The Background:I was reading the thread about the custom color Matrix shafts, and it got me wondering about them. I didn't know much about the different Matrix models, only that they had gotten favorable reviews and were pretty highly regarded. I also knew they were expensive. But I had seen a post from Frank/Camster8 about how the Studio Series was a very popular option in his shop, so I suspected they were a bit more affordable. I contacted Frank, the price was right, and he had a Matrix Studio 64 in R flex to me before I knew it. Great guy, that Mr. Viola.
The About Me:I'm 32 years old, 6'2" 215 lbs. I like long walks on the beach, romantic dinners and the outdoors.
More importantly, I swing my driver about 95 mph, with a relatively smooth transition. I get into trouble when my swing gets too fast, which usually ends up in pushes and push-slices, with the occasional smother hook thrown in to keep things interesting. My ballflight is straight or a bit of a fade.
I like my drivers a bit heavy, about D4 or D5. I have been gaming a Geek DCT 10.5* with a House of Forged Patriot Proto in R flex. My backup driver is a Cleveland HiBore with a Fujikura 26.3, which is probably my favorite shaft that I have tried. I haven't used as many shafts as many of you, but I have used at one point: Graman 540 and 640, Aldila NV, Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue and a few others.
The Installation:The DCT is my gamer for the forseeable future so I wanted to give the Matrix Studio 64 an "apples-to-apples" comparison to the HOF. I pulled the HOF, and cut the Matrix to the exact same length. Finished length is 44.5 inches. Swingweight is the same. Even the grip is the same, although the ferrule was different. I think we'll survive though.
I haven't had the motivation to take a picture, but here's one from the Matrix site. It's a good looking shaft: deep gray, with sharp blue lettering that pretty closely matches the blue of the DCT head. I installed the NBP to the target, and the Matrix logo went right on the top.
The Results:First a small disclaimer: With work, home and family, I don't get to play that often. That said, I have had four range sessions and two rounds with the Matrix in my DCT, and that's enough time for me to give at least an initial review. Also, I don't have easy access to a launch monitor. I base my reviews and comparisons to the results I can actually see and the things I can feel. Also, I know that this review heavily compares the Matrix Studio to the HOF, even though they're drastically different shafts. But the HOF has been the best performer for me, even though it performs differently than just about every other shaft that I've used. Onto the review...Once the epoxy dried, I gave the Matrix/DCT the old waggle test. I could certainly feel more flex than with the HOF. Off to the range we go...
Let me start by saying that when my swing is on, the results are AMAZING. Good swings result in high, long drives. Much higher than with the HOF. No ballooning here. The very first range session I had with the Matrix, I was nearly reaching the trees at the end of the range on the fly and the ball would then roll into the trees. I did manage to reach the trees on the fly a few times, which for me and my meager swingspeed, is a good poke. To be fair, similar swings with the HOF would often still reach those trees. But because of the lower trajectory it would always be with the roll. I found similar distance gains on the course too. Good swings would seem to carry about 10 yards or so further, and continue to roll further than than similar swings with the HOF. The HOF would always hit the ground running, but the Matrix seems to provide added carry AND roll. Always a good thing to be a club or two closer to the green.
It's an odd sensation, but one that I really like: the Matrix doesn't seem to feel like it's loading at the start of the downswing, but I can really feel it unloading and exploding into the ball right at impact. In fact, the DCT seems a bit louder at impact with the Matrix than it did with the HOF, like the head is picking up a bit more speed at the last second, and transferring it to the ball. I suspect that all of this: the flex in the waggle, the higher launch, the unloading sensation and the feel of more swingspeed, is related to the softer tip of the Matrix, compared to the HOF. I suspect it's also related to my only issue with this shaft.
When I put a bad swing on the ball, the results are worse with the Matrix Studio 64 compared to the results that a bad swing with the HOF would give. Bad swings with the Matrix would result in huge pushes and push slices, whereas bad swings with the HOF would only give me big pushes and push slices. I suspect that the softer tip of the Matrix tends to allow the clubface to open more on the backswing and at the start of the downswing. So if I get "lazy" through impact, the clubface will remain open. Make no mistake: I know that this is an issue with the swing and not the shaft, but I'll say the Matrix seems less "forgiving" than the Patriot.
The Verdict:The Matrix Studio 64 is a winner. When my swing is on, the results I get with it are better than with any other shaft that I've tried. I think that with a little more use, I will be able to groove my swing to better work with this shaft. I may also shorten it a bit to hopefully improve the frequency of those good swings. My home course is long, but wide open, so I want the increased distance that I get with the Matrix and can live with the occasional stray shot that comes along with it. I know it's a much different shaft than the HOF I was using previously, and designed to do different things, but the Matrix seems to be a better fit for me. I can see using the HOF in a backup role for courses where control is more important. But for now, the Matrix is in the gamer, the Fuji is in the backup, and the HOF is in the garage.
The Matrix Studio series is a great shaft, especially at its price point. If the higher-end Matrix models perform up to their pricetag, then they're a great value too.
Thanks for reading, and thanks to FRANK!
