UST LIN-Q shaft

[vandyfan]

@third-times-a-charm I have the LIN-Q Red M40X in 5F4 (58g) which is what came with my Mizuno. Loved the feel but had been fighting blocks with it until the past few weeks when I slapped 17g of lead tape down the back of the shaft (it looks insane) and now it is EXCELLENT. I have always been curious about the Ventus Red and it seems like it is easier to find a 70-ish gram Ventus Red than a LIN-Q red so I am wondering if I just go into that? Obviously demo-ing/testing is the best route but I am trying to narrow my search. Again, like the feel of my LIN-Q red but 58g is way too light especially when I play it at 44" shaft length. 

[third-times-a-charm]

16 minutes ago, vandyfan said:

@third-times-a-charm I have the LIN-Q Red M40X in 5F4 (58g) which is what came with my Mizuno. Loved the feel but had been fighting blocks with it until the past few weeks when I slapped 17g of lead tape down the back of the shaft (it looks insane) and now it is EXCELLENT. I have always been curious about the Ventus Red and it seems like it is easier to find a 70-ish gram Ventus Red than a LIN-Q red so I am wondering if I just go into that? Obviously demo-ing/testing is the best route but I am trying to narrow my search. Again, like the feel of my LIN-Q red but 58g is way too light especially when I play it at 44" shaft length. 

The TSPX LINQ Red is what is a match to the Ventus Red. The non-TSPX version (black shaft that comes with Mizuno clubs) is softer overall. If you feel you need a little bit tighter/stiffer LINQ Red - go to the LINQ Red TSPX or the Ventus Red.

[vandyfan]

Dumb question but I am having trouble finding a chart or anything on the LIN-Q Red in terms of profile. I have dumb hands but it "feels" like the handle is the firmest part of the shaft and it gets softer in the mid and tip. Would we think it has the same EI profile as a Ventus Red? I am all over the place now and every shaft review seems to be glowing for every premium shaft out there. Do I want a Ventus Red? Do I want a Motore X F3 (seems to have a totally different profile than ventus red with the softer handle)? Do I want a Diamana TB? Do I want a C6 Red? 

 

All I really know is that I want a 68-78g shaft that is not "low/low." Definitely don't get along with a Black profile and always really disliked the Hzrdus line from a feel perspective. In my mind I want a softer midsection (like a Ventus Red or a Motore F3) but I am not sure what influence butt stiffness actually has on my swing. Obviously the answer is to go get fit. 

Edited November 26, 2024 by vandyfan

[bcflyguy1]

[mattman]

Anyone know if anything in the current linq lineup resembles the elements platinum proto from years back? I suspect the white/purple might be based off that shaft but have tried neither.

 

[nearfall152]

I bought a CPO 5 wood with the LIN-Q M40X Blue on a whim just to try the shaft and now I can't get the club out of the bag lol

[third-times-a-charm]

9 hours ago, nearfall152 said:

I bought a CPO 5 wood with the LIN-Q M40X Blue on a whim just to try the shaft and now I can't get the club out of the bag lol

The black finish shaft or the ion plated blue one

[WristySwing]

UST is seriously underrated stuff. I think they got kind of lumped into the "stock" shaft offerings and got associated with all the other nonsense that stock shafts are somehow inferior to upgraded models like Graphite Design, Mitsubishi, and Project X (despite ironically, Mitsubishi and PX providing the vast majority of stock offerings out there). It has gotten to a point that I understand that several fitting studios don't even carry UST because they have that stigma of being lower quality or stock, despite the TPSX being super tight tolerance models. I always got along really well with UST V2 15 years ago and found the Recoil 95s to be way ahead of their time in a feel and performance standpoint.

 

I do agree though that their marketing/product knowledge materials on the website are a bit confusing and lacking.

