UST Mamiya Helium Shaft
There has been quite the uptick in lightweight shafts for woods in recent years. I have to imagine the demand (and even understanding) for lighter shafts has gone up largely based on the evolution of fitting and how much better the fitting process has gotten in recent years. At first, a lot of these lightweight shafts were in fact lighter, but severely lacked in stability and feel that players want need. Well UST Mamiya tried to address that with their new Helium shaft. The UST Mamiya Helium shaft is a lightweight design that has a strong and responsive feel for players looking for greater distances with their woods.
The Looks
UST Mamiya went with a fairly simple cosmetic design for the Helium but it still looks slick. A shiny silver base supports a white and blue hexagonal graphic and UST’s “HeLIUM” logo. It’s definitely a noticeable shaft but doesn’t scream out for attention.
How Does it Feel?
There are a couple of areas we need to cover in the feel section. First, the UST Mamiya Helium generally does indeed feel like a notably lighter shaft. That just comes with the territory when you get under 60 grams. Typically, this lighter weight will throw me off from a tempo perspective, and in some cases, I’ll struggle to adjust to it. In this case, I did have to adjust a little bit but was able to do so just fine. This meant minimal tempo change and making a more natural swing.
Second, the Helium is a counterbalanced shaft. This can make a huge difference when a lighter shaft is getting paired with a more modern and heavier head. With a more traditional shaft design, a lighter shaft with a heavier club head could make you feel like you’re swinging a sledge hammer at the end of a pool cue. A counterbalanced shaft has more weight distributed to the butt end of the shaft to even out the balance point of the club as a whole. The Helium’s counterbalance allows the club to feel more balanced for better control despite its much lighter weight. Counterbalance has historically worked well for me in a lighter shaft.
Last is the stability. UST created a stiffer profile with more carbon fiber in key points of the shaft to make sure the lighter shaft stays stable throughout the swing. This is usually my biggest criticism in a lightweight shaft and the Helium holds up great. I never felt like there was a weak or soft point in the shaft during my swing. Additionally, the response in your hands is still strong for accurate shot feedback.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115.3 | 169.5 | 13.4º | 2667 | 279.6 | 300 |
A common theme you’ll hear from me with lightweight shafts is that my end results ultimately come down to tempo. My more aggressive tempo typically does not mix well with lighter golf shafts. In the case of the UST Mamiya Helium, it was actually a lot better than normal. I found I didn’t have to change my tempo too much and I was therefore able to keep my swing speed up. Don’t get me wrong, I still had to make a few changes to consistently find the sweet spot, but it wasn’t too bad. I just had to be a little smoother in the transition from my back to my down swing. Yes, I understand that that sounds like tempo, but I would argue it was more the control of my hands and not tempo. I guess you just had to be there, huh?
I also tend to find that lighter shafts launch and spin higher with my swing. As you can see in the data, the Helium did a pretty job managing both launch and spin for me. A 13.4º launch angle is pretty mid-level for me and I’d say 2667 rpm falls at just about medium as well. This kept the ball in a very playable range for me and allowed me to just focus on controlling my swing. The less to worry about it during the swing, the better!
Final Thoughts – UST Mamiya Helium Shaft
The UST Mamiya Helium is a stable shaft that doesn’t sacrifice feel and performance as a result of its lighter weight. Balancing stiffness, stability, and feel for a wider audience in a lightweight package is no easy task for a shaft company. I believe that UST Mamiya managed to accomplish that balance pretty well. Players that want to pick up more club speed without having to change their actual swing may want to consider testing the UST Mamiya Helium with their local fitter.
I am 56 yrs in good shape i shoot 93. My swing is 95 mph Dont know much about shafts i want to buy a cobra f9 it comes in alot of shafts. The Graphite UST Helium 5F3 Shaft, and Fujikura Atmos graphite shaft in regular flex. GUST 5F3 Shaft, can you help me. Please happy Thanksgiving
Little bit of a shot in the dark, but having actually hit both, I’d say you have the swing for either. BUT please don’t take this disrespectfully, based on what I’ve seen with my own dad as he’s gotten older (he’s in his 60s), I might like the Helium here. Feel like it may be a little easier going. You have plenty of speed left based on what you provided, but the Helium may be more helpful getting the ball in the air with less effort.
Bill,
I’m 72, currently using Accra iWood i52 M2 in my driver (Callaway Epic Flash). Normal drive is 185 to 190. Any thoughts/comments on going to the Helium Blue or Black with a Lite flex?
I don’t know anything about that Accra or how it would compare to the Helium. I also can’t really comment on a flex for you without seeing you fit the ball and some data. What I will say is that the concept of the ultra light shafts is great for senior players, in my opinion. As long as it doesn’t screw up your tempo, you should be able to get the club around a little quicker and get easier launch.
Don’t know of that helps, but hopefully it’s a start. Good luck.
