UST Mamiya Helium Black Golf Shaft Review
Golf shafts come in all weights and sizes, including a wide array of flexes, kick points, and counterbalance options. The UST Mamiya Helium Black is a lightweight golf shaft option that screams speed without losing stability and the appropriate amount of stoutness.
UST Mamiya Helium Black Shaft Technology
While they’ve been on the market for quite some time, the UST Mamiya Helium Black continues to be a favorite among golfers who prefer a lighter shaft profile. Golfers who prefer a longer build overall will also enjoy the Helium Black, particularly due to the overall weight and kick point profile.
Low resin carbon fiber was used in its design, allowing UST Mamiya to reduce additional weight by 25% throughout the length of the shaft. This allows for added stiffness in the flex, which helps stability of the shaft — particularly in your driver.
Counterbalanced to offset heavier and wider modern driver heads, the Helium Black maintains a fair amount of “feel” throughout the swing. UST Mamiya also added additional carbon fiber in key areas throughout the shaft without adding to the overall weight of the design. This also helps stability making the Helium Black one of their most popular driver shaft options.
Performance and Feel
The UST Mamiya Helium Black is my preferred driver shaft for a lot of reasons. Having used it in multiple driver types for almost two years now, I can safely say no other shaft I’ve tried has offered me the same performance and feel on every drive.
Thanks to the counterbalance design and overall stability, I never think twice about where the clubhead is throughout my swing. It’s nice to have that “feel” to assist with swing timing and weight transfer, particularly when trying to turn your swing speed up a few notches. At 59 grams in the stiff flex option, the Helium Black still has enough heft to it to give you confidence off the tee without feeling too whippy or loose.
Spin rates and launch numbers are ideal for my swing with the Helium Black, and when coupled with a moderate-spin driver head, this combo consistently produces perfect numbers. Adding an extra inch on the overall length — making it 46” as standard — helps keep swing and ball speeds high despite the lower weight profile.
Overall Impression
There’s no doubt that golfers of any skill level will enjoy the UST Mamiya Helium Black shaft. While I prefer it in my driver, adding the Helium Black to a fairway wood (or even a hybrid) would undoubtedly offer similar performance and feel. Playing a slightly longer driver shaft may take some getting used to, however this is a small adjustment in your swing timing to benefit from a truly remarkable shaft option.