TPT Red Shaft
TPT Golf out of Switzerland has utilized their extensive background in carbon fiber to bring a new approach to golf shaft manufacturing. Their automated manufacturing process is designed to remove the human element in order to make it repeatable, and more importantly, more precise. Their “Continuous Fiber” is an automated process, executed by robots and machinery, that winds the new Thin Ply 2.0 carbon-fiber prepreg around the shaft so there are no seams or spines in the final TPT Red shaft.
Following feedback from TPT’s club fitting partners and Tour winners alike, TPT developed a “low-torque relative to weight” lineup consisting for 12 different options to address golfers of all skillsets. This means the TPT Red will have an appropriate amount of stability whether super light or on the heavier end of the spectrum, and anywhere in between. You can get fit in person, but TPT now offers an Online Fitting program to help you find the right shaft for your game. In my case, I was fit for the TPT Red 16 Lo tipped 1″ – a low launch, low spin option – in my driver.
The Looks
The TPT Red shaft has a somewhat modest and unassuming look with its black base and minimal white and red branding. A closer look reveals a more textured finish. The only identification of the shaft specs come via the “16 Lo” label, which comes in at 74 grams, a 3.2 torque, and 255 cpm. There’s a small infinity sign next to the Continuous Fiber wordmark as a nod to the seamless manufacturing process.
How Does it Feel?
Feel will vary across the TPT Red lineup, but the 16 Lo that I tested felt smooth and tight. It didn’t feel “tip strong” as you might expect, but it definitely kicks in the lower portion of the shaft. The bend profile felt fairly gradual and noticeably firmer in the lower region without a sharp kick point. Loading the shaft and getting it to release was a breeze.
70 gram shafts typically play too heavy in drivers for me, but it wasn’t an issue here. The TPT Red’s balance was just right so that I could still get the club around and stay in control. I imagine this has a lot to do with the Continuous Fiber design and their new Thin-Ply 2.0 carbon-fiber prepreg. Thin-Ply 2.0 is two times stronger and three times more durable than TPT’s original Thin-Ply. This allows TPT to control the weight and balance much tighter without sacrificing feel and performance. As such, the shaft is also more stable and holds up to the swing better.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115.1 | 172.7 | 10.1º | 2053 | 279 | 311.7 |
During my testing, I had a hunch that the TPT Red 16 Lo was the lowest launch/spin combination I’ve tested in quite some time. I almost didn’t even need to review the launch monitor data. Of course, I did review the data and compared it to other shafts I tested in the past year and my suspicions were confirmed. There was one other shaft where my average launch was 9.9º, but my spin was 200 rpm higher with that one. So I’m comfortable in saying that the TPT Red 16 Lo is the lowest launching and spinning combo I’ve seen in awhile. While I’m sure the tipping played a role in this as well, the flight was definitely low and piercing with plenty of power. This was especially beneficial in the early extra-windy conditions around Chicago.
Control was never going to be an issue. The low spin combined with the stability from the Thin-Ply 2.0 kept the TPT Red’s dispersion nice and tight. My game could probably use just a little bit more spin for some extra carry, but the stability/control are more than a fair trade off for me. I would argue the carry is plenty adequate and averaging a total over 300 yards is perfectly acceptable. Especially as I’m getting older and I’m finding that distance harder and harder to achieve!
Final Thoughts – TPT Red Shaft
While TPT Golf has always been on my radar, this review was my first real deep dive into the brand. Overall, I was pretty impressed. The new TPT Red is incredibly stable leading to great overall feel and control as a result of Continous Fiber and the new Thin-Ply 2.0 prepreg. Yes, TPT shafts are on the higher end of the market, but you know you’re getting a shaft manufactured with absolute precision that will perform exactly how it’s supposed to every time you tee it up.
To find your nearest TPT fitter to try them out for yourself, click here. Or you can use TPT’s online fitting tool here.
