Best Driver Shafts 2024
- Updated: November 15, 2024
Founder and Lead Reviewer at Independent Golf Reviews
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Hitting a bomb of a drive right in the middle of the fairway makes you feel like a player, helps your scores drop instantly, and eliminates a lot of the frustration tons of golfers experience every round.
Sometimes, your swing mechanics and tireless efforts pounding drives on the range aren’t at all to blame; instead, a better driver shaft for your swing can immediately improve your results.
Whether you’re trying to straighten that pesky slice or optimize your ball flight for a little more distance, our list of the best driver shafts of 2024 will help every style of swing hit better drives for more enjoyment out of your time on the course.
The Best Driver Shafts in 2024:
1. Fujikura Ventus TR Black (Best Overall)
2. BGT Brava (Best for Swing Speed 80-95)
3. Project X Denali Red (Best for Seniors)
4. Free Flex (Best for Distance)
5. TPT Nitro Range (Best for Slice)
6. Graphite Design AD VF (Best Low Spin)
7. Graphite Design TOUR AD DI (Best High Launch)
8. Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Pro Orange (Best Mid Launch)
Our Top Tested Picks
 1. Best Overall | Fujikura Ventus TR Black
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 2. Swing Speed 80-95 | BGT Brava
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 3. Best for Seniors | Project X Denali Red
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In More Depth: Best Driver Shafts
Best Overall
Fujikura Ventus TR Black
Pros
- Better materials and tech in a beloved driver shaft
- Fantastic control for aggressive/fast transition swings
- PGA TOUR Player-Backed and 7 Flex/Weight profiles to choose from
Cons
- Price
Bottom Line
- Fujikura knocked it out of the park with their new Ventus TR Black. VeloCore+ ensures a more stable clubhead through impact, creating much greater accuracy for fast-tempo/swing-speed golfers.
After the Ventus Blue’s testing experience shook us to the point of naming it our “Shaft of the Year,” it should come as no surprise that the all-new Fujikura Ventus TR Black slots in as our new top dog.
Shaking up the design of the truly iconic original Ventus could’ve been met with pushback, but the Ventus Black featuring new VELOCORE+ has only improved an already great line of shafts.
VELOCORE+ relates to Fujikura’s use of more premium materials in their revamped shaft construction method, which they prove tightens dispersion, increases stability/control, and maintains the excellent feel the Ventus line is known for.
The Ventus TR Black is the stiffest Fujikura shaft ever, featuring an extra stiff tip and butt section to increase ball speed and accuracy for Tour-speed, aggressive swingers.
The color system of the Fujikura Ventus TR line-up now reads:
Ventus TR Red – Mid-High Launch and Mid-Low Spin / Controlled Swings
Ventus TR Blue – Mid-Launch and Low Spin / Large Player Profile & More Aggressive Swings
Ventus TR Black – Low-Launch and Low Spin / Aggressive Quick Tempo Swings
Swing Speed 80-95
BGT Brava
Pros
- Lightweight tech-focused shaft provides ample distance and accuracy improvements
- Easy to fit - Simply plug in swing speed
- Shafts for Driver & all Fairway Woods available
- Greater accuracy and length compared to premium competitors
Cons
- Price
Bottom Line
- Slower to moderate swing speed golfers have a premium option that'll help you exceed your own driver expectations. Their tech-focused design incorporates lightweight materials for more natural speed, length, and no accuracy compromises.
Prepare to surpass your own off-the-tee expectations with the help of the lightweight Breakthrough Golf Technology Brava driver shaft.
BGT’s Brava shaft is built using Toray carbon fiber, which is 10 times stronger than steel at a fraction of its weight. This directly translates to less energy required from players while swinging without compromising on the stiffness needed for accuracy.
In our testing, Brava gave us a jaw-dropping accuracy increase and 15 more yards of distance head-to-head against the popular Tensei Blue.
Interestingly, the Brava shaft launches higher the slower a player’s natural swing speed to maintain distance on mishits, making it a fantastic choice for a wide range of players seeking forgiveness and length.
Unlike some shaft manufacturers, Breakthrough Golf Technology organizes its Brava shaft flex options in pure clubhead speed categories to make buying a breeze.
