Best Shafts For Hybrids 2023
There was a time when hybrid clubs were the butts of many a joke on the golf course.
They were almost seen as signs of weakness. They represented an absence of skill. Those days are long gone.
In 2023, some of the most skilled and successful tour pros have hybrids in their bags. As such, there are many more hybrid shafts to choose from. Which one will be right for you?
What Shaft Weight is Right for My Swing Speed?
Every player is different and every swing is a little different.
While swing speed is a good indication of what shaft you should be gaming, there are other factors to consider like tempo. Then there is simply what you feel comfortable with as a player.
It’s always advisable to go in for a fitting when possible. But in the meantime, here is a general guide to hybrid shaft weights:
Swing Speeds Under 70 MPH
If you’re swinging your hybrids below 70 MPH you are going to want to try a shaft in the 40 to 50-gram weight range.
70 to 80 MPH Swing Speeds
This is a moderate swing speed. If this is where you are you will want to try shafts in the 60 to 70-gram weight class.
81 to 90 MPH Swing Speeds
Faster swingers will want to try shafts in the 71 to 80 gram spectrum.
91 to 100 MPH Swing Speeds
Strong swingers will likely fare better with shafts between 81 to 95 grams.
100+ MPH Swing Speeds
Pro-level swingers should try heavier shafts in the 95-gram+ range.
What Makes A Great Hybrid Shaft?
One thing you have to remember about your hybrid clubs is that they are there to make your life easier.
You may even have what’s referred to as a “rescue” club in your bag. So the whole point is to have a shaft that delivers the forgiveness you need.
A great hybrid shaft will deliver enough flex without going overboard. It will recover quickly and keep the club head path on-line.
The best hybrid shafts have very smooth transitions. They will also be able to stand up to heavy loading and releasing.
In the end though, a great hybrid shaft is one that you feel comfortable with and one that gives you the confidence to take your most powerful swings.
At A Glance
Mitsubishi Tensei CK Hybrid Review
For this specific test session we chose the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue which covers the 75 to 83-gram weight range.
The Tensei CK Blue has a mid kick point and an exceptionally smooth transition. Even though you can feel the clear kick, it never interferes with your swing or your accuracy.
It’s a great shaft for moderate to fast swingers who want to improve their club head speed.
Overall, it has an active feel. You can feel it working as you swing it. The shot dispersion could have been tighter; but we were generally pleased with the distance we got from it.
Spec Table
| Weight | 75g, 77g, 80g, 83g |
| Tip | .370” |
| Length | 42” |
| Butt | .596, .600, .604, .608 |
Mitsubishi Tensei Ck Hybrid Selling Points
- Smooth transition
- Mid kick point
- Carbon/kevlar weave
- Amateur, regular, stiff, extra stiff flexes
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Active feel
- Clean looks
- Great for moderate to fast swingers
Cons:
- Dispersion could be tighter
Overall Rating: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Fujikura Atmos Hybrid Shaft Review
The Fujikura Atmos Hybrid Shaft is a great shaft because it can fulfill a wide variety of needs.
For instance, the Fujikura Atmos Hybrid Red launches and spins high.
The Blue version offers mid launch and spin and the Black version is for more powerful swingers who need weight and stability from their hybrid shafts.
So we’re going to focus on the common traits across all three versions. The Fujikura Atmos Hybrid shafts feel very smooth.
As long as you choose the version that lines up with your swing speed, you can expect a silky transition. You also get good workability out of every shaft in the lineup.
They are great shafts to help you navigate tricky doglegs and hazards.
Spec Table
| Weight | 73g-96g |
| Butt | .595”, .600”, .605”, .610” |
| Tip | 3.0 (parallel) |
| Length | 42” |
Fujikura Atmos Hybrid Selling Points
- Great for all kinds of players
- Smooth bend profile
- Regular+, regular, stiff, extra stiff flexes
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Low/high launch options
- Low/high spin options
- High modulus carbon fiber
Cons:
- Distracting graphics
Overall Rating: 95/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Graphite Design Tour AD HY Review
The Graphite Design Tour AD HY has a medium stiffness tip and midsection and a slightly stiffer butt.
This makes for high launch; but the softer tip section subtracts from the overall accuracy of this shaft. This is a shaft that’s best for players who struggle to get the ball in the air.
While we weren’t thrilled with the shot dispersion, the Graphite Design Tour AD HY shaft feels fast on the downswing.
Many of our testers used the phrase “confidence-boosting” when describing the performance of the Graphite Design Tour AD HY shaft. It’s a shaft that invites you to swing outside of yourself.
Spec Table
| Weight | 67g-98g |
| Butt | .600”, .596”, .598”, .602” |
| Tip | .370” |
| Length | 42” |
Graphite Design Tour AD HY Selling Points
- Aerospace-grade carbon fiber
- Proprietary graphite design
- Regular, stiff, extra stiff flexes
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Good for mid handicappers
- High launch
- Good stopping power
Cons:
- Wide dispersion
Overall Rating: 95/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Mitsubishi MMT Hybrid Review
“Metal Mesh” was used to stiffen up the tip section of this shaft and to get the swing weight closer to the specs that better players prefer.
