Aldila Rogue 110 MSI I/O Driver Shafts

By Russ Ryden, A Golf Digest America’s 100 Best Clubfitter
Fit2Score, Dallas Fort Worth, Texas

The Aldila Rogue I/O is an update the the Rogue Silver. The tip section of the shaft has a notation, RIP I/O. The tip section of the Rogue I/o is made with Aldila’s RIP technology. RIP (Reverse Interlaminar Placement) means some of the bias wraps are moved from the core of the shaft to the outer wall. Outer layers of material exert a greater influence on tube performance than inner layers. The bias (angular) wraps of material create torsional and hoop strength in a tube. Moving those layers to the exterior of the shaft generally means lower torque and higher hoop strength. In the Rogue I/O the torque and hoop strength of the original Rogue Silver shafts are matched in the Rogue Silver RIP in a 5 to 9 gram lighter shaft.

This chart compares the 60 gram versions of the original Rogue Silver with the RIP version. This is a classical low launch design, with a significantly stiffer section in the Mid/Tip area. You can see the wrap applied in this area to stiffen the tip. In the RIP I/O version the upper mid area is a bit softer while the tip is a bit firmer. This design is appearing from many shaft companies. In my fitting experience, it is becoming my go to shaft when I see mid firm designs releasing early for some golfers. Release can be seen in the FlightScope acceleration graphic. When I do not see a release hump, the shaft is not releasing or is releasing above the horizon. I am finding this design drops the shaft release below horizontal where it is seen in the Radar window. The result is somewhere between 5 to 20 yards for many golfers.
Radial quality is all the review samples averages 99.7% with a standard deviation of 0.3%. These shafts are round, install them as you please and rotate at will to adjust your driver. Expect a low launch with a firm tip feel. The Rogue RIP I/O was designed to be slightly lighter than the Rogue Silver. If you find the Rogue Silver to be a bit to firm and/or heavy but still want a low launch design, try the Rogue Silver RIP.