Fujikura Atmos Orange Shaft Review - Specs, Flex, Weight

Aldila RIP Phenom Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

These days, the Aldila Rogue gets a lot of attention.

It’s pretty much the flagship shaft for Aldila. But the Aldila RIP Phenom was once a very popular shaft and it’s still available today. It was very expensive when it first came out but you can get it for a great deal in 2023.

The only question is, should you get it? Is the Aldila RIP Phenom still a good shaft? I got my hands on one and tested it out on the range to find out.

Aldila RIP Phenom Shaft Overview

The Aldila RIP Phenom is a pretty technologically advanced shaft.

Aldila packed this shaft with technology and was very meticulous about the design. It has a composite graphite and carbon fiber construction so it feels light in the hands. After my first couple of practice swings, I could feel that the midsection was going to flex quite a bit – and I was right. Aldila also got creative with the mass placement of this shaft.

The tip and butt section feel amazingly stiff for what is generally a lightweight shaft. The idea was to make the Aldila RIP Phenom shaft as stable as possible while still providing for a good deal of flex. I actually really liked the feel of this shaft. I got the 75g version for testing. At first, I thought it might be too light. But I was impressed with how stable it was. It handles heavy loads very well. On aggressive swings, I sort of didn’t like how the midsection felt – it was just a bit too whippy for me.

Despite how it felt, the active midsection didn’t do much to hinder my performance. Besides, I think at least some of “whippy-ness” could be addressed by going up a weight class. The Aldila RIP Phenom comes in a dizzying array of weights ranging from 45 to 86 grams.

The Aldila RIP Phenom has a menacing look. It’s mostly dark, gunmetal gray. There is a skull and crossbones graphic near the grip and the “Phenom” lettering directly below that. It looks pretty cool overall, although a bit too cartoonish for me.

Why is the Aldila RIP Phenom So Popular?

The Aldila RIP Phenom used to be a popular shaft because it plays pretty dang long.

It was designed to increase distance for a wide array of players and it is still capable of that.

How Does the Aldila RIP Phenom Perform?

The Aldila RIP Phenom was built for distance and that’s by far its strongest suit.

Right away, I felt like I could swing out of my shoes and the Aldila RIP Phenom would keep up. As I have already stated, the feel of the shaft is a bit whippy when I really load up on it. But you can’t really argue against distance. My average carry distance by the end of my testing was 172.2 yards.

I can only imagine what that would have increased to if the Aldila RIP Phenom didn’t produce so much spin. It wasn’t terrible by any means; but I was expecting the spin to be a lot lower considering how stiff the tip was. But I think the high-flexing midsection was so active that it kind of nullified the stiff tip.

The dispersion was decent. I was able to group most of my shots together after I got the feel for the Aldila RIP Phenom. They were mostly drawing and landing no more than 9 yards left of the target.

Aldila RIP Phenom Shaft Specs

Specs	Aldila RIP Phenom
Available flexes	Ladies, amateur, regular, stiff, tour extra stiff
Weight	45g-86g
Butt	.603, .605, .610, .615, .600
Tip	.335”
Length	46”

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

Ladies and amateur flex should be reserved for sub 65 MPH swingers. Regular and stiff would likely work for players in the 66-85 MPH swing speed range. Tour extra stiff might work for 86-100 MPH swingers.

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

The Aldila RIP Phenom 50 (46g-54g) may be a good choice for sub 65 MPH swingers. The Aldila RIP Phenom 60 (62g-65g) may be preferred by players on the 65-80 MPH spectrum. The Aldila RIP Phenom 70 (69g-75g) may be suitable for players swinging their driver between 81 and 90 MPH. The Aldila RIP Phenom 80 (85g and 86g) is for 91-105 MPH swingers.

Why is it So Good?

The Aldila RIP Phenom is a great shaft if you want to try to increase your drive distance. It plays fast, long and offers adequate dispersion.

Aldila RIP Phenom First Impressions

I like the smoky, almost ghostly look of the gunmetal finish.

I also liked the fact that branding, lettering and graphics are kept to a minimum.

Key Features & Performance

The Aldila RIP Phenom was built with Reverse Inter-Laminal Placement technology which is what redistributes weight for a high-flex midsection and stiff butt and tip sections. It gives the shaft an active feel without sacrificing accuracy.

Aldila RIP Phenom Driver Review

The Aldila RIP Phenom plays long from the tee. And I was able to coax my baby draw out of it which is always a plus in my book.

Aldila RIP Phenom Fairway Wood Review

My launch angles stayed consistently steep with my #3 fairway. The spin was a bit too high for me but it didn’t seem to affect my overall distance very much.

Aldila RIP Phenom Pros & Cons

Pros:

Lightweight
Active midsection
Stable tip
Great distance
Good dispersion

Cons:

A bit whippy
Spin rates are a bit high

Overall Score: 96/100

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Who Should Buy it?

The Aldila RIP Phenom would be ideal for slow to moderate swing speed players who want to increase distance.

The Aldila RIP Phenom has the ability to turn your woods into rocket launchers without spraying the ball all over the fairway. This would also be a good shaft for players who want the ability to stick greens from long range.