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Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review

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The Graphite Design Tour AD HD shaft is a high-performance option for golfers looking to enhance their distance and accuracy on the course. This shaft has received positive feedback from golfers who’ve experienced significant improvements in their game. The Tour AD HD consistently outperforms other shafts in terms of stability and feel, making it a top choice for golfers seeking to enhance their performance. One of the top features of the Tour AD HD shaft is its unique design, which allows for increased energy transfer. This results in a more powerful and controlled swing, helping golfers achieve greater distance with their shots. The advanced materials used in the shaft also ensure durability without compromising on the overall weight of the shaft.

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Key Features

Who should buy the graphite design tour ad hd shaft, design and technology, our experience, what are the specific customization options available for the graphite design tour ad hd shaft, can customers request a different grip option instead of the tour velvet 360 grip included, are there any specific driver adapters that are recommended for use with this shaft, what is the warranty or guarantee offered for the workmanship of the custom assembled shaft, what are the recommended maintenance and care instructions for the graphite design tour ad hd shaft, how does the graphite design tour ad hd shaft compare, graphite design tour ad di, graphite design tour ad iz, diamana tb series.

Updated February 2024 to update current pricing information.

Graphite Design shafts continue to be some of the most well-known and widely used golf shaft for amateur and professional players. Models like the Tour AD DI have become synonymous with high performance. The Tour AD HD (Hyper Drive) shaft looks to compliment the AD DI and others to provide golfers with a better fit when looking for middle launch and mid to low spin conditions. The Tour AD HD uses the same aerospace grade materials as all the premium Graphite Design shafts and comes in a elegant matte white and blue finish. This review compares the Tour AD HD to other premium golf shafts and dives deep into what the new AD HD shaft can offer golfers looking to upgrade their metal woods.  

• The Tour AD HD shaft offers a middle launch and mid to low spin to create more distance and accuracy for some golfers.
• The Tour AD HD is made with TORAYCA T1100 and M40X materials to improve control and accuracy even at high club head speeds.
• Graphite Design offers the Tour AD HD in a wide variety of weights and flexes to fit almost all golfer types.

The Graphite Design Tour AD HD golf shaft is ultra-premium meaning that it is an expensive upgrade choice. Golfers that are serious about their game can level up their performance when the AD HD is built for them. The AD HD is perfect for golfers looking for a well-balanced ball flight that provides more accuracy and more distance either off the tee or coming from the deck with fairway woods. The mid launch and mid-low spin profile of the Tour AD HD makes it well-suited for golfers with a variety of club head speeds and many of the top driver head choices this season. 

Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Detailed Review

The Tour AD HD is created with TORAYCA MX40 carbon fibers and T1100 pre-preg to increase the stability without overloading the stiffness. The result is a shaft that is easy to load and incredibly powerful. Fast taper technology helps create a well-balance loading profile so that golfers at a variety of speeds can find their ideal ball flights. Like all other Graphite Design shafts, the Tour AD HD shaft is crafted using a Material Stiffness Integration that ensures higher tolerances during the build and a smoother feel during the golf swing. 

The Tour AD HD golf shaft profile is categorized as middle launch and mid to low spin. The AD HD shaft has a firm butt and middle section with a tip section rated firm+. Tour AD HD shafts come in weights of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 grams with flexes ranging from Lite/Senior to Tour Extra-Stiff. We recommend seeing a professional club fitter to match your Tour AD HD shaft with your swing and club head selection for the best results. 

Graphite Design shafts continue to be one of my favorite performance lines for golfers at a variety of club head speeds. For golfers looking to dial in not only their driver, but also their fairway woods and hybrids, the Tour AD line is one of the best to find balanced performance in several different clubs. The Tour AD HD is an excellent addition to other Tour AD shaft like the AD DI and AD IZ because it offers a bit more kick through impact and can help golfers get more out of their swing. For the driver, the Tour AD HD can provide a blend of medium launch and low spin that results in more distance. In the fairway woods the AD HD can provide easier launch and allow golfer to hit their clubs better from lies in the fairway and rough. It you are a golfer that fits into the Tour AD HD I have no doubt that it can instantly upgrade your performance and enable you to hit more high quality golf shots immediately.

The Graphite Design Tour AD HD shaft is a high-performance option for golfers looking to enhance their distance and accuracy on the course. This shaft has received positive feedback from golfers who've experienced significant improvements in their game. The Tour AD HD consistently outperforms other shafts in terms of stability and feel, making it a top choice for golfers seeking to enhance their performance. One of the top features of the Tour AD HD shaft is its unique design, which allows for increased energy transfer. This results in a more powerful and controlled swing, helping golfers achieve greater distance with their shots. The advanced materials used in the shaft also ensure durability without compromising on the overall weight of the shaft.

• The Tour AD HD compliments other shafts in the Graphite Design performance series well and can maximize performance for golfers.
• The Tour AD HD combines middle launch and mid to low spin for increased driving distances off the tee (drivers) and easier launch coming from the fairway and rough (fairway woods).
• The Tour AD HD is an amazingly smooth shaft that is a pleasure to hit yet remains stable even at high club head speeds.
• The cost of the Tour AD HD shaft will discourage budget conscious golfers even if the performance is better than their current shaft.
• Graphite Design shafts, including the Tour AD HD, can only be found in advanced fitting studios, so getting your hands on one to try may be difficult depending on where you live.
• While the white color of the shaft will appeal to many, some may find it too bold when they prepare to hit their shot.

Graphite Design continue to update their Tour AD shaft line to provide golfers with ideal fitting golf shaft no matter what swing type and swing speed they have. The Tour AD HD shaft is perfect for golfers that want to raise their launch without immediately increasing their spin. In both drivers and fairway woods, the Tour AD HD shaft performs well and should be tested by golfers looking to optimize their setups this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to the Graphite Design Tour AD HD shaft, the specific customization options available include selecting the shaft flex and driver adapter, along with the opportunity for additional customization based on individual preferences for shaft materials.

Yes, customers can request alternate grips instead of the Tour Velvet 360 grip included. The customization options for the Graphite Design Tour AD HD shaft allow for selecting different grips to suit individual preferences and needs.

