50 Words or Less
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX shaft has the most active feel of any HZRDUS shaft. Moderate kick with good stability. Mid launch and spin.
Introduction
Recently, I reviewed the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX [HERE], the stiffest, lowest launching member of the HZRDUS family. For this review, I’m going to the opposite end of the spectrum with the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX. In the HZRDUS line, as with many other shaft families, red denotes the highest launching, most active feeling shaft. If you want the stability of HZRDUS but need more feel, this might be the one for you.
Looks
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX shares its aesthetics with the Green RDX, save the obvious color change. The Red RDX has a rich, crimson base color that fades to black just below the “HZRDUS” graphic. All the branding is consistent with previous HZRDUS shafts, including the hazmat placard with all the shaft’s specs. Those that prefer a clean address look can get that with a logo-down installation.
Feel
The HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is the most active shaft in the HZRDUS family. While the tip and butt are firm, I felt a substantial kick in the midsection. As a result of this kick, the Red RDX feels like the fastest HZRDUS, the one that’s adding a little extra juice to your swing.
Interestingly, my feel for the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX does not match up with Project X’s description. They describe the Red as having a stiff butt and mid with a softer tip. While I did feel slightly higher torque in the tip, I sensed the kick in the mid section. This is a good example of how feel is subjective and that manufacturer’s descriptions – while technically accurate – may not align with your feel. This is why we always encourage getting fit by a trained professional.
Performance
As I noted earlier, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is at the far end of the HZRDUS family, opposite the Green. My testing has shown that I’m not a fit at either end; I’m better suited for the Black RDX or Blue RDX in the middle [review HERE].
Before getting into the details, I want to be clear that a shaft not being a good fit for me does not mean it’s not a good shaft. With that said, the more active feel and softer tip of the Red RDX led to less predictable results for me. I love the feel of the shaft exploding into impact, but it can make me hesitant to swing hard, and tentative swings are rarely good ones.
With the Red RDX, I hit some beautiful drives – higher launch, mid spin, often with a little draw. I also hit some drives that would have found the trees. Any time that I kept my swing smooth, the results were good to great. Unfortunately, that’s not something I can always do.
This shaft delivers on the performance that it advertises in terms of spin, launch, and feel. That feel is just a little too active for my swing and preferences.
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is available at 50, 60, and 70 grams. The lightest version is offered in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 flexes, which translates roughly to A-Flex, Regular, and Stiff. At 60 and 70 grams, Project X makes 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and TX flexes.
Conclusion
For the player that wants a blend of stability and feel with some of the highest end materials being used in golf, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is a great choice. As always, make sure to get fit and test things before you commit. You may find tremendous performance with a shaft you weren’t expecting to like.
Visit Project X HERE
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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Just hit a Stealth 10.0 degree driver with this shaft in 60 gram in stiff as part of the TM try before you buy program. For me it was too spinny. Ball speed was higher than my Sim 2 max, with 60 gram Tensie blue in X stiff, but it wasn’t as long and had way to much of a left bias for me. I had one Stealth shot that was further than my Sim 2 Max, but for the most part, it wasn’t as long or straight as my current gamer. I want to try the same setup with a mid launch lower spin shaft. I thought it would be a good choice for me but it wasn’t. I sent it back to TM today.
I can order as many of these try before I buy drivers as I want, I would like to try it with a Ventus blue shaft or something similar or maybe the Hzrdus Blue.
Doesn’t the try before you buy program cost $120 a year or $13 a month?
Yeah I did the $120 a year deal just to see what it was like. Originally I signed up and my subscription cost was refunded, never figured out why but this particular driver was sent to me before my membership was downgraded. I then renewed again.
Matt,
Since this wasn’t a great fit for your normal swings, but did work with the ones where you forced yourself to be smoother, is your natural swing more of a hitter with an aggressive transition vs. a smooth swinger?
If so, good info for me to keep in mind as I read your reviews as my swing tends to lean towards aggressive vs smooth.
Marshall,
My natural swing has a more aggressive transition.
-Matt
Matt,
Do you still game the ventus black?
Alex,
No. My current WITB is here: https://pluggedingolf.com/about/matt-saternus/matts-whats-in-the-bag/
-Matt
Are the smoke shafts only for fairway & Drivers heads?
Chris,
Project X also makes hybrid shafts in the HZRDUS line.
Best,
Matt
Am going to get fit, but wanted your take on hybrid shafts. I am currently in elevate 85 regular shafts with my rogue st max irons , My driver is a fujijura blue 6S velocore with a cobra ltdx head. I love both the irons and the driver. I’m looking at the rogue st max os hybrid, before I get fit, wanted some idea around shafts to make sure they are included in the fitting. My guess is I am looking for a 75g (ish) shaft. Likely regular flex (all relative as each mftr is different). Suggestions to include in the fitting would be greatly appreciated.
Tom,
If you’re enjoying the Ventus in your driver, that might be something to consider in a hybrid, too. Is there something particular you’d like the hybrid shaft to do or feel like? Any specific way you use your hybrid?
Best,
Matt
With the velocore, I feel like I get a tighter dispersion. I want that, but also want the ability with the hybrid to get the ball to stop on greens rather than roll out. My home course isn’t necessarily long as it is very hilly. And the hills create long shots uphill that today my hybrid isn’t stopping.
Tom,
If the Ventus Blue hybrid doesn’t go high enough, you might consider something like the Mitsubishi Tensei Red.
Best,
Matt
Thanks!
I’m really looking for my hybrid to be able to get into greens and not roll out. Home course isn’t very long, but lot is uphill shots. Existing hybrid runs thru. I like the dispersion on the ventus blue with the driver and flight as I tend to hit a higher ball and this helped to control the height. I have never hit the Fujikura Pro 2.0 and was considering trying that, but don’t know if that is too much of a step backwards from ventus. I would have been considering a ventus red, but it doesn’t come in a 7R and I think the 7S would be too stiff. Hence the fitting, but willing to consider all options and reading lots of your reviews on shafts to potentially get ideas that I have not considered previously.
Hi Matt,
I’ve been researching different shafts to put on a Stealth UDI 2 iron. What do you look for in a shaft when considering a Utility wedge or driving iron?
Mike,
At the risk of sounding flippant, I look for one that fits me. For me, that means a fairly stout tip and, ideally, a little softness in the mid or butt.
-Matt
Is the smoke red Rex shaft offered ny Ping the real deal or is it a “made for” edition?
Mike,
I don’t have first hand knowledge one way or the other. My general assumption is that stock shafts are made for.
Best,
Matt