Equipment

VA Composites Synystr shaft review – Club Junkie Reviews

Published

2 years ago

Nov 1, 2023

With all of the golf shafts out there, you might never have had a chance to try VA Composites’ wares. Since 2017, Victor Afable has been designing shafts that push the limits of technology and materials in order to help all golfers. While most of the VA Composites line of shafts is built around higher launch and mid-spin, the Synystr is one of Victor’s lower launching and spinning designs.

For a full, more in-depth review, check out the Club Junkie podcast on YouTube or any podcast streaming platform.

When you look at any VA Composite shaft, you can’t help but notice the amazing, detailed graphics that all of their shafts have. The Synystr is no exception as the multi-colored splatter graphics with an evil green face on the underside. The paint splatter does make its way to the top of the shaft, breaking up the gloss black paint that runs through the majority of the shaft. Like most wood shafts, the install is pretty simple into the All Fit adaptors I use. All of my shafts are installed untipped and cut to 45 inches playing length.

On the course, the Synystr offered me low launch and spin shots with a very smooth feel. Every VA Composites shaft I have ever swung produces a smooth and responsive feel. I have hit about five different VA Composites shafts, and the Synystr is by far the lowest launching, spinning, and stiffest feeling shaft out of those. VA lists the Synystr as low/mid-launch but for me that shaft seems to launch a little lower than that.

Most of the 10.5-degree driver heads that I used I found the best performance to add a little bit of loft to ensure I was getting enough carry. Flat is an understatement for any drive that I hit, the ball just didn’t want to rise even if you were hitting into a steady breeze. Spin was also very low for me as my typical range is around 2,600-2,800 RPM but the Synystr kept that number around 2,300-2,400 RPM on almost every shot.

Even drives that started left and went right didn’t ramp up the spin, and I rarely saw a shot that touched 3,000 RPM during any range sessions. Stronger players with a lot of club head speed can sometimes be worried about overpowering a shaft and hitting draws without much control.

The Synystr is not a shaft that will be overpowered easily and it took a whole lot of effort to hit it left. The stiff handle section along with the x-stiff mid and tip sections offer a ton of stability and control for even the hardest swings. But you don’t have to be afraid of the shaft as you can pretty easily get it squared up and hit some straight, boring, bullets down the fairway.

As much as I talked about the shaft having a stiff profile and anti-left, it still offers a nice, smooth feel. As you get the club to the top you will feel it load, but less than other shafts. As you bring the shaft down through the swing you get a little bit of a kick, but you definitely feel stability keep the shaft with your swing.

At impact, there is a decent kick for such a stout and stable shaft. I mentioned it earlier but the Synystr is easy to hit a straight or slight fade, but doesn’t like to turn over hard and hit it left. The Synystr is also pretty responsive as you will feel the vibration difference between a center strike and a mishit pretty easily. I noticed that my miss, an over-the-top move with a shut face, produced a much straighter ball that didn’t curve. Those misses just started left of target and stayed there.

If you are looking for a lower launching and spinning shaft for your driver that doesn’t sacrifice a smooth feel, then you should look to try out the VA Composites Synystr shaft. I think most stronger, faster players will be impressed with what they can get out of this shaft.

Equipment

BK’s Breakdowns: Cameron Young’s winning WITB, 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Brian Knudson

Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!

Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX

Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X

Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype

Whats in the Bag

Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X

7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

Check out more in-hand photos Malnati’s clubs here.

Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow

Check out more in-hand photos Malnati’s clubs here.

Equipment

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best driver of 2025

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.

Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.

Best driver of 2025: The top 5

5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%

Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.

4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%

Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.

3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%

Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”

@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.

2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%

Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”

@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.

1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%

Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”

@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.

Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote

Driver	Vote percentage (%)
Cobra DS Adapt Max K	4.85%
Ping G430 Max 10K	3.85%
Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond	3.68%
TaylorMade Qi35	3.51%
Callaway Elyte	3.18%
Cobra DS Adapt X	2.34%
Cobra DS Adapt LS	2.17%
TaylorMade Qi35 LS	2.17%