Yes, there are specific driver adapters recommended for use with this shaft. The right adapter ensures compatibility, optimizes performance benefits, and facilitates the installation process. It also allows for fitting options based on shaft technology, weight distribution, and swing characteristics.

I always ensure my custom shafts have solid warranty coverage and quality guarantee. The manufacturer guarantees all workmanship, providing peace of mind. It’s crucial to have this assurance when investing in a customized golf club shaft.

I recommend regular cleaning with a soft cloth and mild soap to maintain the Graphite Design Tour AD HD shaft. Protect it from extreme temperatures and avoid hitting the ground. This will help ensure shaft durability.

The Tour AD DI shaft is the most iconic golf shaft for the majority of the modern golfing community. The orange rings, most notably swung by Tiger Woods, have been a staple of Tour ranges for more than a decade. Amateur golfers have also found great success with the AD DI. The AD DI is a higher launching golf shaft that also reduces spin enabling more distance for many players. 

Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid Shaft

The Tour AD IZ golf shaft received instant validation upon its launch as players like Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler put it into both their driver and fairway wood clubs. Among amateurs, the AD IZ has also done well as its combination of high launch and low spin make it adaptable for many club head choice and swing types. The Tour AD IZ is a versatile golf shaft that continues to find its way into drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids of players at all levels. 

Graphite Design Tour AD IZ Review

The Diamana TB Series is the fifth generation of the Diamana shaft line. One of the most popular shaft among golfers, the Diamana has a history of high performance. The TB Series incorporates a smooth feel with a more consistent carbon fiber construction to provide golfers more lift when hitting shots. The result is a shaft that produces mid launch and mid spin and is well suited to golfers at low, medium, and high club head speeds.  

Diamana TB Series Shaft

Videos: Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review

As the Founder of Golfers Authority Paul Liberatore Esq. has spent the last 7+ years writing about the best golf equipment or instruction from the top golf instructors in the world. He has been a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated Golf and GolfWRX . After graduating with honors from Purdue University , he realized that he had a passion for the golf business and the law. When he's not practicing law, or creating golf content on YouTube , he can be found on his syndicated Behind the Golf Brand podcast both on Apple and Spotify talking with the most prolific leaders in the golf industry. 

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Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review

Graphite design tour ad hd.

In the most surprising and wacky year of my lifetime, one constant showed up right on time. The Q4 release of a new Graphite Design shaft, that is! For 2021, they’ve again modernized one of their most popular profiles and given us the Tour AD HD. The Tour AD HD will play firm throughout the handle, midsection, and tip – giving it a “one piece” feel, but still enough action to be fun. As always, it’s packed with cutting edge materials and tech, and looks amazing.

What I like about Graphite Design is that they’re consistently bold in the graphics department. Consistent in that they keep the same paint schemes for nearly their entire lineup (art deco-style lettering and usually a two-tone coloring on each side of a distinctive ring pattern.) Bold in that they often choose vibrant, eye catching, solid colors to make their shafts instantly noticeable.

The Tour AD HD – the shaft that’s going to take your game into “Hyper Drive” clearly delivers in the visual appeal department. The mostly matte white finish comes with subtly sparkly light blue lettering with some black accents. This thing contrasts amazing with a dark clubhead, and of course, everyone will know you’re gaming a Graphite Design on that first tee.

How Does it Feel?

The days of shaft companies offering merely a high, medium, low launch option are of course long gone. We all know that. What Graphite Design has done is create a diverse menu of shafts that caters to the infinite number of golf swings out there. They have a shaft that matches your swing characteristics AND what you’re looking for in feel. Adding to that, they’re now updating many of their most popular profiles with new materials and techniques. For this edition, the Tour AD HD is packed with Graphite Design’s exclusive Fast Taper Technology, TORAYCA M40X carbon-fiber in the mid through tip sections as well as T1100G material to add stability.

The Tour AD HD will feel firm from tip to grip. The designers created it to have a “one piece feel” that users of the ultra yellow Tour AD MT will find very familiar. While I have not hit the AD MT much, I’ll agree that the AD HD feels pretty stable throughout the whole swing. There’s not a lot of give in the hands, and you’ll get a tiny little kick near the tip when you impact the ball. You are most definitely NOT going to get the super smooth feel from this shaft like you will with an AD DI, but I still love it.

On-Course Performance

From swing number one, I knew the Tour AD HD was a winner. It gave me exactly the mid launch and mid/low spin that I like to see. I have a downward angle of attack (too much) and any extra spin causes me trouble. My preferred shot shape is typically a mid or low bunt type shot, and the AD HD lets me hit it where I need to hit it. I was able to take it to Sand Valley in Wisconsin and got to play on perfect firm and fast turf. This thing was letting me hit perfect, mid/slow screamers all weekend. I probably hit two bad drives during that visit, and I’m often what we at Driving Range Heroes call a “COMPLETE HEAD CASE” from the tee box.

One thing I will hammer home again is to get someone that knows what they’re doing to fit you into this shaft. The Tour AD HD in 6X feels stiffer than my beloved AD DI in 7X. Actually, that AD DI is a bit of a Frankenstein. I bought it off the ‘Bay because I can’t ever pass up a good deal and I “needed” another AD DI. It was a mangled, misrepresented item in that it was originally a fairway shaft that was tip trimmed 1.5” TOO MUCH then sold as a driver shaft. Well, I extended it and tossed it in my driver and it’s awesome. However, it’s still not as stiff feeling as the AD HD. Moral of the story – figure it out right the first time.

Final Thoughts – Graphite Design Tour AD HD

The new Graphite Design Tour AD HD plays firm but responsive. For me, it flies far, feels awesome, and looks super, icy cool. As a guy that gets to try a bunch of new golf shafts every year, it’s a rare occasion where I will say “this one just fits me and I’m keeping it for a while” – and that’s exactly what I’m going to do with the AD HD. The Tour AD HD will be available at your favorite club fitter on October 1st. Pack some peanut butter sandwiches into that staff bag and get in line now.

