Finding the perfect shaft without prior experience or knowledge can be a challenge for beginners. There are countless shafts available on the market, and it’s almost impossible for most beginners to differentiate between them.
However, if you understand the kind of driver shaft that can improve your game, then it becomes easier to find an option that fits your needs. Since most beginners struggle with hitting the ball over distant locations, the optimal shaft for them is a high launch driver shaft.
High launch driver shafts enable golfers to hit the ball at greater lofts. When combined with reduced spin, these shafts can help you to deposit the ball over great distances.
The Best High Launch Driver Shaft is…
In this article, we will explain why the UST Mamiya Proforce V2 is the best high launch driver shaft available at this time and discuss key considerations before choosing a driver shaft.
UST Mamiya Proforce V2 HL
UST Mamiya’s Proforce V2 high-launching shaft is the best option for golfers who want to hit high draws. These shafts are made by hand and offer golfers a tour-like performance at a reasonable price.
The HL or high launch version of the shaft features a lower kick point combined with a stiffer tip. These characteristics provide golfers with an excellent combination of high trajectory on impact coupled with reduced spin.
If you manage to get your hands on the 50-gram lightweight version, you will be able to strike the ball with faster clubhead speeds. For someone looking for a shaft that’s optimized for launching the ball far away, this is the best combination for accomplishing that.
At the same time, you can also choose the heavier 60-gram shaft that gives you better control of the ball. Additionally, the torque values on both stiff and regular flexes are around 4.2°. These torque values would prove more helpful to golfers who tend to slice the ball.
Shaft Profile
The Mamiya’s Proforce V2 (HL) shaft is available in four different variations of flexes, namely, F1 (ladies), the F2 (senior), F3 (regular), and F4 (Stiff) versions. Most beginners struggle to strike the ball as far as they want to, especially golfers with slow swing speeds. The ball never seems to rise, regardless of how high you tee the ball or how hard you swing your club.
This is extremely frustrating, especially if you have seen professional golfers striking the ball over 300 yards. Although you should not compare yourself to pros, you can achieve greater distance over your strikes by using a high launching shaft such as Mamiya’s Proforce V2.
All you need to do is to pair your shaft with a driver head that has 11-12 degrees of loft. With the additional loft in your club, you will be able to get the ball up in the air quickly and cover a reasonable distance before landing, at last.
Versatility
Although the initial characteristics of the shaft seem to be aimed at offering a high degree of loft, the shaft isn’t one dimensional. The shaft offers golfers a versatile option by offering a flexible extension of the club, coupled with a stiff tip that maximizes the stability of your hits.
Most of the high-launch are known for increasing backspin. However, V2’s extended stiff tip reduces backspin and prevents the ball from ballooning up in the air for a golfer with slower swing speed.
Recoil Technology
Like all the products of the UST Mamiya, this shaft also offers Recoil technology. According to the company, this specialized feature increases the spring effect in the walls of the golf shaft, which directly maximizes the transfer of energy itself to the ball.
However, this additional feature is merely a tall claim that we often witness from companies. People who have used the shaft report that you can notice the spring effect as the ball tends to leap off from the clubface upon contact.
Aesthetics
UST Mamiya – Proforce V2 (HL)’s original club was painted in a bee-like fashion. That black and yellow bumblebee design were favorable at that time but preferable for someone who doesn’t like the bolder design.
Nowadays, the company has continued its tradition of offering shafts with bold designs and has used a combination of red, black, and white in the high launch edition. The white and red theme on the shaft offers an attractive, well-designed appearance. The large V2 signature seals the deal with the ball and inspires a golfer to strike it cleanly.
Pros
- Higher torque value helps close the face
- Increase the trajectory of the hit with a low kick point
- Offers shaft in different two weights for better control and speed
- Game improvement option for average players
- Enables golfers to hit the high draw
- Available in Seniors, Ladies, Stiff and Regular flexes
- Extremely stable tip delivers consistent performance
- Excellent for golfers who find using drivers difficult
- The high launch creates additional backspin
- Recoil technology allows golfers to achieve a more efficient transition of power from the shaft to the ball and hit it to a greater distance
Cons
- No extra-stiff version
- Not ideal for golfers with extremely fast swings
What to Consider When Buying a Driver Shaft
We understand that no one type of golf swing is the same. Nevertheless, driver shafts have special characteristics that can influence your swing and how well you strike the ball. Therefore, golfers need to keep the following considerations in their mind:
Swing Speed
Swing speed is an essential consideration before choosing a driver shaft. Golfers who have strong arms and fast swings would benefit from stiffer shafts. Stiff shafts give golfers high swing speed and greater control over their shots.
On the other hand, golfers who have slower swings would find shafts offering greater flex more suitable. Additional flex on a shaft creates more force on impact, but also diminishes control over the strike cost of control. Therefore, you should consider your own swing speed before choosing a shaft for yourself.
Tempo
The swing tempo is often under-rated, but it is perhaps more important than the swing speed of the strike in some cases. Golfers who have a faster takeaway will twist the shaft more than a golfer who has a smooth swing, regardless of how fast their swing speed is.
If a golfer uses a slow takeaway, he or she will need a shaft with a softer flex. At the same time, someone with a fast backswing would need an extra-stiff shaft to counter the downswing. Therefore, both swing speed and swing tempo are necessary to help golfers find a shaft that suits them.
Trajectory
To achieve a long drive in the beginning, you need to shoot the ball at an optimal trajectory. Trying to hit the ball with a high trajectory every time isn’t the best formula to hit the ball nearer to the fairway. If you strike the ball at an extremely steep angle, the chances of you ballooning up the ball in the air are greater than actually depositing it over a distance.
Similarly, if you hit the ball at a lower trajectory, the ball wouldn’t have the optimal height to clear the greenery that comes in between. As a result, it would fail to carry distance.
Our Final Thoughts
To sum it up, launch angles are complicated and often combined with the spin rate of your hit to achieve a favorable distance. Therefore, it’s better to find a driver and a shaft that matches your style of play and offers you the optimal level of trajectory.
