Bassara Golf Shafts – Are they right for you?

If you haven’t yet heard about the Bassara golf shafts made by MCA Golf (formerly known as Mitsubishi Golf), you should take a little time to learn more about them.  We have all witnessed the steady movement toward progressively lighter golf shafts over the past decade.  What you may not have known is that MCA has been one of the driving forces behind this dynamic trend.  They have been at the vanguard of technology innovation through their creative use of non-traditional materials and manufacturing process breakthroughs that has led to the introduction of premium-performance shafts that weigh as little as 32 grams!  And there is no better example of this innovation than the revolutionary Bassara golf shafts.

Pay attention to the shafts the pros use

PGA pros are paid large sums of endorsement money to use specific brands of woods and irons.  They’re even paid to wear specific brands of shirts, hats, shoes and even golf gloves.  The manufacturers of this equipment and apparel would like us all to believe that the players independently selected all of the items they use after an objective comparison of competing products on the market.  And, as their marketing theory seems to go, “if our products are good enough to be selected by these world class players, they should be good enough for you too.”  Well, it may sound cynical, but we all know that if the pros weren’t paid to use these products, they wouldn’t use them.

The exception to this “pay to play” philosophy, however, is with golf shafts.  The shaft is the one important golf component that has remained immune to the lures of commercial endorsement by professionals.  As we all know, the shaft is truly the engine of the swing, and its importance to the overall performance of the PGA pros cannot be overstated.  That is why the best players in the world would never put their success at risk by using a golf shaft simply because they were being paid to promote it.  If they are using a particular golf shaft, it is because they have judged its characteristics and its capabilities to be superior to every other shaft.  Unlike the driver head it gets installed in, PGA pros do not get paid to play a particular shaft.

MCA Golf (formerly called Mitsubishi Golf)

So, given that pros only use the shafts that they believe are the best, and are not biased because of financial motivations, amateur and casual golfers can safely conclude that brands that are popular in the pro ranks should be considered as attractive brands for them also.  Of course, amateurs won’t use the same specifications as the pros do (unless you have a 120+ mph swing like Dustin Johnson!), but an appropriately fitted shaft from one of these premium brands should perform well for you too.

It stands to reason that if Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, Zach Johnson, and many others, have selected a shaft made by one particular shaft manufacturer, we should all pay attention to that manufacturer as a top option when searching for our next shaft.  Well, all of those aforementioned players, and many more, do in fact play shafts made by one company — MCA Golf.  You probably recognize their shaft brands as some of the most popular and sought-after in the world.  Famous shafts like the Mitsubishi Diamana, Tensei, Kuro Kage…and the Bassara.

Any of these renowned MCA shafts are worthy of a serious look whenever you are ready for an upgrade.  However, one of them in particular is targeted directly at amateur golfers, specifically those of us with swings that are under 100 mph.  Which one?  The Bassara shaft.  The Bassara golf shaft’s most identifiable and noticeable characteristic is its ultralight weight, a feature that will be appreciated by all those golfers seeking to gain a few precious miles per hour of swing speed.

What makes Bassara golf shafts so special?

In large part, what makes the Bassara shaft special, is what makes all of the MCA shafts special.  Every MCA shaft component — from the monomer, to the acrylic fibers, to the carbon fibers, to the resin and prepreg — is designed and engineered by MCA from scratch to extremely exacting standards.  Some of the key features of Bassara:

• Ultral-lightweight materials –  MCA’s expertise in creating thousands of versions of carbon fiber and resin compounds gives them the ability to create unique high-performance materials designed to deliver exactly what their engineers required to make an ultra-lightweight, high-performance shaft.
• Breaking the sub-40 barrier –  While it’s hard to imagine, MCA has created one of the Bassara shaft models, that is less than 40 grams!
• MR70 –  Specifically designed and developed by MCA for use in the Grand Bassara model, MR70 is an innovative new carbon fiber material that is 20% stronger than conventionally used materials.

 

Bassara models

The Bassara family consists of five different models within three categories, the Ultra-Lightweight Series, the Lightweight Premier-Series, and the Lightweight-Series:

• Ultra-Lightweight Series –  Models:  Grand Bassara
• Lightweight Premier Series –  Models:  GG-Series, P-Series, and TB-Series
• Lightweight Series –  Models:  E-Series

Let’s take a look at each of the Bassara models, starting with the Ultra-Lightweight Series models:

1. ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT SERIES

Grand Bassara

As MCA puts it, “The Grand Bassara pushes the limits of light weight, without compromising performance.”  It has been designed and built for amateur golfers who may need a little swing speed boost, and who will benefit from a definitive “kick” in the impact area.  Why is the introduction of the Bassara golf shafts such an impressive accomplishment?