A-flex – 75 mph / 46 g
R-flex – 85 mph / 50 g
S-flex – 95 mph / 54 g
X-flex – 105 mph / 58 g
- Read our on-course review of the BGT Brava Driver Shaft
Best for Seniors
Project X Denali Red
Pros
- Shaft designed to optimize length for slower to moderate swing speed golfers
- Perfect choice for smooth tempo swingers
- It is reasonably affordable for a premium driver shaft
Cons
- Bad pick for naturally high spin/high launch drivers
Bottom Line
- With the Project X Denali Red, smoother-tempo/slower-swinging golfers can maximize their off-the-tee height and spin for maximized distance potential. We were blown away by the amount of research that went into the Denali's design, and we think it's the best option available for Seniors.
Where do Senior golfers suffer the most with their off-the-tee performance? Generating height and spin to create optimized distance for their swing speeds.
The Project X Denali Red driver shaft was designed after 18 months of blind testing between Tour feedback and True Temper’s R&D team to find a shaft truly optimized for moderate-speed players.
The results are a stable butt section for more confidence in the hands and a slightly less stiff midsection for a smooth energy transfer and an excellent blend of feel and stability.
Our favorite feature, besides the immediate launch angle increase we saw in testing, was the high spin we generated from solid contact. This combination created a massive distance gain for our moderate swing speed testers and is a true “dream shaft” for seniors.
True Temper recommends the Denali Red for Slower to moderate-tempo swingers, yet they do offer a Blue or Black model for faster players.
Best for Distance
FreeFlex
Pros
- Extremely lightweight yet stable design helps golfers maximize length and accuracy
- Increases swing speed and length instantaneously
- Easy-to-follow free FreeFlex Shaft Selector Tool available
Cons
- Can influence your results with normal driver shafts
Bottom Line
- Golfers searching for immediate distance and swing speed gains have found their perfect match in FreeFlex shafts. These shafts combine ultra-lightweight materials with high stiffness ratings for an optimized blend of powerful and accurate drives.
FreeFlex uses an innovative manufacturing style to combine the speed-enhancing qualities of a highly flexible shaft with the directional control of a firmer shaft in one ultra-premium package.
What do golfers receive from a more flexible shaft? More speed. What comes with more speed and more flexibility? A loss in accuracy.
FreeFlex utilizes a breakthrough style of driver shaft manufacturing that lets them cut the weight of a shaft in half while maintaining or even stiffening the shaft’s flex. This creates tighter downrange accuracy and more speed simultaneously.
While it took us a few swings to overcome the extraordinary flex level, we gained swing speed, tremendous length, and accuracy once we were able to ‘swing for the fences’ with a little more confidence.
The FreeFlex felt unbelievably good through impact, combined high launch with low spin for insane bombs off the tee, and looks so cool you won’t want to put it back in your bag.
If you want to learn how cutting-edge driver shaft technology can improve your game, the FreeFlex is your choice.
- Easy-to-follow free FreeFlex Shaft Selector Tool available
Check out our hands-on review of the FreeFlex driver shaft here.
Best for Slice
TPT Nitro Range
Pros
- Designed to create consistency for aggressive swingers
- Patented design lets golfers use more flex with greater accuracy
- 3 mph more swing speed guaranteed through lightweight design
Cons
- The most premium price on our list
Bottom Line
- The TPT Nitro Range shaft combines lightweight construction styles with a lower torque rating for simultaneous increases in accuracy and speed. TPT's state-of-the-art manufacturing processes give aggressive swingers precision and more yardage in one.
Where are fast and aggressive golf swings least rewarded? – Creating accurate and consistently reliable driving results.
The TPT Nitro Range shaft was specifically designed with the help of Long Drive champions to create more consistency, stability, accuracy, and swing speed for powerful golfers.
The Nitro shaft utilizes a patented ‘Fiber Placement Process’ that ensures greater lightness and lowered torque for increased power and a precise feeling through contact.
Combine an 11% weight reduction with 9% less torque, and you get the Nitro shaft, which guarantees 3 mph of swing speed for 9 more yards with a low launch angle that helps you find more fairways.
We personally tested the TPT Nitro Range with the TaylorMade Qi10 and found our ‘harder’ swings were surprisingly rewarded with straighter, longer drives.
