tour ad ub 6 x

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft Review

There’s one day each year that I count down the days in excitement. My birthday? No. Christmas? Nope. It’s the day when Graphite Design releases their new shaft! New for 2022, the Tour AD UB shaft (nicknamed “Up and Beyond” ) will present an option for players looking for a mid launch and low/mid spin rates. They offer up a new twist on their classic paint scheme and the most modern materials and shaft technology.

Bold and blue! The Graphite Design Tour AD UB comes in with a sparkling and vibrant light blue color scheme that fades into a deep silver at the tip. This blue has a metallic shimmer to it and has notes of teal and sky blue depending on what light you’re in. (You can tell I’m a whiskey fan if I’m detecting “notes” in my…golf shaft paint colors too…) It’s a similar look as the nearly all black Tour AD XC from two years ago with a darker paint job, but your eye will catch the more neutral silver color when addressing the ball. While the Tour AD UB may not have the boldness of the bright orange of the hyper popular Tour AD DI , it’s as distinctive as ever.

How Does it Feel?

I’ve been able to hit most of Graphite Design’s shaft lineup, and I’d describe the Tour AD UB as a stout but responsive golf shaft. What I’ve always liked about this brand is that they’ll accurately present what their shafts will feel like (in relation to other Graphite Design shafts) so you can choose what you like best. For example, most will describe the Tour AD BB and the Tour AD XC as feeling softer in the hands and firmer in the tip, or the Tour AD DI feeling all around “smooth”. The Tour AD UB feels as they say it does – medium through the hands and mid section, then a bit stiffer in the tip section . In my testing and on course experience, that describes it well.

I won’t describe this shaft as particularly smooth, and I don’t detect a huge “kick” to it either. It’s a pleasing feeling, kind of a “really hard hit” if that makes sense . It definitely feels a bit more stout and substantial than most Graphite Design shafts I’ve tried. While I’m no bomber, I’ve settled in to 70g X-Flex shafts for most models. The 6X is all I can handle here. For a long time, I’ve been waiting for a profile that can dial me in that last little bit. It’s now highly possible the Tour AD UB can give my gamer some challenges for 2022!

On-Course Performance

For the last 18 months or so, I’ve played 75%+ of my rounds with the Graphite Design Tour AD TP. I love it because it has a fun, smooth kick to it and I can really feel where the clubhead is during the swing. It pairs well with my preferred driver head, and I get reliable contact and distance with it. However, at times it launches a touch high and a sometimes a bit spinny (described as mid/high launch and low spin profile). That’s where the Tour AD UB comes in…

This shaft has seemed to hit the right trajectory windows for me so far. It’s that true mid-flight that I’m looking for, but not a hint of ballooning. Lately I’ve been trying to eliminate the left side of the course, so I attempt a straight ball or a power fade. When I square it up, the Tour AD UB gives me exactly what I want, and it’s deep bombs down the right-center of the fairway. If I leave the club face a bit open, yeah, it’s got a stiffer tip section so it will exaggerate the fade, but that’s on me.

Final Thoughts – Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft

With the Graphite Design Tour AD UB, we have another worthy addition to an already loaded menu of premium golf shafts. This year’s offering fills the need for a mid flight, mid/low spin profile with their usual visually recognizable styling. It may not have the most distinct feel to it, but it’s the golf shots you hit that matter most.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve become a big fan of Graphite Design shafts. Once you become familiar with the brand, you can make those subtle adjustments among shafts, flexes, and weights without significantly changing the feel like you would if you went brand to brand. I bet you if we did a “blind taste test” on the range, I could pick out a Graphite Design! Oh and if we’re doing a taste test, make sure to bring the Lagavulin, the Springbank, and the Bruichladdich too.

Related Posts:

12 Comments

Hi Jon, would you say the AD UB is comparable to the Ventus Blue (if you have tried the Ventus Blue)? I moved from the AD DI 6X to the Ventus Blue 6X this year and was hoping the AD UB would be similar to the Ventus Blue based on the Medium+, Medium+, Stiff+ butt to tip profile. Thanks!

