Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX Shaft Review - Plugged In Golf (2024)

50 Words or Less

The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX shaft has the most active feel of any HZRDUS shaft. Moderate kick with good stability. Mid launch and spin.

Introduction

Recently, I reviewed the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX [HERE], the stiffest, lowest launching member of the HZRDUS family. For this review, I’m going to the opposite end of the spectrum with the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX. In the HZRDUS line, as with many other shaft families, red denotes the highest launching, most active feeling shaft. If you want the stability of HZRDUS but need more feel, this might be the one for you.

Looks

The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX shares its aesthetics with the Green RDX, save the obvious color change. The Red RDX has a rich, crimson base color that fades to black just below the “HZRDUS” graphic. All the branding is consistent with previous HZRDUS shafts, including the hazmat placard with all the shaft’s specs. Those that prefer a clean address look can get that with a logo-down installation.

Feel

The HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is the most active shaft in the HZRDUS family. While the tip and butt are firm, I felt a substantial kick in the midsection. As a result of this kick, the Red RDX feels like the fastest HZRDUS, the one that’s adding a little extra juice to your swing.

Interestingly, my feel for the HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX does not match up with Project X’s description. They describe the Red as having a stiff butt and mid with a softer tip. While I did feel slightly higher torque in the tip, I sensed the kick in the mid section. This is a good example of how feel is subjective and that manufacturer’s descriptions – while technically accurate – may not align with your feel. This is why we always encourage getting fit by a trained professional.

Performance

As I noted earlier, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is at the far end of the HZRDUS family, opposite the Green. My testing has shown that I’m not a fit at either end; I’m better suited for the Black RDX or Blue RDX in the middle [review HERE].

Before getting into the details, I want to be clear that a shaft not being a good fit for me does not mean it’s not a good shaft. With that said, the more active feel and softer tip of the Red RDX led to less predictable results for me. I love the feel of the shaft exploding into impact, but it can make me hesitant to swing hard, and tentative swings are rarely good ones.

With the Red RDX, I hit some beautiful drives – higher launch, mid spin, often with a little draw. I also hit some drives that would have found the trees. Any time that I kept my swing smooth, the results were good to great. Unfortunately, that’s not something I can always do.

This shaft delivers on the performance that it advertises in terms of spin, launch, and feel. That feel is just a little too active for my swing and preferences.

The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is available at 50, 60, and 70 grams. The lightest version is offered in 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 flexes, which translates roughly to A-Flex, Regular, and Stiff. At 60 and 70 grams, Project X makes 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and TX flexes.

Conclusion

For the player that wants a blend of stability and feel with some of the highest end materials being used in golf, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX is a great choice. As always, make sure to get fit and test things before you commit. You may find tremendous performance with a shaft you weren’t expecting to like.

Visit Project X HERE