50 Words or Less
The Project X EvenFlow Riptide and Riptide CB shafts offer the signature energetic feel of Evenflow but with more stability. Golfers can choose between standard weighting and counter balanced.
Introduction
In an environment where so many shaft manufacturers are focused on dropping spin and launch, Project X’s EvenFlow shafts were a breath of fresh air (review HERE). New for 2020, this popular family has been given a few tweaks to better suit golfer’s equipment needs. I tested both the Evenflow Riptide shafts to see who should be plugging them into their drivers this season.
Looks
Given the stunning looks of the original EvenFlow shafts, Project X had to bring their A game for the Riptide, and they did. Like the original, the appeal is in the underlying background design – a wavy mix of blues (CB) or black and grey (standard). The understated design fades to a solid color halfway down the shaft to remove distractions.
The branding on the Riptide is a bit larger than on the original EvenFlow, but it’s not huge. Project X plays on the watery theme with a pattern inside “Riptide” that calls to mind the frothy churn of the surf. The finishing touch is the iridescent “Small Batch” logo near the grip.
Feel
The original EvenFlow Blue was one of the most explosive feeling shafts in recent memory. It’s a feel I love, so I was eager to test the Riptide. It did not disappoint.
Even on controlled swings, the EvenFlow Riptide sends a jolt of energy flying down the shaft into the ball. And while some shafts can be active at the expense of being smooth, the Riptide strikes a great balance.
In comparing the Riptide to the original EvenFlow Blue and Black, I feel that the Riptide falls between the two. It’s more explosive than EvenFlow Black, tighter than EvenFlow Blue.
The Riptide CB is a perfect clone of the Riptide, but with more weight in the butt to reduce swing weight. I’ll dive into this difference more in Performance.
Performance
Regular readers know that when it comes to driver shafts, I prefer a smooth, active feel, but I need stability. The EvenFlow Riptide gave me a near-perfect balance of the two, particularly for my smoother winter swing. With the amount of kick in the shaft, I didn’t feel the need to swing like a maniac, and that produced solid accuracy.
Both EvenFlow Riptide shafts are billed as mid launch and mid spin, and I found that to be accurate for me. My drives were launching in my normal window with spin that is fairly average for me. I was seeing carry distances that were near optimal with plenty of roll out and a strong ball flight.
What was interesting was how much the counter balanced shaft affected my swing. With the Riptide CB, my angle of attack became even more positive (“hitting up” on the ball more). This produced a higher launch angle and less spin. The downside was that my accuracy dropped off. While the CB version wasn’t better for me, I love that Project X is offering the same shaft in both standard weighting and counter balanced. This allows golfers to find out if counter balancing can enhance their tee shots.
The Project X EvenFlow Riptide is available in 50, 60, 70, and 80 gram weight classes. In the 50 gram class, 5.5 and 6.0 flexes are available, which translates to regular and stiff. At 60 and 70 grams, there are 6.0, 6.5, and 6.5TX flexes: stiff, X-flex, and Tour X. The 80 gram version is only available in 6.5TX for the big hitters.
EvenFlow Riptide CB has a slightly lighter weight range – 40 grams to 70 grams. At 40 grams, there’s a 4.0 (Light or Senior) and 5.0 (Regular) flex. 50 grams offers 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0. In 60 and 70 grams, you can get 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 6.5TX.
Conclusion
The Project X EvenFlow Riptide shafts are wonderful successors to the original EvenFlows. This new version perfectly balances the best elements of the two originals. Additionally, the counter balanced option gives fitters a chance to play with weighting to dial in each golfer’s driver.
Matt Saternus
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There are so many shaft offerings today it is becoming cluttered and confusing. So much so that fitters cannot stock all the possibilities that are available so the consumer misses out on a lot that is new
What is the improvements over older project X series shafts and why should one change to riptide shafts? What should one expect.
Improvements over project X Hazards shafts. Please add this to previously post comments.
Don,
The EvenFlow isn’t an “improvement” over the HZRDUS line, it’s designed to fit a different type of golfer.
