Nippon 123 Driver Fitting System Review

Leave a reply

Nippon 123 Driver Fitting System Review

By Russ Ryden, Fit2Score, A Dallas Fort Worth Club Fitter & Club Maker
The Highlands Performance Golf Center, Carrollton Texas 
Golf Digest Certified America’s 100 Best Club Fitter

Most reviews here are focused on a single shaft model. The Nippon 123 system is three shafts brought to market as a fitting system. There are three profiles, each with an array of stiffness and weight. This is a fitting system that will soon be accompanied by documentation to guide the fitter using it. Mark Pekarek has been fitting over 35 years. Much of that time his company, Shaftology has been the distributor for Nippon shafts in the US. When I started with Nippon, Shaftology was the only source for Nippon shafts in America. Their distributors were regionally placed and had to demonstrate their golf competence as representative of the Nippon brand. Before you look at the data I recommend you watch this video shot at the 2019 PGA Merchandise show where the system was announced to the golf business.

This is the first time, to my knowledge, that a set of shafts has been designed and presented as a fitting system. Those of us with ample fitting experience have put together our own mix of fitting shafts. It takes years of experience and access to a comprehensive database of shaft properties to outfit a fitting cart for systematic fitting. As Mark said, the profiles in this system are different enough to make a difference to the average golfer. 

To continue reading this section of the review, you must be registered at a higher level membership.
Russ

Aldila NV and Aldila RIP NV Golf Shaft Review

Leave a reply

ALDILA NV & ALDILA RIP NV

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

Aldila NVAldila_NV

The Aldila NV design has been with us for a long time. It is hard to miss that shiny green shaft. But lately, I have not seen many of them in golfers bags. It is a classic design and many, many near matches can be found in other shaft companies product lines.The torque ranges from 3.7 in the 60R to 3.2 in the 70X shafts. The Aldila NV profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. I have only checked a few radial profiles, by they were 99.5%, indicating the shaft can be installed in any orientation.
Aldila_NV_EiGj

Aldila RIP NV

Aldila_RIP_NV
What do you do with a dated good design. Aldila created a second generation version rather than walking away from the brand name. The RIP NV applies the new interlay design to the classic NV design. The muted color scheme is more appealing to my conservative eye.
The torque ranges from 4.3 in the 60R to 3.2 the 65 Tour X shaft. Like all shafts in the RIP line, the torque value is printed on the shaft.  These numbers are very close to our measuring standard and are a good guide to the overall torque of the shaft.  The Aldila RIP NV profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The radial profiles are very good, the shaft can be installed in any orientation.

What we see different in the RIP NV is a reversal of the mid stiffness.  Where one might refer to the original NV as mid soft, the RIP NV is viewed as mid stiff.  This is a trend we see in may shaft designs over the past few years.  RIP stands for reverse interlaminar placement.  Aldila moved some of the bias plies of the shaft from the center, near the mandrel toward the outside of the shaft.  This sandwiched the longitudinal plies in the center of the shaft walls.

Aldila_RIP_NV_EiGj

Aldila VooDoo Golf Shaft Review

Leave a reply

ALDILA VOODOO

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

Aldila_VooDoo
The VooDoo, introduced in 2007 was the first shaft from Aldila to feature S-Core Technology. It has a corkscrew rib on the inside of the shaft. It has a simple Flexural Signature, consistently softer down the shaft to 18” where it evenly gains stiffness toward the tip. The torque ranges from 4.5 in the 60R to 3.2 in the 70X shafts. The Aldila Voodoo profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The radial profiles are very good, the shaft can be installed in any orientation.
Aldila_VooDoo_EiGj

Mitsubishi Bassara Golf Shaft Review

4 Replies

MITSUBISHI BASSARA ULTRALITE

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

Mitsubishi Bassara UltraLite Series W

Bassara Series W
The lightweight Bassara Wyvren was introduced in 2011. Like the Griffin, it has elastic titanium fiber reinforcing the tip. It has a unique color scheme, resembling the Griffin. It is appropriately red, Bassara W-Series, as it is now called, profile is the same as the ‘ilima. Look for a high launch with low spin from this shaft. The golf shaft is now referred to as the Bassara Series W. The shaft to shaft consistency and smoothness of the profile is among the best I have measured. The overall torque of the Bassara W-Series ranges from 6.1 in the 43L to 4.3 in the 53TS. This is consistent with the general torque range of the Mitsubishi Rayon Family of shafts if one compares the torque of the 53 Bassara W-Series with the 60g R’s of the other products. Three and four degree TIP torques are outstanding in this weight range of shafts.
Bassara W EiGj

Mitsubishi Bassara UltraLite Series G

Bassara Series G
The lightweight Bassara Griffin is unique. Introduced in 2010, it has elastic titanium fiber reinforcing the tip. Mitsubishi is unique in the shaft business; they make all the critical shaft raw materials, monomer, acrylic fiber, carbon fiber, resin and prepreg. When they decide to make a unique product, they have few restrictions. The Griffin is one such product. In the hands of a slow swinging, yet skilled golfer this shaft delivers the head consistently. Originally branded as the Griffin, it is now referred to as the Bassara G. It is the higher launching, higher spinning design of the 2012 Mitsubishi ultra lightweight driver shafts The overall torque of the G -Series ranges from 5.6 in the 43L to 4.0 in the 53TS. This is consistent with the general torque range of the Mitsubishi Rayon Family of shafts if one compares the torque of the 53 Bassara G-Series with the 60g R’s of the other products. Three and four degree tip torques are outstanding in this weight range of shafts. In light weight shafts, higher torques are needed to create feeling in the hands of the golfer.

