BGT Brava Fariway Wood Shaft
If you did not already know, Breakthrough Golf Technology (BGT) is touted for its Stability putter shafts. As of recently, BGT has expanded their offerings to wood shafts via the Brava line which I previously reviewed here. Let’s just say I was impressed. It went so well that I was eager to get my hands on a BGT Brava fairway wood shaft to see if it performed as well for me as it did in my driver. With the help of Toray Carbon Fiber and Speedlite NRG technology, the Brava fairway wood shaft looks to add to the BGT lineup across all of your woods. Promising increased distance and better dispersion, can the Brava change your fairway game as well?
The Looks
I have said it once and i’ll say it again, the BGT Brava shaft simply looks fantastic. The black and bronze colorway is simple, yet aesthetically pleasing. The black tip flows seamlessly into a black club head. Slightly raised and all white graphics really pop and stand out while standing over the ball. Just below the grip, the Brava logo is minimal with a somewhat futuristic font that gives this shaft that futuristic and cutting edge feel. The “Speedflite NRG” zone in the midsection of the Brava features exposed Carbon weave that you can see and feel. Moving down the shaft to the tip section, unlike the driver shaft that is bronze tipped, the fairway wood shaft is solid black which fades nicely into my all black and carbon crown 5 wood.
How Does It Feel?
The BGT Brava fairway wood shaft follows in the footsteps of stability found in the brands other shaft lines. Overall, the fairway wood shaft has a powerful and stable feel to it. Coming in four different flexes, (A,R,S and X) the Brava has a great combination of stiffness, yet with ample support in a lightweight profile. In the handle and midsection, the Brava is very firm and feels great in hand. Like to the driver shaft, the Speedflite NRG zone minimizes lag and helps increase smash factor.
If you have a quick tempo, this shaft could help. Below the zone of exposed carbon weave, the tip section is where I felt the most flex during my swing. However, the flex profile is fairly uniform. With the help of the Toray carbon fiber, the Brava minimizes club face oscillation so you can confidently return a squared club face for more consistent ball striking. This alone made me much more confident in my fairway wood so I wouldn’t be so hesitant to turn to it out on the course. Off the fairway or in the rough, on the slower swings, this shaft still feels remarkably powerful. With the subtle flex in the tip, you can really feel this shaft unload right before the ball.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100.2 | 145.3 | 12.3º | 4587 | 221.6 | 224.9 |
A full range session with the BGT Brava fairway wood shaft on the launch monitor and several early season rounds of golf later, the results are in. Shocker, just like the driver shaft that is in the bag now, I love the Brava fairway wood shaft the same, if not more. The mid-launch/spin profile of this shaft is so versatile in terms of on-course shots, it’s great. Off the tee? My 5 wood is now my go to fairway finder. This shaft just gets the ball up in the air so easily, but has also negated my high, “ballooning” miss with a nice penetrating ball flight.
BGT says the Brava is up to ten yards longer than two of the top performing premium driver shafts on the market. Not only do they claim more distance, but they promise a tighter dispersion as well. Similar to my driver review, I didn’t see a massive jump in distance but strikes off the center of the face definitely had a consistent increase in distance off the tee.
On fairway shots, I did see a small increase in carry distance. Maybe not quite ten yards, but the easier carry seemed to make a huge difference for my overall distance. While I’m less worried about distance these days, dispersion/control is what I’m really looking for the most. BGT claims to be far tighter than some mid to premium shafts. While I can’t say I’ve tested a whole bunch of fairway wood shafts, the Brava has definitely tightened up my fairway wood game and made it more accurate.
Final Thoughts – BGT Brava Fariway Wood Shaft
Breakthrough Golf Technology’s Brava fairway wood shaft follows in the footsteps of the driver shaft. It’s a reliable shaft that can support a variety of swing speeds and a wide range of skill sets. The Brava family really has something for everyone, and who couldn’t use a few more yards and more stability? The uniform flex profile I felt during the testing instilled confidence in me and urged me to go for more greens in two. If you’re looking for a mid-high ball flight in your fairway wood, the Brava may be exactly what you are looking for.