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REVIEW: Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft

The new  Tour AD HD  also has the feel you have come to love from a Tour AD shaft. I’m sure this has to do with Graphite Design’s proprietary  F ast  T aper  T echnology (FTT) design. There is a nice loading and unloading feel to the shaft during the swing that makes the Tour AD HD very smooth, but incredibly responsive. With a lower torque number the acts like a very stiff board, but doesn’t feel that way. Feel is always subject to the person making the comments, but this shaft is one of the smoothest I’ve tested from the Tour AD line up without feeling too flexible. The profile is described as Firm Butt Section – Firm Mid Section and Firm+ Tip Section. I like how all the shafts for Graphite Design can be compared by Stiffness using the 3 zones of the shaft. Before you even try the shaft you can identify the key elements you need for the best fit. In playing the last 5 Tour AD models, they have been very accurate in the description of flex and corresponding feel.

The new Tour AD HD utilizes the same TORAYCA ® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY ® technology as the past few Tour AD shafts. This provides the tip section of the shaft with additional shaft stability, exceptional feel and precise ball control.  The Tour AD HD also utilizes brand new TORAYCA ® M40X carbon-fiber pre-preg in the Mid to Tip section of the shaft as did the XC model in 2020. This strength in transition from Mid to Tip helps create a Mid Launch and Low/Mid Spin characteristics, as well as give the shaft rotational stability for added consistency in shot dispersion.  Along with TORAYCA ® and NANOALLOY ® is Graphite Design’s proprietary Material Stiffness Integration (MSI) design philosophy and technology. The way each layer of material is used helps create the unmistakable feel and performance in all Graphite Design shafts. This attention to detail in production is what makes Graphite Design one of the industry leaders.

I love testing new equipment, because my swing is very repeatable. I don’t drive the ball super long distances, but I certainly find more fairways than I miss. The Tour AD HD shaft was a pleasant surprise because I was already playing the Tour AD XC in my Gamer driver with great success, only to have it replaced with more optimal numbers on the course. Adding distance to my driver was great, but the best part of the HD shaft is the consistency. Even mis-hits are flying straighter with more distance. I’m sure that’s why every shaft has (ACCURACY & DISTANCE) printed on it.

If you have a Tour AD shaft in any of your clubs, then you know how good they are and why the New Tour AD HD will be talked about. For the last few years Graphite Design has released an award worthy shaft and 2021 is no exception. The Mid Launch with Low to Low/Mid Spin is a great fit for someone needing a penetrating ball flight.  Find an  Authorized Dealer  to help you get the right Tour AD HD in your club.

Check the price online here

For more information:  http://proschoicegolfshafts.com

Quick Hits: +Solid Tour AD Feel +Penetrating Flight with Low/Mid Spin +Wide Range of Weight and Flex Options +More Consistent Mis-Hits +Unmistakable Graphite Design Looks

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Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review

By DanSueltz March 27th, 2021

The Graphite Design Tour AD HD shafts is the latest in the great lineup of Tour AD shafts from Graphite Design.

Use our  Driver/Wood Fitting Wizard to see which of these shafts may fit YOUR swing!

Designed as Hyper Drive, the HD  wood shafts have a firm butt section, firm mid and firmer tip section for added stability and reduced spin.  This shaft actually improves on the design of the Tour AD XC  The Tour AD HD utilizes new MX 40 pre-preg materials from TORACAY for added stability and feel.

Well known for their relatively soft mid section, the Tour AD HD is a slight departure for Graphite Design offering golfers a firmer feel at impact.  This is similar to the Tour AD XC (Xtreme Carry) shaft.

Available Models

The Tour AD HD is available in five different weights from 49 to 88 grams at raw length.   The Tour AD HD 4 is available in Senior, Regular and Stiff flex.  The HD 5 is available in Senior, Regular, Stiff and XStiff.  The fact that the lighter weight shafts are available in X flex is a tribute to the fact that certain stronger players can do well with stiffer shafts.  The most popular weight HD 6 is available not only in Senior, Regular, Stiff and XStiff but Tour Stiff as well.  The HD 7 is available in Stiff, XStiff and Tour Stiff while the HD 8 is only available in Stiff and XStiff.    For stronger players, the HD 7 and HD 8 will work great in fairway woods!

Shaft Profile

Our proprietary testing, while very similar to a traditional EI (elasticity index) curve, is a load profile that shows the load a shaft that is bent a particular deflection length puts on a specific point on the shaft.  We determine our trajectory and feel characteristics based upon these measurements.

Trajectory and Spin

The HD 4 has a mid-high trajectory and mid-high spin, which is excellent for juniors and slower swing speeds in general.  The HD 5, HD 6 and HD 7 are mid trajectory and mid spin across all flexes.  The HD  8 is mid to mid-high trajectory and spin.  Tipping any of these shafts will reduce the launch angle and resulting trajectory slightly.

Release and Feel

Feel is a very subjective performance factor and difficult to accurately specify.  We use a combination of torque (higher torque means softer feel) and shaft stiffness profile.  The HD 4 and HD 8 will have the softest feel, while the HD 5, HD 6, and HD 7 will have a much firmer feel.  That is mostly because mid section of the shaft is very firm, compared to other Tour AD models, giving the feel of a one-piece shaft at impact.

These shafts will be a great addition to the Tour AD line, especially for players liking a mid trajectory and a  slightly firmer feel at impact.  

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Graphite Design Tour AD HD Series

The Tour AD HD - Hyper Drive - new for 2021. The shaft profile is firm in the butt section, firm in the centre and a firm+tip to promote a mid-launch angle and low to low/mid ball spin rates. Again the unique technology in the shaft creates unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the loss of the exceptional feel Graphite Design shafts are so well known for.

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Graphite Design Tour AD HD “Hyper Drive” wood shafts launched

Graphite Design is looking to put your driver into Hyper Driver  with the all-new Tour AD HD “Hyper Drive” line of shafts.

OK, so maybe you won’t get ball speeds as fast as the Millennium Falcon, but the new Tour AD HD is designed to help golfers who are looking to increase ball speeds and lower spin while maintaining the smooth feel and stability Tour AD shafts from Graphite Design are known for.

