Talk about a quick start.

True Temper’s Project X graphite shafts had barely hit the market, and they had already claimed an important international win at the Volvo World Match Play in Spain. The win, and product release (on the same day, I might add) made me wonder why we hadn’t seen the familiar “Project X” logo on a graphite shaft until now. I figured it had something to do with the engineers at True Temper wanting to make a splash -- and do the familiar brand proud with a high performance graphite companion. After all, we're talking about a company that finished the year with 42 Tour victories.

I caught up with Don Brown, a 10-year True Temper engineering veteran out of the Memphis-based company’s San Diego office to get the straight scoop on Project X in five questions.

Q: What characteristics of the Project X steel shaft line were you trying to replicate when designing the Project X graphite line of driver, fairway wood, and hybrid shafts?

A: The Project X player profile has typically been someone looking for low spin, and a penetrating ball flight. We wanted to give them a similar feel so that, for example, it’s a fairly seamless transition when going from a long iron to the hybrid. With the driver the spin reduction is so great that we’ve seen some of our Tour players increase the loft and get an optimum launch angle and spin without any of the board-like feeling that low spin shafts can sometimes deliver.

Q: What are some of the key design characteristics of Project X?

A: One of the unique things about Project X iron shafts is that each one has its own taper rate down to a 2” parallel tip. That’s a smaller parallel section than other products. Project X graphite has the same profile – we have reinforced the bottom third with 2 extra wraps of high modulus graphite, and kept the smoother taper from the butt down. This gradual taper allows for a nice even load.

Q: How does Project X graphite fit in with True Temper’s other graphite line, Grafalloy?

A: Well, first off, they are two different brands. The shafts may share a similar frequency and tip deflection, but the mid taper differentiates Project X, and it is generally a higher end product geared towards top amateurs and Tour players who are looking for low spin and a penetrating ball flight.

Q: OK, without saying anything bad about products you may supply to OEM manufacturers. How much better is an aftermarket product like Project X than the one that comes with a new club?

A: First, the OEM is going to try and provide a shaft profile that will work for most players, but it’s impossible to have something that works for everyone. Every better player should be fit, just as a Tour player would. Second, the price of an aftermarket shaft like Project X is affected by some things that are very important to a better player. We can use better materials, and a higher flag count for better performance. [Ed. note – a flag is a sheet of high modulus graphite.] Not only are the material costs higher, the cost of labor goes up too.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add Don?

A: I would only advise your players to not get fooled by the hype. Project X is already going up against some of the shaft names you hear when someone talks about a high end product, and coming up a winner. Look out for us in 2010!

To find out more about Project X graphite, visit www.pxshaft.com.