VA Shafts Slay Hybrid Shaft
I like my hybrid to play two different roles in my bag. First is being able to hit it off the tee for good distance when I need more than a 4 iron and less than a 5 wood. Add in some extra shot control there as well. Next, I like to be able to hit it high and have it come down soft for those 225-yard par 3s (ugh, Erin Hills #6). This means I potentially require up to 35 yards distance differentials! Thanks to the versatility of the VA Shafts Slay Hybrid shaft, I’m able to cover this range with my hybrid.
VA Shafts designed the Slay Hybrid shaft to be higher launching but without too much spin. For a hybrid shaft, this combination is “best of both worlds” and can lead to more distance and control. For my money, the VA Shafts Slay Hybrid is one of the most versatile hybrid shafts I’ve ever played.
The Looks
The VA Shafts Slay looks pretty amazing. Bright blue paint against the black mid section with the signature dragon heads gives the Slay a ton of personality and certainly makes a statement. As a followup to the tamer white and black Raijin, VA came back with a much bolder look in the Slay. While yes, it is a much bolder look, the Slay is still tasteful and won’t scream “look at me!” too much on the golf course.
How Does it Feel?
Much like the regular Slay shaft, the VA Shafts Slay Hybrid has an active feel to it. That said, the Slay Hybrid has plenty of stability at the same time. Your end result is a shaft that feels stable and smooth throughout the swing, but there’s enough kick to launch the ball easily. Most importantly, these characteristics combine to make you feel confident in your ability to control the club for a variety of shots. A nice, smooth tempo and a good swing will give you great results.
On-Course Performance
The stock shot for me with the VA Shafts Slay Hybrid is a nice medium flight with medium spin that carries between 220 and 225 yards. That nice, smooth tempo I mentioned earlier easily delivers this shot – totally effortless. If I want a higher flight, the Slay is easy to float into the air (especially with some fade) and just let the ball drift into its target and settle. I like to carry that shot anywhere from 215-220 yards (ideally). Historically, this would be the shot that spins a ton on me and flies off the map sideways if I missed it. The Slay Hybrid does a good job keeping the spin reasonable so your ball stays under control and doesn’t go squirrely. (Of course, if you make a terrible swing, nothing can help you, right?) But now I want to hammer the ball…
By swinging a bit faster and shallowing out the swing a touch, I am able to add significant distance. The Slay is stable enough to hold up for this swing so you don’t lose shot control while “powering up.” What I ended up with was a piercing shot with lower spin and about 235 yards of carry. Most importantly, this shot it repeatable. This is exactly what I’m looking for in my 3 hybrid. (Note: this is a shot from the tee or a clean lie. I would struggle to reproduce those numbers unless teed up in the rough.) Being able to utilize this powerful 240-yard shot as well as a soft, floating 220-yard approach shot all in one club is a real difference maker.
Final Thoughts – VA Shafts Slay Hybrid Shaft
One important point to note is that the VA Shafts Slay Hybrid is only available in regular and stiff flex. Through tipping and swing weighting, you can make small tweaks here or there, but players with big swing speeds and super aggressive transitions should definitely do thorough testing first. Should you fall into the range of being a good fit for the VA Slay, you will find the Slay to be one of the most versatile and best feeling hybrid shafts you’ve ever hit.
