HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight
It has been a real treat to make my way through testing the latest line of HZRDUS Smoke shafts from Project X.
That’s because, while the changes in feel have been subtle, they are certainly noticeable. And by changes, I mean improvements.
It’s hard to imagine a way that Project X could have improved on the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX from the last version; but I was eager to be schooled. Our testing party hit the range for a session with the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX. Take a look at what we found.
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Shaft Overview
So one thing that I noticed when I tested the latest version of the HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX shaft was that it was just a touch livelier and smoother than previous models.
And to be honest, I was a bit afraid that the same would be true of the newest HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX shaft. That’s because the last version was already lively enough for my swing. So I was very pleased that the new HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX actually felt a bit more controlled and smoother than the last Smoke Red model.
As advertised, you can feel a bit more torque in the tip section than in the butt or midsection. This is to increase ball speed by letting the club head fly a bit just before impact. And while there is a clear whip in the tip, there is a strong semblance of control and recovery as well. It’s sort of the best of both worlds: you get the added distance thanks to the active tip; but the club head still does what you want it to…more or less.
We did find that on careless swings, we were punished with fairly wide dispersion. But this was only on the most reckless swings. As long as you stay smooth with the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX, it will reward you with a very nice combination of accuracy and distance.
The HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX also looks better than its predecessor as well. The red base coat is darker and resembles a nice glass of cabernet. It looks gorgeous in direct sunlight and isn’t too flashy because the bottom half of the shaft is just flat black.
Why is the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX So Popular?
The HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is a popular shaft because it is a distance generator.
You don’t have to have a powerful swing to nearly-instantly increase your drive distance with this shaft.
How Does the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Perform?
In short: marvelously so long as you keep your swing under control.
Project X says that the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is best-suited for a fast tempo but even with a moderate tempo, I found that it loads up and releases very nicely. Still, this shaft does play best when you keep your transition smooth. The tip is too active to remain accurate on anything but controlled, smooth swings.
Distance was tremendous when we kept our swings under control. Our average carry distance after three swings each was 259.8 yards. Spin rates were also lower than we thought – often staying under 2000 RPMs. Club head speed was consistently 100+ MPH so all these elements added together are what contributed to the fabulous carry.
For the most part, the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX wants to draw. But if you’re not careful, your draw will turn into a cut. And when you’re totally asleep, the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is capable of producing full-on slices. We can also see the active tip section being a problem for strong swingers with fast tempos.
Shaft Specs
| Specs | HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX |
| Available flexes | Regular, stiff, extra stiff, tour extra stiff |
| Weight | 50g, 60g, 71g, 73g |
| Butt | .600”, .605” |
| Tip | 3” (parallel) |
| Length | 46” |
What Flexes Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
Regular and stiff would be good for 80-90 MPH swingers.
Extra stiff and tour extra stiff may work for players swinging their drivers between 91 and 100 MPH.
What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
The 50g version may be helpful for players in the 75-80 MPH swing speed range.
The 60g version would likely suit players in the 81-90 MPH swing speed range. Both the 71g and 73g shafts would likely be a good fit for 91+ MPH swingers.
Why is it So Good?
The HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is a good shaft because it gives moderate tempo players the perfect combination of distance and accuracy.
In fact, we would highly recommend this shaft to moderate tempo players because they aren’t likely to have to change their swing at all to get ideal performance from it.
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX First Impressions
I really, really love the look of this shaft. The wine-red finish is just really attractive to me.
And while my swing is a bit aggressive for this shaft, it’s clear that it is ideal for more deliberate tempo players.
Key Features & Performance
The softer tip section is really what defines the performance of this shaft. It’s what makes for effortlessly fast club head speed and impressive carry distance.
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Driver Review
Amazingly, with such an active tip, the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX still manages to produce medium/low spin off the tee.
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Fairway Wood Review
The spin picks up quite a bit with fairway woods. Still, this was a welcome sight as most of our testers found it easy to land fast greens.
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Looks amazing
- Moderate spin
- Good for moderate tempos
- Great distance
- Reasonable accuracy
Cons:
- Produces strong pushes if you’re not careful
Overall Score: 97/100
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Who Should Buy it?
No, the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX won’t be a hit among most aggressive tempo players.
But it’s hard to beat a shaft that adds a strong dash of accuracy to a heaping helping of effortless distance for deliberate tempo golfers.
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