The Phoenix is a symbolic name for Xcaliber shafts in a few ways, first is the link to the era of legends and Arthurian stories which the brand name has heavy roots in, but the other symbolizes a return of a legend for Robin Arthur and the company. You see, the Phoenix is based upon the winningest wood shaft in professional golf, the Grafalloy ProLite, so the name is certainly apropos.
We were able to get the entire Phoenix range in for a closer look and subsequent review, read on to find out more.
The Details
This is a shaft design which does exactly what it claims to do, a lower spinning and mid launch profile which responds to an aggressive move, regardless of the shaft weight. The Phoenix is extremely affordable like the rest of the Xcaliber lineup, but also boasts a plethora of fitting options with three different weights and multiple flexes including TS for even the strongest swingers.
Xcaliber Phoenix Driver Shafts
The first thing I believe is important to understand when discussing the Phoenix is that this is quite literally the ProLite profile brought into modern times with improved production and tolerance capabilities. Those modern aspects are also what have allowed the creation of the Phoenix 4 and 5 which are just lighter weight versions. It is clear that in the opinion of Robin and company, the winningest shaft design of all time still stands the test of time.
An interesting thing to think about there is how limited the options were in the time of the ProLite with graphite really in its infancy. Nonetheless, success is success, but does it translate? To test that we were able not only to get all three weight classes of the Phoenix, but also each in their S and TS versions. They are also available in R, but we did not test those.
Upon unboxing, I took the Phoenix shafts, all six of them, right to the frequency analyzer to test them versus their stated flex. Interestingly, here the 5TS, 6S, and 6TS easily met their mark of S while the 5TS, barely hit the CPM to be considered stiff. The 4S and 4TS however were solidly in the R realm according to measurements. Is this all that surprising? In my opinion, not particularly, considering the goal here is keeping the same profile as the ProLite, just lighter, it seems natural that the lighter weights there would be a little softer to flex since they didn’t want to alter the design, just weight.
Each of the shafts were installed into Cobra adapters and built to the same length with the same grip as well. They were also all tested using the Cobra Darkspeed LS driver at standard 9.0 loft with the heavy weight back. This is a very fast and low spinning head for me, so it seemed to make the most sense when working with the Phoenix profile. The data captured can be seen below:
SHAFT | BALL SPEED | LAUNCH | SPIN | CARRY | TOTAL | HEIGHT | OFFLINE |
Xcaliber Phoenix 4S | 162 | 18 | 3208 | 269 | 286 | 42Y | 21Y R |
Xcaliber Phoenix 4TS | 162 | 17 | 2873 | 274 | 301 | 39Y | 19Y R |
Xcaliber Phoenix 5S | 160 | 16 | 2923 | 268 | 294 | 37Y | 16 Y R |
Xcaliber Phoenix 5TS | 160 | 15 | 2381 | 272 | 298 | 34Y | 10Y R |
Xcaliber Phoenix 6S | 161 | 14 | 2679 | 274 | 300 | 32Y | 7Y L |
Xcaliber Phoenix 6TS | 161 | 14 | 2358 | 274 | 303 | 30Y | 5Y R |
Foremost, I have to say how surprised I was at how easily these launched for me, not so much in the lighter weights knowing what I did via the CPM measurements, but more into the 5TS, 6S, and 7TS. Where spin was concerned, things certainly jumped in the softer flexed shafts, which was certainly in part due to my aggressive swing/move just leaving the face a bit open. That said, they responded impressively in terms of speed. The Darkspeed LS itself is a fast head for me, but the fact that the averages for every weight and flex option came out where they did ball speed wise was eye catching.
Something I do want to mention, in the collection with the Phoenix 5TS, that data is based on one recorded swing while the others are in sets of ten with two tossed from each to form the averages shown. The reason here is that shaft actually gave way in my second swing. Now, sometimes things happen, and I am not making a huge deal of this as I recorded the 5S, 4S, and 4TS after that incident and every one of them held up fine. However, for the sake of transparency, it needed to be mentioned.
The Details
Overall, the Phoenix showed me that the ProLite profile likely still has its place, and with the ability to make even lighter versions now, there seems to be a very wide fitting window. I would be curious to see if we get any heavier versions down the road from Xcaliber, however, as I feel like there is even more opportunity to broaden the window of fitting.
