Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red Shaft

Known for their rigidity and stability, the Project X HZRDUS shaft family has long been relied on by many players with aggressive swing tempos. As the line has evolved, so have the options for a wider range of players. The new Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red has the most launch and spin in the RDX family, but with the signature HZRDUS stability and a better feel. Like the rest of the RDX lineup, Project X partnered up with Hexcel to use their aerospace-grade HexTow carbon fiber to deliver a more refined feel with and optimal performance.

The Looks

Like the RDX Green, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red blends its red base finish into a black lower half. As with all HZRDUS shafts, the “biohazard” spec label is featured just below the grip. The HZRDUS branding is outlined in white over the red base and there’s a Smoke RDX logo where the shaft transitions to black lower half. Simply put, the RDX Red is a good looking golf shaft.

How Does it Feel?

One of the benefits of Project X’s use of Hexcel’s HexTow carbon fiber is that they are able to better manage the shaft’s weight and strength. Historically, more stable shafts like the Smoke RDX Red would have thicker walls with stout feels. One might say the feeling could be “boardy” or “dead”. By using more advanced fibers, Project X is able to better control the weight, balance, and rigidity of the shaft in all the right places. With the RDX Red having a more active tip section, there’s a little more life compared to the rest of the RDX line. You don’t have to have as much power to get the ball in the air, but there’s still stability from the stiffer butt and mid sections so you can really rip into it.

On-Course Performance

Let me start by noting that I’m not the ideal player for the Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red shaft. I’m well aware of that. While my numbers were not optimized, I very much experienced the performance characteristics “as advertised” by Project X. The higher launch properties made it much easier (compared to other HZRDUS shafts) to get the ball in the air. That said, even with my full swing, my launch wasn’t super high. I would think with a slightly more subdued swing, the RDX Red would be more in the “mid-launch” category. I also saw an expected increase in spin, but I think players more suited for this shaft will find this beneficial in keeping the ball in the air longer.

Though the RDX Red is higher launch/spin, I didn’t find it to balloon. The ball got up in the air and carrying easier, but it wasn’t that “uncontrollable float”. It’s tough for me, personally, to call it a piercing flight but it definitely had some power to it. I think the other big advantage of the RDX Red is the control it has for this category. Often times these shafts with more active tip sections can have “looser” dispersion, but stability of HexTow keeps in nice and tight. This results in more accuracy while still gaining some launch and spin.

Final Thoughts – Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red Shaft

While the RDX Red isn’t the first Red option available in a HZRDUS line, it’s certainly the best. At least, that’s this golf review guy’s belief. In my professional opinion, the Hexcel HexTow fiber has been a game changer for the Project X HZRDUS family. It took a super stout family of shafts and made them so more players would be able to benefit from them. Sure some of that is subjective in terms of “a better feel”, but I genuinely believed it helped unlock the HZRDUS line to a lot of players. The Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Red is an active, easy launching shaft that will hold in the air while also maintaining plenty of stability so you can confidently swing away. More importantly, you won’t sacrifice feel and response to achieve those performance benefits.

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