Best Low Spin
Graphite Design AD VF
Pros
- Low Launch Low Spin shaft feels and performs incredibly well
- Our testing resulted in more length, accuracy, and rollout
- The AD VF isn't as costly as other premium driver shafts
Cons
- Smoother tempo swingers might not benefit from low launch and spin
Bottom Line
- The Graphite Design AD VF is the stiffest, lowest-spin driver shaft Graphite Design offers. Low launch and spin combine for greater accuracy without sacrificing an ounce of feel through impact.
I don’t think there’s a worse feeling than nuking a drive for it to have too much spin and go careening off your intended target line. The Graphite Design AD VF was specifically engineered to dramatically lower launch and spin for instantly easier fairways and approach shots.
Right off the bat, the AD VF is a looker of a shaft.
The sharp and clean aesthetic of its Red and Black stripes was enough to catch the eye of a special golfer known for those two colors: Tiger Woods. If the GOAT can trust the AD VF, we have a feeling you can, too.
The AD VF breaks down into three “stiffness zones:” Firm+ butt section, Stiff midsection, and Very Stiff tip section.
In our testing, these three varying stiffness zones create a stout and crisp feel that repeatedly launches drives low with incredibly low spin. These results are good enough that our tester and Club Fitting Expert Tyler Fitzel is strongly considering keeping it in his bag for the foreseeable future.
If the stiffest shaft Graphite Design has ever made doesn’t fit your swing, they offer 5 weight options and 6 flex designations so you can find your perfect low-spin shaft fit.
Read our hands-on review of the Graphite Design AD VF here!
Best High Launch
Graphite Design Tour AD DI
Pros
- Tour AD DI effortlessly raises launch and maintains low spin for ample distance
- Graphite Design shaft feels exceptional through impact and is fairly affordable
- Improves ball flight height, distance, and accuracy immediately
Cons
- Naturally high launch golfers will not fit this shaft
Bottom Line
- The Graphite Design Tour AD DI is a fantastic driver shaft for golfers seeking more height and length to their drives without changing a single aspect of their golf swings. The Tour AD DI is offered in 15 weight and flex options to fit nearly every style of golfer needing it.
If you’re making consistent contact but the ball just won’t climb to the beautiful ball flight of your dreams, it might be time for a high launch driver shaft like the Graphite Design DI.
The Graphite Design Tour AD DI was created using a mid-flex butt and midsection and an extra firm tip section to give players greater power and stability through impact simultaneously. These factors combine for quick, explosive launch and straighter ball flights to go with it.
During testing, we appreciated the AD DI’s ability to raise our apex height without increasing spin. This characteristic kept our longer drives straighter without harming our fairway percentage/chance at birdie.
That extra firm tip is the first Graphite Design shaft to utilize NANOALLOY material. This unique material technology promotes additional stability, greater swing speed, and exceptional feel and control.
While some found it a little money-hungry, we appreciate the fact the Tour AD DI is available in fifteen (15!!) various weight and stiffness ratings so every golfer can find one to match their move.
- Read our hands-on review of the Graphite Design AD DI here!
Best Mid Launch
Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Pro Orange
Pros
- A counterbalanced shaft feels great, is easier to square at contact, and creates very little spin
- Shaft improved our confidence and feel through a controlled launch
- Mitsubishi shafts have won a metric **** ton of tournaments
Cons
- Fairly premium price point
Bottom Line
- If you are a golfer who enjoys the feel of counterbalanced driver shafts and needs a little spin control/reduction, look no further than the Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Pro Orange. It treated us well for a full season, and we think you'll enjoy it too!
Move over Red, Blue, and White TENSEI shafts and make room for the TENSEI 1K Pro Orange, the best low launch driver shaft on the market.
I played a full season with it, and I’m here to confirm that if you enjoy the feel and performance of counterbalanced driver shafts, you will adore the new 1K Pro.
Counterbalancing a driver shaft means the manufacturers add additional weight to the butt end of the club (where your grip is). This process helps players square the club at impact more consistently while creating more club head speed through less weighting in the tip end of the shaft.
My numbers jumped up 3 yards of carry distance but never rose above 2500 RPMs of spin (even on poor strikes) thanks to the controlled launch the TENSEI gave me. I noticed an immediate “centering” of my driver shot pattern that gave me a massive boost in confidence.
