Project X Hzrdus Smoke Black Shaft Review - Specs, Flex, Weight

Project X Hzrdus Smoke Black Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

The HZRDUS line of shafts from Project X have long been a favorite on tour and at local clubs.

They are known for being able to stand up to heavy hitters. In the Hzrdus Smoke Black, we see a continuation of that legacy and reputation.

Power hitters really need to pay close attention to the Hzrdus Smoke Black because it may be exactly what they need to see an 8-10 yard increase in drive distance. If you feel that you have a powerful swing but don’t feel that your shaft is keeping up with you, be sure you stick around until the end of this review. In it, we will be telling you about our testing experience with the Hzrdus Smoke Black along with all the specs you need to know.

Project X Hzrdus Smoke Black Shaft Overview

As far as looks go, the Hzrdus Smoke Black looks a lot like other HZRDUS entries we have seen.

You get the multi-color “Hazard” placard that is essentially the only splash of color present on this shaft. In reality, we are glad that they decided to keep this shaft mostly black. It doesn’t distract you at address and matches well with a variety of heads.

The Hzrdus Smoke Black is a graphite shaft. Project X has opted to tweak the weight placement in this shaft from its last iteration, the Hzrdus Black. Now, the entire profile is stiffer. This gives the Hzrdus Smoke Black more torque than its predecessor. Faster, more aggressive swingers will really enjoy this shifted material placement because it means they will be able to load up on the shaft as much as they want without fear of erratic reprisal.

Of course, that means that there is no kick to be found in this shaft. Again though, that is not something that really aggressive swingers will have to worry about. Despite the stiff profile, you still get a pretty smooth feel and transfer.

Why is the Hzrdus Smoke Black So Popular?

For one thing, it can be seen in the bags of Tour Pros, so it gets a lot of exposure.

At the end of the day though, the Hzrdus Smoke Black is popular among fast swingers because it stands up to warping very well. Super-aggressive swingers need the utmost in stability lest their drives veer off-line. The Hzrdus Smoke Black gives these players license to swing to their heart’s content.

How Does the Hzrdus Smoke Black Perform?

If you are the type of player with an aggressive swing that typically produces high launch, the Hzrdus Smoke Black will bring your launch window down to an optimal range.

The Hzrdus Smoke Black was built to launch high and spin low and that’s exactly what it does.

For those of us who naturally see their drives launch a little too high, we saw the Hzrdus Smoke Black bring that launch down to an optimal range. It flattened out the shape of our drives and gave us a better trajectory for distance. There isn’t much surprise in this shaft in terms of performance.

If you pure the ball, you can expect low-flying line drives that produce virtually no spin. When you mis-hit, you can expect a gentle draw. And really, that’s the only variance: straight flight or baby draw. Of course, you will need a fast swing speed to unlock the distance potential of this shaft. But if you do, you can expect really good distance increases.

Then there are the spin rates. We were really stunned by our launch monitor readouts which told us that the Hzrdus Smoke Black consistently produced spin rates in the 1600 RPM range. Astounding.

Hzrdus Smoke Black Shaft Specs

Specs	Hzrdus Smoke Black
Available flexes	5.5, 6.0, 7.5
Weight	59, 61, 65, 68, 70 grams
Butt	.600
Tip	.335
Length	46”

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

The flex system that Project X uses for these shafts pretty much equates to stiff, extra stiff and TX.

TX and extra stiff would be good for 100+ MPH swingers while the stiff version would be useful for swingers in the 95-100 MPH range.

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

There are two weight classes for the Hzrdus Smoke Black: The Hzrdus Smoke Black 60 and the Hzrdus Smoke Black 70.

The Hzrdus Smoke Black 60 would be a good option for 90-100 MPH swingers and the Hzrdus Smoke Black 70 would be better for 100+ MPH swingers.

Why is it so Good?

The Hzrdus Smoke Black is excellent because there is virtually no warping even on the most aggressive swings.

Hzrdus Smoke Black First Impressions

The first thing we noticed about the Hzrdus Smoke Black is that there was no detectable kick.

Key Features & Performance

The updated material placement actually makes the Hzrdus Smoke Black stiffer and more stable than the Hzrdus Black.

In terms of performance, this allowed for greater accuracy on our fastest swings. The performance of the Hzrdus Smoke Black can also be marked by almost impossibly low spin rates and a nice, flat trajectory.

Hzrdus Smoke Black Driver Overview

The Hzrdus Smoke Black will pair really well with moderate to compact driver heads – lightweight ones too.

The Hzrdus Smoke Black will likely add 8-10 yards to your drive distance if you are swinging over 90 MPH.

Hzrdus Smoke Black Fairway Wood Overview

You get the same low launch and slightly higher spin rates when you pair the Hzrdus Smoke Black with your fairway wood.

Hzrdus Smoke Black Pros & Cons

Pros:

Clean look
Stiff profile
Great for fast swingers
Excellent for aggressive tempos
Low spin

Cons:

Muted feel
Not optimal for low spin players

Overall Score: 97/100

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Who Should Buy it?

The Hzrdus Smoke Black should be reserved for fast swingers and aggressive tempos.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you are already producing high spin, the Hzrdus Smoke Black will really help you get into an optimal spin and launch range for improved distance.