Aldila Ascent Black Shaft Review - Specs, Flex, Weight

Aldila Ascent Black Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

Who says you have to sacrifice launch for low spin rates?

In 2023, that’s simply not the case. Shaft manufacturers are getting more and more clever with their manufacturing processes. One example of a modern shaft that provides both high launch and low spin rates is the Aldila Ascent Black.

We’ve always been big fans of Aldila and many of us game them on a regular basis. But we were less familiar with the Aldila Ascent Black. So we researched it and got our hands on a couple to test them out. Will the Aldila Ascent Black be the right fit for your woods? Let’s find out.

Aldila Ascent Black Shaft Overview

The Aldila Ascent Black is a tungsten infused shaft. What does that mean?

Essentially, it allows for the Aldila Ascent Black to have a softer tip section without detrimenting the stability of the shaft. The weight placement in the shaft is such that it can still have a soft tip (and launch high) without increasing spin rates.

The overall profile of the Aldila Ascent Black is on the stout side but the apex heights we were getting were phenomenal. Our launch angles were consistently in the mid-teen range and carry distance was better than we anticipated. On average, our testers were getting 252.1 yards after three swings with the Aldila Ascent Black. For some of us, that was well above our average.

The kick point isn’t jarring either. It’s lower on the shaft so you can be free to take a full swing and maybe even swing above your normal speed. If you do, you won’t see a drop-off in dispersion. The Aldila Ascent Black remained stable even when we were actively trying to swing above our normal speeds.

Why is the Aldila Ascent Black So Popular?

Aldila Ascent Black is a popular shaft because it allows players to optimize their carry distance.

It launches high but doesn’t give you the spin rates that you would expect from such a high-launching shaft. In fact, on average, the spin rates we were getting with the Aldila Ascent Black shaft were in the 2100 RPM range. The combo of high launch and low spin certainly impressed us and we can imagine that it has impressed many other golfers.

How Does the Aldila Ascent Black Perform?

One important thing to note is that the Aldila Ascent Black has a pretty active feel.

This may scare off some players who don’t work well with active-feeling shafts; but this one is an exception. Despite the active bend of the Aldila Ascent Black shaft, you get tight shot dispersion. The dispersion will be even tighter if you move up to the stiff flex version.

The feedback is also very accurate. There is no erratic flight here. When you mis-hit severely, you will be able to feel and see it in the ball flight. Speaking of mis-hits, when we missed the sweet spot with the Aldila Ascent Black, it tended to produce a slight draw. It’s not severe and more often than not, mis-hits still led to some very playable lies. And of course, the launch was unfathomably high for a shaft that yields such low spin rates.

Aldila Ascent Black Shaft Specs

Specs	Aldila Ascent Black
Available flexes	Stiff, regular
Weight	40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 grams
Butt	.603”, .604”
Tip	0.335”
Length	46”

What Flexes Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?

You can get the Aldila Ascent Black in stiff or regular flex.

Even if you are used to a regular flex shaft, we recommend going with the stiff version. It will still accommodate players with 80-ish MPH swing speeds.

What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?

Only the slowest swingers will actually benefit from the 40 and 50 gram version of the Aldila Ascent Black shaft.

The 60 and 70 is perfect for most players who are swinging their driver in the 85+ MPH range. The 80 gram version would only be advisable if you’ve got a 95+ MPH swing.

Why is it So Good?

The combination of high launch and low spin rates are definitely what makes the Aldila Ascent Black shaft stand out. It will help you take full advantage of carry distance.

Aldila Ascent Black First Impressions

At first, we didn’t think that a shaft with a soft tip section would give us the kind of performance we hoped for.

But our expectations were shattered. The active feel stays stable and the Aldila Ascent Black launches very high.

Key Features & Performance

Part of what helps make the Aldila Ascent Black stable is the tungsten weighting.

It makes for a more balanced feel on your downswing and allows you to really load up on the shaft.

Aldila Ascent Black Driver Review

The Aldila Ascent Black works well with a mid-launching driver head.

This way, your launch will be controlled and you will still be able to take advantage of increased carry distances.

Aldila Ascent Black Fairway Wood Review

Launch was still very high with our fairway woods.

However, we were noticing a more pronounced draw off the deck with the Aldila Ascent Black shaft. Nothing crazy; but something to be mindful of.

Aldila Ascent Black Pros & Cons

Pros:

It looks really nice
Shot dispersion remains tight on mis-hits
It has an active feel
Efficient energy transfer
Very high launch and low spin

Cons:

It tends to draw a bit more off the deck
It’s a bit expensive

Overall Score: 97/100

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Who Should Buy it?

We like the Aldila Ascent Black for players with moderate to fast swing speeds.

They will really appreciate the active feel and stable ball flight. In general though, the Aldila Ascent Black shaft would be a good fit for anyone who can benefit from lower spin rates – usually players with faster swing speeds. You will definitely see an increase in your carry distance so if that appeals to you, check the Aldila Ascent Black out.