UST’s Recoil name covers a bunch of graphite iron shafts, but the two worth knowing are the current DART 65/75 at about $52 a shaft and the discontinued 780 ES at $39.99 to $49.99. The right one comes down to how much shaft weight your swing can handle.
Is the UST Mamiya Recoil Shaft worth buying?
Here’s the thing with Recoil. UST has put that name on a lot of different iron shafts. There’s the 780 ES, which UST also sold in a SmacWrap version around 2018, and UST has now moved both to its archived shafts. There’s the DART family that started in 2021. And there are the Recoil 95, 110, i110 and 460 ESX, which are separate shafts I’m not covering here.
So I’m going to stick to two of them: the 780 ES and the DART 65/75. They aren’t the same weight, they aren’t built for the same golfer, and one of them isn’t made anymore.
And the price gap is smaller than you’d think. Leftover 780 ES shafts were $39.99 to $49.99 apiece, and the DART 65/75 was $52.00 at GolfWorks and Diamond Tour Golf. So this decision isn’t really about money. It’s about weight.
Quick Overview
- The DART 65/75 is UST’s current light Recoil iron shaft, from 61 to 78 grams, and UST rates every flex mid launch.
- The 780 ES is a discontinued mid-weight shaft, 82 to 87 grams, with a mid-high launch.
- Both use a .370-inch parallel tip and come raw at 41 inches, so you’ll need a club builder.
- UST’s DART guide runs from 70 to 105 mph of driver swing speed across F2, F3 and F4.
- Leftover 780 ES shafts were $39.99 to $49.99 each, and a DART 65/75 was $52.00.
UST Mamiya Recoil Specs
These are UST’s published numbers. The 780 ES column covers the plain shaft and the damped version, which UST lists separately with slightly different weights, so check which one you’re looking at.
| Specification | Recoil 780 ES | Recoil DART 65 | Recoil DART 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued, archived by UST | Current | Current |
| Released | Damped version about 2018 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Flexes | F3 Regular, F4 Stiff | F2 (A), F3 (R), F4 (S) | F2 (A), F3 (R), F4 (S) |
| Weight | Plain 82g F3, 86g F4; SmacWrap 83g F3 and 87g F4 in IP finish, 82g and 86g in matte black | 61g F2, 64g F3, 68g F4 | 70g F2, 72g F3, 78g F4 |
| Torque | Plain 3.7 F3, 3.5 F4; damped IP version 3.6 F3, 3.5 F4 | 5.2 F2, 5.2 F3, 4.9 F4 | 3.9 in every flex |
| Launch | Mid-high | Mid | Mid |
| Tip | .370 inch parallel, 5.5 inches of parallel tip | .370 inch parallel, 5.5 inches | .370 inch parallel, 5.5 inches |
| Butt | .600 inch | .600 to .606 inch | .598 to .601 inch |
| Raw length | 41 inches | 41 inches | 41 inches |
| Tip trim | 0.0 inches for a 2-iron up to 4.0 inches for a wedge | Same chart | Same chart |
| Finish | IP or matte black | Ion plating | Ion plating |
| Price seen | $39.99 to $49.99 per shaft (September 2026) | $52.00 per shaft (October 2026) | $52.00 per shaft (October 2026) |
The DART 65/75 Is the Recoil I’d Look at First for a Slower Swing
The DART is the Recoil UST still sells, and it’s the lighter of the two. The 65 runs 61 to 68 grams, and the 75 runs 70 to 78 grams. UST says its Dual Action Recoil Technology stiffens the shaft walls in the critical areas so it plays more consistently. That’s UST’s description of the design, so I’d judge it by what it does in a fitting.
What I like is that UST tells you where to start. F2 is for a 70 to 85 mph driver swing, F3 is 80 to 95 mph, and F4 is 90 to 105 mph. That gives you a real first guess before you ever hit a ball.
And I’ve seen what a Recoil DART can do for a slow swing up close. When PXG fit my dad, Tony, for Wildcat irons, he was 79 years old and his club speed was about 62 mph. One of the shafts the fitter had him in was a Recoil DART, and with the DART he was at 4,600 rpm of spin and a 51-foot apex. In a Cypher, which the fitter called similar, he went down to 4,000 rpm of spin and lost a big chunk of carry. The fitter’s read was that the DART played a little bit better for my dad. He kept trying shafts after that, so take it as one head-to-head, not the final pick. You can watch the whole thing in my dad’s Wildcat fitting video. The fitter never said which DART model or weight it was, so don’t take that as a 65 versus 75 answer.
Now, here’s where people go wrong with the DART. The 65 stiff is only 68 grams, and it has 4.9 degrees of torque. That’s a light shaft with a lot of twist to put behind a hard swing just because the label says stiff. So if you’re picking the 65 for that reason, test the 75 F4 first. It’s 78 grams, and it carries 3.9 degrees of torque in every flex.
The 780 ES Is the Mid-Weight Recoil for Golfers Coming Out of Steel
The 780 ES is the heavier Recoil. It’s 82 to 87 grams depending on the flex and finish. That’s still well under a 110 to 130 gram steel iron shaft, but it’s a lot more shaft than the DART 65.