This is actually something I can comment on considering I’ve used the AD DI a lot and the Ventus Blue is in the bag a lot too! All 6X btw. My opinion is that they get firmer and a wee bit harsher as you go along from the AD DI to the Ventus Blue to the AD UB. Performance in all three is great. I typically hit the AD DI longest, but it can get offline. The Ventus Blue is a bit more controllable, and I too am hoping the AD UB can kind of steal away a few more yards but maintain the control. By my “eye test”, all of them seem to launch in about the same window and I don’t have any issues with too much spin on any of them. TL/DR, if you like those two shafts, I think you’ll like the AD UB too. Plus, it looks rad.

I gamed the VENTUS BLUE 6-X all last year in TSI3 9 deg. I was at 65-75′ apex with 155-158 mph ball speed 2200 rpm typically. With the AD-UB-6-X it kicks the ball higher for me, 85-95′, same spin, and tighter dispersion. Loved the VENTUS BLUE but I find the AD-UB-6 more optimized for my game and a slightly higher launch.

Both great shafts and both I’ve a had a lot of time to play with. Your take is pretty similar to mine. Both really good products!

For me Tour AD DI still my best choice since 2014

There’s a reason it’s still winning tournaments on the PGA Tour. It’s legendary.

Great review. When u say not overly smooth, is there any shaft in your mind that is similar in feel?? Cheers

Hard to say, as I’ve not hit EVERYTHING out there. In relation to other Graphite Design shafts, most of them are butter smooth and have a satisfying kick. I don’t often play other brands at this point. I think my comment above was that it’s a “hard hit” feeling.

Hey Jon, your comment comparing and contrasting the AD UB with the Ventus Blue and AD DI was super helpful. I wondered if you might similarly share some thoughts on how the AD UB stacks up against the AD HD?

The two shafts I’ve used the most over the last year have been Ventus Blue and AD HD. I love, I mean LOVE, the feel from the AD HD. I like a mid-soft shaft that kicks, and the AD HD does that for me. Problem is, it sometimes tends to get high and spinny on me. Ventus Blue gets me into a slightly better window, but — and maybe I’m crazy here, but this is how it feels to me — it’s a little soft in the handle and the kickpoint is higher than I’d like, and that can cause some timing issues.

I’ve wondered if the AD UB might give me something similar to the AD HD, just tightening things up a bit. I’m a little concerned about what GD describes as a softer handle in the UB … which has me thinking it might be time to revisit something that’s more stiff-soft-stiff like the RDX Blue. Or the new Ventus TR seems really interesting as well.

Hey thanks! Just so happens that we both have a lot of experience with all those shafts. I really like the AD HD and the Ventus Blue. I’m still trying to figure out the AD UB. They call it Medium+, Medium+, Stiff, but I have found the AD UB to be pretty stout and just… heavy feeling. Hard to describe. My good swings are laserbombs, but I’m trying to figure out how to control it. To my eye, spin is probably the least of all of them with the UB, and the handle feels the stiffest. AD HD feels way softer in the hands IMO. Totally anecdotal, others may have wildly different experiences with it.

I’m going to spend more time with the AD UB this spring, but it’ll take a lot to get me to move away from my current faves, the AD TP or AD VR. I’ll also say that I’m pretty psyched for the updated Ventus TR too…

Hi Jon, greetings from the island of Borneo, Sabah, Malaysia. I have been gaming UB 5s for the past 1 year. Stock shot is high baby fade. Thinking of changing to a less stout shaft that could still generate a lower ball flight and more roll upon landing. Would DI 5s be something worth trying OR would the DI be something too similar to the UB?

Hard to say! That’s a fine tuning that is best left to a professional fitter. In my hands, the UB and the DI feel very different. They’re not too far off in profile, but the DI is way smoother, the UB more stout the whole way.

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Updated: June 8, 2022

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft Review

Will this upgrade go up and beyond your current gamer.

Tyler Fitzel Professional club fitter and author at Independent Golf Reviews

I used the Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft for 8 rounds of golf in AZ this winter. I’ve also been able to hit it indoors on the work simulators .

This is the definitive Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft Review for 2022.