If we look back historically, the shaft market went through an evolution that saw a continual reduction in the weight of shafts.  Not that many years ago, the average driver shaft weighed in the range of 70-75 grams.  Over time, manufacturers decreased the weight of subsequent versions to less than 70 grams, then to sub-60 grams, and eventually to sub-50-grams.

However, as shafts got lighter and lighter, the manufacturers were unable to maintain their structural integrity and performance characteristics, which led to inconsistent performance.  That is the reason why pros and better players were reluctant to move to these lighter versions.

In the past several years, though, technology has improved to the point where the manufacturers are now able to produce lighter-weight shafts that are as good as the heavier ones that preceded them.

That is certainly the case with the Grand Bassara.  MCA has taken new technology and innovative materials to the extreme, creating a high-quality, premium shaft with top-tier performance capabilities, and packaged all of that into one of the lightest shafts ever made.

Designed for the Everyman

MCA employed a unique philosophy when they designed Bassara.  The previously established school of thought in designing lightweight shafts was to start with a heavier model that had been designed for pros or other strong players, and then “soften” that model for the lighter “amateur” version.  For the Grand Bassara, MCA did the opposite.  They started with amateurs in mind and created a shaft specifically geared for them.  According to MCA’s vice president Mark Gunther, “I want to say that the Bassara shaft is designed for the more classic, more traditional person, but many golfers can benefit from lightweight clubs. With the benefits provided by MR70, this shaft will help a lot of players.”  Clearly, their intent was to design a premium shaft for the ordinary golfer.  And from every indication, mission accomplished.

Grand Bassara models

The Grand Bassara comes in two models, the 29 and the 39.  In the “looks” department, they are absolutely beautiful.  An ion plating creates an elegant sheen and the holographic decals are amazing, changing color with every twist in the sun. With the black fading to silver, this is truly an elegant and striking golf shaft.

Specifications

Shaft Model	Flex	Weight  (grams)	Torque  (degrees)	Kick Point
GB 29	Lite	32	11.8	Mid-Low
GB 29	R	35	10.8	Mid-Low
GB 39	Lite	43	4.9	Mid-Low
GB 39	R	45	4.8	Mid-Low
GB 39	S	48	4.7	Mid-Low

 

Who the Grand Bassara is best suited for

If you are a golfer that has lost some swing speed over the years, and you want to reclaim some of the distance you’ve had to sacrifice, the Grand Bassara is aimed squarely at you.  It does seem to favor those with a smooth tempo as opposed to those with fast and aggressive motions, though.

As can be clearly seen in the specifications table above, the big differentiator between the 29 and the 39 is torque.  Very slow swingers that put little stress on the shaft will be able to enjoy the GB 29’s extreme light weight without worrying about inconsistent performance due to high torque.  For most other golfers, however, it is likely that the lower torque of the GB 39 will yield better, more stable results.  It is only 10 grams heavier than the GB 29, but the better consistency and tighter shot dispersion are notable.

 

2. LIGHTWEIGHT PREMIER SERIES

Bassara GG-Series

 The Bassara GG-Series, another of the very lightweight Bassara shaft models, was designed to be a lower launching, lower spinning, light weight shaft, while still offering a high-performance profile. The stiff tip is reinforced with their proprietary Titanium Nickel Wire (TiNi) technology.  TiNi is a highly elastic material that can stretch and immediately regain its original shape.  In addition to storing and releasing energy, it stabilizes the shaft tip.  Nonetheless, there is a noticeable (and pleasing) “kick” that you feel at the bottom in the GG-Series.  The TiNi wire serves its purpose well here.  It facilitates a smooth and efficient loading and unloading of energy, but it also provides stability for that firm kick.  It also has a firm butt section to provide overall greater stability for this series.

It is obvious that MCA places great emphasis on the appearance of their golf shafts.  There is no better example of this than with the GG-Series.  In fact, this may be one of the best-looking golf shafts ever made!  It uses a very unique foil decal for the branding, and the colors of the shaft all flow into each other and change throughout the shaft.  It’s a spectacular look that will get noticed on the course.  MCA’s special ion plating process is used to great effect with this marvelous looking shaft.

G-Series models

The GG-Series comes in three models: the 33, the 43, and the 53.

Specifications

Shaft Model	Flex	Weight  (grams)	Torque  (degrees)	Kick Point
GG-Series 33	Lite	42	7.0	Mid
GG-Series 33	R	43	6.9	Mid
GG-Series 43	Lite	48	6.3	Mid
GG-Series 43	R	52	6.1	Mid
GG-Series 53	R	56	5.0	Mid
GG-Series 53	S	60	4.9	Mid
GG-Series 53	TS	62	4.8	Mid

 

Bassara P-Series

The Bassara P (also known as the ‘Phoenix’ shaft) was released in 2014.  Another ultra-lightweight shaft, the hallmark of the P-Series is its firm tip section.  This is in contrast to the Grand Bassara, which has a softer tip section which is usually recommended and preferred by slower swingers.

