Most underrated channel on KZfaq.

Great video !! It would be nice if shaft manufacturers would put some sort of standard benchmark at each end of the shaft so you could always know how much if any had been trimmed.

The tipping has to do with the fact a driver without an adjustable tip will have the shaft go into the head an inch farther than it will go into the adjustable tip. Trimming the tip an inch gets the butt cut at the same point as if the head had an unadjustable tip with the shaft going all of the way into the head down to the top of the sole plate. In other words a non-tipped shaft inserted into a driver head without an adjustable tip will play the same as a shaft tipped an inch that is installed into a driver head with an adjustable tip (which is most of them now days).

I'm so glad someone is finally saying this!! Yes! And they even do it to the "Stock" shafts too -- well at least last year's Ventus "blue" lol

I guess the only answer is to test a tipped and none tipped shaft in the TM head and perhaps a competitors to see results..... I also heard that TM reduce quality of heads near end of life for reduced cost to flood market. Paint definitely chips easy as does face scratching...from M4 onwards..

It’s especially weird with Ventus Red because people sometimes want the “Purple” - red tipped 2” leading to an even stiffer tip. Re the IZ5 my guess is their data says people in that class overestimate their speed even more and probably needed softer to flex. But to your point, this is why I don’t buy directly from the manufacturer. I buy the shaft separately. Great video.

I've also experienced this and have not been able to get a straight answer from TaylorMade or anywhere else. I ordered a SIM2 last year custom thru Dick's w/ Ventus Blue 6 w/ Velocore, and when I received it, it had been automatically tipped 1 inch (the Velocore graphic was an inch closer to the tip compared to my Ventus Red that I ordered by itself thru GolfWorks). For those that think they do it because shaft doesn't go as far into the head because of the adapter, that is not true. The bottom bore to ground (BBTG) measurement will be roughly the same as an older bonded TM head without an adapter. It would be very cool if this video gets enough traction to get a proper response from @TaylorMadeGolf!

As someone who is about to buy a taylormade driver. Thank you

100% correct, Taylormade have always tipped their shafts 1 inch. From what I remember, Titleist tips tips theirs 1/2 inch. Not sure about Callaway. Always safest is buy your own shaft and put the tip on yourself - at least you know what you have.

Excellent video information. I have heard the tipping term before, but wasn't really sure what it meant but I know more now. Quite interesting, I would think it would impact lower swing speed golfers.

The non tipped options you referenced as the Ventus Red and GD 50 grams are at the soft end of the spectrum to begin and would begin on the botrom of softness and by default would only be able to get stiffer

They tip them because Taylormade's stock shaft length is 46.00" (even though they say 45.75" they are all actually 46.00") no other company goes that long. They are bringing the frequency back to where it would b at a shorter (more standard) length. Taylormade clubs are head heavy as well so there may be swingweighting issues with certain shafts, which could be why they dont tip all of them.

It seems like the softer tip shafts don’t get tipped Cheers from Norcal

I noticed Taylor Made do this in some Pro Golf Van video and now when some newbie buries there driver and comes back to my shop I'm like, Ahh I'll just tip it... lol. out comes the saw and the two part epoxy

So you can turn a Black Ventus into a Blue Ventus. Really enjoy your videos, pure knowledge and entertainment for golf equipment junkies.

Exceptional video, explains why the wife’s drives have a baby fade with TM drivers since the Sim and she’s a PGA Pro here in the UK. She uses the Proforce V2 HL shaft and I’ve actually checked the manufacturers website and they don’t tip the shaft for the driver. So don’t understand why TM do it. She hits her Ping G410 with a natural draw, couldn’t get the TM products to do the same without using the draw head.

When it comes to these big OEM companies their reason for doing something is always to put money in their pocket. I have a theory.... I bet they tip the shaft that extra 1" to limit the forward bow at impact so it appears their heads are lower spinning. If a customer is getting fit an aftermarket shaft from the Taylormade shaft cart and they are contemplating a competitor driver with the same shaft and same loft, good chance the spin comes out lower with the Taylormade setup. Low spinning heads are all the rage, hence it is often used as a selling point.

This is why I think all feedings are not the same you can’t rely on them we should go by CPM not stiffness there is no standard

Just recently got fitted for a PXG driver, felt really short when i was doing the testing, when i compared it to my Sim2 we noticed the shaft of the PXG was 1 inch shorter, i think all of the shafts they had available for the fitting were an inch shorter to the taylormade. weird

One explanation may be that a proportion of the shafts on offer are not of aftermarket quality but 'made for' versions, their ventus being an example. A ventus without velocore is inherently less tip stiff so may need tipping to compensate.

That is a great explanation. Now I know why the ball falls out of the air. Tipping that shaft will kill the spin. Not always a good thing though.

After watching this video I'm wondering I'm asking for some general advice as I'm certainly not a club fitter. I'm looking to purchase a new Taylormade driver as my current M6 is now 5-6 years old. My current shaft is a Project X-Even Flow 6.0 S 45G. Because the lightest still shaft available from TM is 50G-S, I'm wondering should I just buy a TM Stealth Plus driver head and use my current shaft ? Anyone with any input would be appreciated. Thank you for this detailed video Elite Fit Golf.

