UST Mamiya Helium Black Review
Helium wood shafts are a light weight design using materials in innovative ways for the best in feel and stability never seen before in light weight structures. This is for the golfer seeking to maximize distance with longer builds and incredible control.
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While most of the premium shaft industry focuses on less than 10% of the total amateur golf population, UST Mamiya continues to create high-performance golf shafts that can truly help average golfers. The Helium golf shaft from UST was one of our favorite golf shafts in the extreme lightweight category. This review will see if the all-new Helium Black is an improvement over the original design and who can benefit from exploring this explosive design.
Key Features
- Helium Black features a low resin content for a reduced overall weight without sacrificing stability.
- The Helium Black shafts are counterbalanced in design allowing for additional clubhead speeds from added leverage.
- Helium Black is designed in lower weights for golfers looking to lessen the burden of 18 holes and beyond.
Who Should Buy The Helium Black Shaft?
The hallmark of the Helium line of golf shafts, both in the original Helium and Helium Black, is the stability combined with lightweight engineering. Lighter weight profiles can be a fantastic way for golfers to pick up critical clubhead speeds in their drivers and fairway woods. Golfers struggling to generate enough speed to help them propel their drives down the fairway may be able to pick up both distance and accuracy by going to a lighter build. Golfers that can control the golf club at lighter weights have a direct line to more clubhead speed and in turn more distance. Helium Black is perfectly tailored to golfers looking to reduce weight in their overall driver and fairway wood builds and pick up valuable clubhead speed.
UST Mamiya Helium Black Shaft Detailed Review
Design and Technology
Lower resin contents of the Helium Black allow engineers to put better materials in every spot to create a shaft that can be both lightweight and stable. The improved stiffness profile of the UST Helium Black shaft can give players additional speed without a sacrifice in control at impact. Similar deliveries at higher speeds can mean more distance from the tee box either in a new driver or in your favorite current model.
Specs
Helium Black comes stock in the Callaway Mavrik driver. It is also available for custom order at any of UST partners. The shaft comes in 5 models, 4F1, 4F2, 5F3, 5F4, and 5F5. F1 flexes will resemble ladies flex shafts, F2 amateur, F3 regular, F4 stiff, and F5 extra-stiff. The weight range of the Helium Black is 50 grams to 60 grams.
Our Experience
Helium Black reminded me of the original Helium which is a great thing. I had an amazing experience with both shafts. The counterbalance design is impressive in its ability to provide leverage to help create additional clubhead speeds. As is the case with all counterbalanced shafts, builds can add weight to club heads which allow for higher levels of forgiveness and ball speeds in the right hands.
While lighter weight options won’t be for everyone, many golfers can find additional performance gains by swapping into a shaft that is easier to swing. Helium Black is easy to swing but does retain some of the feel that can be lost with softer profile shafts. This shaft will likely shine for many amateur golfers, especially those with slower clubhead speeds.
Helium wood shafts are a light weight design using materials in innovative ways for the best in feel and stability never seen before in light weight structures. This is for the golfer seeking to maximize distance with longer builds and incredible control.
- The Helium Black is a stable lightweight option well-suited for golfers that are looking to pick up club head speed in their drivers and fairway woods.
- Counterbalanced shafts like the Helium Black can allow golfers to swing drivers built for maximum ball speed and forgiveness.
- The change from silver to black with the new Helium Black will appeal to golfers that like a traditional look at address.
- Helium Black is tailored for players seeking a lighter weight and as such will not fit players who time their driver best with 60-70 gram shafts.
- The Helium Black may not provide enough performance benefits to justify upgrading for golfers that already game the original Helium shaft.
- Players seeking a low launch, low spin bend profile will likely not be fit well into this high to mid launching design.
- Helium Black is tailored for players seeking a lighter weight and as such will not fit players who time their driver best with 60-70 gram shafts.
- The Helium Black may not provide enough performance benefits to justify upgrading for golfers that already game the original Helium shaft.
- Players seeking a low launch, low spin bend profile will likely not be fit well into this high to mid launching design.
Conclusion
Ultimately, shafts are timing devices that need to be paired with the perfect head and grip combinations that can help YOU as the golfer deliver your best swing each time. Helium Black is a continuation of a model that has been successful for the UST Mamiya family and will complement the new variety of driver and fairway wood heads well, especially as the stock option for the Callaway Mavrik. Helium Black, unlike so many of the other premium golf shafts, can truly help the average golfer by delivering more clubhead speed in a stable lightweight package. The ability for golfers to get an upgraded performance in a stock head thanks to both UST Mamiya and Callaway is something that we are also very excited to see.
How Does The Helium Black Shaft Compare?
UST Mamiya Helium Shaft
The original Helium golf shaft from UST made waves as the first ultra-stable sub-60 gram graphite golf shaft. Helium is a counterbalanced design great for golfers looking to swing easy and create effortless distance. While Helium Black will likely be a better option moving forward, players with the original Helium should rest easy knowing they still have a high-quality product.
Aldila Rogue Black 130 MSI Shaft
Aldila built upon the success of the 125 MSI Rogue series by introducing golfers to an even higher material content system. The 130 MSI series also features a revamped Rogue Black profile that gives golfers extreme stability and mid launch in a counterbalanced design. A shaft with a proven track record, the new 130 MSI Rogue Black shaft from Aldila is a must try for golfers seeking a counterbalanced offering.
Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange Shaft
Mitsubishi has created one of the most popular golf shafts in recent memory with the introduction of the Tensei CK Pro Orange golf shaft. The Tensei Pro Orange is a low launch, low spin higher balanced point golf shaft that can deliver advanced distance for higher swing speed players. Played at times by the best in the world including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Rose, the Tensei Orange is a proven winner.
