Graphite Design Tour AD HD
In the most surprising and wacky year of my lifetime, one constant showed up right on time. The Q4 release of a new Graphite Design shaft, that is! For 2021, they’ve again modernized one of their most popular profiles and given us the Tour AD HD. The Tour AD HD will play firm throughout the handle, midsection, and tip – giving it a “one piece” feel, but still enough action to be fun. As always, it’s packed with cutting edge materials and tech, and looks amazing.
The Looks
What I like about Graphite Design is that they’re consistently bold in the graphics department. Consistent in that they keep the same paint schemes for nearly their entire lineup (art deco-style lettering and usually a two-tone coloring on each side of a distinctive ring pattern.) Bold in that they often choose vibrant, eye catching, solid colors to make their shafts instantly noticeable.
The Tour AD HD – the shaft that’s going to take your game into “Hyper Drive” clearly delivers in the visual appeal department. The mostly matte white finish comes with subtly sparkly light blue lettering with some black accents. This thing contrasts amazing with a dark clubhead, and of course, everyone will know you’re gaming a Graphite Design on that first tee.
How Does it Feel?
The days of shaft companies offering merely a high, medium, low launch option are of course long gone. We all know that. What Graphite Design has done is create a diverse menu of shafts that caters to the infinite number of golf swings out there. They have a shaft that matches your swing characteristics AND what you’re looking for in feel. Adding to that, they’re now updating many of their most popular profiles with new materials and techniques. For this edition, the Tour AD HD is packed with Graphite Design’s exclusive Fast Taper Technology, TORAYCA M40X carbon-fiber in the mid through tip sections as well as T1100G material to add stability.
The Tour AD HD will feel firm from tip to grip. The designers created it to have a “one piece feel” that users of the ultra yellow Tour AD MT will find very familiar. While I have not hit the AD MT much, I’ll agree that the AD HD feels pretty stable throughout the whole swing. There’s not a lot of give in the hands, and you’ll get a tiny little kick near the tip when you impact the ball. You are most definitely NOT going to get the super smooth feel from this shaft like you will with an AD DI, but I still love it.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 106.7 | 156.3 | 14.3º | 2494 | 271 | 281 |
From swing number one, I knew the Tour AD HD was a winner. It gave me exactly the mid launch and mid/low spin that I like to see. I have a downward angle of attack (too much) and any extra spin causes me trouble. My preferred shot shape is typically a mid or low bunt type shot, and the AD HD lets me hit it where I need to hit it. I was able to take it to Sand Valley in Wisconsin and got to play on perfect firm and fast turf. This thing was letting me hit perfect, mid/slow screamers all weekend. I probably hit two bad drives during that visit, and I’m often what we at Driving Range Heroes call a “COMPLETE HEAD CASE” from the tee box.
One thing I will hammer home again is to get someone that knows what they’re doing to fit you into this shaft. The Tour AD HD in 6X feels stiffer than my beloved AD DI in 7X. Actually, that AD DI is a bit of a Frankenstein. I bought it off the ‘Bay because I can’t ever pass up a good deal and I “needed” another AD DI. It was a mangled, misrepresented item in that it was originally a fairway shaft that was tip trimmed 1.5” TOO MUCH then sold as a driver shaft. Well, I extended it and tossed it in my driver and it’s awesome. However, it’s still not as stiff feeling as the AD HD. Moral of the story – figure it out right the first time.
Final Thoughts – Graphite Design Tour AD HD
The new Graphite Design Tour AD HD plays firm but responsive. For me, it flies far, feels awesome, and looks super, icy cool. As a guy that gets to try a bunch of new golf shafts every year, it’s a rare occasion where I will say “this one just fits me and I’m keeping it for a while” – and that’s exactly what I’m going to do with the AD HD. The Tour AD HD will be available at your favorite club fitter on October 1st. Pack some peanut butter sandwiches into that staff bag and get in line now.