The secret could be in the difference in the weight loss of the trimmed piece from the opposing ends.

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So interesting. I bout my 2016 M2, that now has a cracked head, with a 1/2 inch tipped shaft. I just wanted it to play to 45.25 like my G30

I'm glad I'm a Titleist guy. I've tried to get on with Taylormade several times and I just didn't care for it. Maybe this is why

Not to defend them, but after seeing the customization segment it actually makes decent sense why they would do it.... if they did NOT tip everything, then there would be NO option to make a particular shaft flex play softer - at least not in the orignal flex ordered, as you cannot add an inch to the tip. So, realistically, they are offering more customization option in doing it the way they do. Not that it's right or "better" just the only way to do that without changing the order to a different flex shaft altogther, so they can give the same shaft you ordered and not a flex weaker.... if a customer orders a stiff softened one inch, the would likely not be happy to get a shaft with an R on it in the box at delivery - they ordered ------> STIFF (regardless of the actual resulted flex it swings).

It sounds like TM is not tipping the low kick point shafts and the lighter weight shafts.

Trottie needs to make a video on this

It is possible to small person play 2 or 3 upright seating golf club excuse for my bad english speak french from Quebec 😉

Very informative, Thanks

I would like to know how tipping affects the spin rate launch angle and that stuff.

IF YOU TIPPED A SHAFT, YOU TAKE OUT SPIN, THAT BEING SAID, YOU HIT THE BALL LONGER! YES DISPERSION IS A PROBLEM AND HIGHT IS A PROBLEM, BUT THE FIRST THING THAT COMES IN MIND, IS LONGER DRIVES WITH LESS SPIN.

to tip or not to tip that is the question here. when In doubt tip it out.

I interpreted from drop down menu with 3 options , that you can only get them tipped, not untipped. The untipped options were available with the 5 where you can choose 1" soft, which absolutely no tipping at at. So the GD HD for example can only be purchased with standard 1 inch tipping, then firmer options of 1.5 and 2?

Many years ago I was fit into an R1. The fitter said that the shaft would be tipped. I hated that driver and the experience turned me off TM and that fitter (the top fitter in my country, according to them at least.)

It must have to do with the adapter and the fact that the shaft doesn't go into the hosel like they did with glued heads. Callaways bore through process of old definitely stiffened the shaft so I'd guess they were untipped. Taylormade must think that a glued hosel plays stiffer than an adapter and so they're tipping??

Interesting! Is this just the drivers or does this include the fairway woods also? Great video thanks really like your channel.

I have a theory... Every taylormade driver of more recent years I've picked up, tried or waggled felt like the head was really heavy. I think taylormade leverages materials and manufacturing technics to save costs and ends up with a heavier or variant head. So tipping on the stiffer shafts helps the shaft feel more like it should.

I've not played about with anything after the R11s - do TM drivers still have a high BBGM? Think they originally started doing this with the R510/R7/5 Dual TPs because they offered uprated shafts but didn't tip them and they played very soft for their flex - leading to lots of players asking them to be tipped and refit and lengthened - I did lots of them.

I bought a new driver direct from TM, I ordered it shorter than standard, expected them to adjust the swingweight. they did not, it came at C9. I sent it back.

So the question is, have you spoken with any of the shaft manufacturers asking them to verify what TM said to you re tipping, and also ask them why TM tip some of their shafts but not others?

It's not just taylormade. Mostly common practice now across all manufacturers with any driver shaft. TM fit me for a stealth. Evenflow riptide 70g 6.5 tipped one inch long (so essentially prep tip install adapter) to make it tip softer than it normally would. I think this has more to do with the shaft manufacturers than TM or the other companies.

If I understood you correctly, you said that a tipped shaft is stiffer than a standard shaft. Therefore the firm options are tipped. What do they do to make the shaft softer?

So assuming a standard driver shaft (graphite) is tipped its slightly shorter (again assuming standard length is 46 inches) in thoery its going to be 45.5 or 45 inches long?? Or are they tipping it and then putting a extention in the GRIP end to make it appear its a standard length when you purchased it??

Very interesting, had not heard or read this before. Does it vary by head weight like Stealth vs Stealth plus to reduce the brick on a string feel?

I’ve just been fit by a local pro is the fitting cart shaft built tipped or are they just tipping the final build?

This was very informative. I wanted to ask if the Taylormade driver heads would have weight difference with different lofts. I know there are minor weight variance for taylormade 9 degree heads but would there be a significant weight difference between 8 degree head and a 10 degree head?

Last question as I’m watching your video on shafts now. If I order a AD XC-6 stiff shaft on a stealth plus driver through TaylorMade it’s an upcharge of $250. If I go to a custom club building web site they upcharge $380 for the same name shaft (XC-6). Are these the same exact shafts, or is the $380 version an aftermarket shaft and a better made shaft? What am I getting from TaylorMade directly for $250? Thanks again for all of your time.

How about fairway woods and hybrids? Are they also tipped 1”?

I received the latest P770’s. They were double soft stepped and tipped an inch from TM. Not happy.

