Sonartec Shaft question

[IrishGolfer]

I acquired a stock of Sonartec fairways (SS-2.5) with stiff shafts off eBay. I was led to believe that they were Fuji Tour Release 26.3 shafts, but I received them today and found that they are Penley shafts, OEM'ed for Sonartec.

Anyone have any views on Penley shafts? Good, bad or indifferent? I checked the Sonartec site but there is no specific reference to them.

I'm planning to resell them anyway, (btw anyone want to buy one? , just wondered what the vibe was on them.

For those interested here's what I got...

13 degree
14 degree
2x17 degrees
2x21 degrees

Cheers
IG

[ezra76]

I had the SS-01 in a 14* with that shaft. I didn't like the club (ie I couldn't hit it off the deck but still can't hit anything less than a 17*) and got rid of it after 1 round so can't help much I guess. I wish I still had it as I'm a lot better striker now. I'd like to see what I could do off the tee on the midrange par 4's with it. It's a shame you got done like that, the Fuji name probably would have made them much easier to sell.

[ualtim]

In reference to the Penley shaft, I bought a SS 1.5 with the Penley in it last month and have had good results so far. I have only played a few rounds with it, though, and have not spent any range time with it to put it through all the paces.

My initially impression of the shaft is that it is quite good. I was expecting it to be a bit more boardy feeling like the Penley Stealth series so I ordered up an R flex rather than an S flex. So far, I would compare the feel to my Fujuikura Visto Pro 70 shaft that I have in my 3-Wood. Great feel with none of the harshness I felt with the Stealth series. The shaft seems to be a good fit for the clubhead in that it provides that penetrating flight profile that Sonartec claims in its advertising. Lower flight off the deck compared to off the tee, but that is true for most clubs.

When I ordered the club, my first though was to which shaft I was going to replace the stock shaft with, but after using the club I am going to keep the Penley in it a while longer. At this time, I see no reason to replace it.

[IrishGolfer]

Thanks, sorta what I wanted to hear....

[Bravo]

IG:

Penley is a good shaft maker...I have Penleys in both of my Sonartecs.

I thought I could get a little more from my 14* SS-03 by taking out the Penley and putting in an Aldila NV which is the same shaft in my Taylor Made Rescue Mid that I love so much.

So I did the switchout and hated it. For some reason the NV in the Sonartec felt like a board, whereas in the Rescue Mid- it has great feel.

So I took it back to the fitter and had them switched back out.

A failed experiment...I am back with the Penley and hit it fine...hit the front fringe of a par 5 from 240 out last Thursday...

They are good shafts.

[IrishGolfer]

So if Penley OEM this shaft for Sonartec, how come it is not listed as an option on the www.sonartec.com web-site for the SS-2.5 clubs?

Also the shaft just says Penley S. Has anyone any idea what the equivalent is from their range of Caliente ETA G.A.S. Graphite Lite Stealth Tour Light shafts?

Thanks for your efforts.

[IrishGolfer]

Just found out that Penley are an older shaft that Sonatec no longer carries thats why you can't find it on the web.

Anyone have any idea as to what it is similar to? In the Penley range? Compared to other shafts such as Fuji, Grafalloy, Aldila? Ball flight, launch etc.?

I am dying to try them out but they are brand new. I may hold onto one of the 4 woods and sell the rest.

[Rockford35]

From what I gather, it's a high launching shaft with mid torque characteristics. 68g is what I read. So similar to alot of shafts out there these days.

Sounds very OEMish to me.

R35

[Bravo]

The OEM shaft with my clubs (the original SS-03) is the Penley Tour Lite which received a good rating here...

http://www.pgatour.com/gearguide/rat...e=Shaft&page=4

This website indicates it costs $36.00 USD.

http://www.horsepowergolf.com/BrandS...p?Brand=Penley

[IrishGolfer]

Thanks everyone. Quality info. Just what I needed to know.

[IrishGolfer]

Here's the reply I got 1 hour after I asked Sonartec web-site.

C O O L !
= = = = =

Hi Mark,

Thank you for choosing to carry a Sonartec fairway wood in your bag. The Penley shaft that we have used in the past is a Graphite Light. It is significantly different from the Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3. The Graphite Light:

• plays much stiffer than the Fuji
• is heavier than the Fuji by 2g in R-flex and by 6g in S-flex
• has a higher kick point (mid/high vs. low)
• has similar torque
• produces a lower ball flight than the Fuji

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Cheers,
Derek

Derek Bertrand
dbertrand@sonartec.com
Sonartec
1939 Palomar Oaks Way
Suite B
Carlsbad, CA 92009

[Rockford35]

Which Fuji?

R35

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

Which Fuji?

R35

Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3

[Rockford35]

Nice. Sounds like what i'm looking for in my 7 wood (the Penley). Mid/High, low torque and a tad heavier.

R35

[Bravo]

IG:

I got a similar response from Sonartec when I inquired about their shafts about three months ago...very prompt and specific.

BTW, when watching the WGC tourney last week, I saw Furyk tee off on one of the Par 4's with his three wood. They showed him from the side after he had completed his swing and had his club at the top of his back.

I froze the frame with my Tivo and saw he was hitting Sonartec. I could even read the "3" on the club so he was likely hitting a 14 or 15 degree.

This is another example of how Sontartecs are fairly widely used on Tour but since they do not compensate/sponsor many players, the brand still continues to run under radar in the consciousness of most amateurs...I think Furyk is the #3 ranked player in the world now...