Bassara G EiGj

Mitsubishi Bassara UltraLite Falcon

Bassara Falcon The lightweight Bassara Falcon has been in the lineup for a long time. Formerly known simply as the Bassara UltraLite, its EI profile is similar to the Diamana Blue Board. It was a great feeling shaft for lower swing speed players that benefit from a light weight golf shaft. The elastic titanium fiber used in the tips of the Bassara W and G series created a new generation of lightweight designs. The Bassara Falcon was discontinued in 2012. I am fitting the few I have left at a close out price. It is a great senior shaft. The are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The torque ranges from 5.1 in the 43L to 4.1 in the 53S. The radial profiles are excellent; the shaft can be used in any orientation. The profile will be brought back in 2013 in a stock club.

Bassara F EiGj

Mitsubishi Bassara UltraLite Hawk

Bassara Hawk
The lightweight Bassara Hawk was a Diamana White Board on a diet. I never cease to be amazed at the range of players that simply crush balls with this shaft. The raw shafts weigh between 46 – 55 grams. For a skilled swinger that does not have the strength to load a White Board, this is a great alternative. Like all Mitsubishi Rayon golf shafts, the profiles of the Basara Hawk are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The torque ranges from 5.1 in the 43L to4.1 in the 53S. The profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The radial profiles are excellent; the shaft can be used in any orientation. Discontinued in 2012 a similar profile is found in the JavlnFX Y.
Bassara H EiGj

Mitsubishi Fubuki Golf Shaft Review

8 Replies

MITSUBISHI FUBUKI DRIVER AND FAIRWAY SHAFTS

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

FubukiTour

It was hard to miss noticing the Fubuki Tour on Television on Sunday afternoon. The distinctive white color is became so common it got copied by other brands. It is a variation of the White Board profile with a stiffer tip but softer mid. The second generation white board, the Diamana ‘ahina brought in an even stiffer tip. The Fubuki Tour shaft is now often used by tour players in fairways. The profile is similiar to the Diamana ‘ahina, with a softer, higher launching tip. The Fubuki Tour will be phased out in 2014. The profile of the Fubuki K offers the same feel and loading characteristics with a slightly stiffer tip.

The softer tip of the The Fubuki Tour introduced a slightly higher launch to the popular White Board design. It is a perfect pairing for a player looking for a slightly higher launching fairway, while still retaining the feel and control of a mid stiff shaft. Like all Mitsubishi Rayon golf shafts, the profiles of the Fubuki Tour are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The butt torque ranges from 4.1 in the 50R to 2.6 in the 80X.  The tip torque of the Fubuki Tour 70 and 80 x is 2.0, a great number for a fairway shaft.

 

Mitsubishi Fubuki Alpha

FubukiAlpha

A 2010 profile from Mitsubishi called “Acceleration Technology”. It is promoted as delivering high launch and low spin. I have found it to be a mid to low mid launching golf shaft design. I refer to this as a Kai’li on steroids. The profile is a blend of the ‘ahina and Kai’li designs.

It is available in 55 – 75 grams. Among the sub 60 gram shafts it is unique. A tour profile in a light weight shaft. The butt is not as stiff as the Kai’li and the mid is not as soft. The tip is tight in both longitudinal and radial directions. The white driver shaft you saw on TV on weekends, this was it until the Fubuki K came along. The overall torque of the Fubuki Alpha ranges from 4.1 in the 50R to 2.5 in the 80X. The Fubuki Alpha profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The radial profiles are excellent; the shaft can be used in any orientation. The Fubuki Alpha 65 gram is the stock shaft in the 2012 Adams Fast 12 LS driver. That makes the Adams Fast 12 LS driver a unique value proposition.

 Mitsubishi Fubuki K

FubukiK

The Fubuki K was introduced in late 2011. The MDT shaft material is enhanced with a metallic “lace” in the butt section. This creates a stable butt without having to add a lot of carbon fiber. The profile called “Acceleration Technology” by Mitsubishi is similar to the original Fubuki Tour with a slightly firmer butt and tip.

The Fubuki K, unlike the Fubuki Alpha profile, is very similar to the ‘ahina with a higher tip to butt ratio resulting is a higher launch. It is a soft tip ‘ahina. The torque ranges from 4.1 in the 50R to 2.5 in the 80X shafts. The tip torque of this shaft is among the lowest I have measured. The Fubuki K profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The radial profiles are excellent; this shaft can be used in any orientation. Yes, the tour version 80X is in my driver fitting system for you gorillas out there. Like the original Fubuki Tour, it is a perfect compliment to the ‘ahina as a higher launching, higher spinning fairway shaft.

Fubuki EiGj
A look at the EI profiles of the Mitsubishi Fubuki golf shafts shows the similarity between the original Tour and the third generation K versions.  The Alpha is a different design and launches lower.

Mitsubishi Fubuki Ax Fairway

Fubuki_FW_AX

The Fubuki Ax is a fairway shaft. The raw shaft is several inches shorter than a driver shaft. The weights range from 50 to 85 grams. It is a close match to the Diamana Blue Board. The profiles and torques are much the same. Its a mid high launching shaft. The Fubuki Ax fairway is a mid price shaft, making for economical fairway clubs with a high performance shaft. The comparison with the Fubuki Alpha is shown below. A stiffer butt design follows the preference of many tour players in their fairways. The overall torque of the Fubuki Ax Fairway ranges from 4.3 in the 50R to 3.1 in the 80X. Tip torques on the heavier, stiffer versions are around 2.5. The Fubuki Ax profiles are consistent from weight to weight and flex to flex. The radial profiles are good; the shaft can be used in any orientation. The 65 gram version of the shaft is standard in the Adams 2012 Super XTD fairway.
Fubuki Fairway

As with all Mitsubishi shafts, you should see a club fitter to select the best fit of profile, weight and stiffness to your swing.