The Project X LZ is $53.99 a shaft, and I’ve hit it in two PXG iron fittings. It’s a good shaft that’s been around for 10 years, but it only earns that price if a fitting proves it’s the one for you.
Is the Project X LZ Shaft worth buying?
Both times, the fitter put the LZ in my hands for a reason. I hit it, and I walked out in a different shaft. Once in Dynamic Gold, once in a graphite MMT.
That’s not a knock on the shaft. It’s the whole story with the LZ. It’s a shaft you have to hit, not one you can pick off a chart. So I’m going to tell you what it is, who it actually fits, and what a set really costs you.
Quick Overview
- LZ stands for Loading Zone. It’s a softer middle section sitting between a firmer butt and a firmer tip.
- It’s a steel iron and wedge shaft with a .355 taper tip, in four flexes from 5.0 at 110 grams to 6.5 at 125 grams.
- Project X rates it mid launch and mid spin, between the firmer original Project X and the higher-launching Project X Red.
- Chrome is $53.99 a shaft at True Temper, so eight raw shafts run $431.92 before grips and labor.
- It came out in 2016, and it’s still in tour bags in 2026, including Matt Fitzpatrick’s irons.
Project X LZ Specs
Every LZ is a steel iron and wedge shaft with a .355 taper tip and a .600 butt. You buy it by club number, from a 39.5-inch 4-iron shaft down to a 36.5-inch wedge shaft. GolfWorks also lists a 40-inch 3-iron.
| Flex | Weight | Lengths | Tip | Butt | Launch / spin | Common retailer label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 110 g | 39.5 to 36.5 in | .355 taper | .600 | Mid / mid | Regular |
| 5.5 | 115 g | 39.5 to 36.5 in | .355 taper | .600 | Mid / mid | Regular-plus |
| 6.0 | 120 g | 39.5 to 36.5 in | .355 taper | .600 | Mid / mid | Stiff |
| 6.5 | 125 g | 39.5 to 36.5 in | .355 taper | .600 | Mid / mid | Extra stiff |
GolfWorks matches True Temper at $53.99 for chrome, and it also has a Blackout finish for $64.99. The retailer labels are a shopping shortcut, not a promise of how stiff it feels.
The Soft Middle Is the Whole Point of the LZ
Here’s what makes the LZ different. Project X took the stable feel the brand is known for and softened up the middle of the shaft. The butt and the tip stay firm, and the middle section is where it loads.
You can actually see it. Look at the shaft and there are quick tapered steps running through the middle. That’s the Loading Zone.
So what does that do for you? You feel the shaft load in the downswing, and you feel it release. The original Project X is the firm, stout one in the family, built for aggressive swings. The LZ gives you more kick than that without the tip feeling loose at impact. And if you want the higher launch and more spin, that’s the Project X Red, not this one.
That feel is the reason to buy it. If you’ve played the original Project X and it felt like a board, the LZ is the one to try next. If you love that firm, one-piece feel, you might hate the LZ. It’s going to feel more active in your hands.
I’ve Hit the LZ in Two PXG Fittings, and It Didn’t Win Either Time
I’ve had the LZ in my hands twice, both times in a PXG iron fitting.
In the Gen 6 fitting, I was hitting a bunch of toe strikes, so we switched to Dynamic Gold. The fitter also wanted to check whether the LZ could help my shot shape and my swing speed. After hitting a bunch of shots with the LZ, we decided it wasn’t the right fit, so we stayed in Dynamic Gold and changed the swing weight instead.
In the Gen 8 fitting, the fitter told me I swing it pretty fast and went to something heavier. That’s when he handed me the LZ. His words: it kicks a little sooner, but it’s still pretty heavy. I was still hitting that little fade with it.
We ended up in a 105 gram graphite MMT. That setup gave me by far the best contact of anything we tried.
So does that mean the LZ is bad? No. It means it wasn’t my shaft. The same shaft that didn’t work for me is in the bag of guys playing on tour. A shaft changes how you deliver the club, and that’s different for every golfer.
That’s why I’d never buy a full set of these off a review, including this one. Hit it next to the shaft you play now, same head, same length, and look at your strike pattern, not just one good number. If you’ve never been fitted for an iron shaft, start with my guide on which golf club shaft you should use.
The Flex Numbers on the LZ Don’t Mean What You Think
The LZ comes in 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5. Those are Project X’s numbers, not a universal stiffness scale.
Retailers usually call 5.0 regular, 5.5 regular-plus, 6.0 stiff and 6.5 extra stiff. That’s fine for shopping. But it’s not a guarantee that an LZ 6.0 feels like every other stiff shaft you’ve hit.