Graphite Design Tour AD HD: Materials

Premium shafts are premium for a reason—they use the highest quality materials to precisely control every parameter of the shaft, from torque to weight. It’s these premium materials that also allow the designers to offer so many weights and flexes even down to sub 50g.

The materials used in the Tour AD HD include TORAYCA M40X carbon-fiber material from the midsection to the tip of the shaft. The TORAYCA M40X offers high compression strength and high tensile modulus, which is a relationship between stress and strain. What that really means is the shaft doesn’t deform in ways it shouldn’t and only bends the way engineers intend it too. The shaft also uses TORAYCA T1100G carbon-fiber in the tip section to maximize stability and control.

How does the profile fit into the line

The profile of the Tour AD HD offers a firm butt section, firm midsection, and what the designers at Graphite Design call firm+ tip to create mid-launch lower spin.

Graphite Design does a great job of helping golfers understand the profiles of their shafts and allow them to make informed decisions when comparing ones they like or have used in the past to other models.

Specs, price, and availability

The Graphite Design Tour AD HD “ H yper D rive”  line of  wood shafts will be available starting October 1 through Pro’s Choice Golf Shafts, and their authorized dealers. They will be $500 each and specs for each model can be found below.

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Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

Aug 24, 2020 at 2:35 pm

It’s nice to see the comparison chart of all their shafts. I’m not sure, but I think Graphite Design is also one of the few (possibly only) companies who make a shaft marked between Stiff and Regular flex.

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Whats in the bag, michael s. kim witb 2024 (april).

• Michael S. Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the Valero Texas Open.

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 8 TX

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here.

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Putter: L.A.B. Link.1 Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 1.0P 17

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos of Michael Kim’s clubs here. 

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper: Leveraging 90s nostalgia

TaylorMade is leaning in even further to the retro vibes with the 2024 edition of its BRNR Mini Driver.

Patterned after the Carlsbad-based company’s iconic late 1990s Burner driver design, the 2024 BRNR Mini features similar copper styling and a retro version of the TaylorMade logo.

Featuring the same technology as its 2023 BRNR Mini Driver, the 2024 edition continues to play the hits that saw the unique club land in the bag of tour pros, such as Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp.

• Check out details on the technology in our 2023 BRNR launch story.
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Why play a mini driver?

In general, TaylorMade finds two types of golfers gravitate toward a mini driver. In the first case, it’s an addition to a standard driver: Players looking for a “fairway finder” driver without giving up too much distance that can also be hit off the deck. Second, TaylorMade recommends giving a mini a go to golfers who struggle to hit 460 cc drivers, particularly choppers. It’s a better alternative than a 3-wood off the tee.

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“For me, if I HAD to hit a fairway, I’m more comfortable hitting a driver than a 3-wood. I would tee the driver down, and I would hit a little cut, or a neck-y cut in the fairway. The 3-wood isn’t for that. The 3-wood, generally, is a pretty hot club that I’ll hit from 270 or 280 in the fairway on a par 5. You get some courses where a 3-wood is not always necessary. [With the BRNR] you put a normal swing on it, and I’m more comfortable hitting it straight. It’s a replacement for a 3-wood, basically.”

Pricing, specs, availability

TaylorMade’s new BRNR Mini Driver Copper clubs will sell for $449.99 in 11.5 (RH/LH) and 13.5 (RH) degree options, and they will be available for custom orders.

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a set of blacked out P770 irons

From the seller: (@hammertime1515): “Just one single iron set up for grabs today. Got these right before they quote selling them at the end of February. Only played 3 full rounds with them and a couple short range sessions. 7 iron shows the most wear and 8 iron has a sandy mark on the toe (ball striking out of winter wasn’t the strong suit) Just not right for me no matter how much I wanted them to be. Price is shipped and OBO……

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To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Blacked out P770 irons

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TESTED! Graphite Design Tour AD Shafts

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

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Shaft Review – Graphite Design Tour AD VR

• BY Tony Covey
• Oct 24th 2018
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While I’m not what you’d call a fan of dropping temperatures and falling leaves, I do appreciate that autumn almost invariably brings with it the release of a new Tour AD model from Graphite Design. For the 2019 season, it’s the Tour AD VR.

Cosmetically, the VR (which, FYI, stands for Vanquish All Rivals ) is everything you’d expect from the AD line. Colors may change, but Graphite Design maintains a consistent look. You know it’s an AD because it looks like an AD. While that means the graphics might not be as bold or ostentatious as others, it’s a dependable no-nonsense approach that seldom results in a color scheme anyone would consider an eyesore.

Now, I imagine you might be looking at the AD VR’s blue colorway and thinking that the AD VR must be a replacement for the popular AD BB. Not so fast, cowboy. While some of us would be totally onboard with that, Graphite Design describes the Tour AD VR as a slightly tweaked Tour AD IZ (which is a slightly tweaked Tour AD DI). Fans of the IZ (or the DI for that matter) shouldn’t freak out. Nothing is moving out of the lineup to make way for the new model. That’s not how Graphite Design does things. It can take fitters a couple of years to get comfortable with a shaft, so the company doesn’t find much value in yanking trusted models to make room for something unfamiliar. The Tour AD DI, for example, turns 9 this year, but it’s still in the lineup because the performance still holds up and it still moves the needle with golfers and fitters.

AD VR Performance Characteristics

Given how Graphite Design describes the VR, it’s reasonable to base our comparisons around the Tour AD IZ. The company says the AD VR has the softer tip of the two, but it’s important to remember that butt, middle and tip section measurements can vary tremendously based on how each section of shaft is defined by those taking the measurements. Using the  Cool Clubs S3  data as our standard, you’ll see, the AD VR comes out slightly firmer in the butt and tip sections with a mid-section that’s just a bit softer. According to Graphite Design, the kickpoint on the AD VR has been pulled up slightly to promote lower launch. The collection of changes makes for a shaft that the manufacturer describes as offering mid/high launch and low spin.

As with last season’s IZ and 2017’s AD TP, the AD VR features FTT (Fast Taper Technology), which, according to Graphite Design, “incorporates a faster taper rate from the grip to the lower mid-section of the shaft, providing the overall feeling of greater clubhead control at impact and an increase in clubhead speed.” The AD TP (first to incorporate FTT) was included in low spin shaft test, and our results suggest FTT may contribute to tighter dispersion.