I want a shaft around 50 grams for a maverick driver. Does it come so all I have to do is screw iton
If you buy a shaft with a Mavrik tip then yes. If not you need to install one.
Rich, I’m 59 and my SS is 85mph, average drive is about 225, sometimes a bit more depending on how im feeling on any given day. I just got a Callaway Mavrik driver that has a UST Helium Black 4F2 senior A-flex shift and I’m very impressed! The regular flex was a tad too much for me since I tend to get tired towards the end of the round, but the 4F2 A-flex was perfect. Great feeling shaft and comfortable to swing, I really like it!
Please compare this shaft with the other stock shaft that comes with the Cobra driver, the Mitsubishi Tensei AV blue 65. Thanks.
We have a review of the AV Blue on our site. Should be at the top of the Top Posts immediately to the right of this post. I have personally not spent extensive time with that shaft. Brands don’t typically send us every shaft they offer as an option for the club.
I am looking at the Mavrik women 3 wood and the senior 3 wood.
What is the difference between UST Mamiya Helium black 5 shaft and the 4 Shaft?
Take a look here: https://www.ustmamiya.com/golf-shafts/brands/helium/helium-black/
That should answer your question.
This is the best review I’ve ever read. Or maybe it was suit my swing. I have UST Mamiya Recoil ES 450 F4 and it really suit me. Want to know your opinion between UST Helium VS UST Recoil? Which one is better, strength and weaknesses. Thank you in advance.
Unfortunately the only recoil I’ve ever hit has been in a hybrid so I can’t really give you a reasonable comparison against the Helium.
Hi Bill,
Appreciate the review! I am looking to buy the cobra f9 driver with the reviewed shaft. I have no idea of my swing speed but hit a driver for like ~220m carry. Would hou think it’d be a good fit?
Thanks mate!
Hi Sam,
I couldn’t really advise you based on that information alone. It’s not so much about swing speed and distance to make the decision, but more about ball flight, launch, spin, etc… Something determining whether or not you’re leaving something on the table.
On paper, the Helium is designed to be lighter weight to help you launch the ball in the air easier, and depending on tempo, pick up some swing speed. Whether or not your swing will be a good mix for it is tough to tell without more info.
Right, not played for years, started again, last handicap, 9 , new handicap 13, 60 years old now, still athletic and strong, last driver ping g10 pro force v2 stiff, stil got the 3 wood same shaft! New used driver sim max 9degree , Ventura 6r. No idea where the head, is . Swing speed 93 mph nice and smooth, driving carry 220, 230 which shaft you think suits me best! Still hit my 3 wood great! ( g10 ) even when I hit a good drive, got no idea where it’s going! Can hit my three wood both ways.
I’ll be honest, I’m not totally sure what you’re asking here. You’re comparing a lot of apples to oranges and weighing a lot of factors based on your hands and how you feel the equipment, which would differ from golfer to golfer every time. Like we suggest in pretty much every question we get like this, the best education you’ll get is from actually hitting the different gear (preferably on a launch monitor) and see how different equipment responds to your specific hands and swing. I know that’s not an entirely helpful response, but it’s the only real guided advice I think we can provide here.
I recently bought a Helium Black 4F2 senior shaft from my local pro and had them fit it to my Ping G25 driver head which necessitated him to change the hosel and for 2 weeks I hit it consistently straight and long with no effort which I have never done before but unfortunately it broke at the hosel end with the shaft turning to mush. The only reason I can think of for this to happen that the assistant pro who did the job damaged the bottom end when the original hosel was removed. I have endeavoured to buy a new shaft preferably without the wrong hosel for my head and preferably without a grip as I prefer to fit my own midsize grips. but have not been successful as the Pro tells me he can not source another shaft. Can you please help me as I am getting quite desperate! I live in New Zealand.
I would reach out to UST directly and see what they can tell you about availability in your region. Unfortunately I don’t the answer.
Bill,
Just wanted to shout out to you & say thanks for the good work. I have read many of your reviews & have found your comments entertaining & very informative. I recently tried out the soon to be released Cobra LTDX with a Diamana ZF 40 R2 Flex & was surprised with the distance numbers that blew my current set up away by an average of 18 yds. I to had to pay attention to the tempo, but was happy with the results.
Looks like super light weight shafts are really catching on.
RK
Hi! Have a friend who just snapped the shaft off at the hosel! Is the UST shaft a .350 tip? Thanks.
UST’s website says it’s a .335 if you’re talking about a wood shaft.
Bill, I am 78, swing speed 84 mph and play with a Mizuno ST200 X driver fitted with a 2019 Helium F3 49gm shaft, hit around 210 – 215 yards. What differences do you think I would notice if I changed the shaft to a Helium Nanocore 40 shaft, senior flex?
I would say not a ton from a launch, spin, and speed perspective, but you may find the Nanocore to be a little more stable and have better feel. But that’s just a guess, impossible to say what you’ll perceive through your own hands.