The Mitsubishi TENSEI Orange has an extra firm midsection, which gave us the feeling of “I know where the clubhead/face is, ” improving our on-course self-talk and belief.
Mitsubishi believes in its driver shafts so much that it has a live, rolling “Tournament Win Tracker” at the top of its website. The current count is 643 worldwide professional wins.
What To Consider When Buying
Driver shafts are available in literally endless combinations of weight, flexes, and lengths, making them a somewhat scary part of the golf equipment world to enter.
This leads to many players needing help or never finding an optimal shaft for their swings.
We’re here to tell you that buying a new driver shaft doesn’t have to be a hellish journey. We’ve developed a guide to walk you through every aspect of the driver shaft buying decision we personally make when changing our golf bags.
Choosing Your Best Driver Shaft:
The perfect shaft for your driver is one that provides some “damage control” to your common mishits while also accentuating your natural driving abilities.
Finding the best shaft for your game begins by asking yourself the following questions:
- Is your most common miss Fade-bias (left-to-right for Right-handed golfers) or a Draw-bias (right-to-left for Righties)?
- Is your most common miss with a driver too low or too high in ball flight?
- Are you finding fairways without enough length or bombing it but with limited accuracy?
The answers to these questions are fantastic starting points for finding your next driver shaft and help you determine if your shaft is optimal for your naturally generated swing speed and spin levels.
Driver Shaft Spin & Launch Quickly Explained:
All driver shafts generally display their spin and launch categories as Low, Medium, or High.
In our experience, Low Launch/Low Spin shafts are the most beneficial to those with fast swing speeds (>105 MPH). Golfers with ample speed often experience too much spin, causing their yards-offline number to skyrocket with their natural speed/length.
High Launch/High Spin shafts are generally the most helpful to slower or moderate swing speed golfers (<= low 90s MPH) by generating more natural carry distance.
These specific shaft designs can optimize performance for players on either end of the spectrum.
If you’re somewhere in the middle, a professional driver shaft fitting (or consulting one of the many free online driver shaft fitting tools) or testing multiple shafts that fall in that middle category would be helpful.
Free Driver Shaft Fitting Tools Online:
Fujikura – FujiFit
True Temper – Shaft Fit
FreeFlex – Shaft Selector
TPT Golf – Online Fitting App
Mitsubishi Golf – Shaft Fitting Tool
Driver Shaft Weight Quickly Explained:
Lighter driver shafts are generally the most beneficial to golfers with slower to moderate swing speeds, who are younger (16 y/o and younger) or older (50+), or who have limited mobility. They’re much less taxing on the body during the golf swing and help players generate more speed, length, and height.
Heavier driver shafts are often helpful to players with faster swing speeds, tempos, and stronger physical builds. They can help these faster swings square the clubface easier and lower launch/spin for more control.
Driver Shaft Length Quickly Explained:
The modern standard driver shaft length is 45.5 inches. The standard driver shaft length on the PGA TOUR is 45 inches.
In the last few years, shaft manufacturers have silently lengthened driver shafts for amateur golfers to (untruthfully) manufacture some length gains.
Shorter driver shafts (43″ – 44.5″) will help golfers experience more accuracy and control (by shortening the length of the swing). That increase in precision comes with a loss of potential length.
Longer driver shafts (45.5″ +) will help players increase their swing speed and distance, but naturally lengthening the golf swing might cause a loss in accuracy.
If you have any more questions about driver shaft length or how shaft length might relate to your height, check out our Driver Shaft Length by height Fitting Guide.
FAQ
Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding forgiving golf irons.
Through our testing, we’ve determined that the BGT Brava and the Project X Denali Red are the best-performing shafts for those swing speeds.
We found FreeFlex to be the best driver shaft on the market for pure distance and the Fujikura Ventus Pro TR Black to be the best for accuracy and length for fast-swinging golfers.
While his number of starts these days are limited, and he might be making changes (as he’s known to do), his driver shaft as of June 2024 is the Graphite Design Tour AD VF 6 X (45 inches), also known as our list’s Best Low-Spin Driver Shaft.
Ryan Heiman – Founder and Head Author of Independent Golf Reviews
Ryan has over 10 years of experience testing and writing golf reviews of nearly every product and brand out there. Ryan has hands-on experience reviewing over 1000 unique golf products directly on the golf course.
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