While I would actively encourage you not to obsess over materials, I’m obliged to tell you that the AD VR, like other recent AD models, is made primarily from 50T carbon fiber and uses T1100G to strategically stiffen sections of the shaft without adding weight.

For our CoolClubs S3-powered comparisons we’ve chosen the to show the VR alongside the IZ. We thought that made the most sense given how Graphite Design describes the VR. It’s also worth noting that in July of this year, IZ was the best-selling shaft in the Graphite Design lineup. It’s the first time in the better part of a decade that anything in the lineup has outsold the iconic AD DI.

GRAPHITE DESIGN TOUR AD VR: THE COOL CLUBS S3 COMPARISON

“S3 Technologies utilizes the most advanced shaft testing technology in the industry. The Shaft Simulation System (S3), which was developed in 2013, is a fully-automated, all-in-one shaft profiling machine. In a matter of minutes, the S3 determines the following shaft specs: (Straightness, Consistency Profile, EI Profile, CPM Analysis and Torque. While some of the aforementioned specs can be obtained from shaft manufacturers, a lack of industry standards prevents that data from being used for accurate apples-to-apples comparisons. S3 Technologies ,  solves this challenge by testing all of our production in-house using the S3. This gives S3 Technologies a unique and in-depth understanding of the quality and performance of the industry’s shafts.”

Not only does S3 give us  standardized quantitative information  about the shaft(s) being reviewed, the data we share will provide you with a much better sense of how those shafts compare with similarly spec’d offerings on the market today.

TOUR AD VR LAUNCH CHARACTERISTICS

Cool Clubs S3  classifies the 65g stiff AD VR as a mid launch shaft. By comparison, the AD IZ is classified as a mid-high launch shaft. In this comparison, Neutral (the Mid reference point used to classify launch parameters) and the database average for similarly spec’d shafts are almost identical. The takeaway is that the AD VR can be expected to launch a bit higher than similar shafts, but a bit lower than the Tour AD IZ.

Tour AD VR ZONE EI

The following chart compares the stiffness of the Tour AD VR to the Tour AD IZ in the butt, mid, and tip sections. Measurements are based on the stiff flex versions of the 65-gram model.

Because each shaft manufacturer defines zones a bit differently, it’s not unusual for S3 measurements to deviate from OEM descriptions. In this case, we see a stiffer handle section relative to the AD IZ with a slightly softer mid-section and a slightly firmer tip. The frequency measurements (not shown) are effectively equivalent.

This is the first time we’ve included a compared EI profile in a shaft review, but in this case, I believe it’s especially helpful for visualizing the differences between the two models discussed. Note that the curve is depicted from the butt (left side of chart) to the tip (right side of the chart).

The stiffer handle section of the AD VR is readily apparent, as is the slightly softer mid section and the slightly firmer tip.

The profile shape is indicative of a good portion of the of the Tour AD lineup. Individual models are more similar than different and most share the sloping profile depicted. The shape isn’t dissimilar to what you’d find in most Speeder models or the Diamana Blue. For what it’s worth, it’s a shape that generally works well for me.

What you should glean from all of this is that it is subtle differences in zone stiffness, balance point, and torque that truly differentiate the individual AD models.

AD VR BALANCE POINT

The following chart compares the balance point of the AD VR to the AD IZ. Measurements are based on the stiff flex versions of the 65-gram model.

The S3 data suggests that the balance point of the AD VR is the same as the AD IZ. Both the VR and the IZ have balance points that are slightly higher than the S3 Database average for shafts with similar specifications.

As you may recall from our  Golf Geeks Story on Shaft Performance , a higher balance point allows for more head weight without drastically impacting the swingweight. For golfers seeking more distance (admittedly often at the expense of accuracy), this allows drivers to be built to longer playing lengths.

Swing Speed Recommendations

The chart below provides swing speed recommendations for the entire Tour AD VR lineup.

Note that these recommendations are based on the full range of  Cool Clubs ‘ building and fitting capabilities, including factors such as tipping and build length which can cause a shaft to play either softer or stiffer.

To simplify things a bit, you may wish to narrow these ranges. The sweet spot from a fitting perspective begins 25% from the slow end of the range. As a general rule, players with faster tempos, particularly in transition may fit into a stiff flex, while smoother swingers often fit into a softer flex.

From the Cool Clubs Fitting Team

For this discussion, we chose the VR-6 Stiff flex which is in the middle of the weight range for this shaft and compared it to Graphite Design’s IZ-6 S. The shafts both weigh 64.9 grams.

Consistent with their other shafts, the VR is made with high performance, high quality 50t carbon-fiber materials. They have continued to use their Fast Taper Technology, which differs from typical shafts in the amount of taper from the butt to the middle of the shaft. The iconic Graphite Design stripes are still readily visible and the rest of the shaft is very good looking in a deeper blue color with silver accents.

The GD Tour AD VR is designed as a mid-launch and mid to lower spin shaft. Available in a broad range of weights from 40 to 80 grams and flexes from R2 to X this shaft will fit a variety of players. The lighter VR-4 will launch the ball higher and spin more than the mid to heavier weight models.

When comparing launch the VR-6 is slightly lower than the IZ-6 but both are a little higher than the average launch of shafts in our database. Of these two shafts the VR-6 is stiffer than the IZ-6 in both the butt section and tip section. The shafts mirror each other through the mid section. The balance point is identical while the frequency is just slightly stiffer in the VR-6.

If you like the IZ-6 but want slightly lower launch and spin then the VR-6 is for you.

For more information on the Graphite Design Tour AD VR, visit Proschoicegolfshaft.co m .

Apr 4, 2024

The perfect one-day itinerary for first-time masters patrons.

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Tony is the Editor of MyGolfSpy where his job is to bring fresh and innovative content to the site. In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he was instrumental in developing MyGolfSpy's data-driven testing methodologies and continues to sift through our data to find the insights that can help improve your game. Tony believes that golfers deserve to know what's real and what's not, and that means MyGolfSpy's equipment coverage must extend beyond the so-called facts as dictated by the same companies that created them. Most of all Tony believes in performance over hype and #PowerToThePlayer.

