Equipment
WRX Spotted: LA Golf Shafts TPHDe2
On the outside, golf shafts appear fairly simple. Layers of graphite, carbon, and maybe some other exotic fibers wrapped together and, boom, you have a shaft. In reality, it goes WAAYYY beyond that. Sourcing various materials from the same companies building all sorts of things in the aerospace industry, creating prototypes, working with players & fitters to get feedback, all this before we ever see anything at the retail level.
After going through all of these processes, LA Golf Shafts now has developed the TPHDe2… the second and updated version of the TPHDe.
Some back story here: The TPHDe was a famous shaft originally designed by Matrix (which was bought by LA Golf Partners). Its fame came from the materials that were used along with the fact that, kind of like a concept car because of the materials used, it had a pretty hefty price tag: around $1,000 at the time of release.
We spotted this along with some other models early last week at the WGC FedEx StJude. We had an idea of what they were but wanted to confirm some details before spreading the word. We reached out to LA Golf Shafts Chris Nolan for the details.
What we spotted are new prototypes along with some JDM market shafts that will become available in North America at a later date. The TPHDe2 is a totally new redesign done by John Oldenburg with input all the way down the line from PGA Tour players like Bryson DeChambeau, all the way to D1 college golfers. This is where the testing processes are so important because with so many swings, each one like a fingerprint, it’s vital for final product iterations that they both perform and provide a feel that players are looking for.
The TPHDe2 will utilize the same zylon material to help add strength to the shafts along with creating stability without feeling boardy—something many players of all skill levels demand.
Testing will continue on tour and we should be seeing these in custom shops soon.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
JP
Jul 29, 2019 at 5:30 am
Still trying to cash in on an old outdated shaft? I wouldn’t be surprised if these were old stock shafts with an updated paint job acquired in the Matrix purchase.