New in 22’ Graphite Design is ready to take your golf game Up and Beyond with the latest addition to the Tour AD line-up, the UB. Well known for high performance and premium golf shafts, the engineers at Graphite Design are continuously seeking to produce the optimal shaft for your game. With 5 weight options and 6 flex designations, the Tour AD UB will have a shaft to go Up and Beyond your current gamer.

Looks- Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the new Tour AD UB has a very eye appealing color pop. The distinctive bands of a Graphite Design Tour AD shaft are black and silver set in a metallic blue which fades to all silver near the tip of the shaft. The silver color on the bottom of the shaft makes any driver head color blend nicely with the numerous color schemes we see in the game.

Feel- The new Tour AD UB has the feel you have come to love from a Tour AD shaft. Feel is always subject to the person making the comments, but this shaft is yet again an instant winner for the response it has when loading and unloading during the swing. The profile is described as Medium+ Butt Section – Medium+ Mid Section and Stiff+ Tip Section. I like how all the shafts for Graphite Design can be compared by Stiffness using the 3 zones of the shaft. Before you even try the shaft you can identify the key elements you need for the best fit. The Tour AD UB has a slightly more stable feel at impact for me than the Tour AD HD did. It was like I could feel more of the contact when the club face met the ball.

Performance- I was able to compare the last three Tour AD shaft models side by side and it helps to understand the performance differences I’ve been seeing over a three year period of time. The new Tour AD UB has been the best fit for my game for several reasons. First, I feel a more solid contact in the clubface with the ball. The added ball speed helps to create more distance without having to swing off-balanced. Second, my optimal launch and spin numbers for an attack angle up 4* is 15.0-16.0 degrees and 2300 rpm. Generally speaking of course, these averages should yield a 250-275 yard drive. Third, I have found more fairways at a greater distance. It goes without saying Accuracy and Distance is the ultimate combination. Tracking my stats over the past 3 years, my average number of fairways hit has increased from 44% to 55%.

Technology- The new Graphite Design Tour AD UB utilizes the same TORAYCA ® T1100G carbon-fiber pre-preg with NANOALLOY ® technology as the past few Tour AD shafts. This provides the tip section of the shaft with additional shaft stability, exceptional feel and precise ball control. 

The Tour AD UB also utilizes TORAYCA ® M40X carbon-fiber pre-preg in the Mid to Tip section of the shaft as did the HD and XC models before it. This strength in transition from Mid to Tip helps create a Mid Launch and Low/Mid Spin characteristics, as well as give the shaft rotational stability for added consistency in shot dispersion. 

Along with TORAYCA ® and NANOALLOY ® is Graphite Design’s proprietary M aterial S tiffness I ntegration ( MSI ) design philosophy and technology. The way each layer of material is used helps create the unmistakable feel and performance in all Graphite Design shafts. This attention to detail in production is what makes Graphite Design one of the industry leaders.

For decades Graphite Design has released an award worthy shaft and 2022 is no exception. The 2022 Tour AD UB shaft is a Mid Launch with Low/Mid Spin and is a great fit for someone needing a penetrating ball flight with a slightly higher spin rate. Many factors go into finding the optimal shaft for your swing, find an Authorized Dealer to help you get the right Tour AD shaft in your club.

With 33 years of Tour proven A ccuracy & D istance… Maybe it’s time for you to experience the difference a premium, Graphite Design shaft can make!

ℹ️  About: Well known for high performance and premium golf shafts, the engineers at Graphite Design are continuously seeking to produce the optimal shaft for your game. The Tour AD UB will have a shaft to go Up and Beyond your current gamer.

✅  Pros: Amazing Feel, Excellent Launch, Longer, Wider audience, Looks great

⛔  Cons: $500

⛳  Verdict: If you want to uprade your stock shaft, Graphite Design is one of the best options,and the UB is Up and Beyond.

🏌️‍♂️ Subscribe to Independent Golf Reviews 👇

Get Golf Discounts & Giveaways from the top brands and stores in golf. Sign up below to be automatically entered in this months giveaway.

You are now an official member of IGR. Keep an eye out for the perks.

