Having a product as successful as Project
X is a dream for any company. Project X steel
shafts -- well known for their distinctive
"step-less" design and heritage of consistent
performance -- are seen in the bags of Tour
winners week in and week out. That's some of
the best free advertising a company like True
Temper can get.
So why did it take two years for True
Temper to release Project X graphite?
The answer lies in wanting to get it right
the first time. Consumers, particularly in golf,
are very demanding of premium products. And
the engineers at True Temper wanted to make
sure they had a complete product with similar
playability to Project X steel shafts prior to
making them available to the general public.
Project X graphite shaft models include
driver, fairway, and hybrid models in a full
range of frequencies (Project X shafts are
fitted on frequency, not flex, but more on that
later) and in both standard and Tour issue. I
spoke to the designer of the shaft, True
Temper Product Engineer Don Brown, who
told me that the quality of the basic materials
and the stiffness in the butt and the tip have
produced a number of desirable results. The
shafts load consistently, and have been tested
to reduce spin to the levels desired by better
players. Brown emphasized the importance of
fitting, a sure sign that he knows the business
and understands the business. Spending $200
or more on a shaft and not getting fit is like
buying a pair of shoes online. You might get it
right, but you're taking your chances.
My own personal testing has proven that
Project X shafts revealed that while they may not be suitable for a
beginning player, these highly consistent shafts are not just for Tour players
either. My swing speed is in the 100 to 105
mph range, and with a 6.0 shaft in my hybrid
and driver I'm getting really good launch, and
feeling the club in the "slot" before making
my move down from the top. I love the deep
blue finish, with just enough graphic edginess
to spiff up the look of my clubs without being
a distraction. The ability to consistently load
the shaft results in the confidence to work the
ball either way, particularly with the hybrid,
which many people complain about hitting
only one way (usually right to left for a right
handed player).
Project X shafts are in the middle to
upper price range and on a value basis I rate
them very high. Some players are always
going to go for the "Tour Issue" and I agree
that knowing you are playing the high end is
great. But my hybrid has a standard Project X
6.0 and I love it.
What more could you ask for?
Some links below will help you find
Project X and Project X Tour Issue shafts.
Project X website>
Tour Performance Fitting Centers website>