If you were in my Studio, and maybe you can find an Advanced Fitter near you that has the inventory, I'd be looking at either a 1" Tipped Ahina 72X or standard Ahina 82X in a C-1 setting (7.75 loft and .75 flat).  That lag you feel is most likely the higher torque in the Made for Titleist version.  Tipping them 1" makes them slightly stiffer with less torque. 

RC

I would love to find a studio but there are none that are close, with myself living in Tennessee.  The closest advanced fitter is located approximately 3 hours away.  I am debating on just biting the bullet and driving to an advanced fitters center but I need to make sure they have enough shaft option in x-stiff to ensure a proper fitting for myself.  I did try the C1 and did like it as well.  How does the Diamana Ahina compare in terms of feel and spin rate in comparison to the "made for" Ahina tipped an inch?

It can be worth the trip!  Make day out of it and play somewhere as well!

The "made for" tipped 1" will be the exact same shaft...

RC

How would you compare the "made for" ahina 72x tipped compared to the project x 7a3, in terms of spin and launch angle?  Or how would the "made for" ahina 83x, tipped or untipped, compare to the project x 8a4?  I have called the advanced fitters close to me and none seem to have both shafts to compare.  Most only have had 3 x-stiff shafts available.  I have tried to contact the nashville advanced fitting center but havnet been able to get through to anyone yet.  I have contacted my local practice facility, Fairways and Greens, in Knoxville and are going to see what they can do?  Does anyone know if there is a way for them to contact the localt Titleist Rep. to get demo shafts for customers or are they limited to the stock that they have?

Some may be limited in terms of shafts.  To answer you questions, I think the Project X 7 versus the Ahina...the project X would spin more.  The 80 gram versions compared to each other would probably be very similar.  The Ahina may feel softer, but on paper they are close.

One thing you may consider is heading out to Oceanside and rolling through a full tour fitting.  It sounds very much like you are really serious!  It may be worth a weekend trip to visit Sunny California and I guarantee no shaft will be left behind.  It just not worth buying something by looking at specs and potential feels.  Just got to try!

RC

I wish that I could visit a studio but there are none that are even remotely close.  The closest Advanced Fitter is 3 hours away.  I have contacted them to see if they will have any of the shafts that I wanted to try to see if it would be worth the trip to get fitted there.  I have tried the C-1 setting and also liked it as well.  My question is how does the Ahina "made for" shafts compare to the Diamana shafts when you tip the "made for" shafts by an inch?  Also you recommend tipping the 72x but not the 82x any reasons for this?  Will these shafts launch lower and spin less than the project x 8a4?  I know the Titleist chart shows that it will but they list the chart with stiff shafts and I know the shaft characteristics can change greatly when going to x-stiff.

Hi David.

I seem to have similar stats to you and have just got fitted out with a 910D3 8.5 degree with a AXIV Tour Red 79 extra stiff shaft.

I have the same shaft in my 3 wood and hybrid but just the stiff version. The problem i found was that when i needed to really open my shoulders this was slightly too whippy so i got recommended the extra stiff and you just feel like you know where the clubhead is all the way through the swing if that makes sense. It got my launch angle down to just above 10 and my spin to around 2000.

On the range it is great but i'm still getting used to it on the course as it'll probably take a bit of time to trust it.

What i can say about it is that my bad shots are a lot better than they were.

The shaft has an extra cost of £40( guessing about $60)

Good luck, I can recommend this shaft though.

Mike