Pros: Premium shaft with ripples that create more consistency and reduce vibration. They’re also a great value at $125 each.
Cons: The Wave shaft produced a slightly lower launch and higher spin for both testers.
Who’s it for? Anyone looking for a smooth-feeling shaft, more control or both at a price point that won’t break the bank.
Overview
The Hiskei Wave Shaft has the surface of a lake on a windy day, but don’t be fooled by its looks; the shaft can perform with the best.
It’s made from premium 40-ton Amorphous Toray Japan material, and the shaft has five ripples, or “waves” that run up its spine starting from about 10 inches away from the tip.
“When people see it, they laugh,” Muir said. “They think it’s a gimmick.”
The undulations provide multiple different kick points that isolate the tip of the shaft, reducing vibrations and absorb shock, producing a smooth feel throughout the swing.
Hiskei, the components division of GV Golf, is a global brand based in Japan that produces drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and shafts. “Lightweight” and “premium quality” are its specialties according to John Muir, founder of Clubmaker Online and the North American distributor for Hiskei products. The company originally produced lighter clubs and shafts for senior golfers who needed help creating speed, but new X, XX and XXX-Flex models have broadened its reach.
The 48-inch long drive shaft ($199) is made for long drive competitors and is designed differently than the 46-inch model in order to support the increased load those golfers place on the shaft. While CPM (cycles per minute, a measure of shaft frequency) for the X-flex is 265, CPM for the XX is 283 and the XXX is 290.
The introductory price on the 46-inch Wave shaft is $125 (regular price will be $149.95).
Our Zak Kozuchowski and I took the shaft to Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., for testing at its Launch Pad Fitting Center to see how it compared to one of the most popular aftermarket shafts on the market.
The Review
After warming up, we both hit 10 drives with a Hiskei Wave (X-Flex) and a Matrix White Tie 6X3 in a 9.5 degree TaylorMade SLDR driver head. Both shafts weighed 70 grams and were tipped 1 inch. We chose the five most similar swings, removing outliers so the averages reflect a fair comparison of five solid strikes for each shaft for each tester.
Zak Kozuchowski
- Clubhead speed greater in Wave shaft by 1.2 mph.
- Ball speed higher in Wave shaft by 2.6 mph.
- Launch angle lower by 1.7 degrees with Wave shaft.
- 2.8L side total with Wave shaft, 13.5R side total with White Tie.
Andrew Tursky
- Spin axis lower by 1.9 in Wave shaft.
- Side total 17.2R with White Tie shaft, 5.2R with Wave shaft.
- Smash factor 1.45 with White Tie shaft, 1.47 with Wave shaft.
Zak saw an increase in clubhead and ball speed, and would have found the fairway more often (lower spin axis, less side total). I saw a decrease in speed and distance, but reduced my side total and spin axis as well, meaning I too found the fairway more often with the Hiskei Wave shaft.
The Takeaway
If you’re a golfer who doesn’t need help raising launch or lowering spin, the Hiskei Wave could be the ticket to longer and straight drives. And even if your launch conditions aren’t optimal, the tight dispersion we saw from the Wave could pay huge dividends if you’re a golfer who struggles to find the fairway.