The best driver shafts on the market will help you reach your full potential from the tee box. It’s not easy to hit great drives as the club is so much longer than the others in your bag. However, the first step in this process is to ensure you have the right driver shaft in place.
We tested a range of golf shafts for everyone from a beginner to a low handicap player; here are the options that we came up with.
Check out our guide on the best iron shafts as well.
Best Driver Shafts: Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Project X New HZRDUS Smoke 60
Best Value: Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 45
Best For Distance: MCA Golf Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 60
Best Premium: Tour Shop Fresno Graphite Design AD IZ 4
Best For Driver Shaft Replacement: Aldila NV 65 Green
Best For Seniors: Graphite Design Tour AD UB
Best For Women: Alpha Platinum Graphite Ladies
Best Overall: Project X New HZRDUS Smoke 6.0 60g Driver Shaft Stiff Flex
The Project X HZRDUS Smoke is one o the best driver shaft options in the last five years; low spinning, high flying, and plenty long this shaft meets the needs of so many golfers.
- One of the best driver shaft options ever made
- Great penetrating ball flight
- Low spin, will roll for a long time
- Fair pricing considering the technology
- Mostly for a mid swing speed player, faster players need something a little heavier
The best overall golf driver shaft on the market is the Project X HZRDUS Smoke. When you look at any of the new releases on the market, they are almost all available with this golf shaft in them.
Therefore, Project X has the latest technology, perfect to put in an older driver head to see if you can increase performance.
Of course, one of the most important things about a golf driver shaft is the distance you can get. The Project X is a very low-spinning, higher-flying golf shaft that will get you a ton of distance.
The Project X shafts typically come with an adapter on them that can fit in a wide range of clubs, but you can order a universal adapter to work with the shaft as well.
Best Value: Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 45 Driver Shaft Regular Flex
The Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 65 Driver is lightweight, fairly priced, and can offer much higher ball flight for the average golfer.
- Great feel at impact
- Very long-distance golf drive
- Just enough tip stiffness for stability at impact
- Will have a bit of vibration at impact, being one of the cheaper golf shafts on the market
Many golfers think they will just change the shaft in their driver when they need a new feel. However, the problem becomes that the price of a golf driver shaft is quite high. You could end up finding out that the golf driver shaft costs more than the price of a new golf driver from the manufacturer.
For players on a budget still looking for excellent performance and feel, the Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue 45 is a perfect choice. This is a very lightweight golf shaft option built for higher ball speed and higher ball flight. However, you will still get plenty of roll.
Although high-performing golf shafts tend to be higher in price and offer the most impressive feel, we have to say that the Grafalloy has some excellent value associated with it.
Best For Distance: MCA Golf Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 60 Graphite Driver Shaft
The Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 60 Graphite Driver shaft is a premium option with an impressive feel, plenty of flexibility, and premium distance performance.
- Has a grip in place
- Can purchase with an adapter to fit current driver
- It comes in a few different weights and flexes
- Overall classic golf swing weight and feel
- Expensive
When you start shopping for golf driver shafts, you will find a few options on the market that keep coming up. Those names are typically Project X and Mitsubishi Tensei. These golf shafts have worked their way up through the years to be the best overall option for the average golfer.
The Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange is one of the best golf driver shafts for distance. The new Carbon Fiber weave found in the butt section of the shaft helps give golfers more stability.
Since this weave is made with carbon fiber material, it also gives golfers a much better feel. If you are a player who needs to feel where the golf shaft is to be able to get that long and straight drive into play, the Mitsubishi Tensei can undoubtedly do the trick.
Best Premium: Tour Shop Fresno Graphite Design AD IZ 4 Driver Shaft
The Graphite Design Tour AD IZ is a tour-level golf shaft with very little vibration and impressive distance; lower handicap players will benefit greatly from this technology.
- Almost no vibration at impact
- Great feedback for the better player
- Incredible distance technology
- Constructed with premium materials
- Priced a little higher than other golf driver shaft choices
The Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 4 Driver shaft is a tour-proven model offering players extremely impressive distances and ball flights. If you are serious about your golf game and want to ensure you put a high-quality golf shaft in play, this is an easy choice. The new carbon fiber technology in the Tour AD IZ gives it an even better feel and stability.
One way to tell if a golf shaft is a high quality is the amount of vibration it has at impact. With this driver shaft in place, the impact will feel incredibly stable. Another positive feature of the Graphite Design Tour AD IZ Is the control you get.
If you want to hit a shot down the left and have it fade back to the right, this shaft will allow that to happen. Overall you won’t be able to beat this driver shaft’s performance for the price. If you made a mistake and bought the wrong shaft in your driver, switch it out with one of these, and you will be right back on track.
Best For Driver Shaft Replacement: Aldila NV 65 Green
The Aldila NV 65 Green shaft features Micro Laminate Technology, impressive distance, and very little vibration in the shaft.
- Micro Laminate Technology
- Eliminated dead zones
- A very consistent golf shaft
- Does not have the same premium distance technology found in other top choices
Sometimes golf driver shafts break, and it is unfortunate as they can be expensive. We love the Aldila NV 65 Green shaft to use as a driver shaft replacement if you have a broken golf driver. This is a fair price and works for a wide range of players.
The Aldila’s NexGen Micro Laminate Technology provides 20 layers of thin aerospace material. The idea is that with this tightly packed material, there are very few dead zones in this shaft.
You will still need to purchase an adapter for this shaft and a grip, but if your driver can be back up and functioning for $100, you will be coming out ahead. Aldila has been around for a long time and is a well-respected brand in the industry.
