UST Mamiya Recoil DART Wedge Shaft
As we continue our deep dive into graphite wedge shafts, our first hands-on test was with some UST Mamiya Recoil DART wedge shafts. UST Mamiya provided a range of weights and flexes, including F3 90, F4 90, F5 90, and F5 105, allowing us to test how different combinations affected our wedge play. Given our different playing styles, Jon already using graphite in his irons and me playing heavier steel shafts, this experiment gave us critical insights into what really matters when transitioning to graphite in wedges.
How Does it Feel?
One of the biggest mental hurdles we faced was understanding how different shaft weights and flexes would influence wedge performance compared to irons. UST Mamiya helped us navigate this by emphasizing that wedge shafts are largely about feel and player preference, and players should generally stay close to their iron shaft specifications.
Jon’s transition was smoother since he already played graphite in his irons, but for me, coming from heavy steel shafts, it was a more significant adjustment. The lighter shafts felt noticeably different, especially in touchy shots around the green. While I managed fine enough on fuller swings, my short game consistency suffered with shafts that were too light. Additionally, if the flex was too soft, dispersion and control became even more unpredictable. I had no feel whatsoever. Naturally, I had much better feel and control with heavier weights.
The main takeaway? Weight plays a major role in touch shots, and the wrong flex can very easily negatively impact consistency.
On-Course Performance
From a pure performance standpoint, finding the right weight and flex combination was crucial for dispersion and control. When the combination was off, we struggled to hit our intended lines and landing spots. But when we dialed in the right match, our results were far more consistent.
Interestingly, spin levels remained mostly unchanged, but we both saw a slightly higher launch angle across all shots. This resulted in the ball stopping a bit faster, which could be beneficial for some players. However, the real difference came in how smooth and clean graphite shafts felt compared to steel. And while that’s a “feel” note, that very much plays a role in the performance of the shaft.
Ultimately, the numbers didn’t show dramatic performance gains around spin, but the difference in launch characteristics were definitely impactful, and the feel difference was undeniable.
Final Thoughts – UST Mamiya Recoil DART Wedge Shaft
Through testing the UST Mamiya Recoil DART shafts, we confirmed that weight is the primary factor when considering a switch to graphite in wedges. While launch characteristics changed slightly, most of the decision comes down to subjective feel and whether you can find a combination that matches your swing.
If you’re considering graphite wedge shafts, focus on getting the right weight first. The rest—feel, flight, and overall comfort—will depend on personal preference. There’s no doubt that graphite offers a smoother experience, but whether it’s worth the transition will come down to your ability to find a setup that enhances your game.
Stay tuned as we continue testing different graphite wedge shaft brands in the coming weeks!
What graphite shafts (brand, type, flex, weight) does Jon play in his irons? I play Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6R in my TM QI irons and looking into having UST Mamiya Recoil DART 80 Wedge shafts in my TM MG5 SW and LW wedge. Thanks for the response!
Jim, the UST DART HDC in 80 gram stiffs. They were the stock graphite that came in last year’s Callaway sets and they crushed every other setup I tried. Still like them! I did use those DART 80 Wedge shafts too, but I played around with the UST DART V in 90g in wedges, and those are A+. They make me want to try a full iron set, but they’re quite $$$.
Thanks Jon for the feedback! Re: the TaylorMade graphite stock UST Mamiya Recoil DART 80 Wedge shaft I see different weights. I’d suppose it’s 80 grams (hence the 80 in the name). On most retailer’s websites 80 gram is mentioned, but on the TaylorMade site and custom shafts pdf 90 gram. This could of course be a mistake. Do you know what is the correct weight?
It’s possible it’s a 90 gram shaft that was made for OEMs as opposed to the same specs in the aftermarket shafts.
Thanks Bill for your feedback. Strange that it had 80 in the name, various sites show different information and not more is known about this stock shaft.