No spam, ever. 🔒

You are now an official member of IGR. Keep an eye out for the perks.

About Us   Submit Your Product Contact

Full Disclosure Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions

© 2024 Independent Golf Reviews

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Graphite Wood Shafts

Shaft services optional, description.

Introducing Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft, Optimized for head performance with large and high moment of inertia.

The "TOUR AD UB" series is a shaft that directly transmits power to the ball by further utilizing the head performance of the current large size and high moment of inertia. High-strength, high-elasticity carbon fiber "Trading Card ® M40X" is used for the tip to the middle part, and "Trading Card T1100G" is used for the tip part to increase the rigidity of the tip to the middle part, thereby suppressing unnecessary movement of the head and making it stronger. Achieves a hitting impact.

The Tour AD UB features a strong impact with no energy loss that suppresses twisting of the shaft due to high rigidity and a shaft behavior that makes it easy to take timing due to the slow taper design. Trading Card® T1100G Achieves both high strength and high elastic modulus by firing technology that precisely controls the fiber structure at the nano level. Trading Card M40X Effectively demonstrates the performance of the new grade M40X of Toray's carbon fiber Trading Card MX series. Therefore, Toray specially designed the prepreg for graphite design.

Trimming Instructions

Related Products

Graphite Design Tour AD IZ Graphite Wood Shafts

Graphite Design Tour AD CQ Graphite Wood Shafts

Graphite Design Tour AD VF Graphite Wood Shafts

Graphite Design Tour AD HD Graphite Wood Shafts

This product can expose you to chemicals including black (airborne, unbound particles of respirable size), which is know to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov .

Shaft Services

Important Note: Please provide Current contact information. Customer service may require further information before proceeding with your order.

PUREing - $25.00

SST PURE identifies asymmetries that exist in every golf shaft and locates each shaft's most stable orientation. This results in more consistent performance and uniform feel from club to club.

Tip Prepping - $2.95

Shafts are tip trimmed (if required) to manufacturer’s recommendations. For steel shafts, we abrade the tips. For graphite shafts, we remove the polyurethane coating. When you receive your shaft, all you need to do is mix epoxy, install and align. After the epoxy is cured, cut to your final playing length from the butt end and install the grip.

Tip & Butt Trimming - $4.95

Shafts are tip trimmed (if required) to manufacturer’s recommendations. For steel shafts, we abrade the tips. For graphite shafts, we remove the polyurethane coating. After tip trimming and prepping, the shafts are butt trimmed to the desired final playing length*.

Club Playing Length

Our playing length chart is available here .

* The exact model, club head number, and desired final playing length is required for butt trimming to be possible.

* The club number and or loft is require for tip prepping on most parallel (.335" and .370") golf shafts.

• £ 0.00 0

All orders professionally tipped and gripped!

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Shaft 2022'

£ 294.00

Free UK Shipping

• Order yours before 2.30pm for next day dispatch.
• Please add any additional information in box on next page.

• Description

Additional information

Graphite design tour ad ub.

Brand new for 2022, Graphite Design introduces the latest in the Tour AD premium line  of golf shafts, the Graphite Design  Tour AD UB –  Up  and  B eyond . Designed and  manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the new  Tour AD UB  wood shafts are metallic blue with a silver spray faded tip and black accents and finished  with a gloss clear coat.

The  Tour AD UB , like the other high performance Tour AD wood shafts, utilizes premium,  aerospace quality carbon-fiber materials and are available in 40g R2, R1 and S flex, 50g  R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S, X and TX flex, 70g S, X and TX flex and 80g S and X flex.

The  Tour AD UB  shaft profile is medium+ in the butt section, medium+ in the center section  and has a stiff+ tip to promote a mid-launch angle and low/mid ball spin rates. The  Tour  AD UB  shafts utilizes the modern  TORAYCA ®   M40X  carbon-fiber material in the mid to tip  section of the shaft and the ultra-high modulus  TORAYCA ®   T1100G  carbon-fiber material  in the tip section of the shaft for unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the  loss of the exceptional feel that Graphite Design shafts are so well known for.

