The story below seeks to answer the question: “What are the most commonly used driver shafts by the top-50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings?”
The story below does NOT answer the question: “What driver shaft should YOU use?”
It’s an important distinction to keep in mind before continuing.
Golfers at the top level of the game are, of course, some of the most influential tastemakers in the sport. Their equipment decisions, fashion choices, and even swing changes help to shape the golfing decisions of the general public, whether it’s for the better or worse. For some golf fans, the equipment that the top players in the world use help to determine the clubs and shafts they test or buy for themselves.
The mentality goes something like, “Hey, if it’s good enough for Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm, it’s probably good enough for me.”
The flaw in that line of thinking, at least when it comes to driver shafts, is that McIlroy currently averages 326.2 yards off the tee on the PGA Tour so far in the 2022-2023 season, and Jon Rahm averages 311.5 yards. The AVERAGE driving distance on the PGA Tour in 2022-2023 is 298.7 yards, and the AVERAGE ball speed off the tee is 172.95 mph.
The top golfers in the world do not play golf, or swing the golf club, anything like an everyday golfer who pays greens fees.
In reality, PGA Tour players don’t swing like each other, either. Even though most of them hit the ball over 300 yards on the regular, they each have different speeds, swing transitions, release patterns, angles of attack, launch angles, spin rates, and they even have different goals in mind for how to achieve maximum efficiency with their driver swings.
The point is, it’s extremely likely that your personal golf swing, and launch monitor data, looks nothing like any of the players on the list below.
I know…but you drove it 330… on that one hole… during that one round… a couple weeks back. Great drive, and I hope you made birdie, but I do hope you understand that driver fitting works to help minimize your typical misses and optimize your average drive – not to fuel a sense of pride by playing a shaft that’s too stiff and too heavy for you because you caught the speed slot on hole 14 last month and now you think you’re knocking on top-20 PGA Tour speed.
I’m not trying to be mean, either. I’m trying to say the best driver shaft for you is the one that actually helps you hit it long and straight, not the one that most closely resembles a PGA Tour player’s driver setup.
So, my suggestion is to use this story as either pure entertainment, or as a starting point of information gathering on what shafts you would like to test during your next fitting or testing session. I’ve provided a link to each shaft in the story so you can explore the shaft profile and see if it’s in your wheelhouse to test.
Every single golfer on this list is using the driver shaft they’re using because they hit a multitude of shafts with varying lengths, weights, flex profiles, torque profiles, and a myriad of other characteristics. They tested various shaft offerings with the help of a fitter, and they tracked each shot with a launch monitor, ultimately determining that a particular shaft best suits their game and preferences, and works in conjunction with their driver head and grip of choice.
Everyday golfers can most easily find their perfect driver shaft by getting with a fitter and trying out different models for themselves. It’s also important to keep in mind that each model comes in different flexes and weights, and each family of shafts typically has different design categories. For example, maybe the low-spinning “Fujikura Ventus Black” flies a bit too low for your swing and speed, but maybe the higher-spinning “Fujikura Ventus Red” is right in your window. There’s a lot of moving parts when it comes to shafts, which is why I so strongly suggest consulting a professional fitter.
OK, now, with that being said, let’s get into the results.
The scientific process for this story was simple: I looked up the top-50 golfers in the Official World Golf Rankings, and then cross-referenced each player with the extensive GolfWRX.com WITB database to see what driver shaft each player has used most recently. The full list is down at the bottom of the story, and the shafts that appeared most often in the top-50 list were awarded the “most popular” tag below.
Hopefully this list can provide a jumping off point for your next driver shaft testing session!
1) Fujikura Ventus TR Blue (6-of-50 players)
According to Fujikura, the Ventus TR Blue is a mid-launch, low-spin shaft
“A powerful combination of stability and feel, TR Blue maintains an ultra-stiff tip section for superior control at impact,” Fujikura says. “Increased torsional stiffness creates a profile with enhanced load capabilities for more aggressive swings while maintaining a smooth overall feel.”
- Rory McIlroy (No. 3): Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Cameron Smith (No. 9): Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Justin Rose (No. 28): Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Adam Scott (No. 37): Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7X
- Harris English (No. 41): Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Patrick Reed (No. 47): Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
2) Fujikura Ventus Black (5-of-60 players)
According to Fujikura, the Ventus Black is a low-launch shaft.
Fujikura speaks on the Ventus technology: “The exceptionally engineered Ventus is designed to significantly tighten shot dispersion and maximize ball speed especially on off-center shots. Ventus is a Tour-inspired profile and the first to include Fujikura’s all-new VeloCore Technology in an accelerated taper, ultra-stiff tip profile. Maximum energy transfer from the tip section boosts the clubhead’s performance and a straight taper design enhances loading and feel.”
