Equipment
TXG: Does shaft weight and torque matter?
We’re excited to announce a new video partnership with Tour Experience Golf, a Custom Golf Club Fitting Studio in Toronto, Canada. Check out the announcement video here for more information.
In the first video, TXG isolates shaft weight and torque as the only variables in a club test to see how those factors influence delivery and ball flight. Check out the video below, and let us know in the comments what topics you’d like covered next time!
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Ted Noel
Sep 14, 2018 at 9:09 am
The discussion of shaft weight is solid, but misses the point. Each player, as shown in the discussion, has a “felt weight” that matches his swing. That “felt weight” can be measured as dynamic moment of inertia. If the player hits at his best MOI, he will have the most consistent swing and best probability of center face strikes. If that MOI is measured from a point between the hands (typ about 4″ from the butt), the entire set of clubs can be matched to that MOI and the player will be more consistent throughout the set.
In the case of the player tested for the video, the middle weight shaft resulted in his best MOI match.
On a related subject, we need to see fitting discussions related to the real (non-professional) world. I need to better fit my 220-230 yard driver swing, not drool over a 300 yard bomber.
dat
Sep 13, 2018 at 11:00 am
It’s mostly snake oil. You need to be a tour caliber player to see any benefits.
pr
Sep 13, 2018 at 2:30 am
My girl says it’s always about the girth and heft
CrashTestDummy
Sep 13, 2018 at 12:17 am
It is great to test isolated variables to see the affects and how to fit properly. Weight definitely affects the golf swing in terms of tempo. However, I disagree that weight was the root cause the inconsistency with the test results. To me, it was the torque that caused most of the inconsistency in the dispersion of the groupings.
The guy on the right thinks that torque is only a “feel” variable and doesn’t think torque affects the dispersion because impact is too short of time frame for the club to twist to cause an off line shot. I totally disagree because twisting of shaft does not just occur at impact. Twisting of the shaft occurs throughout the golf swing. So, throughout the golf swing the clubhead will be twisting depending on the player’s golf swing. Therefore, the clubhead could be off a few degrees off at impact because the clubhead was twisting on the downswing.
Generally speaking, the higher the torque will cause a strong swinger to spray shots more than a tighter lower torque shaft. To me, there is generally a sweet spot for a torque for each player depending on how much player influences a shaft. Torque definitely affect dispersion.
stevet
Sep 13, 2018 at 1:46 pm
The clubhead not only twists the shaft, the shaft tip “droops” so the clubhead CG aligns with the shaft axis. This closes the driver club face for impact. During impact the clubhead kicks back for a few microseconds before it launches the ball. Shaft flex is complex.
CrashTestDummy
Sep 13, 2018 at 9:57 pm
Shaft flex is complex because there is so much variation in flex patterns. However, I would bet if you compared a same weight shaft to the one in the test (where he was spraying his shots) with another shaft that has around a point lower torque, the dispersion would be tighter. I have done that test several times over the years. I truly believe there is still a torque sweet spot for players that enables them to release the club more squarely through impact.
Gary
Sep 12, 2018 at 7:02 pm
These guys are the best fitters period. Watch there videos. Hi Im 66 and 85-90 mph and for my quick tempo swing i play a 330 gram driver, 64 stiff diamana r series midsize grip callaway fudion head 10.5 with 14 gram weight at 45 and st club championi tried everything head snd shaft and nothing beat it. Lighter is not faster for quick swing. For je weight anf torque first.
stevet
Sep 13, 2018 at 1:54 pm
330 gram driver must be total weight because driver heads are in the 200 gram weights. You are correct that how you load your shaft is more important than shaft weight.
Travis
Sep 12, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Not as much as a good or bad swing matters…
2putttom
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:27 pm
oh you betchya it matters
EE
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:06 pm
Do shaft weight and torque matter?
Yes they do
Wade
Sep 12, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Have you ever done any testing with multiple versions of the same shaft to see differences in manufacturing?
Judah Aderhold
Sep 12, 2018 at 11:59 am
Those cpm ratings are all just measured at one spot right? Cause couldn’t the shafts have different stiffnesses (cpm ratings) throughout the rest of the shaft even though they all are the same stiffness in that spot?
joe virdone
Sep 12, 2018 at 9:33 am
Good stuff. How do you look at fitting a slower swinger…I’m 74, play the Epic Star and am always looking for more distance. My carry distance is ~ 220 yds, relatively high ball flight. Swing speed in ~85-90 mph. Always thought r flex, lighter shaft and relatively high torque. Does this match with your studies? Thanks…/JV
Steve McIvor
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:58 pm
Hi Joe, it sounds like if you’re swinging it at 85-90 and getting 220 carry, you’re doing pretty well. Realistically, it will be pretty difficult to get much more out of it. Especially by playing about with shafts. At the end of the day, club head is the most important thing. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
stevet
Sep 13, 2018 at 1:50 pm
What is your driver face loft? 10º? 12º? 14º? You may get more distance with higher lofts to match your lower swing speed.