Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid Shaft Review
Graphite Design has released their Tour AD VF shaft in a hybrid version! Joining the AD DI, IZ, and HY, the AD VF gives you an option for a lower spin, low-ish trajectory choice for a hybrid. It rounds out the company’s offerings in the hybrid category, offering players that need this profile a premium hybrid shaft.
The Looks
No surprises here, I’ll be echoing much of what I wrote in the Tour AD VF’s wood shaft review. We’ve got a high gloss shaft with deep colors. The black lower portion glistens in the sun and the vibrant, rose red top half provides a ton of contrast. It’s the familiar bold look you expect from Graphite Design, and if you’re already playing the AD VF in your driver, you can match!
How Does it Feel?
OK now, maybe some surprises. The profile on paper flows from firmer at the handle to very stiff in the tip. Graphite Design rarely uses “very stiff” and in this case, you can notice. There’s a lessened smoothness, and a more pronounced stoutness in the AD VF. I’m not sure I felt the kick in the end that the wood version of this shaft had. In all, this one’s very stable in your hands, which to me means it’s going to give extremely repeatable results. From a design standpoint, their use of TORAYCA M40X and T1100G carbon fiber materials throughout the shaft lead to that stoutness.
On-Course Performance
I’m finding the Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid shaft does one thing, and it does it really well. This thing hits ropes that go really far. The design of the shaft is meant to keep it low, and it sure does. If you want to hit various other shots, you’re better off looking at the AD DI or AD IZ. Those shafts have much more spin and versatility. The AD VF simply cannot be launched a mile high and I’ve yet to really pull off the (intentional) big snap or power fade.
In my testing, I’ve had it in everything from 2 hybrids to my 27° 5 hybrid. I really think it works best in my 17° – it’s a fairway finder, you can get it on line, and blast away. That might make it kind of a “specialist” shaft, but when it does that one thing amazing, that’s good in my book.
Final Thoughts – Tour AD VF Hybrid Shaft
Graphite Design gives players a strong choice for a good feeling, low/low hybrid shaft. We really like that they offer so much diversity in profiles, and that allows players to have a premium choice no matter what their swing asks for. I find the AD VF Hybrid to be a fantastic shaft for hybrids for folks that want to blast stingers around the course rather than drop shots from a mile above. Plus – it still looks like a lightsaber!
