UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore Shaft
The new UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore is the next generation of ultra-lightweight Helium shafts. Through a “25% lower resin content” material, UST Mamiya was able to make a more stable profile while keeping the overall weight way down. The end result is a shaft with easy launch, solid stability, and consistent control.
The Looks
UST Mamiya gave the Helium Nanocore a black base coat with white and grey/silver accents. On either side of the white Helium wordmark is a honeycomb pattern that’s only visible in the “label up” position. In the “label down” position, the only visible graphic is a small silver UST Mamiya Helium logo right in the middle of the shaft. Overall, the Helium Nanocore has a fairly modest appearance that will appeal to many.
How Does it Feel?
Often times, I find ultra-lightweight shafts to feel somewhat empty and disconnected. (Such a deep and profound thought, I know.) As technologies and materials have advanced, however, this has significantly improved across the whole industry. UST Mamiya’s latest evolution of the Helium, the Nanocore, is no exception. You notice how lightweight the club feels with a Helium Nanocore installed in it immediately upon picking it up. The difference is that Helium Nanocore feels well balanced and very “present” as opposed to that empty and disconnected sensation mentioned earlier. UST Mamiya achieved this in two ways. First, the shaft is counterbalanced so your club head doesn’t feel like a sledge hammer at the end of a twig. This helps a lot with club head awareness and control. Second, newer and better materials allow UST Mamiya to put more carbon fiber in key areas for more stability.
Compared to the original Helium shaft, the Helium Nanocore feels exponentially more stable. The increased stability helps with accuracy and allows you to be a little more “free” and aggressive with your swing without losing control. (Note: with my more aggressive transition and higher swing speed, I still had to take a little off to maintain control.) Feedback is precise with a notable, yet smooth, kick point closer to the handle section.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112.2 | 168.2 | 14.2º | 2463 | 279.9 | 302.4 |
By design, the UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore launches a bit higher to help more moderate swing speeds achieve more carry yardage. Typically, higher launching shafts also come with higher spin rates to help hold the ball in the air. While that can certainly be helpful, it can also balloon more, be harder to control, and reduce rollout. UST Mamiya was able to achieve higher launch angles while keeping spin down through the use of new materials via their “Nanocore Technology”. As a result, I was able to effortlessly get the ball up in the air and carrying with a nice and easy swing. Due to the lower-medium spin rate, I could keep my shot on target and manage the wind just fine.
Final Thoughts – UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore Shaft
As far as I’m concerned, the UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore shaft performs exactly as advertised and was an important step in the Helium lineage. Though the original Helium was a fine shaft, the Helium Nanocore’s use of better materials and design make it a much better ultra-lightweight option. I found it much easier to control and the overall feeling was much tighter and precise. Not unlike the LIN-Q M40X line, the Helium Nanocore is an excellent evolution of what was already a solid shaft and will make for a great choice for many golfers this season.
Thanks excellent review. Have a Mizuno ST-X 220 driver coming with the 4F2. 83 mph senior swing speed
Swing sleet 85 to 91 what shaft Regular or Senior
Not enough to go off of. Depends on a lot of factors. Flex plays more of a role in right and left, not just based on swing speed.
You need to test and see how your swing responds to different flexes and weights.
If this shaft is counterbalanced, can it be butt trimmed an inch? I like my shafts ( with adapter) to be 431/2 to 44 inches
Yes, it is.
Looking to pull the trigger on a Cobra LTDx 5 wood. Shaft options are this one and the Project X HZRDUS Smoke IM10 60, which you reviewed back in April 2021. What jumps out for me was the launch angle differences with your driver. I’ve always had a draw-bias golf swing, working hard to get that high power fade working consistently. Moderate swing tempo with a fairly quick transition. On the cusp of a regular/stiff shaft swing speed. Bill, love your reviews, and I know enough not to ask for a recommendation. However, can you shed some light on what one might expect between the 2 shafts with a fairway wood? Thanks.
iM10 will be lower launch and spin compared to the helium on paper. Assuming weight is the same as well. Otherwise, Helium is geared more toward lighter weights and easier lift off. HZRDUS will have a more stable profile too.
Hey, which shaft did you go with? I’m making the same selection between shafts for the 3Wood now. Thank you
how would you compare this to the auto flex shaft
Couldn’t tell you, haven’t had any experience with the Autoflex.
This UST shaft vs dart which you tested earlier as far as feel, height and distance? Thanks
I think I need more clarity. One is a lightweight wood shaft and the other is an iron shaft. I don’t think they really compare.
