Graphite Design Video

Graphite Design Announces G Series

SAN DIEGO, CA – April 18, 2011 – Graphite Design, maker of some of the most widely played premium golf shafts on the PGA TOUR, introduces the new G Series hybrid golf shafts incorporating X Directional Technology (XDT). The G Series hybrid shaft with X Directional Technology is the next generation of premium Graphite Design shafts and is designed to be very adaptable to today’s vast hybrid head technology. The G Series hybrid shaft performance characteristics favor a mid-high launch trajectory and mid ball spin. “We pride ourselves in developing premium golf shafts that require new technologies that are tested and proven on professional golf tours,” said Tak Yamada, President, Graphite Design. “Our new XDT technology was designed with that philosophy in mind and we expect to see more and more tour players switching to our new G Series shafts.” Graphite Design’s latest XDT technology incorporates the use of the already proven Graphite Design MSI (Material Stiffness Integration) design method as well as a new and unique application of graphite fiber ply angle alignment throughout the shaft structure. During the development phase of XDT, measurable performance gains were discovered through a more balanced distribution of the graphite fiber angles within the piles of the shaft design. This proprietary application of XDT has made the new G Series the most balanced, versatile high performance golf shaft available today. The new G Series hybrid shafts are available in 85 grams in Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff flexes and 95 grams in Stiff and X-Stiff flexes. The G Series hybrid shafts have an MSRP of $89.00. Graphite Design International manufactures the highest quality shafts in the world for Pure Distance and Perfect Accuracy. Graphite Design shafts can be seen in play by the best professional players on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions, Japan, European and LPGA tours. Graphite Design shafts reinforced its dominance on the Japan Tour, where it has claimed 163 consecutive graphite wood shaft brand counts -- an unprecedented streak which dates to 2003. On the PGA Tour, Graphite Design shafts have helped professionals earn 80 victories since 2004 and millions of dollars in prize money. A total of 60 US distributors and 16 European and Asian distributors supply Graphite Design shafts to custom club fitters around the world.

NEXT GENERATION RIFLE SHAFT NOW AVAILABLE

5/22/2012 MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The next generation Rifle shaft, one of the premier golf shafts played on tours worldwide, is now available exclusively through True Temper's Performance Fitting Center dealers. RIFLE's exclusive patented design efficiently transfers energy through the shaft providing the most solid feel at impact with proven performance results. Rifle shafts feature a stepless frequency matched design that ensures consistent flex progression throughout the set. The new Rifle blanks offer improved weight and balance consistency for improved trajectory and improved feel. Rifle is the perfect blend of tip responsiveness and tip stability for enhanced control. "The new Rifle, which is offered in blanks, allows Performance Fitting Center clubmakers to have the flexibility to customize shafts to both standard Rifle and Rifle Flighted finished shafts at specific frequencies," said Bill Lange, director of sales-golf products for True Temper Sports. "This provides the golfer with the ultimate fitting experience for individual, unique performance needs." Rifle shafts can be customized to a 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 Rifle or Rifle flighted flex and ranges in weight from 130 grams (4.0 flex) to 146 grams (7.0 flex). MSRP: $50.00.

Graphite Design New TOur AD BB Golf Shaft

New for 2012, Graphite Design International introduces the newest premium golf shaft in the Tour AD series, Tour AD BB “Blue Bullet”. The new Tour AD BB shaft is available in 50, 60, 70, and 80 gram weights.

The Tour AD BB design features an increased stiffness from the tip-to-middle section to provide the player with more stability. The end result is a tighter shot pattern and an increase in ball speed. Tour AD BB was designed with the appropriate amount of flex in the butt section allowing players the ability to load the shaft properly thus creating a sense of power. Tour AD BB shafts will produce a LOW to MID piercing ball flight and reduce spin through impact. The Tour AD BB “Blue Bullet” is the ultimate shaft for 2012. Revolutionary technology, design, and the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, making them the highest quality premium golf shafts on the market today. Validating the company’s “Tour AD” logo, all of Graphite Design’s PGA Tour-proven shafts specifically promote “Accuracy and Distance”. These key competitive advantages are helping professional and amateur golfers optimize their games after switching to Graphite Design shafts. Graphite Design continues to be the most dominant shaft on the JGTO Tour and has been for the past nine years.

