In my opinion, the mid-launch shot will be a breeze for anyone and there’s plenty of playability. Flighting the ball low was not impossible but took a little extra work. I would say the shorter irons launched a little higher for me at more of a mid-high range but nothing I couldn’t manage. Should you want a little more air under the ball, raising the launch angle is no problem. So with all that said, I think an easy mid-launch profile is a very fair classification for the IO. This is supposed to keep the ball in the air longer resulting in more carry distance. Keep in mind that the overall shaft design is supposed to be helpful in launching the ball a little higher with a little more spin. Project X lists the IO as a mid-low launch and spin shaft in the 6.5 flex. But let’s be honest, that’s on me, not the shaft. Where I started to lose that feel was when I would get too quick (read: jerky) with my tempo, which would mess up my timing, and the release just wouldn’t feel right. While the shaft is easy to load and has a nice, smooth release, it still felt nice and tight so I could control the club. If you have the correct tempo for this shaft, that stability is definitely noticeable. The IO specifically is designed for a more moderate swing tempo. Stability is synonymous with the feel of a Project X steel shaft. I imagine the lighter flexes may have that kick point a little higher in the shaft for a slightly higher launch. In the case of the 6.5 flex, the kick point is in the mid section of the shaft. I tested the IO in 6.5 and the shaft load felt easy with a very smooth, yet energetic, release. So the stiffer the flex, the more weight you’ll have. Project X’s regular flex (5.5) comes in at 105 grams, stiff (6.0) is 110 grams, and x-stiff (6.5) is 115. For starters, the shaft weight varies by 5 grams across flexes. The Project X branding is a little different with its grey and white color scheme, and lack of their usual blue.įeel is somewhat dependent on which flex you go with in the Project X IO shaft. Historically, Project X utilizes a polished chrome finish but they gave the IO a brushed chrome finish which also reduces glare.

Normally for steel shafts, we don’t include a Looks section, but Project X made a change with the IO shaft. If this sounds familiar, the IO is “evolved” from the DNA of the classic PXi but with specific weights and trajectories based on flex. Project X’s latest response is their new lighter-weight IO shaft, designed to load easier but with the stability of a Project X shaft. “The new Project X IO was born from the concept that not all golfers need the same thing from a shaft.” With so many players in the recent years of golf putting a premium on low launch and low spin shafts for better control under the stress of big hard swings, there are still a lot of players that are looking for more launch and spin to help them hit their clubs farther.

Project x iron 5.5 vs 6.0