Callaway is using both as options for their Great Big Bertha Irons. Play the Darts now and like them but counterbalanced and perhaps a higher launch is appealing but wanted your opinion . Thanks
Hmmm, not familiar with the Helium in an iron capacity. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be much help on that one! Didn’t even realize there was an option.
What players on tour are using these shafts
Couldn’t tell you, sorry.
I’m going to be getting a new Cobra AeroJet Max and am getting a senior shaft since my swing speed is no longer what it used to be. These are my choices. I appreciate any thoughts you might have in the comparison between them.
Cobra Air-X Ultralite 40 Graphite Lite
Cobra Generic Drive 60 Graphite Lite
Mitsubishi Tensi AV Blue 55
Mitsubishi Bassara E Series 4z
UST Helium Nanocore 4F2
UST Helium Nanocore 5F2
Hi Bill,
I am 77 years of age and 200 lbs I currently play off 14 and my swing speed is 88-90 and I drive around 225-235 yards, therefore, I am thinking of buying new clubs with UST HeLIUM NanoCore 40 regular flex shafts, however, would you say because of my age and the fact I will be 80 in three years, do you think I should go for the senior flex UST HeLIUM NanoCore 40 light shafts? Also, how much worse do you think the dispersion would be on the senior shafts compared to the regular flex shafts?
Many thanks for your opinion.
Kindest regards,
Malcolm
I wouldn’t say I have enough to work off of with that information to comment on which will give you better dispersion results. In theory, the lighter flex will make it easier to get the shaft to release, whereas the stiffer flex will feeltighter, but you may have trouble keeping the ball from going right. If you’re asking for a blind recommendation, I’d say go with the senior flex.
Bill,
I would absolutely agree with your positive comments about the UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore shafts. I was using the silver and black helium shafts in my Cobra F9 fairway woods and hybrids for the past few seasons and was happy with them. However, when I changed one of my fairway woods to these Nanocore shafts, I began changing all of the previous black and silver helium shafts out and have been quite happy with the upgrade. Heck, I even bought a driver shaft to install in my bonded Callaway Epic Max Star driver. Additionally, I see the 2024 Cleveland irons will be having these Nanocore shafts as a standard graphite offering. There is no guarantee that those will be as good as my experience with these shafts in the woods, but they will get a hard look next year. I am a senior golfer with a slower swing speed (decreasingly so!) but the stability of these shafts has made a big difference in my confidence with my woods and hybrids and the result has been an increase in yardage and tighter dispersion.
Hi Bill,
For a slower swing speed player that also needs to keep spin down – would the helium nanocore or linq m40x red be a better choice?
Thanks, Matt
Theoretically, I believe the LIN-Q should spin less. Again, that’s on paper. What your swing does with it depends on you. If you have a negative angle of attack and are steep into the ball, it’s still going to spin.
Hi Bill –
I’m an older player with a smooth, 80 – 82 mph driver swing speed. Very consistent with all clubs except putter, very few fairways missed. Playing a straight ball or baby draw on drives. Use TM5 Pix, TM Distance Plus, Oncore VeroX1, Callaway Supersoft, or Srixon Soft Feel depending on my mood. Using a Cobra Rad Speed driver head with weights changed, 20g in rear, 6g in front. 10.5 loft, set on +1 deg loft and draw setting when no roll, change to 10.5 loft, draw when fairways hard and fast. Shaft is Riptide CB 5.0-A 40g. Would Aerojet head, weight in back, no changeable weights, UST Mamiya Helium Nanocore 5F3 shaft give me any additional swing speed/length naturally? Thanks.
Bill –
Forgot to add my spin rate is 2100 – 2700. Thanks.
Unfortunately it’s impossible to say what impact it will have “naturally” as your body will respond to the new equipment in its own particular way. The concept behind the Helium Nanocore and the EvenFlow CB you have in your club now is pretty similar. The biggest difference for you will most likely come down to feel.
How do you think this compares to the ProjectX Cypher you reviewed a year earlier? I’m looking for a lighter weight shaft and these two all seem to percolate to the top of the list. Thanks!
Hmmm. The Cypher probably holds up to a little aggression in transition, but otherwise I’d say they’re fairly comparable.
Thanks for the insight! Appreciate the feedback. Do you know the difference between the Helium Nanocore and Helium Nanocore Black? UST site shows the Black a gram lighter between the two.