Equipment on Trend

Fujikura’s Axiom graphite iron shaft

For the first time, Fujikura’s flagship Velocore Technology has been integrated into a graphite shaft for irons. The technology was initially introduced in the Ventus and Ventus TR, the shafts trusted by many of the world’s top players, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. The genius in this new Axiom graphite iron shaft is a three-length system that creates specific weight and flex-matching for long, mid and short irons, which allows club builders to provide an exact fit.

The carbon-fiber age

If golf ball flight is to be limited, emphasis on driver technology will become more important than ever to manufacturers. The Callaway Paradym features carbon fiber on the sole and crown, while the TaylorMade Stealth 2 has it in the face. TaylorMade introduced the “carbonwood” in its original Stealth driver, due to the strong and lightweight nature of carbon. The Stealth’s face weighs only 26 grams, which is 40 percent lighter than a titanium face of the same size. With the Callaway Paradym, the center section features no metal, so the clubhead weight has been shifted, in order to produce a higher moment of inertia at impact and increased ball speed.

Cobra 3D printed putter

Cobra is not renowned for putters, but it has been making some progress in the past couple of years through 3D printing. This process can create a lattice nylon structure that sits in between the crown of the putter and the chassis. Why nylon? Nylon is lighter than aluminum, and when the central part of the putter is lighter, the relative weight of the putter head moves to the perimeter to create more forgiveness and stability.

KBS graphite putter shaft

Many companies are now using graphite putter shafts. KBS has provided the stock shaft in the TaylorMade Spider for years, and the GPS is the brand’s first graphite putter shaft. It’s certainly eye-catching, with eight standout colors and, for the traditionalist, a silver option with a gloss finish that resembles steel. The GPS is a low-torque performance shaft that should help the face to resist twisting on impact, which improves the MOI and keeps the face more in line with the target.