Best For Seniors: Graphite Design Tour AD UB
The Graphite Design Tour AD UB has a mid launch angle and low spin rates perfect for the senior player; this is a premium option with a great feel.
- Great looking golf shaft
- Mid launch angle
- Low spin rates
- Developed for higher and longer ball flight
- The Graphite Design shafts are priced a little higher than others on the market
One of the newest releases to the market in 2023 was the Graphite Design Tour AD UB. The Graphite Design shafts have become quite popular because of their premium features and technology. The UB stands for Up and Beyond.
Aside from this being a great-looking golf shaft, it’s also really well suited for the senior golfer. This shaft has a medium stiffness in the butt and center section and a slightly stiffer tip. The results are a slightly higher launch and more consistency in the shots you hit.
Graphite Design shafts are tour-proven designs that certainly have a bit of a higher price tag. However, for seniors who have lost distance and want to regain it, the Graphite Design Tour AD could be the perfect solution.
Best For Women: Alpha Platinum Graphite Ladies Driver Shaft
The Alpha Platinum Graphite Wood is made specifically in a length and weight that can work for lady golfers.
- Fair pricing
- Several weight options are available
- Lightweight golf shaft
- Comes in 45 or 55-g weights
- Fair pricing
- Not the most well-known option when it comes to distance and feel
Women golfers often need to make adjustments to the length of the golf shaft they use before they can replace it. The Alpha Platinum gives you the option to purchase the shaft in the exact length that women golfers need.
These shafts are lightweight, and they have a mid launch. The shaft comes with a charcoal matte finish, so it will match almost any clubhead that you want to put it on. If you are a woman golfer with a bit more clubhead speed, the Alpha Platinum does come in a 55 g option in addition to the 45g.
What to Consider When Buying Driver Shafts
Now that you know which driver shafts are the best on the market, here are a few things to understand about narrowing these down. Not all golf driver shafts will be a good fit for your game; here are some of the top features and characteristics to keep in mind.
Steel or Graphite
Stick with graphite in your driver shaft. The goal of a driver is to hit the ball long and far, and with a graphite shaft in place, that is possible. Some cheap beginner sets may give you a steel shaft in the driver; try to avoid this whenever possible; it’s not worth it.
If you don’t have much money to spend, choose one of the value option driver shafts, but give yourself the best chance possible for a long drive with the graphite shafted drivers.
Related: Graphite vs. Steel Shafts: Which is right for your golf game?
Length
Golf drivers vary in length from around 44 inches to more than 46 inches. The standard is usually around 45 to 45 and a half inches. The length of your driver has little to do with your current height as well as your ability.
Longer drivers are a bit more difficult to square up. Therefore you must have some ability to be able to fully release and swing the club around you if you want to get great distance on your shots.
A custom fitting can give you a better idea as to what length driver shaft you may need.
Adapter
Many of the best drivers on the market have adjustable driver heads, and this allows you to put a new shaft in with ease. If you find the right adapter with your golf club, you should be able to have it replaced in a matter of minutes.
The adapter tends to come at an extra cost, and each brand manufacturer has different adapters that they will need. It’s best to purchase the shaft with an adapter to make it easier with compatibility.
Grip
Some golf shafts come as raw shafts with no grip in place. Others will have a grip of your choice. The grip usually costs about $8 to $14 to install after the fact. Keep this in mind as you shop to properly anticipate the full costs of the driver shaft replacement project.
Launch and Spin Profile
Two of the biggest performance factors to keep in mind when purchasing the best driver shafts are the launch and spin profiles. The majority of the new golf shafts released have a low spin profile.
Lower spin allows for more distance even after your ball hits the fairway. The mid launch is usually ideal for the majority of golfers. However, the higher launch can be a good option for players that need more forgiveness.
Difference Between a Driver and Iron Shaft
The main difference between a driver and an iron shaft is the length of the shaft. The longer driver shaft allows us to get more distance, but it is also why player struggle with control. Most driver shafts are considerably more expensive than iron shafts, but this has everything to do with the amount of material needed to create the shafts.
In addition, the spin characteristics for the shafts will be different. Many driver shafts are created for the lowest spin possible, while iron shafts actually encourage us to get a bit more spin on our shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the best driver shafts on the market. Each of these driver shafts on our list is considered high quality, but it certainly pays to understand what makes a great golf shaft before you invest your money.
The best way to tell the proper flex driver shaft is to know your clubhead speed. The faster you can swing the club, the stiffer the golf shaft that you need. Most golfers with over 100mph swing speeds need a stiff or extra stiff driver.
Related: Stiff or Regular Flex: What Shaft to Play?
The best shaft for a driver is a lightweight option with a lower spin. With a good driver shaft in place, you can get more distance and accuracy in the shots that you hit.
Most tour players use a stiff or extra stiff golf shaft because of their high swing speeds. The most common brands that you see for professional golfers include Fujikura, Mitsubishi as well as Graphite Design Tour.
Most golfers with over 100mph of swing speed need a stiff shaft in place. Without the stiff shaft, control often becomes a problem. If your swing speed is more than 110mph, you may want to consider an extra stiff shaft.
Final Thoughts
We hope you now have a better idea as to which driver shafts are the best on the market. Finding a great driver shaft could solve your trouble off the tee. Any great player will tell you that the driver shaft is just as important as the club head. The Project X HZRDUS is the best overall option for driver shafts, but you must be careful to choose the proper flex and length for your needs.