Graphite Golf Shafts: Myths, Facts, Trends and the Future

From Grafalloy.com Don Brown, Product Development Manager and Designer Grafalloy, Project X Myth: Low torque shafts have better dispersion: Many golfers believe a lower torque shaft will twist less at impact resulting in improved dispersion. Fact: High speed camera studies have shown that even on a 9 degree torque shaft the ball stays in contact with the face for only thousandths of a second, not allowing for the twisting of the shaft to alter the balls horizontal trajectory. Torque plays a large role in the feel of the golf shaft. The Grafalloy Blue and ProLaunch Red were stiff butt, stiff tip shafts, yet Blue felt much firmer than the ProLaunch Red because its torque was almost a degree lower. As a result, we stopped chasing lower torque and now focus on how we can tune torque to provide the feel that suits the target player profile for a particular design. Shafts designed for penetrating ball flights, such as the ProLaunch Axis Red, will feel best with a torque between 3 and 4 degrees while higher launching shafts such as the ProLaunch Axis Blue work best with a torque of 4 degrees and higher.

Myth: Shaft performance is all about material: Some shaft companies are touting the use of their own or premium fibers to provide ultimate performance. Fact: There are a very few manufacturers of the high and super high modulus fibers used in today's high end golf shafts. Even companies that make high end fiber and use it in their own branded shafts sell these fibers to other shaft manufacturers. Performance gains are made with superior design and understanding of flex/torsional/cross sectional profiles and use of the fibers in cutting edge shaft technologies. While two shafts may use the same Japanese made super high modulus fibers, the shaft designer who is able to best harness the properties of those fibers into technologies such as Smart Ply and Micromesh will be able to maximize the material, the shaft and the swing. Trend: Cross Sectional Stability. Several 2008/2009 golf shafts have touted increased cross- sectional (or hoop) stability. Cross-sectional stiffness (or stability) is the shaft's resistance to ovalization. When a traditional shaft is loaded, its cross section deforms from a circle to an oval. The energy that goes into this deformation cannot be returned to the ball and is lost. Increased cross-sectional stability also provides a more stable feel and improved shot-to-shot consistency. There are several methods for controlling cross-sectional stiffness, with one of the most popular methods being multi-axis weaves. While these weaves have an undeniable aesthetic value, they are a not an efficient way to use carbon fiber. Carbon fiber performs its best when held straight; weaves require the fibers to be curved around one another. Technologies utilizing thin uni-directional carbon fiber layers, such as Grafalloy's Axis Technology, limit cross sectional deformation much more efficiently. Future: The groove change and what it means to your driver. By now everyone has heard about the USGA mandated groove change that will take place effective January 1, 2010. This groove change is intended to reduce the spin golfers can achieve from the rough with existing grooves. With these rolled back grooves, many golfers will switch to a ball that spins more to retain their drop and stop abilities around the greens. This ball change will create an increase in spin with the driver, resulting in ballooned shots and lost distance. Enter Project X. The new Project X wood shafts were designed to be the lowest spinning shafts available. With two additional layers of super high modulus tip reinforcement, Project X has continually shown several hundred RPM reduction in spin over the other premium low spin shafts on the market. The introduction of graphite Project X wood and hybrid shafts means golfers can now benefit from Project X performance in every club, driver through wedge.