Related products

Graphite Design

On all orders

Custom built shafts

Full manufacturer's warranty

PayPal / MasterCard / Visa

For Custom Golf Club Makers

• Steelfiber Putter
• Ascent Ultralight
• SYNERGY Blue
• AutoFlex Driver
• AutoFlex Fairway
• AutoFlex Hybrid
• AutoFlex Iron
• BGT Fairway
• Tour AD M 9003
• Tour AD F-Series FWY
• Tour AD Hybrid
• Tour AD Driving Iron
• Kai’li
• C6 Blue Series
• C6 Red Series
• C6 Black Series
• MMT Scoring Wedge
• Tour Catalog
• ATTAS Speed
• Helium Nanocore
• Regio Formula
• Modus Series
• ZELOS Series
• N.S.PRO Series
• N.S. Putter
• PX Original
• DG Tour Issue
• Dynamic Gold
• Sticky Black Army
• Sticky Jumbo
• IOMIC Ladies
• IOMIC Junior
• IOMIC Putter
• QUAD Tour Prototype
• Loft & Lie Machines
• Measuring Devices
• Shaft Pullers
• Bending Bars
• Equipment Stands
• Replacement Belts
• Workshop Accessories
• Ferrules OEM
• Grip Tape Activator
• Tip Weights

Tour AD UB 6 Series

$379.00

Brand new for 2022, Graphite Design introduces the latest in the Tour AD premium line of golf shafts, the Graphite Design Tour AD UB – U p and B eyond. Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the new Tour AD  UB wood shafts are metallic blue with a silver spray faded tip and black accents and finished with a floss clear coat.

• Description
• Additional information
• Reviews (0)

There are no reviews yet.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

G-Series 70 Wood S Flex

Tour ad di 8 black, tour ad dj 6 series r flex-special order, g-series 60 wood.

Tournament Ready DRIVER / FAIRWAY Shafts with Adapter Tip + Grip are here! > Shop now

• United States (USD $)

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Graphite Shaft

✓ Free Shipping with $99+ US Orders*

Graphite Design Tour AD UB Graphite Shaft - 4 Series / R2 flex (Adult/Senior) is available as a Pre-Order item and usually ships within 3-5 business days.

Free Shipping with $99+ US Orders*

Orders with US delivery addresses over $99 USD (subtotal) ship for free (excluding shaft orders to Hawaii and Alaska). We also have reasonable flat rate shipping options for order under $99, as well as international deliveries. See our full shipping policy/rates

BTW, our team works fast to ship and get your order delivered as quickly as possible. All in-stock order ship the same day when placed by 5pm ET (2pm PT). For items not in stock, or available as pre-order, please allow ~3-5 business days to process before shipping.

60 Day Easy Returns

Change your mind? No problem. Our hassle-free returns portal lets you request a return and keep track of your refunds. See our return policy here .

100% Authenticity Guaranteed

Grips4less only sells 100% authentic products. We purchase direct from top manufacturers and ship all orders from our warehouse. We've been working with all the top brands in golf for over 3 decades, which means if there are any issues you encounter with your purchase, we are here to resolve them as quickly as possible (so you can get you back on the course!). Your satisfaction is our #1 priority!

Ask Us Anything!

We've been in the golf business for over 3 decades, and we know a lot about golf equipment. If you've got questions, we've got answers (and in the rare case we don't, we will find you someone who does). Send us a text message or e-mail !

Questions & Answers

Have a question.

Be the first to ask a question about this.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Performance graphite shaft made in Japan
• Launch trajectory range: Mid
• Spin range: Low-mid
• Stiff mid section with firm tip
• Speed recommendation: 71-105+ mph  

SPECIFICATION

FULL DESCRIPTION

Brand new for 2022, Graphite Design introduces the latest in the Tour AD premium line of golf shafts, the Graphite Design Tour AD UB – Up and Beyond. Designed and manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters, the new Tour AD UB graphite shafts are metallic blue with a silver spray faded tip and black accents and finished with a gloss clear coat. The Tour AD UB, like the other high performance Tour AD graphite shafts, utilizes premium, aerospace quality carbon-fiber materials and are available in 40g R2, R1 and S flex, 50g R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S, X and TX flex, 70g S, X and TX flex and 80g S and X flex.

