Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green Shaft
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke green is said to be the stiffest HZRDUS Smoke shaft yet! Through using Hexcel’s HexTow HM63 fiber, Project X aimed to make an ultra-stable shaft that will hold up and keep spin down with any swing speed thrown at it. The Smoke Green also comes in two different colorways – the traditional Smoke grey and a sleek Gamma PVD green. With its vivid green looks and stable profile, the HZRDUS Smoke Green has affectionately been nicknamed “The Hulk.”
The Looks
Project X made its second “Small Batch” offering available in two color options. The first has a Smoke grey base (consistent with the rest of the Smoke lineup) and neon green lettering for the HZRDUS and Smoke logos. The other color option has a green Gamma PVD finish which is a definite head turner. Both shafts have the signature holographic Small Batch logo and HZRDUS specs graphic. Listen, I understand if you like a more understated look like the Smoke grey finish, but the green Gamma PVD is a must in my opinion. It even makes a sweet transition into a purple color at the tip of the shaft.
How Does it Feel?
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green does indeed feel pretty firm and stout, but it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly stiff like you might expect. The HZRDUS Smoke Green has a definite sense of stability, but with my swing speed and tempo, I could still feel a good load and release of energy. On my slower swings during testing (around 110 mph), there was a little less release at impact but the shaft sure didn’t feel dead. The response is firm and you can precisely feel the tip stiffness on every shot. These characteristics help give you a strong sense of confidence in your hands.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113.6 | 170.3 | 11.3º | 2772 | 277.4 | 299 |
I expected to be hitting low ropes that rolled for days with the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green. Instead I found a shaft that is lower launching but still has a nice flight and enough spin to keep the ball in the air. 11.3º is by far the lowest average launch angle I’ve had with the HZRDUS Smoke series, but it’s still in a very playable range. My average spin on the other hand is higher than both the Smoke Black and Smoke Yellow. In my case, this doesn’t bother me at all. That spin is still plenty serviceable and without it, I likely would have lost yardage from the ball quickly falling out of the sky. If I can pick up a little more club speed (which I know I can), I could see some pretty big total distance.
It’s also worth noting that the HZRDUS Smoke Green is packed full of control and consistency. The new HexTow HM63 fiber utilized by Project X makes the shaft extremely stable so you can just get after the ball. It will keep the launch low and spin rates won’t get out of control so you can just swing away at your target. Once I found a groove with the Smoke Green, accuracy came naturally and my dispersion tightened up…a lot.
Final Thoughts
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke green is a stiff shaft with plenty of stability. Higher swing speeds will see the greatest benefit, but you don’t have to exactly be The Hulk to swing it. (Sorry, I had to do it…) My take away from testing was that the Smoke Green will let you take your strongest swings at the ball but you won’t have to fight it for control. The ball should still launch low and you will be able to find your targets. Don’t get me wrong, the Smoke Green isn’t going to fix terrible swings and all their flaws. That’s on you and your coach. But if you want a shaft that lets you take a big rip, launches low, and still carries, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green is worth checking out.
how would you compare the Smoke Green with the Ventus Blue. I hve the Ventus Blue in my Epic Sub Zero DD and love it. I need to replace my 3 wood but don’t want to spend the money on the Ventus as that turns a relatively affordable fairway wood into an $800 wood. I am thinking Smoke Black or Green
I haven’t hit the blue yet, only the black. I’m a pretty firm believer in playing what’s best for you and most familiar. If you’re putting a price tag on that, I think you’ll have to do some actual A/B testing in person. Just my two cents.
Did you try the 6.5 or the 6.0?
I have a similar club head speed, and was wondering which would be better.
Hi Neal,
I tested with 6.5, but flex doesn’t necessarily correlate directly with swing speed alone. Someone swinging 5 mph faster than me might be better fit for a stiff shaft, while someone 5 mph slower than me may be better fit for x-stiff. Point is, you need to consider different factors and what you’re trying to achieve. If testing is 100% out of the question, I would stick with the flex closest to what you’re already comfortable with.