Players with faster swing speeds will appreciate this firmer tip section.  Swings that are 100 mph+ require a shaft that can stand up to the greater demands that this places upon it.  A soft-tipped shaft, put in the hands of a hard-swinging golfer, will produce inconsistent results.  A general axiom to remember for stronger players:  tip stability = tight dispersion.

How does MCA make the tip section firmer in the P Series?  Well, one way is through the utilization of Titanium Nickel Wire (TiNi), which was discussed previously.

Features and Technology of P-Series shafts

• Light weight design (40-60 gram range) for easy control by golfers of any strength
• Mid-Low kick point to produce a higher flight than the previous model with the same low spin
• New Elastic Titanium Fiber material that resists deformation and promotes acceleration even at slower swing speeds
• Elastic Titanium Fiber is found to be highly reactive and helps to transfer maximum energy to the ball
• New material enhances a crisp feel even for slower swing speeds.

P-Series models

The P-Series has 3 models, each one distinguished from the others primarily by weight and torque.  They are all considered to be ultra-lightweight.  The lightest is the P-Series 33 which weighs just 40 grams, phasing up to the heaviest model, the P-Series 53 weighing in at 59 grams.  As far as appearance is concerned, the P-Series is another beautiful shaft.  The color is a dramatic, burnt orange with a clear coat finish.  MCA used its ion plating process again here to create a sophisticated, premium look.

Specifications

Shaft Model	Flex	Weight  (grams)	Torque  (degrees)	Kick Point
P-Series 33	Lite	40	7.0	Mid Low
P-Series 33	R	42	7.0	Mid Low
P-Series 43	Lite	47	5.9	Mid
P-Series 43	R	49	5.9	Mid
P-Series 53	R	54	4.4	Mid
P-Series 53	S	57	4.3	Mid
P-Series 53	TS	59	4.3	Mid

 

Who the Bassara P-Series is best suited for

 The Bassara P-Series, like the Grand Bassara, targets golfers that want an ultra-lightweight shaft.  Unlike the Grand Bassara, however, the P-Series has a firm tip section which favors stronger players with higher swing speeds.

Bassara TB-Series

The Bassara TB-Series (short for “Thunderbird”) is a shaft built for distance.   It was designed for players who are looking for the benefits associated with a versatile high-launch, mid-spin, ultra-lightweight shaft that delivers solid performance and playability.  Again, MCA uses their exclusive TiNi technology for a solid and stable tip section.

At the risk of being repetitive, MCA has produced another great looking shaft with the TB-Series.  The ion plating process, which they use on all of their shafts, creates a sophisticated, premium finish.  In the process, silver alloy ions are fused to the shaft, which creates a stunning appearance.

TB-Series models

There is just one model in the series:  the TB-Series 43.

Specifications

Shaft Model	Flex	Weight  (grams)	Torque  (degrees)	Kick Point
TB-Series 43	L	47	5.1	Mid/Low
TB-Series 43	R	49	5.0	Mid/Low

 

3. LIGHTWEIGHT SERIES

 Bassara E-Series

The Bassara E-Series wood shafts are based on a blend released by Mitsubishi Rayon back in 2008 and 2009. Building off this pedigree, the E-Series is a lightweight performance shaft with the softest tip and stiffest butt section in the Bassara line.  With a nod to its predecessor model (the Mitsubishi Falcon), MCA has modified this series to work better with today’s larger and lower-spinning head designs.

Bassara E-Series models

There are two models in the E-Series:  the 42, and the 52.

Specifications

Shaft Model	Flex	Weight  (grams)	Torque  (degrees)	Kick Point
E-Series 42	L	43	6.8	Mid
E-Series 42	R	44	6.7	Mid
E-Series 42	S	46	6.6	Mid
E-Series 52	R	57	5.7	Mid
E-Series 52	S	60	5.6	Mid
E-Series 52	X	63	5.5	Mid

 

Bottom Line 

MCA’s Bassara golf shafts break new ground in the market.  They have managed to design and manufacture extremely light shafts, without compromising their performance and integrity.  These are truly premium golf shafts, designed for the player wanting, or needing, much less overall shaft weight.  What’s most important to recognize about Bassara is that it isn’t just a re-engineered version of one of their heavier models.  It has been specifically designed to utilize MCA’s most innovative materials in new ways to create a highly stable shaft, while shaving off significant weight.  That is no small feat, but they have done it remarkably well. Coming full circle back to our article headline I hope you can now answer the question – Are Bassara Golf Shafts right for you?