Equipment

VA Composites Synystr shaft review – Club Junkie Reviews

Published

9 months ago

Nov 1, 2023

With all of the golf shafts out there, you might never have had a chance to try VA Composites’ wares. Since 2017, Victor Afable has been designing shafts that push the limits of technology and materials in order to help all golfers. While most of the VA Composites line of shafts is built around higher launch and mid-spin, the Synystr is one of Victor’s lower launching and spinning designs.

For a full, more in-depth review, check out the Club Junkie podcast on YouTube or any podcast streaming platform.

When you look at any VA Composite shaft, you can’t help but notice the amazing, detailed graphics that all of their shafts have. The Synystr is no exception as the multi-colored splatter graphics with an evil green face on the underside. The paint splatter does make its way to the top of the shaft, breaking up the gloss black paint that runs through the majority of the shaft. Like most wood shafts, the install is pretty simple into the All Fit adaptors I use. All of my shafts are installed untipped and cut to 45 inches playing length.

On the course, the Synystr offered me low launch and spin shots with a very smooth feel. Every VA Composites shaft I have ever swung produces a smooth and responsive feel. I have hit about five different VA Composites shafts, and the Synystr is by far the lowest launching, spinning, and stiffest feeling shaft out of those. VA lists the Synystr as low/mid-launch but for me that shaft seems to launch a little lower than that.

Most of the 10.5-degree driver heads that I used I found the best performance to add a little bit of loft to ensure I was getting enough carry. Flat is an understatement for any drive that I hit, the ball just didn’t want to rise even if you were hitting into a steady breeze. Spin was also very low for me as my typical range is around 2,600-2,800 RPM but the Synystr kept that number around 2,300-2,400 RPM on almost every shot.

Even drives that started left and went right didn’t ramp up the spin, and I rarely saw a shot that touched 3,000 RPM during any range sessions. Stronger players with a lot of club head speed can sometimes be worried about overpowering a shaft and hitting draws without much control.

The Synystr is not a shaft that will be overpowered easily and it took a whole lot of effort to hit it left. The stiff handle section along with the x-stiff mid and tip sections offer a ton of stability and control for even the hardest swings. But you don’t have to be afraid of the shaft as you can pretty easily get it squared up and hit some straight, boring, bullets down the fairway.

As much as I talked about the shaft having a stiff profile and anti-left, it still offers a nice, smooth feel. As you get the club to the top you will feel it load, but less than other shafts. As you bring the shaft down through the swing you get a little bit of a kick, but you definitely feel stability keep the shaft with your swing.

At impact, there is a decent kick for such a stout and stable shaft. I mentioned it earlier but the Synystr is easy to hit a straight or slight fade, but doesn’t like to turn over hard and hit it left. The Synystr is also pretty responsive as you will feel the vibration difference between a center strike and a mishit pretty easily. I noticed that my miss, an over-the-top move with a shut face, produced a much straighter ball that didn’t curve. Those misses just started left of target and stayed there.

If you are looking for a lower launching and spinning shaft for your driver that doesn’t sacrifice a smooth feel, then you should look to try out the VA Composites Synystr shaft. I think most stronger, faster players will be impressed with what they can get out of this shaft.

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Equipment

Why Tiger never liked traditional rainwear ahead of new Sun Day Red launch

Published

6 hours ago

Jul 17, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

On Tuesday, Tiger Woods debuted his new rain suit from Sun Day Red at Royal Troon.

Woods has been critical in the past of traditional rain gear, so he and Sun Day Red designed a product that he in comfortable wearing in the rain.

“Tiger never liked traditional rainwear because it tends to billow or bend out at the wrong moments, like when he’s lining up a putt. So, we created an innovative knit technology that provides plenty of stretch, making it easy to slip on and off without any restrictive bulk. And the closer, more tailored fit means it stays put, never billowing out and disrupting his swing or focus. In fact, Tiger called this the best rain gear he’s ever worn.”

Woods wore the 3L Half-Zip Rain Jacket and Pant, which Sun Day Red described to us as:

“Designing rain gear is a challenge; it’s usually loud and doesn’t fit well. But when Tiger asked us, ‘How quiet can you make it?’ we knew we could create something incredibly quiet with a low-profile look and feel by using soft, stretchy knits instead of woven fabrics. Of course, Tiger had a few additional must-haves. He wanted a narrower cut to the pants, a cargo pocket to keep his glove dry between shots, and pockets that could zip through to his internal pant pockets. The end result was rain gear engineered to Tiger’s exacting standards for battling the elements without sacrificing his swing.”

Today, it’s available for purchase, along with Sun Day Red’s entire “Weather Collection” to get golfers through those not-so-sunny days on the course.

