I am thinking of putting together my first component driver (probably with an SMT head, or one which I can pick up cheap off ebay) and am considering putting a Grafalloy prototype BiMatrx shaft in it. I'd be interested to know if anyone has any experiences with this shaft, especially how stiff it plays to flex. Also, if anyone can recommend a good shaft for a mid-handicap player, ss approx 100mph, av drive 260 yds, quickish tempo, looking for a mid flight and tight dispersion, I'd be v grateful.
Thanks
JDH

Grafalloys do tend to play stiffer than most, but does vary. The bi-matrix weighs 77-79grams, so is around 10-12g heavier than what you would usually find.(suits harder swingers+is used by bubba watson). At 2.9* the torque of the reg flex is really low, suggesting it does plays stiff. Its hard to tell wether it would suit you, bit risky really, if anything you may struggle to load the shaft at 100mph, but who knows.

I would suggest looking at:
Aldila vs proto
graphite design ys6
prolaunch red (lower flight but i use stiff @105mph with good results)
grafalloy blue
grafalloy comp nt
Ust v2 (very popular)
diamana blueboard (£1**)

the only way you'll really find out which one is best though is trial and error (costly), or just a good guess.

it is stronger and tighter than the true temper bi matrix rocket also a lot more expensive too
what smt head you looking for?

Thanks guys. I play a prolaunch stiff (similarly low torque) in an x460, which I'm fairly sure is a bore-through head, which should make it stiffer(?) and while it's tightened up my dispersion enormously, it is very definitely down on distance (15 yards or so) from my previous NV reg (in a Wilson Dd6). It would be an expensive mistake to make though.

I've tried a titleist 905R with a V2 stiff and it felt STIFF to me, but then the guy who owned it reckoned it was much stiffer than the one he tried at the demo day (with the same specs). Dodgy shaft?

There is an SMT head in the classifieds here which I'm thinking about, and the DB 455 is an option. Any thoughts on shafts that would work well in the DB or the nemesis?

Depends on head loft and launch conditions that you generate

SS c.100, ball speed c.140, av carry 235-240, stock shot gentle fade, mid height, bad shot = high pushed cut.
Does that help?

Its times like this I wish it was like the USA a vector launch monitor in every golf shop. Us UK golfers have no idea of the rpm's, launch angle we create and the poorer for it we are.

I agree Chimp. There are only 2 serious fitting outfits in the South East that I'm aware of. I went to Precision Golf in Egham and found it all fascinating - just visit the BSG website and you can see how much impact technology can have.

Yeah there's some marketing and yeah if you're just nudging a driver up the fairway it might not be a big deal but you can definitely end up with good drivers that just don't work for you.

I bought the original Callaway ERC Fusion a couple of years ago and was hitting it a mile but all over the place. In my ignorance I blamed the club ( OK and myself a bit ! ) and changed to a Titleist 983. I realise now that the reason I got on better with the 983 was the shaft - the stock Callway shaft was just garbage for me.

I guess the reason there aren't launch monitors all over the place is becuase retailers get away with it - most of us buy blindly with little knowledge and at impulse