And here’s the big one. Don’t just carry over the number from your old Project X. Because the LZ is soft through the middle, an LZ 5.5 and an original Project X 6.0 can end up close in overall stiffness. You could get fitted into a different number than you expect.
The flex also sets the weight. The 5.0 is 110 grams and every step up adds 5 grams, all the way to 125 grams in the 6.5. So picking a firmer flex also means picking a heavier shaft.
That’s a lot of steel. If you’re already getting tired late in a round, or you’re fighting to get the ball in the air, going heavier isn’t the fix. Here’s how to figure out what golf shaft flex you need before you pick a number.
At $53.99 a Shaft, a Set of LZ Adds Up Fast
Let’s do the math. True Temper sells the chrome LZ for $53.99. Eight shafts is $431.92, and that’s before grips, labor or a fitting.
Now compare it to the shafts you’ll hit it against. Eight Dynamic Gold shafts at $32.99 each run $263.92, so the LZ costs you $168 more. Eight KBS Tour shafts at $39.95 come to $319.60, and the LZ is $112.32 more than that. The original Project X is $48.99, only $5 less per shaft.
So the LZ isn’t crazy expensive next to the original Project X. But next to Dynamic Gold, that $168 pays for your grips and part of the build.
That’s why I keep saying get fitted. If the LZ gives you better strikes than Dynamic Gold, it’s worth the extra money. If it doesn’t, you just paid $168 for a feel you didn’t need. For the bigger picture on steel, graphite and everything in between, here’s my ultimate guide to golf shafts.
What I Don’t Love
There’s a catch. There’s always a catch. With the LZ, it’s that you’re paying a premium for a shaft that might not do anything for your numbers.
Don’t buy it for distance. There’s no proof it adds yards or launch for everybody, and mid launch is a design label, not a promise. If you hit it low now, a heavy 120 or 125 gram LZ can make that worse.
There’s also nothing light in the lineup. It starts at 110 grams. If your hands, elbows or shoulders are bugging you, look at a lighter steel shaft or graphite instead of forcing the softest LZ.
The build is pickier than people think, too. It’s a .355 taper tip sold in specific lengths for each club, so you need the right shaft for each iron and a head that takes a .355 tip. And the warranty is one year, only on shafts bought straight from True Temper. Buy it anywhere else and the warranty goes through that seller. Pull a shaft and put it in a new head, and True Temper won’t cover it.
Who It’s For
Buy it if:
- You already swing 110 to 125 gram steel and it doesn’t wear you out.
- You like the stability of Project X but want to feel more kick through the middle.
- You got fitted and the LZ gave you better strikes than your current shaft.
- You want a current shaft you’ll still be able to buy for a backup iron later.
Skip it if:
- You’re buying it hoping for more distance or higher launch.
- You need something lighter than 110 grams.
- You love the firm, one-piece feel of the original Project X.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does LZ stand for on a Project X shaft?
LZ stands for Loading Zone. It’s the softer middle section of the shaft, and you can actually see it as a run of quick steps through the middle. The handle and tip sections are firmer, so the middle is where the shaft loads and kicks.
What flex is a Project X LZ 5.5?
Most retailers call a 5.5 regular-plus. So 5.0 is regular, 6.0 is stiff and 6.5 is extra stiff. But that’s a shopping label, not a measurement. An LZ 5.5 can land close in overall stiffness to a 6.0 in the original Project X, so get fitted instead of matching the number on your old shaft.
Who is the Project X LZ good for?
The golfer who’s comfortable with 110 to 125 grams of steel and wants more feel than the original Project X gives you. If you like a firm handle and tip but want to feel the shaft load, try it. If you want something lighter or you’re chasing launch, look somewhere else.
Is the Project X LZ stiffer than the original Project X?
No, the LZ is the softer one. Of the two, the original Project X is firmer and more stable. The LZ keeps the butt and tip firm but softens the middle, so it feels more active. That’s why the same printed flex can feel different between the two.
Can you put a Project X LZ in a hybrid?
Only if the hybrid takes a .355 taper tip. The LZ is sold as a .355 taper steel shaft for irons and wedges, in specific lengths by club. Tip sizes vary from head to head, so check the hosel and the build plan with your club builder before you buy.
Final Thoughts: Project X LZ Shaft Review
If you play heavy steel and the original Project X feels too stiff, the LZ is worth hitting. Get fitted, and buy it only if it beats your current shaft on strike, not on feel alone. If you’re after distance or a lighter shaft, keep the $431.92 and look at something else.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former four-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.