This is a metal composite shaft with a very unique, muted feel. It was obviously designed for faster swingers because you don’t feel any activity until you really load up on it.
Spec Table
| Weight | 64g-109g |
| Butt | .592”-.608” |
| Tip | .370” |
| Length | 42” |
Mitsubishi MMT Selling Points
- Braided 304 stainless steel design
- Various torque options
- Amateur, regular, stiff, extra stiff, tour extra stiff flexes
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Excellent accuracy
- Tight dispersion
- Low spin
Cons:
- Definitely not for moderate tempo players
Overall Rating: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Aldila Rogue Black Hybrid Review
The Aldila Rogue Black Hybrid is an interesting shaft.
It seems to have been designed for a wide array of players. That’s because the spin and launch figures we were getting from it were very “middle of the road.”
For the most part, it produces a high draw but our better testers were able to work nice fades out of it as well. The kick point is in the dead-middle of the shaft and it feels fast and active.
The dispersion wasn’t the tightest but it wasn’t bad overall. We were able to land most of our shots within 10 yards of the line.
The Aldila Rogue Black Hybrid is offered in a dizzying array of weights and we think low, mid and high handicappers will find one that works for them.
Spec Table
| Weight | 73g – 108g |
| Butt | .598” .606”, .614”, ,629”, .610”, .612” |
| Tip | .370” |
| Length | 42” |
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- There’s a weight/flex for nearly every player
- Helps increase club head speed
- Mid launch and spin
Cons:
- A bit pricey
Overall Rating: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Hybrid Review
The action of the Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Hybrid shaft is contained just under the butt section.
The tip section feels stiffer and you get an acute sense of club head control no matter how much you load up on this shaft.
Overall the torque is low so you get good stability even on powerful swings. This was obviously a shaft designed with aggressive tempos in mind.
While you can feel a mild kick, you never get a sense of losing the shaft. The Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Hybrid shaft reacts very well to fast swings.
We were getting nice, low launch with low to mid spin rates. Dispersion was also tight. If you’re a fan of Mitsubishi’s Diamana series of shafts, you’ll really like this hybrid shaft.
Spec Table
| Weight | 70g, 72g, 73g, 79g, 81g, 82g, 91g, 92g |
| Butt | .600”, .603”, .604”, .606”, .608”, .596” |
| Tip | .370” |
| Length | 42” |
Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Hybrid Selling Points
- Multi-Dimensional Interlay design
- Low torque
- Low launch
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Seamless fit if you have other Diamana shafts
- Feels light in the hands
- Excellent accuracy
Cons:
- Doesn’t respond well to deliberate tempos
Overall Rating: 97/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Shaft Review
It’s important to note that the Fujikura Ventus Hybrid comes in a Blue and Black version.
The Fujikura Ventus Hybrid is the mid launch/spin version while the Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black is the low launch/spin version.
For this review, we tested the Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Blue. The Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Blue was very consistent.
It has a mid bend point that you can feel on light swings. But don’t let the high activity fool you. You can expect the same flight and shaping on basically every swing.
The dispersion was also nice and tight – we never veered more than 12 yards off-line with this shaft. The Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Blue is for mid handicappers who want to improve their consistency and accuracy.
The Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black would be better for faster swingers who prefer a stout feel and want to eliminate any possibility of a hook or slice.
Spec Table
| Weight | 64g – 105g |
| Butt | .610” |
| Tip | 2.5 (parallel) |
| Length | 42” |
Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Selling Points
- Low torque
- Pitch 70 ton carbon fiber design
- VeloCore technology
- Regular+, regular, stiff, extra stiff, tour extra stiff flex
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Very forgiving
- Excellent consistency
- It’s stable without feeling too stout
Cons:
- Launch may be too high for some
Overall Rating: 98/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid Review
Last but not least we have the Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid shaft.
Like the Ventus shaft we reviewed above, we were very impressed with the consistency of this shaft.
The Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid is certainly stouter than the Ventus Blue shaft; but it plays very well with an aggressive tempo.
We were getting low, piercing launch very easily with this shaft. And while rollout was a bit of an issue, we were very happy with the overall distance.
But make no mistakes about it, the Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid is certainly for aggressive swingers with fast tempos.
Basically, if you’re not swinging your woods at least 85 MPH, the Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid may not do anything for you.
Spec Table
| Weight | 58g – 84g |
| Butt | .600” |
| Tip | .335” |
| Length | 46” |
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Great distance
- Excellent choice for fast swingers
- Cool graphics
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer the best stopping power
Overall Rating: 98/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Final Thoughts
The shafts that we have covered in the above list use very different types of technology but they all had something to offer.
For instance, we really liked the Aldila Rogue Black Hybrid for mid handicappers who want a good balance of distance and accuracy.
In the end though, we had a tie for our favorite overall shaft. We really liked the Fujikura Ventus Blue and the Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid shafts.
In the end, we couldn’t decide which was our overall favorite so we’ll break it down like this: if you are a moderate swing speed player,
the Ventus Blue shaft is our pick for top choice but if you’re a fast swing speed player, the Project X Hzrdus Smoke RDX Hybrid shaft is our top pick.
In the end, you can’t go wrong with any of the shafts on the above list so long as you know what kind of swing you have and what areas of your game need help.
These shafts are the cream of the crop in 2003 so be sure to check them out!