Does a stiffer shaft gives you more draw instead of a fade? Does a flex shaft gives you more fade instead of draw?

hi , is it possible that all TM installed shafts are tipped 1", ie standard is just that Tm=1" off the tip, any other options are to either shorten further or to leave it longer, but my guess is they tip every shaft, Am I wrong on this thought,cheers from Australia

If you tipped 1 inc, you reduce TORQUE correct?

Looking at the new UST helium nanocore shaft, their tipping recommendations shows no tipping for the driver. On the Taylormade website, it only has 3 options for this shaft option. Does this mean Taylormade will be tipping it 1 inch? Just trying to understand your explanation in this video. Thanks.

Slighty different question: I brought my 2016 M2 head into 2ndSwing in DE last May and was fit into a HZDRS smoke yellow 5.5 used off the rack shaft. Got great numbers 1.48 smash. Went back in November and got fit into a Small Batch Evenflow Riptide CB 6.0 at 45 inches. Got 1.49 average smash. They didn’t have this shaft in 65 grams, They only had a 75 gram for fitting purposes but they ordered the 65 gram. 2ndSwing custom ordered this 65 g. shaft specific for me. Did project x tip my shaft ? I would have to check w my fitter to find out for sure, just curious to know if you know their standard tipping practice

This is super strange. So you get fit for a driver , yet it’s not what you get when the club is actually assembled for you. Wtf is that all about

Hi, I’m getting a used Ventus blue fairway shaft. How can I tell how much it may have been tipped?

That's so shady...Fujikura doesn't recommend any tipping for driver shafts as they were built to be installed with no tip and even warn that on their website that tipping will effect performance.

So, if I’m going to a fitter and I want a Stealth Plus 45.5 inch driver with a Tour AD Design XC-6 stiff shaft, what would I tell fitter and TM? The drop down has the 5 options for that shaft and I’d just want it un-tipped. Second question, do you find that most people take their current driver shaft and either just swap it to a new head/brand or buy same shaft new and use it in new driver? I have a Callaway Epic Max LS with this Tour AD XC-6 stiff shaft and like the shaft. Is it normal to think this shaft I like would work in a Stealth Plus head or does every combo become an individual fit?

So now if I keep my XC-6 shaft, I know to order one inch soft. If my current driver is 45.5 and TM standard is 45.75, what do they do to get it down to 45.5? Does it affect performance?

Makes me wonder what I really have

Any idea if they tip their stock shafts like the non velocore Ventus?

Doesn’t this process affect shaft length?

I've got a question for you. I've found a set of chippers that I really like that I think I'm going to use as wedges in my second set of clubs....my Hogan's are too sweet to replace. However, what's interesting is that as a chipper it does give my a slight advantage over a wedge, but more importantly, on full and partial swings is where it seems to be a game changer for me. I think because of the lie angle and my proximity to the ball, I don't hit it as far as a comparably lofted wedge, but I like that...fewer touch shots to decelerate on and if a wedge loft gets to high,I just don't hit it quite as well. 48 deg. to 54 deg. is my sweet spot. I don't know if it is the head design, or that it's much more upright than a regular wedge, but my alignment and confidence in a solid strike on these shots is way up there. Here's the only thing that I think can improve it even further.....it's to increase head weight to 330-340 range. It's at 310 now, and I like it, but for me, chipping around the green I know I like more head weight. I know I can get a 10 gr. tip weight, then add lead tape from there, but I prefer to keep it cleaner. Does it matter of the extra weight is in the shaft, or will I maintain feel and playability by distributing weight around the head for launch angle, spin, and moi? Any suggestions?

Not surprising to me. Their fitting process is terrible, especially compared to Callaway and Mizuno. I was fitted and sold a completely wrong flex and loft driver by TaylorMade. I've stayed away from their products ever since, irrespective of how fancy their marketing is.

If they were tipped then the shaft would be be that much shorter and would be obvious

That’s not good. I don’t think Fujikura recommends tipping of any kind on Ventus. I know that to be true from building with both the blue and red Ventus shafts anyway anyway. Tipping the black would turn it into another Hulk shaft.

Wouldn't the overall length tell you if it's tipped?

I'm not sure why they do. But I just thought myself some of the low kick or low mid-point shafts are uncut. mid/high version shafts are cut?. I saw the official Taylormade Video watched how to build Rory's driver (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/odxxerpk0pqvnXk.html) they cut Rory's one :) BTW thanks for your video! I'm totally enjoying it and learning a lot of things. Greeting from Korea

Hi ...Is there a way to test whether an iron shaft is bent. I changed my sons cobra amp iron shafts from dynalite Stiff 90 to R300 shafts. He didnt like the shafts so changed back to dynalite only to realise 7,6 and 5 iron shafts were bent when inserting into hosel. Very upset because my son could not get consistency with those irons. Are dynalites weaker and more prone to bending because of lighter construction? Going to have to fork out money for a new set. Thanks

The dropdowns have a menu for tipping and playing length. So i'd pick 0.5 tipping and -1/4' length, would the club come in -.75'? Or just -1/4'