The Tour AD UB shaft profile is medium+ in the butt section, medium+ in the center section and has a stiff+ tip to promote a mid-launch angle and low/mid ball spin rates. The Tour AD UB shafts utilizes the modern TORAYCA® M40X carbon-fiber material in the mid to tip section of the shaft and the ultra-high modulus TORAYCA® T1100G carbon-fiber material in the tip section of the shaft for unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the loss of the exceptional feel that Graphite Design shafts are so well known for. 

Tour AD UB graphite shafts with TORAYCA® M40X and T1100G material technologies can result in your golf game moving Up and Beyond all of your expectations.

Customer Reviews

Your cart is empty

Subtotal: $0.00 USD

• 4 Series / R2 flex (Adult/Senior)
• 4 Series / R1 flex (Regular)
• 4 Series / S-flex (Stiff)
• 5 Series / R2 flex (Adult/Senior)
• 5 Series / R1 flex (Regular)
• 5 Series / S-flex (Stiff)
• 5 Series / X-flex (X-Stiff)
• 6 Series / SR flex (Stiff/Regular)
• 6 Series / S-flex (Stiff)
• 6 Series / X-flex (X-Stiff)
• 6 Series / TX-flex (Tour X-Stiff)
• 7 Series / S-flex (Stiff)
• 7 Series / X-flex (X-Stiff)
• 7 Series / TX-flex (Tour X-Stiff)
• 8 Series / S-flex (Stiff)
• 8 Series / X-flex (X-Stiff)

Visit our support center

Expert help & advice

Check your order status

Updates & tracking

Return Policy

All you need to know

Meet the Team

Some of us may have paws

Choose options

An up-close look at John Daly’s incredible 2023 equipment setup

Change Text Size

John Daly’s new clubs are nearly as singular as the player using them.

GolfWRX.com got an up-close look at Daly’s unique set this week at the PGA TOUR Champions’ Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. This is the inaugural PGA TOUR Champions’ event at the course that was the longtime venue for the LPGA’s opening major each year.

Daly has made significant equipment changes this year, but his new golf clubs are still caked in lead tape, still feature the oversized grips and his entire setup is still uniquely configured for his specific needs.

Daly now uses three hybrids instead of two, and he has just four irons in the bag (6-, 7-, 8- and 9-irons). He’s also switched into a new driver and 3-wood, he’s changed iron models, he’s reconfigured his wedge setup, and he changed into a new custom putter.

Check out Daly’s new full club specifications below.

Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees)

Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 6 X

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)

Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD UB8 X

Hybrids: Ping G430 (17, 22 and 26 degrees

Irons: Ping Blueprint Forged (6-9 iron)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (46-10F @44 degrees, 50 @49 degrees, 54 degrees and 60 @59 degrees)

Putter: Odyssey Toulon Design Austin (with a custom milled face)

Grip: SuperStroke Tour 2.0

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

• Shafts & Components

Graphite Design Tour Ad Ub-6 X 60g X-STIFF 44.5" Driver Shaft Titleist 1119994

Product Details

• Warranty Info
• Description
• Related Products

Graphite Design Tour Ad Ub-6 60G X-STIFF 44.25" Driver Shaft Titleist 994313

Graphite Design Tour Ad Iz-6 X 60g X-STIFF 44.5" Driver Shaft Titleist 1129845

Graphite Design Tour Ad Xc-6 60G Stiff 44.5" Driver Shaft Titleist 1028713

Graphite Design Tour Ad Cq-6 X 60g X-STIFF 45" Driver Shaft Titleist 1132574

Get plugged in…

Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review

More in reviews:.

50 Words or Less

The Graphite Design Tour AD HD shaft has a smooth feel with a pleasant kick in the mid/tip.  Boring flight with mid launch.

Introduction

As the husband of a school psychologist, the name “Tour AD HD” gives me a laugh every time that I see it.  But in the case of the latest from Graphite Design, the HD stands for Hyper Drive.  With sci-fi images of light speed drives dancing through my head, I took this new offering to the range to see what it could do.

