There is little doubt that the Graphite Design Tour AD line of shafts are known for performance and quality. With their vast lineup of offerings, we get a lot of questions asking about the differences between models. It is time for another TESTED! where we put the gear to the test and show the swings and data and then break it down for you.
We took out the variables of grip, length and club head and hit them all against each other and break down the data to show you what the differences are between the different lines. Six different Graphite Design Tour AD shafts as well as two more from the MAD lineup made this a fun one to tackle.
Tour AD DI
Tour AD IZ
Tour AD MJ
Tour AD VR
Tour AD HD
Tour ADXC
MAD
MAD Pro
Each shaft was put to the test with the brand new Callaway Epic Speed driver head. We rotated the head around the different shafts rather than use different heads. Each shaft was gripped with a Golf Pride Tour Velvet, as well as cut to play at exactly 45 inches in length.
Lots of swings were taken and every data point recorded on the Foresight GCQuad in the THP Tech Studio. The video below features a break down of the different shafts as well as all of the data averages taken from the swings.
Do you play Graphite Design Tour AD shafts now? If so which one? If not, which model do you think will best suit you based on the information above? If you like the content above, do not forget to subscribe to THP TV so you never miss a new episode of TESTED! or any of our other videos that come out.
For more information on their entire lineup of shafts, check out their at www.proschoicegolfshafts.com
Thanks for the kind words! @JB edited his tail off on this one too! Was a lot of fun to do something that’s truly unique and just not out there on GD.
Which is what separates THP… many hands making light of work! Jeremy get blisters from all those swings? ?
We definitely made him put that driver swing to work all week!
Might I recommend the AD-something besides the HD or MAD Pro for the Morgan Cup
In all seriousness this was really informative. Definitely a company I wanted to learn more about. I really like their format of presenting shafts.
Well done gents, I really hope people take the tie to watch and listen to the quick breakdowns of each model.
Remember, fit matters. His swing isn’t the same as yours, so depending on what fits you best, the results could be quite different.
Nice swinging @jdtox! Solid numbers and great dispersion.
So much fun!
I’m kind of excited about it too. I’ve never done any head to head testing of shafts before and it was really cool to see the differences
For sure, I’m curious what difference I see between the 2 is all I was getting at. They are sitting in the spare bag ready
Great resource and I can see people referencing that more than once. .. because if any company can give a guy ADHD, it’s Graphite Design with their crazy shaft designations and smooth feels.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Would be awesome to hear your thoughts.
Appreciate the kind words! JB and Jdtox did all the heavy lifting on this one, I was just my normal gf gear geek!
I need the cliff notes of this stored in my notes app. Haha. Maybe it was me not knowing enough but less than 2deg of launch and about 400rpm difference between the entire line up, I would have thought it would be way more. That’s wild. FEEL has to be a KEY component here in how the shaft is loaded and how it feels to the user? Like the video said, any one of those shafts on thier own could be easily gamed and be absolutely fine. That HD though!!
I’d like to do this with this line and with the Fuji line.
Vanquish All Rivals!
This line, Project X, UST Mamiya, Fuji, Mitsu, Kinetixx, all of them!
I always thought of the driver head as the "coarse" knob and the shaft as more of the "fine" adjustment, but it was surprising to me how small the variation was across the product line. It kind of makes sense why a well-thought out stock shaft is a good option for so many golfers, and why a really good fitting can tweak that fine adjustment all the way to 11.
UST Mamiya for sure! Especially with the new releases. Graphite Design has always had a lineup that required decoding IMO. Definitely needed this.
Tour AD-DJ is one shaft I have which Graphite Design has discontinued.
If you’ve swung a DI, how does it compare to the IZ you have ?
This will definitely help then
https://www.thehackersparadise.com/graphite-design-tour-ad-hd-shaft-review/
I still like the AD HD, but I hit the ball extremely well in the Tech Studio. Had it plugged into the Callaway Epic Max LS and everything kind of clicked.
I bought an AD-VR 6 for my yet un hit Ping G425 Max. The high spin numbers have me reconsidering maybe the Max Pro. Hmmmmm.
Regarding flex profiles. I understand the tip stiffness and what it does. What about the middle and handle flexes? Can you give a simple tutorial on how the different flex designations affect the shaft? TIA.
I’m hoping the VR or HD works well in the max LS head for me. Hoping to get it soon
I have the VR in that head right now for some testing and so far I like it a lot.
BEAST MODE! ?????
Was getting 165ish ball speed with other shafts and the same head but something about that XC just jived with my swing and then it was one after the other with the XC. Fitter and I just looked at each other and started laughing and ended it right there.
Profile matters! ???
View attachment 8995611
Similar stiffness throughout, that consistency works beat with your move. The MAD PRO and the HD are the two that offer that in the GD lineup. Fun to see!!