True Temper Elevate Tour Shaft
These days players everywhere are screaming for low launch and low spin shafts all over the place. The truth is, these low spin iron shafts out there can be good for distance, but most amateurs, and even plenty of Tour players, really need a bit more spin. In fact, True Temper received enough feedback on Tour that players needed something to give them a little more launch and better angles of descent. True Temper’s response was the mid-weight Elevate Tour steel shaft. This shaft is designed to have a more mid trajectory with medium spin that should be just enough of a bump for good ball strikers that don’t want to live in the low/low world. The Elevate Tour also features True Temper’s Vibration Suppression System (VSS) which “dampens” shaft vibration while still maintaining critical shot feedback in the hands.
How Does it Feel?
True Temper makes a simple, yet GREAT, point on the Elevate Tour page.
“Your swing tempo isn’t just your swing speed but also your swing pace. Consider how you pull the club back, how long it hangs in the air and how quickly you swing through the ball. Swing tempo helps indicate how the club is loaded and how the club will react through impact.”
Yes, yes, and more yes. Tempo was the most apparent requirement for me with the Elevate Tour shaft both in feel and performance. The Elevate Tour is geared toward a more moderate swing tempo, whereas my tempo is typically on the more aggressive side. When I made more aggressive swings, I could feel an early release in the mid section of the shaft. You know that infamous “squibbly” feeling that bewilders you at impact, you’ve been there. Then I would make a smoother swing (probably how I should be swinging anyway…) and it would be a totally different experience. With a smoother swing tempo, the Elevate Tour was stable and had a really nice “snap” through the ball at impact. It was a significant night and day difference in feel between tempos.
Let’s talk about True Temper’s Vibration Suppression System (VSS Pro) technology real quick. Normally when I see things like this, especially in steel shafts, I roll my eyes. My experience with any sort of dampening system is that they either don’t work or make the club feel dead. Tip of the cap to True Temper, their VSS works. I tested the Elevated Tour in Callaway Apex MB iron heads which aren’t super forgiving. Trust me – they’ll let your hands know when you hit a bad one. Out on the course I hit plenty of thin, fat, and off-center shots. While the feedback was still there, the lack of sting in my hands was impressive.
On-Course Performance
For this performance section, let’s assume I’m referring to the smooth-tempo swings I mentioned in the Feel section. Those were the swings where I experienced the most worthwhile, optimal, and telling results. The medium launch and spin profile of the True Temper Elevate Tour is pretty dead accurate. My stock shot was somewhere between piercing and rising which worked out nicely. I’d put the spin level at a nice “comfortable” spin rate. What do I mean by “comfortable” spin rate? I felt the ball had enough spin to hold greens and manipulate shapes, but was low enough to maintain control and prevent ballooning. In short, the balance of spin and launch was just right for a good ball striker looking for a little extra bump compared to the usual Tour-calibur iron shafts.
Should you need to call on the Elevate Tour to get the ball higher in the air, it’s pretty easy to do. Likewise, it’s also easy to put more spin on your shot to get some extra bite – especially with short irons. With the longer irons, I wouldn’t say shots were stopping dead on the greens, but I had much softer landings which paid off by way of a few nice GIRs on longer approaches. (And maybe an eagle putt or two that didn’t make it all the way to the cup, as usual…)
Final Thoughts – True Temper Elevate Tour Shaft
The key to success with the True Temper Elevate Tour is going to come down to the right swing tempo. Following my testing, I firmly believe that. A nice and easy, more moderate swing tempo will result in a strong flight that has a little extra lift to it. This will pay off in more carry yards, but also in softer landings on the greens. Remember, a more moderate tempo doesn’t mean you don’t have club speed. You can still have a fast swing speed. It’s all in how you load, transition, and deliver the club to the ball. In terms of the entire True Temper lineup, I think the Elevate Tour is one of the more user-friendly high-performance shafts that will be a welcome addition to us mortals.
Hey Bill… I have the same swing type as you and still looking for a higher launching, higher spinning shaft for the small firm greens I play. Is there any solution for us? The XP 115? The Elevate Tour at the heaviest available weight? Very interested in any thoughts you have.
In what sense do you have the same swing type? I think your questions can only really be answered with any type of accuracy with fitting and testing. What works for me a certain way could be totally different for you and how you physically respond to the shaft.
I’m 66 yrs old. Playing with the Elevate 115 VSS pro S flex. I’m noticing I’m not getting the same distance from my irons as I use to when I first got the about 18months ago. i.e. was hitting my 7iron about 160/165 now losing about 10yards. Should I change from stiff to regular to get back my distance. I love the weight of the 115 and would go back to Elevate shaft cause the feel amazing!
Have you noticed a change in ball flight, or is it just distance loss throughout the set? Let’s start there.
I’m looking at a 105.
The Elevate range have been consigned to the “retired” catalogue according to the TT website.
The Elevate 95 VSS & VSS Pro look as though they have been replaced by the DG 95 VSS & Pro.
What has happened to the 105?
All I can see is DG 105 and a DG 105 Tour Issue in the catalogue. This would suggest that TT have removed the VSS insert tech.
Is this what is to be assumed?
Strangely I have recently trialled a TM P770 7 iron head that has been screwed onto a trial cart shaft that has DG 105 VSS Pro labels and decals all over it, when it is apparent that this shaft actually doesn’t exist.
I’m not totally sure on the ins and outs in everything you posted, but a True Temper Elevate product line still exists on their website here.
As far as your P770 example, I would imagine it’s a case of having some of the older options from previous product lines still in it that hasn’t been fully updated.
How does this compare to Dynamic Gold 120 ?
That’s a tough one. It’s been awhile since I’ve hit the DG 120 and haven’t really swung the Elevate in awhile so I can’t A/B them too well. In theory, I’d you’re going to get a nicer feel with cleaner feedback in the Elevate.
You stated these shafts performed best with a smooth tempo swing. I tend to be fast and (at my age) won’t change that. With that info, which one of these shafts do you suggest? I am a 6/7 Hdcp and have Apex 16’s w S300 shafts. Thx
Fast tempo and aggressive tempo are different things. That said, it’s pretty tough to blindly make a suggestion on either of these without you actually testing them. I would say the s300 will play more rigid if that’s what you’re looking for.
Hi Bill,
I was fitted into the Tour Elevate stiff shafts which are 117 grams on the cobra forged Tec. I didn’t buy from them as they were double the retail price. The only elevate that cobra offers is 95 grams and I’d like to get a similar weight to what I hit in the fitting because it gave me pretty consistent contact. Do you know what would be a similar shaft to the Elevate that I was swinging in my fitting? Cobra has several other options from KBS, Nippon, Project X and TT Dynamic Gold
Not really, sort of an apples to oranges situation you’re looking at there. Personally, I feel like if you lined up all those shafts for me, each one feels and performs quite a bit differently. Without actually testing them, it’s going to be a shot in the dark how they respond in your hands, especially after specifically fitting to a shaft that you know if your target.
If you’re going down the path of blind choosing an alternative from their list, your best bet is to look up the various specs on all of them and choose which one compares the closest on paper.
Just my two cents.