Check out the new Graphite Design Tour AD UB HERE

When I first got the info on the Tour AD HD, I thought, “We’re going to have a problem.”  I am a proud Duke grad, and I do not do light blue.  Thankfully, despite what it looks like in the photos, the Tour AD HD is not powder puff blue, it’s a few shades darker with a pronounced sparkle to it .

The graphics on the Tour AD HD are classic Graphite Design.  There’s modest branding near the grip with wraparound rings of black and blue.  There’s a small “Accuracy and Distance” logo at the tip, but otherwise the shaft is totally distraction-free near the ball.

Graphite Design has been a trend setter in sharing exactly how each of their shafts bends.  They break each model down into “Butt,” “Mid,” and “Tip” and give it a rating from Very Stiff to Soft.  In the past, my sense of each shaft has aligned with this chart, but the Tour AD HD has proven to be a small exception.

Per Graphite Design, the Tour AD HD is, from butt to tip, Firm, Firm, Firm+ (Firm is in the middle of the Graphite Design spectrum).   This indicates that the shaft is stiffest in the tip section.  While I would agree that the shaft has a medium-stiffness overall, I sensed the most kick in the mid/tip .  This is a good example of how feel is subjective and that players will feel differently about a shaft based on their swing.

Performance

Graphite Design bills the Tour AD HD as being “Mid Launch, Mid/Low Spin” which matches the results I saw on both the launch monitor and on the course.  The ball came off the face in my normal window with an extremely strong flight .  Given the kick that I felt, I was expecting slightly higher spin, but every drive bored through the wind unaffected.

Something I enjoyed about hitting the Tour AD HD was the way it responded to more aggressive swings.  When I made an easy swing, the shaft gave a light kick and sent the ball straight down the middle.  If I gave 110%, the shaft kicked harder and produced a tight draw .  I never felt like I was overpowering the shaft, rather I had the ability to hit two different shots just by changing my effort.

One of the big advancements in premium shafts over the last few years is the way softer profiles can handle mishits.  Thanks to advanced materials like Graphite Design’s TORAYCA carbon fiber, shafts can have a smooth feel and also keep poor strikes on line.  I was very impressed by how the Tour AD HD produced respectable results from poor swings .  It took a truly awful effort to produce big slices or hooks.

The Graphite Design Tour AD HD is available in weights ranging from 40 to 80 grams .  At 40 grams, R2, R1, and Stiff are the available flexes.  Everything from R2 to X is offered at 50 grams.  In the 60 gram range, Graphite Design offers the Stiff/Regular, Stiff, X, and Tour X.  The 70 gram family has S, X, and TX.  Finally, the heaviest versions, 80 grams, are available in only stiff and X.

Every year, Graphite Design finds a way to add a new, interesting profile to one of the largest, most complete shaft families in golf.  The Tour AD HD blends a smooth feel with low spin and impressive stability in a way that will win over plenty of players.

Visit Graphite Design HERE

Recent posts.

• PING Blueprint S Irons Review - April 2, 2024
• TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood Review - April 1, 2024
• Kemimoto Midnight Soundbar Review - March 29, 2024

23 Comments

I play a mid 70 gram x stiff shaft, which works well enough but might be a tad heavy as I haven’t been to the gym since the Corona regulations made it unenjoyable. How would you compare a 60 gram tx to a mid 70 gram x stiff. I’m just looking for a generalized opinion. I’m not going to go pay 100 bucks to get fit again when that’s probably what I would spend on a shaft on ebay. Current shaft is atmos 7x tour spec, looking for something similar in specs to Tiger’s 60tx. Thanks

As a veteran commenter, I think you know what I’m going to say here. It depends on the individual. It should reduce fatigue across the board, but whether that leads to more draw, more fade, or more speed just depends on the player.

This thing sounds nice….

I would love to see how you felt it compared to the Ventus Blue or Black. let me know your thoughts.