- Scottie Scheffler (No. 1): Fujikura Ventus Black 7X
- Keegan Bradley (No. 24): Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
- Si Woo Kim (No. 30): Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
- Tom Hoge (No. 36): Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
- Ryan Fox (No. 42): Fujikura Ventus Black 7TX
T3) Fujikura Ventus Blue (4-of-60 players)
According to Fujikura, the Ventus Blue is a mid-launch shaft, and is constructed with the same VeloCore technology as the aforementioned Ventus Black.
Fujikura explains more about VeloCore: “A multi-material bias core construction that delivers ultimate stability through transition and impact (maximizing clubhead MOI) – increasing velocity and smash factor. The multi-material core is crafted with full-length, ultra-high modulus Pitch 70 Ton Carbon Fiber — 150 percent stronger and more stable than T1100g — for ultimate stability, and 40 Ton bias layers ensure incredible feel.”
- Jordan Spieth (No. 10): Fujikura Ventus Blue 6X
- Sam Burns (No. 14): Fujikura Ventus Blue 7X
- Denny McCarthy (No. 35): Fujikura Ventus Blue 6X
- Chris Kirk (No. 39): Fujikura Ventus Blue 6TX
T3) Graphite Design Tour AD-DI (4-of-60 players)
According to Graphite Design, the Tour AD-DI (which stands for “Deep Impact”) uses NanoAlloy material and aerospace-quality carbon fiber t0 promote shaft stability and greater speed without the loss of feel. It has a soft mid-section to create load, but a stiff tip section to encourage high launch and low spin.
- Sungjae Im (No. 19): Graphite Design Tour AD DI 7X
- Hideki Matsuyama (No. 25): Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8TX
- Joaquin Niemann (No. 34): Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 6X
- K.H. Lee (No. 46): Graphite Design Tour AD DI 6X
5) Honorable mention
*Each of these shafts appeared more than once on the top-50 list:
- Fujikura Ventus TR Black (Will Zalatoris: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7X, Billy Horschel: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6X)
- Mitsubishi Diamana ZF (Patrick Cantlay: Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60TX, Justin Thomas: Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60TX)
- Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue (Emiliano Grillo: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX, Taylor Moore: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX)
- Mitsubishi Diamana D-Limited (Tony Finau: Mitsubishi Diamana D-Limited 70TX, Brooks Koepka: Mitsubishi Diamana D-Limited 70TX)
- Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited (Shane Lowry: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX, Collin Morikawa: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX)
The Full Top-50 List of Driver Shafts
- Scottie Scheffler: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X
- Jon Rahm: Aldila Tour Green 75TX
- Rory McIlroy: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Patrick Cantlay: Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60TX
- Viktor Hovland: Fujikura Speeder 661 TR X
- Xander Schauffele: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 70TX
- Max Homa: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 65TX
- Matt Fitzpatrick: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 65TX
- Cameron Smith: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Jordan Spieth: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6X
- Will Zalatoris: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7X
- Tony Finau: Mitsubishi Diamana D-Limited 70TX
- Brooks Koepka: Mitsubishi Diamana D-Limited 70TX
- Sam Burns: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7X
- Justin Thomas: Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60TX
- Tyrrell Hatton: Mitsubishi Diamana TB 80TX
- Cameron Young: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White 70TX
- Collin Morikawa: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60TX
- Sungjae Im: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 7X
- Kurt Kitayama: Graphite Design Tour AD UB 7TX
- Tom Kim: Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec Black 6X
- Jason Day: TPT Prototype
- Tommy Fleetwood: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage XTS 70X
- Keegan Bradley: Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
- Hideki Matsuyama: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 8TX
- Shane Lowry: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70TX
- Sahith Theegala: Project X HZRDUS Black 60TX
- Justin Rose: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Corey Conners: UST Mamiya Elements LIN-Q M40X 6F5
- Si Woo Kim: Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
- Russell Henley: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70TX
- Wyndham Clark: Accra TZ Six ST 60 M5
- Sepp Straka: Mitsubishi Kai’li White 60TX
- Joaquin Niemann: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 6X
- Denny McCarthy: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6X
- Tom Hoge: Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
- Adam Scott: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7X
- Billy Horschel: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6X
- Chris Kirk: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6TX
- Brian Harman: Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 5S
- Harris English: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Ryan Fox: Fujikura Ventus Black 7TX
- Emiliano Grillo: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60TX
- Rickie Fowler: Mitsubishi Diamana Prototype 70X
- Seamus Power: Accra TZ6 Proto 65
- Kyoung-Hoon (K.H.) Lee: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 6X
- Patrick Reed: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6X
- Adrian Meronik: Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution IV X-Flex
- Taylor Moore: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60TX
- Pablo Larrazabal: Fujikura Pro 63