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Greg Morrison

5 years ago

The older Adams shaft KBS Tour 90 Is that the same shaft as the Wilson Staff C300 Irons?

After all this tech data. The two write in critic comments made the most common sense

To quote the straight talking Tom Wishon, there are only two types of shafts….. those that fit you and those that don’t. It is possible that the really expensive, newest, state of the art, ultra high tech material shaft fits you perfectly. But it is also possible that the $30, 10 year old technology shaft fits you perfectly.

I went way down the shaft rabbit hole last year. Tried tons of new shafts on the range and in play. They can be a lot of fun to play with, but I never found anything that could beat a 5+ year old whiteboard. What are we really getting from all this new tech? Didn’t seem like much to me.

JohnnyBgood

Pretty much EXACT same thing for me. After a few higher end shafts i ended up right where i started off. Old UST Proforce 65 Golds in 3 and 5 woods for the foreseeable future… $30/piece and didnt notice enough difference between the $200 shafts and these.

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Company News

The home depot announces agreement to acquire srs distribution, a leading specialty trade distributor across multiple verticals; expands offering and capabilities for pro customers; increases total addressable pro market by approximately $50 billion.

ATLANTA, March 28, 2024 -- The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SRS Distribution Inc. (“SRS"), a leading residential specialty trade distribution company across several verticals serving the professional roofer, landscaper and pool contractor.

SRS will accelerate The Home Depot’s growth with the residential professional customer. SRS complements The Home Depot’s capabilities and will enable the company to better serve complex project purchase occasions with the renovator/remodeler, while also establishing The Home Depot as a leading specialty trade distributor across multiple verticals.

With this acquisition, The Home Depot now believes its total addressable market is approximately $1 trillion, an increase of approximately $50 billion.

“SRS is an industry leader with a proven track record of profitable growth across verticals,” said Ted Decker, chair, president, and CEO. “SRS’s ability to build leadership positions in each of its trade verticals while generating significant revenue growth is a testament to its strong vision, leadership, culture and execution. SRS has built a robust and successful platform that will accelerate our growth with the residential professional customer while presenting future opportunities with the specialty trade pro.”

Decker continued, “SRS’s branch network, coupled with The Home Depot’s 2,000+ U.S. stores and distribution centers, comprehensive product offering, and extensive pro brands, provides the residential pro customer with more fulfillment and service options than ever before. I look forward to welcoming the entire SRS team to The Home Depot and capturing the exciting opportunity ahead.”

SRS’s 2,500-plus professional sales force and 760-plus branch network across 47 states, together with its 4,000-plus truck fleet and jobsite delivery capabilities, will enable The Home Depot to extend its offering to residential specialty trade pros while better serving renovator/remodelers.  

“Our team is thrilled to join The Home Depot,” said Dan Tinker, SRS’s president and CEO. “We are looking forward to combining our differentiated assets and capabilities, including our extensive branch network, experienced sales team, robust trade credit offering, and order management system, geared at serving the complex project purchase occasion, with The Home Depot’s competitive advantages. We believe this will enable us to better serve pros and continue growing in our large and highly fragmented market.”

Tinker, as well as his senior leadership team, will continue to lead SRS. Tinker and team will work closely with The Home Depot to deliver the best value proposition for all pro customers.

Financial Overview

Under the terms of the merger agreement, a subsidiary of The Home Depot will acquire SRS for a total enterprise value (including net debt) of approximately $18.25 billion. The closing of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2024. The transaction is expected to be funded through cash on hand and debt.

"We plan to access the debt capital markets to raise incremental indebtedness in support of this acquisition. We expect the acquisition to create significant shareholder value over the long term," said Richard McPhail, executive vice president and CFO.

This transaction is expected to be dilutive to earnings-per-share (EPS) from a GAAP perspective due to amortization expense, but accretive from a cash EPS perspective in the first year, post-closing, excluding synergies.

The Company intends to maintain its current credit ratings.

Conference Call

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and a slide presentation that will be made available at 8:30 a.m. ET on its investor relations webpage at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations . The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations .

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel to The Home Depot in connection with the transaction.

About The Home Depot

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer. At the end of fiscal year 2023, the company operated a total of 2,335 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company employs approximately 465,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.

About SRS Distribution

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in McKinney, Texas, SRS has grown to become one of the fastest growing building products distributors in the United States. Since the Company’s inception, it has established a differentiated growth strategy and entrepreneurial culture that is focused on serving customers, partnering with suppliers, and attracting the industry’s best talent. SRS currently operates under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 760 locations across 47 states. For more information, visit www.srsdistribution.com .

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the proposed acquisition of SRS Distribution Inc., which involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements (the “potential acquisition”); statements about the potential benefits of the potential acquisition; the anticipated timing of closing of the potential acquisition (including failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals) and the possibility that the potential acquisition does not close; risks related to the ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the potential acquisition, including the possibility that the expected benefits from the proposed transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; disruption from the potential acquisition making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; negative effects of announcing the potential acquisition or the consummation of the potential acquisition on the market price of our common stock, credit ratings or operating results; significant costs associated with the potential acquisition; unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the potential acquisition; the demand for our products and services, including as a result of macroeconomic conditions; net sales growth; comparable sales; the effects of competition; our brand and reputation; implementation of interconnected retail, store, supply chain and technology initiatives; inventory and in-stock positions; the state of the economy; the state of the housing and home improvement markets; the state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans, and consumer credit; the impact of tariffs; issues related to the payment methods we accept; demand for credit offerings; management of relationships with our associates, potential associates, suppliers and service providers; cost and availability of labor; costs of fuel and other energy sources; events that could disrupt our business, supply chain, technology infrastructure, or demand for our products and services, such as international trade disputes, natural disasters, climate change, public health issues, cybersecurity events, geopolitical conflicts, military conflicts, or acts of war; our ability to maintain a safe and secure store environment; our ability to address expectations regarding environmental, social and governance matters and meet related goals; continuation or suspension of share repurchases; net earnings performance; earnings per share; future dividends; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; changes in interest rates; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; commodity or other price inflation and deflation; our ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims, and litigation, including compliance with related settlements; the challenges of operating in international markets; the adequacy of insurance coverage; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; the impact of legal and regulatory changes, including changes to tax laws and regulations; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2024 and beyond; financial outlook; and the impact of acquired companies on our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions.

Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control, dependent on the actions of third parties, or currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended January 28, 2024 and also as may be described from time to time in future reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There also may be other factors that we cannot anticipate or that are not described herein, generally because we do not currently perceive them to be material. Such factors could cause results to differ materially from our expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our other public statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our other public statements.

For more information, contact: Financial Community Isabel Janci Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer 770-384-2666 [email protected]

News Media Sara Gorman Senior Director of Corporate Communications 770-384-2852 [email protected]

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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Tour AD HD 5 Series

$379.00

The Tour AD HD shaft profile is firm in the butt section, firm in the center section and has a firm+ tip to promote a mid-launch angle and low to low/mid ball spin rates. The Tour AD HD shafts utilizes the exclusive Graphite Design FTT – Fast Taper Technology, as well as the modern TORAYCA® M40X carbon-fiber material in the mid to tip section of the shaft and the ultra-high modulus TORAYCA® T1100G carbon-fiber material in the tip section of the shaft for unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the loss of the exceptional feel that Graphite Design shafts are so well known for.

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Tour AD DJ 6 Series S Flex-special order

G-series 50 wood, tour ad dj 6 series r flex-special order, tour ad dj 5 series r1 flex-special order.

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Il Volo Discuss New Album ‘Ad Astra’ and the Power of Diversity

The Italian trio of tenors is back with a new vision, a new album and a world tour.

By Billboard Italy

Billboard Italy

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Dynamicduo Discuss '2 Kids on the Block' Album Finale & Collaborating With BTS' J-Hope & RM

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But it’s just the beginning. On April 20, their new world tour will start from China and then move to Japan. It will then touch the main European capitals in autumn and will arrive in the USA, Canada and Latin America in 2025.

Billboard Italy met them on a rainy morning at the end of March in Milan. They joke with each other from the start, except when they reflect on what their music means to their audience.

What determined this change of approach?

Gianluca : After great projects in recent years, especially the tribute to Ennio Morricone, we thought the time had come to sing original songs. We wanted to try to be ourselves 100%. Being an interpreter is great, but singing your own songs is a completely different thing. The songwriters got to know us personally because they came to our concerts. We tried to make a real concept album, very diverse, with an intro and an outro. The album perfectly reflects who we are. Well, some songs reflect one or the other of us in particular. We want to demonstrate that diversity is our strength.

Which song represents each of you the most?

Piero : I too would say “Ad Astra,” then “Saturno e Venere” featuring Irama. We immediately got on well in the studio with him, despite coming from different worlds, and we saw the way he writes his songs. Irama thinks of the melody first, then the words come. It was very fascinating to watch him at work. I also really love “Opera” for the message it sends: try to live your days without thinking too much about tomorrow. It is in small gestures that we must seek happiness.

What’s the most important message you would like to convey to young people who feel under pressure?

Piero : Always look for enthusiasm in what you do, always persevere by pursuing your passions, without putting money first.

Gianluca : I’d say the meaning of the Latin expression “Per aspera ad astra” [“to the stars, through difficulties”]: you cannot achieve great results if you don’t sacrifice yourself. The main problem for young people, but also for adults, is not knowing themselves enough. That way, you don’t feel a sense of purpose.

What kept you together for so long?

Ignazio : We could say the love for music, but that would be too obvious. It is the awareness that our strength lies in our unity and our diversity. As soloists we would never be the same.

Do you feel respected by other artists?

What is the most significant international tour you have done?

Piero : Definitely Japan, where we’ll be returning in a few weeks. We can’t wait. Our music genre gave us the opportunity to have unique, unrepeatable experiences. Last year they wanted us for the inauguration of the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, a world heritage site immersed in a forest. We sang between the columns, dressed in white. The emotion was indescribable. Japan is a destination that we recommend to everyone: it showed us how we should behave, always. Respect for others, even for strangers, is an essential value there.

You said that at one of your concerts you initially thought the audience had fallen asleep.

Ignazio : The Japanese close their eyes to concentrate. At the end, however, everyone gets up and wants to come and say hello on stage – strictly waiting for the right moment, of course. Even the way of clapping is different, it’s quieter.

What have been the biggest sacrifices of these 15 years?

Gianluca : Sacrifices are constant, especially in terms of homesickness, despite we do what we love most. There were moments when we didn’t know what to do, like the year before we won Sanremo. In 2014 we kept changing record companies and didn’t know which path to take. With this new album we want to show who we are even more.

And the best moments?

Gianluca : There are many. The victory of Sanremo 2015, the tour with Barbra Streisand, the “We Are The World for Haiti” concert in 2010. But this last edition of Sanremo was also a way to show how much we have grown as artists.

What’s the most unexpected feature you would like to have in one of your songs?

Piero : Lazza, also because he’s very good at playing piano.

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Tour AD TP Shafts

Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the Tour AD TP wood shaft is available in 40g R2, R1 and S flex, 50g R2, R1 and S flex, 60g SR, S, X and TX flex, 70g S, X and TX flex and 80g S and X flex.

The Tour AD TP , like all of the premium Tour AD wood shafts, utilizes premium, aerospace quality 50t carbon-fiber materials in order to deliver the best feeling and performing shaft available to golfers.

Designed around new tooling, the Tour AD TP utilizes a technology called F ast T aper T echnology or “ FTT” .  This technology incorporates a faster taper rate from the lower mid-section to the tip of the shaft than previous Tour AD wood shaft models.  The Fast Taper Technology provides the overall feeling of greater club head control at impact and an increase in club head speed through the swing.

The Tour AD TP shaft has a medium stiffness starting at the handle thru the mid-section of the shaft and a stiff tip profile to promote a mid/high launch condition and low spin.  The new Tour AD TP also utilizes TORAYCA ® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY ® technology in the tip section of the shaft for additional shaft stability, exceptional feel and precise ball control.

