Author Archives: Russ

UST Mamiya VTS Golf Shaft Review

UST Mamiya VTS Golf Shaft

VTS Red – High Torque
VTS Silver – Mid Torque
VTS Black – Low Torque

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

ShaftImage_UST_VTS 2

TourSPXTransparetLogo.fw
The UST VTS shaft is available in three torque versions in each weight and flex. An enormous number of options for a fitter. Several years of research at UST found the order of importance in shaft fitting to be tip stiffness, mid stiffness, torque and lastly butt stiffness. The VTS shafts allow the fitter to test three levels of torque in shafts with identical profiles. Traditional designs have higher torque in lighter, softer shafts and lower torque in heavy, stiff shafts.

The UST VTS technology is available in two versions The silver gray tour version, available only through UST TourSPX fitters is certified in the UST Fort Worth US headquarters. The parameters are recorded, a serial number is etched on the shaft and the parameters are kept on file at UST.

This is a mid launching shaft design. Some players with smooth release swing dynamics have found the higher torque VTS Red model generates higher head speeds. The more popular mid and low torque VTS Silver and VTS Black models introduce torque related feel as a fitting option.
VTS Driver RSB EiGj
The VTS Black with tip torques of around 1.6 in the 70 and 80 gram models is a great fairway shaft.   The gradual loss of stiffness near the tip is good for tipping to control ball flight.

Mitsubishi Fubuki Ax Iron Shaft Review

MITSUBISHI FUBUKI IRON SHAFTS

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

Fubuki i Image
Introduced in 2011, the Fubuki iron shaft is a member of a family of shafts from Mitsubishi Rayon that include driver, fairway, hybrid and iron. The EI curves, by design, are quite similar. With the current buzz created by top PGA tour players using graphite iron shafts, it is easy to forget that premium graphite has been around for quite some time.  The Fubuki AX irons shafts are designated 375, a 75 gram shaft and 425, a 85 gram shaft.  With an installed price of around $120 each it was never that popular. Distribution is through Mitsubishi authorized club building distributors. In its limited weight range, it is one of the smoothest shafts available. The quality is outstanding, shaft to shaft profiles are consistent in the sets and the profiles are consistent among the three models.
Fubuki i Table
Fubuki i EiGjThe stiffness change from butt to tip is uniform, firming up mid shaft into a 12 inch long stiff tip. I see the Diamana Blue Board profile when I look at this.  The firm bend profile in the tip is complimented by low torque. This creates good dispersion control in a light weight carbon fiber golf shaft. Radial consistency is outstanding, meaning no benefit to alignment. If your looking for a soft flex, light weight iron golf shaft with a stable tip, it does not get any better than this.