Best,
Matt
I swung the new SIM Max yesterday and had a Riptide 6.0 – 60g on it, both numbers i’m used to for my driver shafts. After two swings I had to check the shaft to make sure it wasn’t a 5.0 by mistake, felt extremely flimsy and unstable. They didn’t have any 6.5 or 6.0-70g available to switch with but FYSA, you way want to go with a higher labelled flex or weight if in the 95-100 mph range.
I have the pxg 811xf with the evenflow cb 40, it’s too whippy, what is the ideal swing speed? Am 66 year old 12 h golfer. Thank you
What was yor response to Lakan Fonacier?
Lakan,
Is this directed to me? The question was posted as a reply to another comment, so I assumed it was directed to that person.
-Matt
Hi I recently demoed the standard mavrik and was completely unable to control the stiff Flex Riptide. It was so whippy it was all over. Smothered hooks. I’m not that fast a swinger but I hated the shaft. Suprised at the positive review that states you can smooth one out there with speed. I needed to swing at slow and with conscious effort to get a drive in play.
Hi Matt how would the 50 compare to the UST Helium? Looking at both for SIM driver.
Rich,
I haven’t hit the UST Helium, so I can’t give you a comparison there. We would be very happy to review UST Shafts, but they have not responded to our previous inquiries. If you’d like to see their shafts reviewed on Plugged In Golf, please let them know through social media.
Best,
Matt
Matt,
Is it common for CB shafts to increase AoA or is that just how they work with your swing?
Thanks
Tom,
Good question. I don’t have any data to know whether or not my reaction to CB shafts is the norm.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt,
I decided to go with the CB 50 in a 5.5. Thanks for the great review. Quick question they are asking logo up or down. I know there is no performance and it’s personal preference. However I wanted your take as these are really cool graphics.
Thanks
Rich,
I prefer logo down for a cleaner look at address.
Best,
Matt
Best Shaft to look at for me with new TM sim driver. 10.5 head ., I am 63 yo . Driver speed 85 to 90 . I tend to be a Low ball higher and don’t get much roll out Riptide 60? or diamana Ltd 60 or ventus red ? Any suggestions? Thanks
Tom,
The best thing to do is to get fit before you plunk down $500 on a new driver. Make sure it does what you want and improves on what you already have.
Best,
Matt
I have a sim2 3 wood what Evenflow riptide shaft should I get I have a 5.0 50 gram in my driver
Need a 350 tip parameter Riptide CB 55g shaft R-flex for my older Tour Edge 9.0 degree driver head…Can you direct me as I am ready to purchase. Thank you😎
Don,
You might try contacting Club Champion.
Best,
Matt
Hello…
I’m confused…im 62..have RIPTIDE CG. 5.0-A 40G..
Is this a stiff shaft or regular??
James,
5.0 is roughly equivalent to senior flex.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt! I’m ready to purchase the Mavrik Max driver, and I’m noticing most places only offer the even flow 50. Given my club speed is around 100-105, would you definitely recommend going with a 60 gram shaft at the minimum?
Scott,
No, I would not definitely recommend anything other than making sure you work with a fitter before spending $500. There are plenty of players at 100+ who are fine with light shafts and slower players who need more weight.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt, really enjoy your reviews, just wondering how does the cb shaft effect the drivers MOI
Ike,
My understanding is that a counter balanced shaft would not have an impact on the MOI of the driver head.
Best,
Matt
I am 75 years of age and have a swing speed of 85-90. Do I need a lighter shaft 40-50 grams or would a 60-65 grams be better for my swing speed?
Thank you,
Fernando
Fernando,
If you’re looking to pure swing speed, lighter is better, but there’s no guarantee that you will create more ball speed (or hit drives that stay on the planet) with a lighter shaft. It’s always best to get a fitting and try multiple options before buying.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt.
I swing just under 100mph and I’m thinking of getting an epic flash with a riptide evenflow 6.0 50. Would it be accurate as my Atmos blue 65? Do you think this would suit me?
I usually set my loft at around 11°
Thanks
Donald,
There’s no way for me to credibly guess. The only way to know is to work with a fitter and test your current club against whatever you want to buy.
Best,
Matt
For all your questions the answer is work with a fitter.
Dan,
Yes, because that’s the best answer I can give. If I could accurately recommend shafts over the internet, I would do so, but I can’t. No one can. My goal with Plugged In Golf is to give people the best information possible, so that’s what I’ll continue to do.
