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The Graphite Design Tour AD EK shaft has an all-business look but a fun, powerful feel. Consistent performance with plenty of ball speed. Good for a wide variety of swings.
Introduction
Graphite Design can get a little off the wall with their two letter shaft names – see last year’s Tour AD CQ which stood for “ConQuest” [review HERE]. The new Graphite Design Tour AD EK seems more straightforward and descriptive with the EK standing for “Extra Kick,” but a look at the spec sheet tells us that this might not be the case. I took one out for testing to bring you a clear picture about who should be putting this in the bag.
Looks
The Graphite Design Tour AD EK has the most understated look we’ve seen from this line of shafts. Where last year’s Tour AD FI [review HERE] employed a sparkly teal/turquoise color, the Tour AD EK is black with shades of grey. I have no objection to the all-business look, but it is an interesting departure from a brand that’s best known for the orange Tour AD DI [review HERE] and is typically more colorful.
What has carried forward from last year is the slightly tweaked Tour AD graphics. The “Tour AD” logo has a more futuristic font, and the “EK” is made to stand out even more, being surrounded by a box of black. Graphite Design’s trademark rings still adorn the butt end of the shaft, allowing gear nerds to know exactly what this shaft is at a glance. [See Price / Buy]
Feel
Graphite Design describes the Tour AD EK as “mid/high launch with controlled mid/low spin.” This, along with the “Extra Kick” moniker, had me expecting a softer, more active shaft. However, before I even put an adapter on this shaft, I took a peek at the spec sheet. Per Graphite Design, the Tour AD EK is rated as 4 (Stiff)-3 (Firm)-4 (Stiff) from butt to tip. Compared to the Tour AD DI (2-2-4), this is a big jump stiffer. I was eager to swing the Graphite Design Tour AD EK and find out what to believe – the name or the rating.
A quick wiggle had me thinking that the specs were right – this is a more stout shaft. There was a little shake, but I didn’t see the head bouncing back and forth like hummingbird wings. My first swing brought my opinion back to the middle – I felt a substantial kick through the ball.
Ultimately, after extensive testing, I think that Graphite Design nailed it with their number rating for this shaft (they typically do). The kick is felt primarily in the middle of the shaft – right along the stripes – with the butt and tip a notch stiffer. While the kick is easy to activate and unmistakably present, I never felt like the Graphite Design Tour AD EK was getting loose or that I was overpowering it.
Performance
My first testing session came after a couple weeks away from hitting much driver. I worked up a lather with my gamer and built a baseline of data for comparison. When I switched to the Graphite Design Tour AD EK, one thing stood out: more ball speed. My club speed was the same, but my smash factor and ball speed jumped. This got me excited, so I swung harder. The Tour AD EK didn’t flinch and delivered a peak ball speed as high as I’ve seen lately – 165 MPH.
While my primary obsession was the ball speed, I also noticed that this shaft was producing solid dispersion. It didn’t demand a particular rhythm or effort level, producing steady draws regardless of the type of swing I made. I won’t pretend every ball landed where I intended, but I didn’t get any weird results. When my swing got out of sorts, I hit a foul ball. With anything “C” or better, the ball was solidly in play.
Regular readers know that my driving is left-side dominant. At my best, I’m hitting small pulls or tight draws; at worst, pull-hooks. Especially when I’m out of practice, being able to produce a controlled fade is a real badge of honor for a shaft. With the Graphite Design Tour AD EK, I could find that shot but only with a more controlled tempo. If you’re a very aggressive swinger, the Tour AD EK can keep your lefts moderate, but it’s unlikely to promote a cut.
Turning to launch and spin, my results with the Graphite Design Tour AD EK differed slightly from what’s advertised. Graphite Design promotes this as “mid/high launch with controlled mid/low spin.” For me, it was mid/low spin with the launch closer to mid/low than mid/high. With my draws, the ball launched forcefully and was unbothered by the wind. My cuts did launch higher, but the spin stayed in a very controlled range.
For those who love the tech, the Graphite Design Tour AD EK features a new material in the tip section: Toray 1200G. This pairs with AD Shield (use of TORAYCA M40X in the handle) which carries forward from Tour AD FI and Tour AD GC [review HERE] to promote efficient energy transfer and stability.
The Graphite Design Tour AD EK is available in five weight classes: 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 grams. At 40 and 50 grams, they offer R2 (Lite/Senior), Regular, Stiff, and X flexes. Moving up to 60 grams, there is a Stiff/Regular, Stiff, X, and Tour X. At 70 grams, there are three flexes: Stiff, X, and Tour X. Finally, the 80 gram Tour AD EK is only available in Tour X. [See Price / Buy]
Conclusion
While the “Extra Kick” name left me scratching my head, the performance of the Graphite Design Tour AD EK had me thinking about keeping it in the bag. The black and grey color scheme hides a fun, powerful feel and loads of ball speed. If you want a shaft that can help you produce long, controlled drives, check this out with your local Graphite Design fitter. [See Price / Buy]
The Graphite Design Tour AD EK “Extra Kick” is a premium wood shaft engineered for mid-high launch, controlled low-mid spin, and increased carry distance while maintaining stability, accuracy, and responsive feel.
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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6 Comments
Hey Matt,
Were you swinging as well as you did when testing the 1K orange? Which felt better out of the EK and 1K?
Thanks again for all the reviews.
Dan,
I tested them both during the same sessions. I like both a lot, but prefer the 1K Orange.
Best,
Matt
I am a huge fan of GD golf shafts. I have the VF and FI which I actually like the VF a little more because I seem to get a little more distance with run out. What do you think the new EK shaft with performance against the VF? You had higher ball speed and smash factor against your gamer. I primarily use the VF and will sometimes switch out to the FI. My trajectory is almost the same but the VF will tumble more. Swing speed is about the same. I know the VF is suppose to be a lower trajectory but for me this is not the case they are similar.
Mark,
I think EK vs. VF performance will all depend on the individual. The VF was too stout to be an everyday shaft for me, the EK could be a gamer.
Best,
Matt
Another great review Matt. You probably do the best shaft reviews I see, which has to be challenging, and I think many others shy away from them.
What you’re describing has me very intrigued, particularly the 60g stiff/regular option. I’ve always found myself right along that border and have really found it difficult to find shafts to consistently stick.
Look forward to many more great reviews from you and the site!
#BushnellGiveaway
Absolutely correct in regard to Matt’s shaft reviews. He perfectly toes the line between raw data and subjective feel and experience. Speaking to “subjective feel and experience”, this is what is most important. I’m similar in that I’m in between Stiff and XStiff. Even played the VF TX6 really well. Absolutely eliminated the pull miss. Just try your best to be “spec blind” when trying shafts out. Tempo and release patterns trump raw club head speed and typical shaft suggestions.