Top rated shafts for a driver

With the price of golf drivers being so high, sometimes it can make more sense to put a new shaft in your club. Luckily changing out the shaft on the driver is a much cheaper alternative to purchasing a brand new driver.

Understanding driver shafts and their options take quite a bit of golf knowledge. We have put together some of the best driver shaft options on the market across some of the most important categories.

Best driver shaft 

Project X New HZRDUS Smoke 6.0 60g Driver

best overall

At the top of our list is the Project X Hzrdus Smoke. When you look at different golf shaft options on the market, you will notice that many modern drivers come with the Project X shaft. Companies like TaylorMade and Callaway know that this particular Smoke shaft is a great choice for a large majority of everyday golfers.

The Project C Hzrdus Smoke is a bit of a lower trajectory shaft. This is a good thing for those with slightly faster swing speed. Sometimes golfers with slower swing speed will struggle to get the carry distance they need out of the Project X. However, if you are a golfer that likes to go after their drives, this is a great option to consider.

In addition to the lower trajectory, this is also a lower spinning shaft. The lower spin helps you make sure that you get the proper and consistent launch angle and lots of roll when the ball does contact the ground. Project X is one of the best golf shafts that the market has ever seen and certainly one of the top driver shafts in 2020.

Pros

• Comes with adapter
• Lower trajectory
• More piercing ball flight

Cons

• Not for slow swingers

Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Blue 60 Regular Flex Driver/Wood Shaft

Best premium

Some golf shafts are built to be more important than the golf club and your golf swing. Some shafts can help you correct issues in your ball flight and trajectory as well. The Mitsubishi Kuro Kage shafts have been known for being some of the most premium shafts on the market.

There is no questioning the quality and durability of a golf driver shaft like this one.

Many golf professionals and players on tour have used the Kuro Kage Blue at one point in their game. One of the things that set the Kuro Kage apart from the competition is the manufacturing process and attention to detail.

Amateur golfers are often amazed to find how different one golf shaft can be from the next. There are lots of inconsistencies, but with the Kuro Kage, you should not notice this issue.

Another thing that makes the Kuro Kage the right driver shaft for the person seeking precision is the ease of installation. It is fairly easy to get this shaft installed and balanced properly in your driver.

If you have the money to spend, are looking for higher energy transfer from club to ball, and want a premium golf shaft, the Kuro Kage Blue could be your best choice.

Pros

• Good for mid to high swing speed
• Mid launch
• Fits a wide variety of clubhead choices

Cons

• Very high pricing

Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 65 Driver Shaft

Best value

As we mentioned, golf driver shafts are certainly a bit less expensive than replacing your entire driver; however, some shafts still come at a high price. Luckily that is where Grafalloy comes in. Grafalloy is known for making golf shafts that are both high performing and affordable. The Graffaloy golf shafts are used even on the PGA Tour.

The Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue has a lot to offer aside from its low price. This shaft is a mid to high ball flight option best suited for the mid handicapper. The tip of this Grafalloy ProLaunch features the Micro-Mesha tip technology. The tip is designed to be stiff yet still allow for plenty of control. Golfers want to try and find something that has a good balance between feel, control, and performance.

Although the ProLaunch has some great characteristics, these graphite shafts are not the best for players that have very fast swing speeds. Chances are the ball will get a bit too high in the air.

Pros

• Very fair pricing
• Low spin shaft
• Mid launch

Cons

• Not great for faster swinging golfers

New Aldila NVS 65 Graphite Driver Shaft Stiff Flex .335

Best for average golfer

The golf shaft business can get quite involved. You will hear professionals talk about the torque, tip stiffness, launch angle, flex options, and material as well. There are many factors, and for the average golfer that is not all interested in learning all of this information, the Aldila shafts can be a great choice.

Aldila makes high-quality golf club shaft options for the mid handicappers out there. The NVS Orange 65 is one of the most popular shafts that they have ever produced. One of the things that set the NVS Orange apart from the cord is the Micro Laminate Technology. This technology helps by using very thin carbon fiber material. This material makes sure that all areas of the shaft are as responsive as the next. In other words, there are no bad spots in these golf shafts.

The NVS Orange is a popular shaft that many golfers can benefit from. It is fairly priced, easy to install, and available in many different flexes and weights as well. If you broker your driver shaft and want to install something that looks good and performs well, this is a perfect choice.

Pros

• Mid to high launch
• Well known for quality
• Mid weight graphite shaft

Cons

• Feel may not be as good as a premium shaft

UST Mamiya Helium Driver Shafts

Best for senior golfer

Senior golfers need to be very careful with the golf shaft that they choose. Since senior players are starting to lose some clubhead speed, choosing a lightweight and high performing driver can significantly increase overall distance. The UST Mamiya Helium shafts are a great choice for senior golf clubs.

The Helium construction helps to offer an excellent feel while still being both lightweight and durable. One thing that is important when making a light shaft is that it still provides maximum stability for a golfer. Stiff shafts affect distance. Generally to get excellent distance, you should get flexible shafts.

Another great thing about the UST Mamiya shafts is that they pair well with all modern manufacturers’ driver head designs. If you like a large and a slightly heavy shaft, this lightweight shaft is a great fit.

Pros

• Great feel
• Added distance for slower swingers
• Higher launch hence perfect for fairway wood

Cons

• US Mamiya graphite shafts tend to be a bit pricey

The best driver shaft is…

Driver shaft buyers guide

Now that you know which shafts are the best on the market let’s help you narrow down the one that will work best for you.

What is the shaft length of a driver?

The average driver shaft length is going to be around 45.5 inches. If you are a tall or short golfer or looking for a specific type of performance from your driver, you may choose something custom. A stock shaft is going to be properly weighted for the driver that it comes with.

If you start to mess with the driver’s shaft length, make sure that you understand the impacts on the shaft flex, overall shaft weight, and swing weight.

Be sure to see our post on How-to measure driver shaft length

What is a kick point?

The kick point is the part of the driver shaft that you will see the most flex from. The kick point is important when you are trying to figure out if a driver will be high or low launching. Drivers with a high kick point tend to be low launch. Drivers with a low kick point tend to be high launch driver shafts.

Understanding the kick point can help you get some more distance from your shots. Golfers want to keep the ball in the air as long as possible; however, if you think the golf ball is staying up too long, the kick point could be off.

What are the best driver shafts for beginners?

Most of the time, a beginner golfer is going to do best with a stock shaft option. The majority of new players will need a regular flex shaft with mid-weight. The mid-launch angle is also a good fit for the new player.

When a golfer starts to establish what type of player they are and their strengths and weaknesses, the shaft can then be fine-tuned. It’s hard for a beginner player to go out and get custom fitted for a shaft. Instead, choose something that is high performing and comes stock with a forgiving golf club.

Bear in mind that a heavier shaft  or a lighter shaft will affect your driver performance. As such, it’s crucial to get a shaft with the right weight for you.