-Matt
I agree with you
It’s always enjoyable reading the comments here at PIG.
80% are from people seeking a recommendation, and 100% of Matt’s answers are ‘get fitted’.
One might have thought people would do some research on likely responses before posting, but I guess optimism rules.
One optimistic request though. In the numbers provided for each review you give a figure for offline. I’d love to see an indication of in what direction.
I’m a low ball flight hitter with the driver. Went for a fitting for the SIM driver. Ended up with a 9.0 in Riptide Black 6.5 60 gram. 112-116 swing speed 160 to 168 ball speed. Good efficiency. Smooth and sturdy.
Numbers were really good with launch and AOA. I wasn’t expecting anything and never heard of the the riptide. I really didn’t want to like this shaft. I wanted to spend an extra $250 for the tensei pro white 60tx or the GD Ad-XC. The difference was 1 yard in distance and my dispersion was better with the Riptide. The feel is great and the kick feels under control. Now to the range and the course. Hopefully the fitting room magic keeps going.
How does this shaft compare to the KBS TD?
Mike,
We have a full review of the KBS TD here: https://pluggedingolf.com/kbs-td-shaft-review/
-Matt
Hi Matt,
I’m a new fan of your reviews & have been reading them for a while now. Excellent reviews.
To those of you who complain , what Matt doesn’t recommend a shaft for you through this medium, is simple & he keeps stating it, he’s not a fitter. No one, not even a seasoned fitter can recommend a shaft on the web. It’s impossible!
His purpose is to give you as much information about a product so that if it resonates with you, you’ll go out & check it out …. With a Fitter.
I went out & tried the Riptide black (6.0, 60) & it fit my swing. I’m 65yo with a 98 avg SS & can crank it to 102 when needed. It’s better than my Hzrdus yellow (6.0, 63) CB shaft & even better than my original EF Blue. (6.0, 65). The Riptide fits my current swing as I get older & using a smoother less aggressive swing. Thank you Matt.
So, I’ve been playing the evenflow blue with a cb grip. Would u think the new blue riptide cb might give me the same results, without the cb grip? Thx
Les,
That’s possible, but the RipTide is different than the original EvenFlow, so it’s not a sure thing.
Best,
Matt
Can you still get Evenflow black in 85g?
Bought one of these for my M6 – big mistake. I’m a greater driver of the ball but cannot control this shaft. It’s literally all over the course, but with normal distance. So much different than either my Graphite Design Blue Bullet, or Fijikura Speeder 757 tour spec shafts I also play. Matt’s right, you need to get fit. Mine will be on Ebay soon.
Matt, Thanks for the review. I understand you recommend getting fitted. Like the older gentleman that commented above. I already have a head that I like (PXG 0811XF). How do you suggest I get fitted for just the shaft? Can you recommend a fitter that will provide just a shaft fitting? Thank you!
Van,
You have two good options:
1) If you have a PXG fitter in your area, call and make an appointment there. Bring your head and let them help you find a shaft.
2) Do the same thing at a Club Champion. They should have no issue putting their universal adapter into your head and helping you find the best shaft.
-Matt
Thanks Matt! I found PXG fitter located in my city. Last question regarding the product itself. What does the small batch logo indicate versus riptide black shaft that do not have this logo? Is there a performance difference? Thanks again.
Ethan,
Project X has used a variety of logos and names to indicate the difference between aftermarket and stock shafts over the last few years. Small Batch is one of those indicators. I haven’t done the head to head testing necessary to say anything definitive, but my experience with aftermarket vs. stock is that, generally speaking, there is a significant difference. You can read more about that here: https://pluggedingolf.com/are-aftermarket-shafts-better-than-stock-shafts-golf-myths-unplugged/
Best,
Matt
I have the Riptide 60 in an Epic Speed 9 degree. Best results arrive with a smooth tempo in transition, which is what I have when I get serious about a swing. I find this is a no rush shaft but you can put your speed on it with the right tempo – transition smoothly and go after it. I find the Riptide to have a very smooth feel – I keep on using the word “smooth” but that’s what comes to mind with this shaft. Increase the swing weight to D4-5 and you get a bit more kick.
