Graphite Design Tour AD FI Shafts Review

The Graphite Design Tour AD FI Shafts are a mid-launch, lower-spin wood shaft built to pair with modern low-spin, low-CG (center of gravity) heads. Tyler Fitzel, a master fitter at 2nd Swing Golf, tested one on the course and in the hitting bays. He found it more forgiving on mishits than his old Tour AD GC, with a big drop in spin.

Tyler tested it over multiple rounds and extensively on launch monitors in the store. The rest of this review is in his words.

Design and technology

The “FI” stands for Flight Intelligence. Graphite Design says the shaft adapts to your swing, with stability and responsiveness that help you shape shots or add distance. It’s meant to work with the low-spin, low-CG club heads of today.

AD Shield is a 90° hoop ply plus M40X, a high-performance carbon fiber, and a reshaped mandrel that adds stability without losing feel. From the mid-section to the tip, the shaft uses M40X and T1100G carbon fiber in a reshaped profile, which gives a smooth shaft profile that promotes an optimal ball flight.

Tornado Tip Tech uses bias plies in the tip section instead of uni plies. That reduces tip torque, which helps keep dispersion tighter. The shaft has a modern logo on a green-and-white finish and keeps Graphite Design’s color bands, so you can still pick it out from a distance.

Launch, spin and forgiveness

The Tour AD FI has been fantastic on the course. Compared to my old Tour AD GC, it’s more forgiving on mishits, with off-center shots flying straighter and keeping more distance. The feel at impact is solid yet smooth.

The ball flight is a consistent mid-launch, and I saw a significant drop in spin. That gives a more penetrating flight, with less ballooning and more roll-out after landing.

With less spin, I needed to add a little loft to my driver head to get the launch and spin combination I wanted. If you try one, expect to adjust your loft a bit.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you want a mid-launch shaft with lower spin and extra forgiveness on mishits, especially if your driver head is a modern low-spin design. The Graphite Design Tour AD FI Shafts gave me straighter off-center hits and a more penetrating flight than my old GC. Plan on a fitting to check your loft.

Skip it if you need more launch height, since the profile is mid launch with low to low/mid spin. Our driver shaft guide covers the higher-launching Tour AD DI and other options. I fit at the 2nd Swing store in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

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