Oban Devotion HB Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight
Counter-balanced shafts are somewhat controversial.
It seems that everyone we talk to about them either loves them or hates them.
It’s true that counter-balanced shafts have a different gravity in the hands that, in my experience, is especially noticeable on the backswing.
So it would take some time to get used to a counter-balanced shaft if you have never played one before – even if you really like the way it feels.
And for those who love these kinds of shafts, they often cite faster club head speed and a faster swing overall.
In the following review, we will be taking a look at one possibly worthwhile counter-balanced shaft: the Oban Devotion HB.
Oban Devotion HB Shaft Overview
As you may have been able to guess, the “HB” in Oban Devotion HB stands for High Balance.
This is what denotes this shaft as a counter-balanced shaft.
The Oban Devotion HB is the counter-balanced entry into Oban’s Devotion line of shafts and is offered in three weight classes: 55g, 65g and 75g.
To be quite honest, I chuckle a bit every time I look at this shaft. Oban has always leaned into their Asian heritage with the design of their shafts but the Oban Devotion HB takes things to a new level.
In the middle of the shaft, next to the “HB” in pseudo-Japanese font is the profile of a man with his legs splayed at an obtuse angle delivering a high karate kick.
It always reminds me of the Karate Kid and just looks a bit funny on a shaft.
But there’s nothing funny about the way this shaft feels. The tip section is mildly stiff while the CG has been placed closer to the butt.
This makes for an incredibly stable shaft even when you’re swinging outside of yourself. There is a mild kick in the middle but you never get the feeling that the shaft is ovalling – even if it is.
For me, counter-balanced shafts always put a slight hitch in my backswing and the Oban Devotion HB was no exception.
But on the downswing it feels incredibly fast and again, there is no loss of control or stability.
Why is the Oban Devotion HB So Popular?
Counter-balanced shafts pair really well with large, game improvement club heads.
This combo, for the most part, will increase your swing speed. So the Oban Devotion HB is likely popular among players who are looking to increase their club head speed
How Does the Oban Devotion HB Perform?
After testing the Oban Devotion HB, we had a lot of good things to say about it.
So before I start raving about the performance, I want to get what I didn’t like out of the way.
Surprisingly, even as my club head speed was boosted by nearly 2 MPH, my carry didn’t increase by much – just 4 yards for me and an average of 5.8 yards for the rest of the testing party.
So the only thing I don’t like about this shaft is that it isn’t the longest for my swing – and I know that distance will be a deal-breaker for a lot of golfers reading this.
In every other regard though, I really liked this shaft. The left/right divergence of our entire testing party was exceptionally narrow so the Oban Devotion HB can certainly be called a fairway finder.
In addition to tight dispersion, we were seeing very consistent flight: mid to low. Spin rates were kept in the 2200 RPM neighborhood which paired nicely with the piercing trajectory.
And since the spin rates were low, we were getting good rollout distance as well. Our better testers were able to affect baby draws and fades with the Oban Devotion HB at will.
Oban Devotion HB Shaft Specs
| Specs | Oban Devotion HB |
| Available flexes | Amateur, regular, stiff, extra stiff |
| Weight | 58g – 78g |
| Butt | .600” |
| Tip | .335 |
| Length | 46” |
What Flexes Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
Amateur and regular flex would likely cover players in the 75-85 MPH swing speed range.
For players in the 86-100 swing speed range, we suggest either stiff or extra stiff.
What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
The Oban Devotion HB 55 is for players in the 75-80 MPH swing speed range.
If you’re swinging your driver between 81-90 MPH, try the Oban Devotion HB 65. For 90+ MPH swingers, the Oban Devotion HB 75 might work.
Why is it So Good?
The consistency is probably what I liked most about this shaft.
I knew exactly how the ball would fly based on my swing and the contact I made with the ball.
Oban Devotion HB First Impressions
My first impression of the Oban Devotion HB was that it felt very stable but not at all boardy.
This is a great combination if you are a fast swinger with a quick transition.
Key Features & Performance
The CG placement in the butt section is the most important feature because for some players, this will actually help you whip the club head faster than with a regular shaft.
Oban Devotion HB Driver Review
Sidespin was almost completely eliminated off the tee. This is what led to such tight dispersion for our entire testing party.
Oban Devotion HB Fairway Wood Review
The Oban Devotion HB seemed to be even more workable when we plugged it into our test 3-wood. Baby fades and draws were getting more drawn out but still veering back on-line.
Oban Devotion HB Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Increases club head speed
- Very stable
- Tight dispersion
- Consistent
- Not ridiculously expensive
Cons:
- Not super-long
Overall Score: 96/100
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Who Should Buy it?
The only reason I didn’t score the Oban Devotion HB higher was the carry distance.
Carry distance is a big deal for most golfers so that definitely affected my final decision.
However, the Oban Devotion HB is still an excellent shaft for fast, aggressive tempo swingers who aren’t necessarily concerned with increasing their carry distance.
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!