RELATED: Tiger Woods WITB 2024 (July)

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Whats in the Bag

WITB Time Machine: Shane Lowry’s winning WITB, 2019 Open Championship

Published

24 hours ago

Jul 16, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

A surprise winner bolted ahead of the pack in 2019 at Royal Portrush. Entering the tournament on the heels of four missed cuts, all Irishman Shane Lowry did was better his nearest competitor (Tommy Fleetwood) by six strokes at the first Open in Northern Ireland in 68 years.

Here’s what Lowry had in the bag for his absolutely clinical drubbing of the field on the County Antrim coast five years ago.

Driver: Srixon Z 585 (9.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 X (45.25 inches, tipped .75 inch, D3 swing weight)

3-wood: TaylorMade M4 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X

Irons: Srixon ZU85 [2 (18 degrees), 3 (20 degrees bent to 21)] Buy here, Srixon Z585 [4 (23 degrees], 5 (26 degrees)] Buy here, Srixon Z785 (6-PW) Buy here.
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid TX (2), KBS Tour 130 X (3-PW)

See more in-hand photos of Shane Lowry’s 2019 WITB here.

Wedges: Cleveland RTX 4 (50 @51, 58) Buy here.
Shafts: KBS Tour Wedge X

Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Exo 2-Ball Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion Pistol GT 1.0 (custom shamrock)

Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV Buy here.

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58R (logo down)

See more in-hand photos of Shane Lowry’s 2019 WITB here.

WITB Time Machine is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

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Equipment

Scotty Cameron unveils new B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters

Published

1 day ago

Jul 16, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Titleist has today announced the launch of its new Scotty Cameron B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters, a special run of classic, playable blade designs crafted in a Tour Black finish.

Inspired by convertible car culture – where a black paintjob, black interior and black soft top signifies a “triple black” color combination – these special release putters feature four of Scotty’s most popular blade configurations, revisited with his own “triple black” design format: a black finish, black shaft, and black grip.

In select Titleist golf shops worldwide beginning Friday, July 26th, the new B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters will be offered in four models: the Newport 2 (available in right-hand and left-hand), Newport 2 Long Neck, Santa Fe and Catalina. The lineup blends classic setups with modern head shapes and tour-inspired dual-milled face technology.

“Our Triple Black putters have always been a popular option on Tour with players who not only like a stealthy, cool-looking design, but also want an extra solution for reducing sun glare. We created the B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters to give dedicated golfers that tour-quality experience in four classic configurations.” – Scotty Cameron

B3 Triple Black Design Models

B3 Triple Black Design LTD Newport 2

The flagship model of the B3 Triple Black LTD line, the Newport 2 is modeled after the crisp, mechanical shape of the Super Select Newport 2. The B3 Triple Black LTD Newport 2 is offered in both right-hand and left-hand models.

B3 Triple Black Design LTD Newport 2 Long Neck

An I-beam style long neck is added to the familiar Super Select Newport 2 head shape, promoting a more straight-back-straight-through putting stroke through a near-face balanced setup.

B3 Triple Black Design LTD Santa Fe

Inspired by the popular model from Scotty’s early career, the Santa Fe features an I-beam style flare 1.5 neck and a shape based on the softer, rounded features of the Super Select Newport. The configuration of a flare 1.5 neck and a Newport-style head is currently only available on Tour.

B3 Triple Black Design LTD Catalina

The Catalina, inspired by the Classic X, features a shape slightly wider than a standard Newport and more closely related to the Super Select Newport Plus. Instead of matching the Classic X’s double bend shaft, the updated setup features a shaft-over-spud design and a modern single bend shaft, giving the player near-face balanced performance.

The line’s dual-milled face technology offers a tour-inspired feel by combining the softness of deep-milled putters with the consistency and feedback of mid-milled offerings.

The B3 Triple Black Design LTD putter line features performance balanced weighting with two customizable heel-toe sole weights. The Catalina uses stainless steel weights made in 10-gram, 15-gram and 20-gram increments, while the other models use heavier tungsten in 30-gram, 35-gram and 40-gram denominations matched to the associated putter lengths of 33-inches, 34-inches and 35-inches. The loft on each model is 3.5-degrees and the lie angle is 70-degrees.

Each B3 Triple Black Design LTD putter features a black Pistolini Plus grip that complements a premium embroidered, custom-designed B3 Triple Black Design LTD headcover. The accompanying Tour Black stepless steel shaft includes the line’s custom B3 Triple Black Design LTD shaft band.

B3 Triple Black Design LTD putters will be available worldwide on July 26th, 2024, at select Titleist authorized golf shops, while supplies last and are priced at $750 each.

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