OG Diamana Blueboard - how has technology evolved since?

[dubbelbogey]

I recently came into the ownership of an original Diamana Blueboard shaft (63 x5ct). In excellent condition and it plays very nicely in my current driver.

Given this shaft is now considerably up in years, what's changed in shafts since the original Blueboards to make them "better" since this one? This is just an honest question, as I generally don't keep up with the latest on shafts. What has changed in the state of the art (assuming we agree that the this was state of the art 12+ years ago)?

I'm not looking for the general notions that I should "play what's best for my swing - independent of price/brand". I get that and agree with that, completely. This isn't a fitting question. This is more of a pure technology question. What have the shaft makers done to make shafts better than this? What are those specific traits?

 

 

 

 

[setter02]

This is something I've been toying with a bit lately in sending TXG a 73x WB and 83X BB for testing in a driver and fairway. I know it would come down to whos hands the shafts are in, but they are still playable today without likely a huge downturn in performance. The shaft industry has just become like what TM was for so long in pumping out new 'better' stuff each year to make you spend money.

[jar59]

There is some very good information on the Diamana shafts on www.mca-golf.com

The new blue board products are 4th generation and the improvements seem to be related to new prepreg construction. Nice graph on the bend profiles of the 4 current Diamana options.

[GFish]

Great question OP. I love the original Blueboard and was looking at getting another one. Kind of confusing how the evolved and what has changed in them. Will be interesting to hear people’s responses.

[V-Blade]

Definitely following this too. I still use an original R-flex in my R5 TP. Really like it. Just feels solid but not boardy. Really helps with making my swing more smooth. I have a spare S-flex in another R5 TP that I toy with pulling and putting in an R7 TP 3w

[cardoustie]

I have original bb in all weights ... amazing shafts

[Stinger83]

the 80 and 90 gram x blueboards are my favorite fairway and hybrid shafts. Not a fan of them in drivers but they are arguably the best ever made for middle of the road consistency and feel.

[setter02]

I have BB's, Kai'Li's and B's and they all feel basically the same to me. Very little difference on good swings, maybe the newer are a bit more stable, but this is what gets me a lot with this side of the industry is it is far too much hype than substance..

[nitram]

Maybe the guys from MCA can chime in. @MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL

[gdb99]

Been reading quite a bit about the differences in this shaft. Looking for a possible replacement for my driver shaft, original Blueboard.

From what I have found, the tips have gotten a little more stable from different construction methods over the years. I think the B also got a little firmer in the handle.

[stingerfade]

Mainly I think it’s materials. My kuro kage broke last week so I took out my old OG flowerband whiteboard 73x and man that shaft still feels awesome

[Quest for Perfection]

IMHO Diamana blueboard's are the best mid/high bend point shafts period. If your swing matches the bend point and torque profile, then

you are set. It is like playing lifelong TTDG Iron shafts.

 

[dmeeksDC]

6 hours ago, Quest for Perfection said:

IMHO Diamana blueboard's are the best mid/high bend point shafts period. If your swing matches the bend point and torque profile, then

you are set. It is like playing lifelong TTDG Iron shafts.

 

Agree. What’s the best way to tell an OG Blueboard from one of the ‘made for’ Diamana Blues they’ve also sold over the years? I see so many different weights out there. 

[LeoLeo99]

8 minutes ago, dmeeksDC said:

Agree. What’s the best way to tell an OG Blueboard from one of the ‘made for’ Diamana Blues they’ve also sold over the years? I see so many different weights out there. 

I've read but don't know if true, that the "real" ones have weights like 73 g, 83 g while the "made for" have weights like 70 g, 80 g.  I know my BB shafts are all 70 g and were never advertised as anything special.  

Edited June 8, 2021 by LeoLeo99

[Quest for Perfection]

5 hours ago, dmeeksDC said:

Agree. What’s the best way to tell an OG Blueboard from one of the ‘made for’ Diamana Blues they’ve also sold over the years? I see so many different weights out there. 

 

The made for Diamana Blueboard's had g4"t markings...

 

The original Diamana Blueboards had x5ct markings

 

I never owned a made for Blueboard, but I remember in Forums they were discussing that it was not the same shaft!

And yes they had a different weight as well.

The worst was the Diamana S+ plus Blueboard series - it had nothing to do with the original Blueboard shafts.

 

[storm3]

22 hours ago, Quest for Perfection said:

 

The made for Diamana Blueboard's had g4"t markings...

