news and coverage, for others it may be for the camaraderie on the forum, but the one thing we all have in common: we all love equipment. We share our thoughts, pictures of our bags and sometimes we even disagree about certain things, but it’s typically because we are passionate about the topic at hand. The one constant when giving or receiving advice concerning equipment on THP is fitting. It’s something that is becoming more important for many of us and it’s something that is much easier to achieve as a consumer than it ever has been before. For me, the shaft is now just as important in the fitting realm as length and loft have ever been. A proper fitted shaft can change everything for one’s launch conditions and it’s probably the most important aspect of a driver fitting for me.
TECHNOLOGY
Where Matrix really shines is in the area of testing. Of course, most equipment manufacturers conduct testing, but Matrix takes it a step further. They’re testing has one integral component that I feel should not be overlooked and it’s simple: energy! Matrix has determined through testing that energy that should be delivered to the driver’s clubhead and to the ball can be deformed and lost through inefficiencies in some driver shaft designs. Matrix discovered these inefficiencies via Deformation of Energy Analysis (DE Analysis) and in return, developed a Deformation of Energy Curve (DE Curve). The DE Curve is a measurement of the entire graphite shaft created by engineers at Matrix. Matrix firmly believes being armed with DE Curve, they can find resolutions in shaft designs that greatly effect launch angle, spin rate and ball speed.
One of the resolutions in shaft design that Matrix came up with was HD, or Hexadecagonal Design. This is a 16-sided, internal platform on which the Radix shaft was built. Quite simply, this means that Matrix has developed a shaft design that is unparalleled when it comes to internal strength. They now have a driver shaft which can be strengthened at the tip end without having to add weight. From Matrix’s website:
The internal HD structure is made more consistently uniform than a circular design, thus reducing the need for specific orientation during installation. In terms of performance, shafts with the “HD” label will produce flatter, more piercing Tour-type ball flights – and a more stable and crisp feeling.
So, the Radix is a shaft with a stronger tip, offers a tour-type ball flight, lowers ball flight as it gets stiffer in flex, but they are not quite finished yet. Hard to believe at this point, but the last piece of the technological puzzle which makes the Radix so outstanding is the Tip Torsional Resistence (TTR). In layman’s terms, TTR is an added bonus from the folks at Matrix that does two things I cannot overlook: it minimizes the tip of the shaft from twisting in the impact zone and it reduces shaft deformation on the down swing. What this means for the golfer is simple:
This added structural stability results in controlled side launch deviation, more centered contact, more consistent spin results, and higher energy transfer into the golf ball. This combination yields explosive distance and straighter shots.
LOOKS
It’s quite clear that the Radix shaft is packed full of some incredible, cutting edge technology, and I can appreciate that, especially as a tech junky, but the shaft is nothing short of spectacular in the looks department. I will not lie, when I first saw it, I immediately thought of Carolina Blue. Being a guy from the great state of North Carolina, I loved it! The beautiful sky blue color paired with the white “RADIX HD6” lettering was enough in itself to have me intrigued. I immediately thought about how fantastic it would look in my R11 and it did not disappoint after installation. What immediately struck me next was how I could even take it to the next level by throwing a white grip on it. This had to happen, and when it did, I knew this was the best head, shaft, and grip color combination I have ever seen. I have never received as many compliments, questions, or remarks as I have with this driver, and I must admit, I’m proud to have it in the bag. If a picture is worth a thousand words, it’s hard to believe that this shaft can sometimes just leave one speechless.
TESTING
The Matrix Radix HD6 has been in my bag for 4 rounds of golf and for at least half a dozen range sessions. For me, it was love at first strike! Immediately I noticed a ball flight that appeals to me and my golf game. For the past couple of years I have been actively pursuing a shaft that will offer me a low/mid penetrating ball flight. The Radix delivered, and did so with one other feature that cannot be ignored: FEEL! I could not believe how smooth and stable this shaft felt, both throughout my swing, and especially at impact. It’s incredibly difficult to describe feel, mostly because it’s such a subjective thing, but there is one word that has been in my mind since I’ve been testing this shaft, and that word is, “consistent”.
The Radix seems to offer me a repeatable flight, a repeatable launch, and most importantly repeatable results! I don’t know about you, but that’s precisely what I have been looking for from a driver shaft for quite some time. So, to find out that the solution came in the form of a shaft that visually appeals to me, is packed full of cutting edge technology, and is super consistent, well, I believe my search is over. Time and time again, the shaft just delivered for me. My shot shape was consistent to what I expected, my shot height was seemingly identical, and not once did I ever feel like I had too much shaft for me to handle. Predictability and consistency, the two words racing through my mind every time I think about how to describe the Radix HD6.
CONCLUSION
It’s quite simple: Matrix takes the shaft game very seriously. They are at the forefront of testing, ingredients, and design when it comes to graphite shafts. They do not just produce products to saturate the market, instead, they do it so club builders and golfers can attain more accurate and faster fittings. They are also incredibly easy on the wallet, something that most THP’ers can appreciate. The Radix HD6 is by far the best driver shaft that I have tested and my game and I believe that if you are a golfer who is seeking a mid ball flight, a shaft that is reliable and consistent, then you need to look no further than the Radix series from Matrix.
Any information concerning the Radix series from Matrix can be found on their website www.matrixshafts.com.
Until next time, thanks for reading!
-TC