I am curious just based on shaft characteristics and specs, how would you same the Smoke Green and a Tensei CK Pro White compare or not compare? Thank you.
I don’t think they compare, but I have pretty limited experience with the Tensei so I can’t really comment too much.
Does this shaft fit the Ping G25? My swing speed is about 120 mph, I average about 165-170 with a 9 iron. I tend to use a 9 degree driver with a low to mid ball flight
It can fit any golf club. It’s more about how does the player respond to the combination? The fitting industry exists for that reason – regardless of what it says on paper on how equipment is designed, the actual player swinging it will physically respond to it in a certain way and you have to determine what’s best for you from that.
So in short, from just that data above, I couldn’t tell you how well that combination would work unfortunately.
Hi Bill
Im currntly using diaman kaili 60 flex x with.. Im about 5 hcp players, with swing speed around 105mph
My aim to make it my ball flight lower and im thinking to change to hazardous green pvd 6.0 6 gram stiff, will it be very difficult for me to use this shaft since im currently using diamana kaili 60 flex x
Cheers
Unfortunately I can’t really answer that question for you. It all depends on how your specific swing responds to the equipment.
I did a fitting yesterday – I was torn between the HZRDUS Smoke green and the Ventus Black – the smoke green ultimately was $250 cheaper. Where are there significant differences?
the Ventus Black created more swing speed, distance, higher spin rate and higher launch angle. But my fitter told me my numbers were pretty similar in the smoke green, I just felt it was boardy. What are your thoughts?
You have to keep in mind that everyone’s swing will respond to equipment differently. It’s just how it naturally works. I had the exact opposite experience with the two shafts you’re comparing here.
My swing speed is a comfortable 100ish mph and around 110-115 if I get after it. Would I be able to swing the 70gr stiff version of this shaft? I have the 60gr stiff smoke black shaft currently and when I need to swing hard, it feels like the whole head just torques out of alignment. Thanks
Nick,
There’s a lot to unpack here. I don’t think the answer to your question is that simple.
1) you’re talking two different shafts and there’s a great chance your body will naturally respond to them each differently 2) the weight of the shaft wouldn’t cause a torque issue. Torque is going to be more related to the stiffness and profile. What I’m guessing you’re doing is getting too quick with your swing and losing a good tempo, not that the shaft is “torquing the head out of alignment”. Especially with that Smoke Black which is notoriously stout.
One other point I’ll make is that adding 15 mph of speed on a shot when you really step on one is a HUGE jump. Just from the smell taste, that doesn’t add up to me. If we’re talking 5ish more, yeah, I could make sense of that and you being able to still do that comfortably under control. But to get that much extra speed, if you in fact are, I can’t imagine there’s much control or consistency, which would likely lead to a mistimed swing which you are attributing to the head “torquing out of alignment”. Just my two cents from my experience in this area.
As always, I think the real answer is you need to get properly fit. I would try and swing within a range of comfort and control and not fit to a chaotic swing on the upper end of your speed that is difficult to consistently deliver a good shot with.
What’s the difference between PVD 70 Small Batch 6.5 and 6.5TX? Is the bend profile very noticeable? I noticed torque was the same in the specs (2.8), but just noticed a slight weight difference (like 4g).
I couldn’t tell you, I didn’t hit the shaft in TX. Generally the TX will play more stout and hold up to an even more aggressive swing.
You should know the TX version of the shaft is a totally different profile to the rest of the lineup. It’s significantly stiffer in the mid section and will feel much more stout. It’s a shame Bill didn’t test the TX version as that’s where the true “Hulk” name comes from, not the standard versions.
Have to work with what the manufacturer provides us :shrug:
Trying to decide best weight 60gr or 70gr. Swing speed 106ish. Drive 275ish. Stiff flex. Prefer a lower launch. Was looking at the Smoke green. I have the TM SIM head.
