Apollo Shadow FL Graphite Shaft Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight
Apollo may not be a household name when it comes to shafts.
But that doesn’t mean the brand has nothing to offer. Shafts, and all golf gear, is subjective. Quality and fit will depend on the tendencies, preferences and swing of the player.
Right off the bat, the Apollo Shadow FL shaft can be disqualified for fast, aggressive-tempo players. You can tell from the name – “FL” stands for feather light. So who is this shaft actually for? Find out in the following review.
Apollo Shadow FL Shaft Overview
When I first got the Apollo Shadow FL shaft for testing, I was convinced that it would not work for me at all.
So I brought another tester with me – one who had a more appropriate swing type for this kind of shaft. But to be perfectly honest, I was surprised at how much I liked this shaft. Will I be plugging it into my woods or my driver? No. But what surprised me is that with just a slight tweak to my transition, I was able to get really good distance and workability out of this shaft.
The kick point is low and you can feel almost the entire shaft flex just before your transition. And while the whole shaft feels active, it also feels smooth. My testing partner, who averages a 72 MPH swing speed with his driver, felt right at home with this shaft. He mentioned that the Apollo Shadow FL feels fast and encouraging enough for him to take his fastest swing. He also mentioned that he felt completely “natural” with his swing when testing the Apollo Shadow FL.
The Apollo Shadow FL has a matte white finish with prominent “Shadow FL” lettering splayed across the midsection. It actually looks really cool though the white finish does call some attention.
Why is the Apollo Shadow FL So Popular?
If the Apollo Shadow FL graphite shaft can truly be called popular then it must be because of the price point.
At just around $20, the Apollo Shadow FL shaft is a steal. It will help slow swing speed players match the drive distance of faster swingers without forcing a major tweak in the way they actually swing their drivers.
How Does the Apollo Shadow FL Perform?
The performance of the Apollo Shadow FL is marked by high launch and good carry distance.
When I made a conscious effort to smooth out my tempo, I found I was able to hit nice, high draws that all but eliminated the right side of the fairway for me. Eventually, I was able to do the same thing to the left side with fades. There were a couple of times that I thought I was going to push or pull; but the ball veered back towards the line nicely.
This was likely due to the high spin rates. I don’t expect that less experienced players will actually be able to use the high spin to work the ball like I was able to; but it’s still something to note if you’re considering the overall performance of this shaft. For my testing partner, the spin turned into more of an adversary than an advantage. His dispersion was on the wide side and he came dangerously close to missing the fairway altogether on a couple of shots.
But he was also able to land the ball softly around the green and set himself up for some easy knockdowns when he was dialed in with the Apollo Shadow FL. The flight was too high for me and I coudn;t work it down. But for my partner, it was perfect for maximizing carry on his more accurate drives.
Shaft Specs
| Specs | Apollo Shadow FL |
| Available flexes | Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff |
| Weight | 55g |
| Butt | .585”, .580” |
| Tip | .335”, .370” |
| Length | 46”, 40” |
What Flexes Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
Ladies and senior flex would likely be a good fit for players in the 45-55 MPh swing speed range.
For players who swing their drivers between 56 and 75 MPH, I would recommend either regular or stiff flex.
What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
The Apollo Shadow FL Graphite shaft is only available in a 55-gram version. This is a good weight for beginners and anyone with a slow swing speed and moderate tempo.
Why is it So Good?
The Apollo Shadow FL is a great choice for slow swing speed players who want to get their swing speed up. It is also a good choice because it is affordable. Once you have advanced your swing and are ready for a heavier, more stable shaft, you won’t have spent a ton of money on a shaft that you have outgrown.
Apollo Shadow FL Graphite Shaft First Impressions
I didn’t think I would be able to use this shaft at all at first but the smooth feel of it allowed me to change my swing and get some accuracy and workability out of it.
Key Features & Performance
The Apollo Shadow FL is an ultra lightweight graphite shaft and its main purpose, as far as I can tell, is to help slow swingers increase their ball speed and get the ball up in the air. It was insanely easy to launch the ball high with this shaft which should be a boon for beginners and naturally low-launch players.
Apollo Shadow FL Driver Review
I got good workability with my driver and my partner able to get close enough to the green to set himself up for birdie on a long par 4.
Apollo Shadow FL Fairway Wood Review
Off the deck it was hard for me to control trajectory. But for my partner, the high launch meant he could go straight to his wedges after his 2nd shot.
Apollo Shadow FL Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Excellent distance
- Very light
- Decent workability
- Great for slow swingers
- Forgiving
Cons:
- Bad for fast swingers
Overall Score: 96/100
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Who Should Buy it?
The Apollo Shadow FL is only really viable for beginners, lady golfers and slow swing speed players.
But if you fall into one of those categories you will love the distance this shaft yields. You are also likely to increase your swing speed as well.
Aidan is a low-handicap golfer who came from over 110 to breaking 80 in less than 1 year.
Aidan has become obsessed with becoming a scratch golfer and plays golf on every possible occasion, even in the snow!