ES stands for Enhanced Stability. UST made the middle and butt section stiffer, gave it a softer tip and kept the torque low, around 3.5 to 3.7 degrees. So you get a stable handle with a tip that helps get the ball up. UST rates it mid-high launch.
The SmacWrap version adds a damping material inside the shaft that UST says soaks up vibration at the source, so a toe strike or a heavy one off the turf should sting less. If steel has started to beat up your hands, that’s the reason to look at this one.
So who’s it for? If you’re coming out of a 90 to 105 gram steel or graphite shaft, the 780’s weight is likely to feel more natural than jumping all the way down to a 60 gram graphite. That’s the golfer I’d point at the 780 ES. Just know there’s no X flex. It only comes in F3 Regular and F4 Stiff.
The .370 Parallel Tip Decides the Build Before the Weight Does
Both of these come raw at 41 inches with a .370-inch parallel tip and 5.5 inches of parallel section. That’s not a .355 taper tip, and you can’t build it like one. UST’s trim chart starts at 0.0 inches for a 2-iron and adds half an inch per club, up to 4.0 inches for a wedge.
If your heads are bored for a .355 taper, you’ve got two options with the DART. UST says a taper tip is available on request, or there’s the separate DART 65 Taper. But that’s a different shaft. It’s 65 grams in A flex and 66 in R, with 3.1 degrees of torque and a mid-high launch, so don’t use the .370 numbers for it.
The shaft price also isn’t the finished price. GolfWorks charges $2.95 a shaft to prep the tip, $4.95 to trim the tip and butt, and $45 for PUREing if you want it. Then you’ve got grips, ferrules and the install. If you’re going to do some of the work yourself, read up on how to cut a graphite golf shaft before you touch a saw.
The 780 ES Is Discontinued, So Buy the Whole Set at Once
UST has moved the 780 ES, plain and SmacWrap, into its archived shafts. The Recoil iron shafts it sells now are the DART HDC, DART ESX, DART 90/105, DART 55/65/75 and DART 65 Taper. And UST hasn’t named any of them as the 780’s replacement.
The closest current UST shaft by weight is the DART 90/105, at 90 and 106 grams with a .355 taper tip, for about $69 a shaft at GolfWorks. But that’s a different shaft with a different tip. It’s a comparison, not a replacement.
So let’s do the math. Seven 780 ES shafts at $39.99 to $49.99 is $279.93 to $349.93 before the build. Seven DART 65/75 shafts at $52.00 is $364.00. That’s close.
Here’s how I’d handle the 780. Don’t buy three now and hope to find four more later. Get the whole set in one shot. And if you’re still deciding between graphite and steel at all, start with my graphite vs. steel shafts guide.
What I Don’t Love
Here’s what bugs me with Recoil. The name makes shopping a mess. UST has put it on so many iron shafts that when you search for Recoil, you’ll find 460 ESX and Recoil 95 listings sitting right next to the DART and the 780 ES. They aren’t either of these. Grab the wrong one and you’ve paid for seven shafts at a weight you never picked. So read the full model name, the weight and the flex on every listing before you pay.
And the support is thin. UST doesn’t publish an MSRP or a warranty term for the DART or the 780 ES. On the 780, that matters more, because it’s discontinued and nothing replaces it. If a shaft breaks a year from now, you’re hunting old stock and hoping your flex and finish are still out there. That’s a real catch on a shaft that’s otherwise a good value.
Who It’s For
Buy it if:
- You swing your driver somewhere around 70 to 95 mph and want lighter graphite irons. Look at the DART 65/75.
- You’re coming out of 90 to 105 gram steel and want graphite without going super light. That’s the 780 ES.
- You want less sting on mishits than your steel shafts give you.
- You already play the 780 ES and want more of the same shaft.
Skip it if:
- You have a hard, aggressive transition. Test something heavier, like the DART 90/105 or steel.
- You want a shaft you can replace for years. That rules out the 780 ES.
- Your heads take a .355 taper tip and you don’t want a special order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Recoil 760 and 780?
The 780 is the heavier, more stable version. The 780 runs 82 to 87 grams depending on flex and finish, and the 760 options are about 67 to 70 grams. Both are discontinued now.
What does F3 mean on a Recoil shaft?
The F number is the flex. F2 is senior (A), F3 is regular (R) and F4 is stiff (S). UST also uses F1 for ladies and F5 for extra stiff, but the DART 65/75 stops at F4, and the 780 ES only comes in F3 and F4.
Is the UST Recoil 780 ES still made?
No. UST lists the 780 ES and its SmacWrap version as discontinued in its archived shafts, and it hasn’t named a replacement. What’s left is whatever stock retailers still have.
Is the Recoil DART the same as the Recoil 460 ESX?
No. They’re separate models. The 460 ESX is an older Recoil, and the DART line started in 2021.
What swing speed is the Recoil DART 65/75 for?
UST’s guide puts F2 at 70 to 85 mph of driver speed, F3 at 80 to 95 mph and F4 at 90 to 105 mph. If you swing hard at the top of that range, start with the 75 or something heavier.
Final Thoughts: UST Mamiya Recoil Shaft Review
Here’s where I land. If you swing it slower and you’re switching to graphite irons today, get fit for the DART 65/75, and start with the 75 if you’re anywhere near stiff. If you want the heavier 780 ES, buy the full set while it’s still around, and don’t wait on it.
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.