That’s pretty tough to answer with the information provided. It’s going to depend on how you physically react to the different weights. Can’t really blindly advise without having the different combinations actually tested.
Hey Bill, can you tell me the difference between the PVD and the traditional shaft? There is an upcharge of 300USD this is not only for a nice paint?
I assume you’re talking Small Batch vs their “made for” shafts?
Do you know what the differences between the normal Smoke Green and the Small Batch Smoke Green are?
In short, Small Batch is supposedly rolled in California with tighter QC while standard is not due to mass production. Though production locations may have changed with the move from Hand Made to Small Batch. I really don’t know. What I do know is that Project X probably has the closest tolerance/differences between their small and mass productions.
Hi Bill, great review. I play the 70tx and really like it. I’m trying to find a hybrid shaft with a similar feel. Do you have any recommendations?
That’s a tough one. They never really did make a hybrid counterpart for that shaft, did they? I can’t think of anything EXACT, but maybe try an EvenFlow Black? I was going to suggest the RipTide, but that’s a little softer feeling.
On paper, I bet the Smoke Black was a preferable hybrid shaft for a lot of Smoke Green players, but I didn’t feel the Smoke Black had enough “smoothness” to match the Green. That said, I play the Green in a three wood these days, so my brain could be a little skewed here.
Good luck!
Hey Bill, I was checking out your WITB and noticed you have the Smoke Green in your 3-wood. Obviously everybody reacts to shafts differently, but the rest of your shafts are what manufacturers market as higher-launch. It also seems like one popular approach is to go with lower-launch driver shafts and higher-launch fairway shafts — the opposite of what you’re doing.
Could you share a little bit about what’s making the Smoke Green work well as a fairway shaft for you? It struck me as an interesting inclusion and a little bit of a “one of these things is not like the others” sort of situation relative to the rest of your bag, so I was just curious and wanted to ask. Thanks!
I’ve had that Green in the three wood for a long time now and it just clicks. I also never found that shaft to play as low/low as it claims on paper which I found to be a fairly common perception I saw across the internet. As far as the rest of my “WITB”, it’s not up to date. That said, the Nemesys didn’t play high launch for me at all with the proper build out.
And in regards to popular approach of low/low in drivers, high in a fairway shafts, it all depends on works for you. Too many people go those routes based on paper and not actual fitting and data. At the end of the day, I go with what I can control the best and hit the farthest most consistently. How that fits “the molds”, I’m not so concerned about. Largely why my three wood is on year 2 in the bag.
Totally, totally with you on “it all depends what works for you.” I hope my question came off more in the spirit of just noticing an interesting approach and wanting to learn more about why it works for you, rather than implying that not following the typical formula is in any way wrong.
Part of what led me to ask is, I’m considering a somewhat similar approach in my bag. As I move from driver toward irons, I’ve always found that going heavier and softer-mid as I progress works well for me. So, 65g-ish AD HD or Ventus Blue in driver, then 75g-ish Diamana blueboard in 3W, 85g-ish AD IZ in 5W, 100g Oban Kiyoshi Purple in 4 hybrid. However, I’m absolutely loving the Apex UW. It’s kicked my 5 wood out of the bag. But even with a heavily tipped Ventus Blue 8S, it’s going a bit higher than I’d like. So I’m interested in testing some stiffer and more stout options. Obviously the 3W in your bag isn’t a direct comparison, and the Apex UW is sort of a unique club. But noticing something along the lines of the approach I’ve been thinking about trying is what piqued my interest. Just something I want to test at a fitting over the winter, and it’s cool to see other examples of people who are finding these sorts of routes working well for them.
Thanks for your time and the answer!
why is there such a different price point on the smoke grey color compared to the green? is it really just because of the color? i just got the smoke green in grey for $75 when im seeing the green hulk being listed anywhere from 200-400 online. idgi
The green ones are likely the small batch ones from the states whereas the finish you’re looking at is the mass produced version from overseas. Aside from finish and tighter tolerances per batch, there shouldn’t be a major difference in overall performance, etc.