During independent robotic golf club testing, the new Tour AD TP-6 Stiff Flex shaft gained +3.5 yards in Carry Distance and +3.8 yards in Total Distance while maintaining tight dispersion rates vs. comparable Tour AD 65g wood shaft models.

Make a change in your Driver or Fairway metal wood today to the same shaft that the professionals use, the new “ T our P roven” Tour AD TP model of premium Graphite Design graphite golf shafts with FTT – F ast T aper T echnology.

Revolutionary technology, design and the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, resulting in the highest quality premium golf shafts on the market today. Validating the company’s “Tour AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s Tour proven shafts are specifically designed to promote a gain in A ccuracy and D istance.

Features & Technology:

• FTT – Fast Taper Technology
• TORAYCA ® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY ® technology for increased stability in the mid to tip region and unsurpassed feel.
• 50 ton ultra-premium, high modulus, aerospace quality carbon fiber materials.
• Graphite Design proprietary M aterial S tiffness I ntegration (MSI) design philosophy and technology.

Bend Profile:

Performance:

• TP-4 is designed to promote High Launch angles with Mid ball spin rates.
• TP-5, -6, -7, and -8 are designed to promote Mid/High launch angles with Low ball spin rates.

Tip Trimming for Std Bore:

• Pro’s Choice encourages consulting a PGA Professional or qualified club builder to help you determine the correct shaft and length for your swing profile and to meet your goals.
• Always leave a minimum of 0.5″ of the parallel tip section of the shaft above the hosel to maintain shaft durability and prevent shaft failure/breakage.  For example, if the head has a hosel bore depth of 1.5″ and the shaft has a parallel tip length of 3.0″, the tip trim length should not exceed 1.0″.
• Improper installation may affect the intended performance of the shaft. Warranty is for material and workmanship of our products. Improper installation voids warranty of product.

Specifications:

Where to buy (click here or on map to view store locations).

Click on the map to find a location near you

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With some laughs, some stories, some tears, Don Winslow begins what he calls his final book tour

This image released by William Morrow shows “City in Ruins” by Don Winslow. (William Morrow via AP)

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NEW YORK (AP) — Don Winslow , embarking on what he calls his final book tour, had a feeling he might not keep it together

“It’s a little bit of a bittersweet evening for me,” he said Monday, speaking before some 40 admirers at The Mysterious Bookshop in downtown Manhattan, one of the city’s last stores dedicated entirely to crime narratives. “I am obviously much too macho to shed a tear or anything like that — tough guy crime writer. But I might.”

Winslow, 70, has announced that his new novel, “City in Ruins,” will be his last. He’s not burned out or ill or out of ideas. He has other priorities — one priority: the defeat of Donald Trump , whom the author regularly attacks through statements and videos on social media.

“What I fear very much is happening in this country,” he says of the possibility Trump will return to the White House. “I need a more immediate sort of address than is available in a novel.”

On Monday, he sounded very much like an active author, explaining his typical writing day — up at 4:45 a.m., a pot of coffee, a round of newspapers, then hours of work. But he also was thinking about the past and how to say goodbye, remembering all the jobs he took on, from private investigator to a tour guide in Kenya, and the many publishers who turned him down.

The Mysterious Bookshop is a special stop along the way. He first read there in the early 1990s, when he was promoting his debut novel, “A Cool Breeze on the Underground,” and has returned many times. During the reading, he called out thanks to the store’s owner, Otto Penzler.

“I think we’re the ones thanking you for being here,” Penzler responded.

It happened. Winslow chokes up, turns away.

“I can’t look at Otto,” he says as he again faces the audience.

Winslow feels, for now, the time is right for quitting. “City in Ruins” completes a trilogy featuring dockworker/crime boss/Hollywood investor Danny Ryan that began 30 years ago — and he is enjoying strong early feedback. The book is in the top 200 on Amazon.com and has been widely praised. The Washington Post called “City in Ruins” a “sweeping story that morphs and expands over time.” Associated Press reviewer Bruce Da Silva, himself a crime novelist who shares Winslow’s Rhode Island background, wrote that the book is a “masterpiece,” citing Winslow’s “compelling characters, his vivid prose, and his exploration of universal themes.”

Winslow enjoys the attention, but said he needs to “graciously get off the stage and make room for other people.” Also, he confided, “I am not young.”

Winslow is the author of more than 20 novels, including “Power of the Dog,” “Savages” and the uncanny border saga “The Cartel,” featuring the escape of an El Chapo-like drug lord that came out just as El Chapo himself broke out from prison in 2015 — a coincidence so remarkable that Winslow claims his publisher suspected he and El Chapo had plotted it together.

A slender, earnest man wearing a stylish dark jacket and matching slacks, Winslow is a onetime upstart who can’t believe he gets paid for what used to get him in trouble — daydreaming and dirty words. His epitaph could easily be “I can’t believe my own luck.” He calls himself “an overnight success” who broke through in his 50s, when he was finally able to give up his many day jobs. In recent years, his books have been bestsellers that have attracted film and television directors, including Oliver Stone’s adaptation of “Savages” and a planned film based on another Danny Ryan book, “City on Fire,” with Austin Butler playing Ryan.

Penzler says he’s long admired Winslow, and how his research in “The Cartel” and other novels made him feel like he was right there with the author’s characters. But he wonders about Winslow’s supposed departure. He’s heard this story before.

“I know almost every mystery writer in America, and all of them at one time or another, say, ‘I think this is it. I think I’m done.’ Half the time it’s just nothing,” Penzler says. “Don’s a little more thoughtful. He probably believes this at the moment, but let’s talk again in five years.”

Winslow, during a telephone interview Tuesday, acknowledges that not everyone is convinced he’s done. Friends give him “knowing looks.” Even his wife is doubtful, he says. But for the moment he can think of nothing else but advocating against Trump. Asked what he’d do with his free time should President Joe Biden win, he says he struggles to think past the November election.

“I think I’ll always write, but I don’t think I’ll always publish,” he says. “Ideas are always popping into my head. I don’t think you can turn this off and on like a light switch. But I’m not tempted to sit down and write a novel.”