 

The original Diamana Blueboards had x5ct markings

 

I never owned a made for Blueboard, but I remember in Forums they were discussing that it was not the same shaft!

And yes they had a different weight as well.

The worst was the Diamana S+ plus Blueboard series - it had nothing to do with the original Blueboard shafts.

 

This is not true. There were technically 3 different flagship Blueboards that were all produced in Japan (only difference came down the the tip diameter/length):

 

x5ct = .335 3” pts 

g4t = .335 4” pts

g35t = .350 3” pts

 

The “made for” or OEM program shafts were all clearly marked for each OEM and were different bend profiles produced somewhere in China. MRC discontinued this dedicated OEM “made for” practice in 2012 in favor of the Diamana +Plus line which share the same attributes. 

[JungleJimbo]

11 minutes ago, storm319 said:

This is not true. There were technically 3 different flagship Blueboards that were all produced in Japan (only difference came down the the tip diameter/length):

 

x5ct = .335 3” pts 

g4t = .335 4” pts

g35t = .350 3” pts

 

The “made for” or OEM program shafts were all clearly marked for each OEM and were different bend profiles produced somewhere in China. MRC discontinued this dedicated OEM “made for” practice in 2012 in favor of the Diamana +Plus line which share the same attributes. 

@storm319: "+1", i.e. i Agree with your assessment .

So "g4t" = 4inches of parallel tip, and "x5ct" = 3 inches of parallel tip?.
(am assuming that's what you meant by "pts"?)
 

It used to be that the 'Flower Band" was one indication of the aftermarket shaft, along with fancier ion-plated paint jobs  (i believe)... but in the past year or so, even some of the stock diamana on the callaway seems to have the flowerband?

Edited June 10, 2021 by JungleJimbo

[phizzy30]

Difference is that the current "blue board" profile shafts by MCA have more exotic materials in them so they can manipulate things like wall thickness as well as increase feel.  For example, the newer Diamana and CK pro/tensei 1k line all have boron towards the tip for structure reinforcement.  MR70 is a new carbon fiber that's 20% stronger than standard/conventional materials.  I quoted this directly from the MCA website.  What this translates to me is better feel and more stability.   I have a Diamana TB in my 3 metal and it launches mid/high but very low spin.  I don't get nearly as much side spin as the older generation Diamana shafts on mis hits. 

 

[hagimihale]

 

19 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

It used to be that the 'Flower Band" was one indication of the aftermarket shaft, along with fancier ion-plated paint jobs  (i believe)... but in the past year or so, even some of the stock diamana on the callaway seems to have the flowerband?

 

I have an S+ in 72S and a "made for Titleist" 'ahina in 82S sitting in my garage.  Both have flowerbands.  

 

Visually, there is little difference between them and the flowerband in the real-deal 'ahina (60X) I game.  The ion plating on the 'ahina is nice though.

 

And MCA upped the ante with the flowerbands on the 4th gen models.  The DF and ZF both look awesome. 

Edited June 10, 2021 by hagimihale

[storm3]

10 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

@storm319: "+1", i.e. i Agree with your assessment .

So "g4t" = 4inches of parallel tip, and "x5ct" = 3 inches of parallel tip?.
(am assuming that's what you meant by "pts"?)
 

It used to be that the 'Flower Band" was one indication of the aftermarket shaft, along with fancier ion-plated paint jobs  (i believe)... but in the past year or so, even some of the stock diamana on the callaway seems to have the flowerband?

Flower bands and ion plating are not good indicators of flagship vs OEM as they have used both for the flagship lines at different times (there were probably more 1st gens produced without the flower band than with). Best differentiator is the weight designation and the explicit OEM label (ex 1st gen BB 63 x5ct = flagship aftermarket, BB 65 = made for Titleist). 

[Quest for Perfection]

17 hours ago, storm319 said:

This is not true. There were technically 3 different flagship Blueboards that were all produced in Japan (only difference came down the the tip diameter/length):

 

x5ct = .335 3” pts 

g4t = .335 4” pts

g35t = .350 3” pts

 

The “made for” or OEM program shafts were all clearly marked for each OEM and were different bend profiles produced somewhere in China. MRC discontinued this dedicated OEM “made for” practice in 2012 in favor of the Diamana +Plus line which share the same attributes. 

 

Good info, thank you. Now I remember that the Bore through Driver head's had the g4T shafts with the 1 inch longer tip section.  A lot of the 2007 TITLEIST 907 D2 came with the g4t shafts. Maybe that's why I thought it was a made for shaft...