I have full reviews of the Black and Blue here: https://pluggedingolf.com/fujikura-ventus-black-shaft-review/

https://pluggedingolf.com/fujikura-ventus-shaft-review/

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t this profile very similar to the XC? If so, can you say which you prefer?

No, I would not agree that the XC is very similar to the HD. I have a full review of the XC here: https://pluggedingolf.com/graphite-design-tour-ad-xc-shaft-review/

Hi Matt Looks like the closest Graphite Design in terms of specs is the TourAD TP Did you get the chance to compare both shafts? Thanks

Yes, I have a full review of the AD TP here: https://pluggedingolf.com/graphite-designs-tour-ad-tp-shaft-review/

i am using tourad Di .what the difference compare to HD

I have a full review of the AD DI here: https://pluggedingolf.com/graphite-designs-tour-ad-di-shaft-review/

Great review Matt, thanks for the insight! Question for you – my typical launch stats mirror those in the above launch monitor data (rarely above 105 swing speed), with exception that my steep swing produces heinous spins that you’d want in a 6I, resulting in my total distance getting killed. I’m in the 50+ club, with shoulder issues, so focus is on playing for many years to come and trading more flexibility for strength. Working with my pro on the swing to change attack angle in my swing, but would like to invest in a GD Tour shaft – how might the AD-HD-6 stack up to either the AD-IZ-6 or AD-VR-6 if I’m trying to improve my launch angle while trying to keep spins rates down? thanks

Unfortunately there’s no way for me to give you a reliable answer to that without having you try them. I could tell you which has the stiffest tip, which in theory would knock spin off, but that shaft might not work for you at all.

My advice would be to get into a place where you’re happy with your swing, then get a fitting where you try everything. Graphite Design is great, but there’s no reason to limit your choices.

Matt, did you have any issues with swing weight with your Ping head or did you like the balance point ?

I didn’t have any particular issues with it.

I’m curious why you swing speed fluctuates so much with certain shafts? I noticed the Tensei 1K White, Diamana TB, etc. your swing speed is up to 109 MPH, but many others you’re at 105 MPH. Are you switching between 6X and 7X shafts for different shaft testing?

Did you look at the dates on the reviews? Plugged In Golf is closing in on eight years of reviews. Over that time, my speed has been up and down due to injuries, training cycles, seasonality, and, in small part, the equipment being tested.

What GD AD shaft would be close to the YS6+ stiff shaft (med, med, med/soft profile). Was looking at AD DI (but tip is stiff) or AD HD (similar but overall a bit firmer). Any ideas? thanks

Graphite Design breaks down all their Tour AD shafts in a chart on their site, which is linked in the review above.

I had a chance to take about 50 swings with the AD HD tonight in an Epic Max LS 9 degree head, and really loved it. Really smooth, nice kick, stable, and the launch was consistently right around what I’m looking for. I would say I felt the kick more in the mid, not the tip, but Matt, as you point out, different swings mean we experience shafts’ characteristics differently, and it was smooth overall. It might have just been a good night, but I felt like I could really go after it with the HD and my swing speed was up about 3 mph from my normal 101-102ish. I’m planning to do a driver and fairway wood fitting this winter, but I expect the AD HD to be in the mix for my driver (and the Diamana BF or TB to be a top contender for my fairway wood).

Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft Review – Plugged In Golf

I’m really impressed with the Graphite Design Tour AD HD Shaft. It’s a great shaft for those who are looking for a high performance shaft.

Do you have any recommendations for similar profile mid launch/low spin wood shafts? Ventus blue perhaps?

Appreciate your time. Thanks!

My best advice is to get fit. I don’t know anything about your swing, your game, or why you’re looking for an alternative to the AD HD, so I can’t make an educated suggestion.

Leave a Comment Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Address

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• PING Blueprint S Irons Review
• Golf News – April 1, 2024
• TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood Review
• The 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Recap
• Kemimoto Midnight Soundbar Review

Contact Us Advertise Subscribe

Advertise on this site.

Plugged In Golf

Do You Like Free Golf Gear?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and not only will you get the latest reviews, instruction, and more delivered directly to your inbox, you’ll also be entered into regular giveaways for golf clubs and more.

Tour AD UB Woods