The Phoenix is available in R, S, and TS within each of the three weights, and is priced at a mere $135.00 per shaft. They are available at select fitters nationwide as well as direct from xcalibershafts.com.
Great article [USER=1579]@Jman[/USER]! Looks like the shaft did exactly what it was supposed too. I like the color scheme and logo.
And you’re an animal good sir. Did it give way on the transition?
Now this sounds like something I’d like to try. I was a big ProLite user back in the day. A 4S could be heading my way soon!
[QUOTE=”hadi05, post: 12349079, member: 50784″]
Great article [USER=1579]@Jman[/USER]! Looks like the shaft did exactly what it was supposed too. I like the color scheme and logo.
And you’re an animal good sir. Did it give way on the transition?
[/QUOTE]
Thank you! It was a LOT of driver shafts to test and a LOOOOOOTTTTTTT of swings hahaha
It did, I started down, felt it hang, and knew what was coming. Still about peed my pants when the DS LS went flying.
dang, that is a LOT of testing! at this price point, I almost [I]have[/I] to try one! hahaha. but they are intriguing for other reasons too. I would really love to have my dad try the 4S or 4R.
Nice write up, I was trying to test a 5-TS just before the Bag Boy as well and mine gave way as well in a TEE adapter, one swing and it collapsed. Have to let Robin know as I was looking forward to seeing how it went.
Need to try some more with these.
It sounds like an interesting option and gotta love that price point
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12351036, member: 1579″]
Thank you! It was a LOT of driver shafts to test and a LOOOOOOTTTTTTT of swings hahaha
It did, I started down, felt it hang, and knew what was coming. Still about peed my pants when the DS LS went flying.
[/QUOTE]
[USER=1579]@Jman[/USER] as I was reading and adding up in my head I started to look like this…
[IMG alt=”Confused Rooster Teeth GIF by Achievement Hunter”]https://media1.giphy.com/media/4JVTF9zR9BicshFAb7/200.gif[/IMG]
That is a lot of swings with the driver!
I would imagine if you checked your shorts there are probably a few dribbles. ?
Thanks for all the effort on reviewing these. Lots went into it!
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12351036, member: 1579″]
It did, I started down, felt it hang, and knew what was coming. Still about peed my pants when the DS LS went flying.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=”kiwichris, post: 12351306, member: 57426″]
mine gave way as well in a TEE adapter, one swing and it collapsed.
[/QUOTE]
Excuse my ignorance, I’m trying to learn. What do you both mean by this?
$135 for a premium shaft is ridiculous!
Probably a shaft I could get along with. Graphics are a bit dated imo.
[USER=1579]@Jman[/USER] was nice enough to bring me a few of these to pop in the Darkspeed LS head when we were at Briggs. I want to say 4s, 5s, 6s. IIRS the 4s was the one at the time that worked out the best for me, but it was cool having all the weight options these at my disposal.
They are pretty bland looking, but I thought preformed pretty decently for me. Freely admit I wasn’t exactly hitting the ball well that week.
[QUOTE=”AuzzieMatt, post: 12351528, member: 54652″]
Excuse my ignorance, I’m trying to learn. What do you both mean by this?
[/QUOTE]
That the 5TS broke during testing. I now find it even more interesting that [USER=57426]@kiwichris[/USER] saw the same thing in the same weight/flex, that makes it a little more curious to me.
[QUOTE=”Thrillbilly Jim, post: 12351552, member: 50607″]
$135 for a premium shaft is ridiculous!
[/QUOTE]
That was my first thought. Happen to be looking for a shaft for my son too. This could work out nicely.
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12351691, member: 1579″]
That the 5TS broke during testing. I now find it even more interesting that [USER=57426]@kiwichris[/USER] saw the same thing in the same weight/flex, that makes it a little more curious to me.
[/QUOTE]
Ohhh, it actually broke. WOW. Thank you.
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12351691, member: 1579″]
That the 5TS broke during testing. I now find it even more interesting that [USER=57426]@kiwichris[/USER] saw the same thing in the same weight/flex, that makes it a little more curious to me.
[/QUOTE]
Hulk smash
[QUOTE=”AuzzieMatt, post: 12351706, member: 54652″]
Ohhh, it actually broke. WOW. Thank you.