Hey Matt,
Great review. I compared this review to your review of the original even flow shafts. I noticed that your club speed only dropped a few mph, but the carry distance dropped about 20 yards. Do you think this was due to using a less lofted driver or do you think it is the shafts.
Cheers!
Chris,
We always stress that you cannot compare numbers from one review to another, especially across months or years. There are too many confounding variables. I don’t think any conclusions about the shafts can be drawn from comparing the two sets of numbers, though I do think the same driver head was used.
Best,
Matt
Project x EVENFLOW RIPTIDE CB 70 5.5. Could you please explain to me what does this information on this shaft mean, riptide cb 70 5.5 means?I went through the shaft fit and this shaft was recommended for me.
Hayden,
CB refers to it being counter balanced. 70 is the weight class. 5.5 is the flex, roughly a regular flex.
-Matt
Matt, what flex did you use for this review with the 104 club head speed?
Brent,
6.5.
Best,
Matt
Hell all , I have the Riptide in 6.0 with Sim 2 head. My swingspeed is from 92-99 mph fits swing well. My son on the other hand hits the ball as far as DJ Chambeu , Champ etc. He has the Riptide 6.5 and his ball speed is from 180 to 195 mph. He likes the Riptide 6.5 better than the Tour x shafts from all brands. Matt is 100% right when he says that you have to get fitted . Some people like lighter shafts even when they have a swing speed and ball speed 25mph faster than all of us.
Matt,
If you were going to pick an steel iron shaft to feel and load similarly to the Riptide what would you say matches?
Neil,
I think the closest you could get would be something like the Nippon Zelos, but that’s very light weight.
-Matt
I guess I will expand on my question. I was fit into the riptide 60 6.5. Moderate tempo swing speed 112-118.
Currently playing KBS Tour 130 SS’d. Would a Modus match to the riptide more than the KBS?
Neil,
Your question leads me to more questions (such as, how similar is your driver swing to your iron swing?), which is why I always advise people to get a fitting and state categorically that no one can fit over the internet. I’m sure there are just as many people playing some version of a Modus with a Riptide as there are playing some type of KBS. I’d like to give you a simpler or more satisfying answer, but it would be nothing but guesswork from me.
Best,
Matt
Thanks for the response. Never played the Modus and been a KBS guys for years. The shaft rabbit hole runs deep.
Neil,
You’re absolutely right. Part of the advantage of fitting, to my mind, is that you can leave the thinking to someone else and go play. The self-fitting, try-and-buy can lead to a lot of second guessing on the course.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt, just ordered the PGX 0811x+ and was “fitted” over the phone. They recommended the riptide cb shaft in the 50 wt 5.5 flex. I’m 74 and have lost a lot of swing speed the last couple of years. However I’ve been playing a 60 gr stiff Aldila shaft and can keep it in play about 220 out. Do you think I will find the riptide too whippy?
Don,
There’s no way for me to know how you’ll feel about the RipTide, unfortunately. What Aldila shaft are you playing now?
-Matt
I just got fitted for the riptide cb 50g 5.5 flex and found the shaft to be stable with a nice 85mph smooth tempo swing. Previously had a Mitsubishi Tengei CK Blue 60, regular flex but the riptide cb gave me more clubhead speed and ball speed without sacrificing the accuracy and easier on my spine. I’m just about 64 and have recently lost distance but this shaft has revitalized my driver.
Hallo, wo kann ich den folgenden Golfschaft bestellen ?
Callaway : Even flow riptide 5.5 R 50g
Vielen Dank für Ihre
Roman Nedelko
Nedelko,
Club Champion is the best option I know for ordering shafts.
Best,
Matt
Which specs did you try?
I tested the shafts that are pictured, 60 grams, 6.5 flex.
-Matt
I’m a big fan of the Riptide CB shaft. It’s a great design and it’s really easy to hit.
I’m a big fan of the Riptide CB shaft. It’s a great design and it’s really easy to hit.
Is there an actual weight in the butt end of the shaft? Just purchase the Riptide CB 6.0/50g & I do not notice anything unique about it. Thx
Robert,
There’s not a discrete weight, there’s just more material in the butt end to make that heavier.
Best,
Matt