[mattman]

36 minutes ago, WristySwing said:

UST is seriously underrated stuff. I think they got kind of lumped into the "stock" shaft offerings and got associated with all the other nonsense that stock shafts are somehow inferior to upgraded models like Graphite Design, Mitsubishi, and Project X (despite ironically, Mitsubishi and PX providing the vast majority of stock offerings out there). It has gotten to a point that I understand that several fitting studios don't even carry UST because they have that stigma of being lower quality or stock, despite the TPSX being super tight tolerance models. I always got along really well with UST V2 15 years ago and found the Recoil 95s to be way ahead of their time in a feel and performance standpoint.

 

I do agree though that their marketing/product knowledge materials on the website are a bit confusing and lacking.

All true. They are in my mind of equal quality to graphite design, fuji, MCA. I hear they have basically abandoned the american golf aftermarket as part of their business model. They still make good stuff but put no effort into marketing it and do minimal stuff on tour etc. I think they are big into other sports and their golf business focuses on OEM contracts (basically the Recoil line).

 

Also, look at how few skus they offer in their tour/premium wood line compared to competitors. They offer like a 60 and 70 gram option in stiff and X for their LINQ stuff. They have stripped down that whole aspect of their business to bare bones. Kinda sad

Edited November 28, 2024 by mattman

[vandyfan]

I had been in a LIN-Q Red 5F4 for the last year with decent results. I decided/realized that I needed a heavier shaft so I went with the only LIN-Q we had at the club in a heavy-ish weight which was the LIN-Q Blue 7F5 and it felt awesome. Definitely a different profile and feel than the red, in addition to the weight and flex changes, so like a different shaft. Once I started hitting the LIN-Q Blue, I could no longer control the Red. The Red kept going right on me whilst the Blue was just hitting straight piss missiles. I found I could turn the Blue over slightly but for the most part it wanted to go straight.  

 

I compared it to a Denali Black in 70g / 6.5 and liked the feel and results better in the LIN-Q blue and definitely an upgrade over my red in both dispersion and results. The Denali was playable but didn't feel as good loading and really just wanted to go straight and slightly lower. The Blue I could turn over slightly if I wanted to and launched higher (but not as high as the red). The only complicating factor is that I had to use a Callaway AI Smoke Triple Diamond head for the Denali and LIN-Q blue (instead of my Mizuno STZ) so I am not sure how much of the increase in ball speed AND decrease in dispersion was down to the head (same loft). But I was so impressed with the LIN-Q Blue that I ordered it off ebay right from the range. Hopefully shafting up in a week or so (once received) and then I will pop on here and compare it back to the red and the Denali. 

Edited November 29, 2024 by vandyfan

[vandyfan]

Played my first round this weekend with the 7F5 LIN-Q Blue. Hit 5 shots on the range with before the round and all shots came out high and dead straight. Okay, seen that movie before, typically just range luck. Then first driver on #3, carried the bunker at 275 that I usually aim left of (it was also 50 degrees outside and drizzling). Felt great, I can still feel the shaft load and kick but it just feels more "stable" (I hate using that word but it is the word that comes to mind). Next tee shot is 20 feet downhill, 299 with a slight draw right on my intended starting line. Overcooked one a little left on #6 but was fine. Hit a frozen rope on #7, #8, #9. Almost drove the green on #10 (319 to the front edge). Hit every driver quite straight until 18 where I had a really massive heel strike that missed the fairway right but was still playable. Very impressed with the shaft and made me realize the driver HEAD is fine just needed a better matchup with the shaft. 

 

Summary:

Start Line - is much improved
Feel - slightly firmer but still kicks
Weight - it is 20g heavier but doesn't really feel that much heavier
Miss - The miss with the X stiff is actually slightly left while the lighter stiff was missing right (blocks)
Height/Spin - Blue seems to fly slightly lower while still being high, definitely spins less (I know shafts don't spin but it makes my delivery seem to be less spinny)

Edited December 9, 2024 by vandyfan

[BoomShakalaka5]

Have a LIN Q Black M40X TSPX 8F4 hybrid shaft that I love.  Was looking for similar profile for 3 wood…any suggestion as to whether going same shaft (lower weight) in 3 wood makes sense or doesn’t make sense?  If it doesn’t, then what do I suggest I go into? Currently use Ventus Red Velocore 6S in 3W.