[/QUOTE]
Yeah it was a no doubter
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12351691, member: 1579″]
That the 5TS broke during testing. I now find it even more interesting that [USER=57426]@kiwichris[/USER] saw the same thing in the same weight/flex, that makes it a little more curious to me.
[/QUOTE]
I’ve had failures with TEE adapters before & other shafts so was surprised when this happened.
[QUOTE=”kiwichris, post: 12352120, member: 57426″]
I’ve had failures with TEE adapters before & other shafts so was surprised when this happened.
[/QUOTE]
That’s wild, I’ve never had a TEE installed adapter and shaft fail, and I’ve put one or two thousand swings on them hahahaha
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12352128, member: 1579″]
That’s wild, I’ve never had a TEE installed adapter and shaft fail, and I’ve put one or two thousand swings on them hahahaha
[/QUOTE]
I had 2 from TEE go with PX stock shafts that they replaced under warranty, then this one, that was with the 721 adapter. Current 723 adapter no issue ????
[QUOTE=”kiwichris, post: 12352142, member: 57426″]
I had 2 from TEE go with PX stock shafts that they replaced under warranty, then this one, that was with the 721 adapter. Current 723 adapter no issue ????
[/QUOTE]
Had to go out to the shop but the adapter is the same from 721 to 723…
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12352155, member: 1579″]
Had to go out to the shop but the adapter is the same from 721 to 723…
[/QUOTE]
No idea, but I’ve got some difficult clean up to do again to reuse.
[QUOTE=”kiwichris, post: 12352199, member: 57426″]
No idea, but I’ve got some difficult clean up to do again to reuse.
[/QUOTE]
Nah, I was saying they are the same adapters, it hasn’t changed in a lot of generations now ??
Where did the shaft break? Where you clamped it? I have two 5TS shafts loaded up into a Qi10 and a Maltby TC Pro. Kind of shocked at how well they are working. When gripping one of the shafts i heard the faintest crack in the clamp. I tried to keep that shaft separate but mixed them up. Both drivers have had extended range and playing time.
[QUOTE=”kiwichris, post: 12351306, member: 57426″]
Nice write up, I was trying to test a 5-TS just before the Bag Boy as well and mine gave way as well in a TEE adapter, one swing and it collapsed. Have to let Robin know as I was looking forward to seeing how it went.
Need to try some more with these.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12351691, member: 1579″]
That the 5TS broke during testing. I now find it even more interesting that [USER=57426]@kiwichris[/USER] saw the same thing in the same weight/flex, that makes it a little more curious to me.
[/QUOTE]
I didn’t clamp it on purpose because I knew how thin walled they are. I went old school and gripped them over a sink instead. Broke right below the grip.
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 12357944, member: 1579″]
I didn’t clamp it on purpose because I knew how thin walled they are. I went old school and gripped them over a sink instead. Broke right below the grip.
[/QUOTE]
interesting. Ill have to keep a close eye on mine for creaking. funny but in testing i never had a failure of any of them. But that was done quite a while back. The only issues with early samples were consistency. But that was addressed.
[QUOTE=”Popeye, post: 12357867, member: 32373″]
Where did the shaft break? Where you clamped it? I have two 5TS shafts loaded up into a Qi10 and a Maltby TC Pro. Kind of shocked at how well they are working. When gripping one of the shafts i heard the faintest crack in the clamp. I tried to keep that shaft separate but mixed them up. Both drivers have had extended range and playing time.
[/QUOTE]
Right at the adapter, leaving a very awful cleanup job for me
[QUOTE=”kiwichris, post: 12357996, member: 57426″]
Right at the adapter, leaving a very awful cleanup job for me
[/QUOTE]
Was this the shaft you used the glass beads on?
[QUOTE=”Popeye, post: 12358114, member: 32373″]
Was this the shaft you used the glass beads on?
[/QUOTE]
Nope, but i don’t like the older TEE adapters with how angled they are to get the adjustability, always feel there’s extra pressure with the angle they created
I will say this on the 5 TS. I’ve been working through shafts with both of those heads. Rouge, Tensei White and Blue, along with a few others. The Phoenix 5 TS kept up with all of them. It offered the most consistent dispersion and just about the best feel.
I do love the mostly black color but the graphics are bland. I just go label down and swing away. For the money spent there isn’t a better alternative that I know of.
Great write up James. Nice to see Xcaliber back strong. Amazing shafts at great prices.