50 Words or Less
TPT Golf brings experience in a variety of high-tech fields to making golf shafts. Feel that is unlike anything else. Great, consistent performance.
Introduction
At the PGA Show this past January, I got to spend some time with the TPT Golf team. The company’s backstory is, in a word, fascinating. They were founded to make sails for the Swiss America’s Cup team. From there they went on to make parts for Richard Mille watches, F1 race cars, skis, snowboards, solar planes, and more.
The company was finally pushed into golf by a trio of David Leadbetter, a leading golf biomechanist, and a top club fitter. Their founder says he waited so long because making a golf shaft is more complex than anything they’ve done before, even in tech, military, or space travel. After having tested their shafts, I can say that the wait was worth it.
Check out the new TPT Red Range Shafts HERE
Looks
At a glance, the TPT Golf shafts is quite understated. It’s black with light green and blue branding and model labeling. A closer look reveals an interesting wood grain pattern hidden in the matte black.
Feel
Most shafts distinguish themselves with their feel in transition or in the down swing. Where the TPT Golf shafts are unique is at impact. I have never hit a shaft that feels this stable and connected at impact.
During the swing, the TPT Golf shafts have either average kick or slight kick, depending on whether you choose the LKP (low kick point) or MKP (mid kick point) model. Either way, impact feels amazing. It’s particularly impressive on mishits because it doesn’t feel like the head twists at all.
Performance
TPT Golf is not shy when it comes to making claims about their shafts. They state that their shafts have approximately 2.5 times more layers than other shafts which leads to more consistency. Because their entire manufacturing process is automated and done in house, they claim that their shafts are identical – the one you buy today and the one you buy in five years will be the same. This is a big deal – I recall that a couple years ago Jordan Spieth broke his gamer and spent a long time testing numerous shafts to find one that felt the same. Additionally, they state that their shafts have no spine and will fatigue less over time.
While all of that is interesting, I can’t speak to any of it. Here’s what I can tell you: TPT Golf makes a seriously good shaft. As you can see in the numbers, my ball speed was solid, launch was in a mid-flight window, and the spin stayed low. At 74 grams, it’s a little heavier than I want a driver shaft to be, so this is headed into my gamer 3W where I expect it to become a weapon.
My only knock on TPT Golf right now is the lack of models. At each of the five levels of swing speed, there are only two models (mid and low kick) and one weight. This doesn’t leave a ton of room for fitting, but TPT Golf already has plans to expand their line in 2017.
Conclusion
Currently available at only a select number of fitters, TPT Golf will be a widely known and available product if their track record in other industries is any indicator. Though no one but an engineer could validate the technological claims they make, every golfer will be able to appreciate the first tier feel and performance of their shafts.
Matt Saternus
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How much do the shafts cost? I read somewhere it was $700….
Hope they expand their network of dealers/fitters because that is pretty steep to try on a leap of faith.
Ryan,
I was told that retail is $700.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt,
Nice review on this new exotic shaft, but seem to be on the very expensive side at the present time.
Within your reviews I saw better numbers when reviewing the GD Tour AD-TP, Tour AD-Di 6 and the Speeder Evo III 757 (are you still gaming this last one?).
I also found that this is a considerably high torque shaft compared to the other three, which in theory should make it less stable.
How would you say it compares to your current gaming shaft?
Thank you!
Carlos
Carlos,
TPT is still a premium shaft, but they have reduced their retail price from the $1000 initial price to $500.
Comparing numbers from one review to another is not apples to apples. There are a variety of differences from one test to another that make these comparisons less than ideal.
With regard to torque, it’s a number I rarely look at. There are many factors in how a shaft feels and performs, and I think torque gets overrated as a “be all, end all” of what a shaft is.
Best,
Matt
It’s been a little time since this was written, any update on models, performance claims, and your thoughts on these?
Bill,
We have a follow up review here: https://pluggedingolf.com/2018-tpt-golf-shaft-review/
Best,
Matt