TRUE TEMPER PGA PROFESSIONAL TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

5/15/2012 MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The world's No. 1 shaft manufacturer, True Temper announced today that its Professional Fitting Center education and training program for PGA Professionals is now available online to view as a webinar. Available exclusively through True Temper, the Professional Fitting Center Program is an education based effort to bring shaft knowledge to the PGA Professional. Through this program PGA Professionals will gain basic technical knowledge of golf shaft designs and performance as well as tips on how to properly fit their members for the correct golf shaft. "We just launched our Professional Fitting Center workshop this year and we have already had overwhelming interest and support from PGA professionals," says Bill Lange, director of sales-golf products for True Temper Sports. "By offering the workshop online through a webinar, our goal is to bring authoritative and comprehensive shaft knowledge and custom fitting education to more professionals." True Temper has been named by the PGA of America as a Pre-Approved Education Provider for PGA Member Continuing Education. True Temper will award two PGA Membership Service Requirement (MSR) hours for PGA professionals who view the Professional Fitting Center (PFC) webinar and complete an online test. The PFC program is currently eligible for Education Member Service Requirements (MSR). Starting June 16, 2012, the program is eligible for General MSR hours when viewed via the webinar. To view the PFC webinar, visit www.performancefittingcenter.com/PGA.

Graphie Design Wins Again on the LPGA

Graphite Design, maker of some of the most widely played premium golf shafts on the PGA TOUR, announced today that the winners of both the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship and the European Tour Sicilian Open played Graphite Design shafts.

"Our new G Series shaft is becoming more popular on all tours and we are pleased that the winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship opted to play this shaft during her first major championship," said Tak Yamada, President, Graphite Design. "We congratulate her on her second LPGA career victory and we congratulate the winner of the Sicilian Open on his first European Tour victory."

The winner of the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship beat out the second place finisher in a one-hole playoff to claim her second career victory and first major championship. She played a Graphite Design G Series 50 shaft in her driver and a Tour AD UT 65 in her hybrid. Five other top-ten finishers at the event also played a variety of Graphite Design shafts. The winner of the Sicilian Open carded a 15-under 273 to post his first European Tour victory. He played a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7X shaft in his driver.

The new G Series shaft is the next generation of premium Graphite Design shafts and is very adaptable to today's new head technology. The G Series performance characteristics favor a low to mid launch trajectory and mid ball spin. The new X Directional Technology - XDT - incorporates the use of the already proven Graphite Design MSI (Material Stiffness Integration) design method as well as this new and unique application of graphite fiber alignment throughout the shaft structure. During the development phase of XDT, measurable performance gains were discovered through a more balanced distribution of the graphite fibers within the plies of the shaft design. This proprietary application of XDT has made the new G Series the most balanced, versatile high performance golf shaft available today.


The popular Tour AD DI shaft is designed to provide more power and stability. Manufactured exclusively at Graphite Design Japan, the Tour AD DI shaft has been integrated with Toray Company's Nanomaterial technology in the tip section of the shaft. This unique tip technology creates optimal launch and spin conditions to produce increased accuracy and distance. Tour players have been impressed by the fact that when using the Tour AD DI shaft they can increase ball speed and accuracy without giving up distance.


The mid bend profile of the Tour AD DI allows the player to load the shaft properly, yet maintains a firm enough tip section through impact, producing optimal spin and launch conditions. Golfers using the shaft will experience the feel of the ball leaving the club head with a lot of speed while maintaining exceptional feel and control.

Graphite Design International manufactures the highest quality shafts in the world for Pure Distance and Perfect Accuracy. Graphite Design shafts can be seen in play by the best professional players on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions, Japan, European and LPGA tours. Graphite Design shafts reinforced its dominance on the Japan Tour, where it has claimed 163 consecutive graphite wood shaft brand counts -- an unprecedented streak which dates to 2003. On the PGA Tour, Graphite Design shafts have helped professionals earn 78 victories since 2004 and millions of dollars in prize money. A total of 60 US distributors and 16 European and Asian distributors supply Graphite Design shafts to custom club fitters around the world.

About Graphite Design

Graphite Design, established in Japan in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1997, is the industry leader in shaft technology and the preferred brand for golf professionals worldwide. One of the world’s three largest golf-club shaft manufacturers, the company made its mark manufacturing premium shafts for all of golf’s major OEMs. Graphite Design shafts continue to be preferred by top club makers the world over while the company’s mainstay YSQ and YSQst, Stabilized Tip shafts, Aura shafts and other models are extremely popular among avid and occasional golfers.