Golfwrx Member ID: Myunghs
Got fitted into the Proxima Driver shaft late last year at a very reputable (Golf digest top 50) fitter.
Background:
+2 handicap, driver SS around 110mph.
Have always played with a 70 gram range X-stiff shaft in my driver. For the longest time, I was using the Diamana ltd white 7x.
Transitioned into the Kai'li white 60x last year with my Paradym TD driver and had good results with the club.
With age creeping in and not being able to practice as much in recent times, I went for a fitting to find a shaft which would do more work for me.
Fitting:
Honestly went into the fitting thinking i'd be fit into something like a ventus blue 6x, or ventus red 6x, or something less boardy than the Kai'li white. to be.
Kept an open mind during the fitting and tried everything given to me. Ended up getting fitted into Proxima 5S. Could not have guessed a 5S shaft in my bag in a million years.
Feel:
Light (of course!), but not too whippy when you waggle. Feel super smooth when you swing it, with it loading a little closer to the mid section.
At impact, it is a firm crack. The tip section has a very nice firm kick to it.
Results:
My initial assumptions when i was first given the shaft that it would would accentuate my left miss was totally blown away.
Nice small fade (5-10y) on every shot. Even on shots where I felt a toe-strike, expecting to see a low, toe-draw resulted in a very nice straight shot that was a 1-5y draw.
Ball speed up by at least 5-8 mph on average. I have a GC Hawk setup at home where i hit balls pretty often.
Swing speed up by about 3-5mph, topped at 116 mph on my hawk on one strike which carried 301 (tight draw onto the green) (but this one i was really trying to push the limits to see what the shaft was capable of).
Carry distance has increased by 10 - 15yards. Used to carry 275 with a good strike (Paradym TD, Kai'li white 6x). Now a good strike carries 290++.
Ball speed used to be averaging 156-160, now averaging 165, topping at 169.
Dispersion with a gamer swing is very predictable and tight
Dispersion with me trying to absolutely rip one is pretty similar to what i used to have with the Kai'li white.
CONS:
Given that it is a 5S, i had to adjust loft down to 8* from my stock 9*.
Low contact on clubface kicks spin up to close to 2900, but very stable ball flight., still carrying 270+.
Post - Fitting:
Did not test the 5X, but read reviews from Korea where players compared 5X to 5S and indicated 5X is much straighter and penetrating ball flight.
I did not test 5X as the feel at impact with the 5S was super similar to a Ventus Blue TR, which is about as "stiff/boardy" as i wanted my new shaft
Played 2 rounds so far since getting the new shaft. Definitely see a huge jump in distance.
There is Par 5 which I always leave myself 220 - 240 in after my drive. Both times i've played since, I have left myself 190(pured) & 205(low heel fade) into the green.
There is a Par 4 where a fairway bunker guards half of the fairway about 265 from the tee. Used to be able to carry the bunker on a really good strike, have carried the bunker easily on both occasions.
Slowly getting used to the shaft, and can control a draw / fade with the shaft now.