Project X Denali Blue Shaft
Project X set out to create the “the ultimate in feel and performance”, and after 18 months of R&D between their engineers and Tour team, the Denali shafts were delivered. Available in two different profiles, the Denali shafts have a firm butt section with a straight taper mid section to create that combination of feel and stability they set out to create. The Project X Denali Blue is designed for mid-launch, mid-spin performance with a smooth energy transfer.
The Looks
Whenever I hear “Denali”, two things come to mind; the GMC sports utility vehicle and the highest mountain peak in North America. (Did you know that Denali is actually the tallest mountain in the world from base-to-peak on land? Thanks, Wikipedia.) A quick glance at the Project X Denali Blue is pretty obvious which of those things the graphics are drawing inspiration from. (Hint: not the SUV.) The upper section has a snowy/icy white and silver graphic that transitions into a rich blue. It’s a lot like when a mountain top reaches so high into the atmosphere, the blue of the sky feels much closer to space. Or like when planes start pushing the limits of Earth’s atmosphere. Credit to Project X, I think they delivered a really clever finish in the Denali Blue shaft. A nice final touch is a small classic Project X logo in the tip section.
How Does it Feel?
While feel is generally fairly subjective, I think the Project X Denali Blue nailed the sales pitch. There’s reliable stability, but still plenty of life and detailed feedback throughout the golf swing. With a stiff butt section, you feel very in control of the shaft, but the straight taper mid section allows you to still get the sensation of easily loading the golf shaft. The tip section has some life to it so it doesn’t feel difficult to launch, but it’s still tight enough to control your dispersion. Nothing feels boardy, but the Denali Blue definitely feels reassuring and supportive so you can just swing away. That said, if you have a real hard and fast tempo, you might be better fit for a HZRDUS.
Not to foreshadow the Denali Black review too much, but I found the big difference in feel between the Blue and Black to come down to load/release. The Blue is definitely easier to load and release than the Black and you can really feel it in the mid section through the tip. I would say they have very similar senses of stability in regards to control and consistency from a feel perspective, but the difference in energy load was noticeable to me.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113.5 | 168.5 | 13.2º | 2339 | 279.5 | 304.3 |
Let me start by saying how relieved I am to finally be getting closer to my “golf season” swing. I can hardly say it’s in mid-season form, but I’m definitely finding more consistency and a few more miles per hour. This freed me up to really just swing away with the Project X Denali Blue. For me, that’s the ultimate test of stability! My swing is definitely aggressive with a quick tempo, but I’m also not exactly at a Tour level. Finding a shaft that I can launch enough without spinning too much, and staying under control gets pretty tough. I thought the Denali Blue did this pretty well. I didn’t have to fight the shaft to get the ball in the air and my spin was in a nice, low-mid range. My dispersion was tight allowing me to quickly become confident with the Denali Blue off of the tee.
Final Thoughts – Project X Denali Blue Shaft
I’ve heard good things about the Project X Denali shafts ever since they started getting into the hands of golfers. Project X more than knows how to make a good golf shaft so I wasn’t surprised to hear that. But I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Denali stuff. Would they remind me more of the HZRDUS or EvenFlow families? Or would it be something totally different? The truth is, I’d say Denali falls somewhere right in the middle of the two. The Denali Blue definitely had the stability of HZRDUS, but a much sweeter and cleaner feel similar to EvenFlow. Don’t get me wrong, I think Denali is unique in the Project X lineup and stands out on its own, but I think those are useful reference points for players with Project X experience.
If you don’t have a good feel for those Project X references, that’s ok! The Project X Denali Blue definitely delivers a stable foundation accompanied by a precise feel. Players with more human swings, but can still “get after it” a little bit will be a good fit for the Denali. While the Blue is designed for mid launch, mid spin, make sure you get fit so you know which Denali is the best fit for your swing.
