The premium aftermarket shaft landscape is fiercely competitive, often dominated by brands touting the stiffest and most stable possible profiles. Aretera Golf, with its EC1 line, takes a different, highly nuanced approach, focusing on feel and cohesion in a way few others achieve.
I was intrigued by the technical claims from Aretera with the EC1 range, so I've been testing the 65 (raw weight 69g) in 6-flex (Aretera's version on X-Flex) in both the Blue and Grey profiles to see if this design philosophy translated into measurable performance.
How We Test Shafts
All of our shaft testing is conducted using the same TaylorMade Qi35 core head set to a precise 9 degrees (measured), with each shaft cut to an exact length of 45.5 inches, fitted with a Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R grip. Furthermore, all testing shots are struck from a white castle tee to ensure consistent tee height during testing.
The data is collected and recorded using a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5x golf balls.
Controlling these potential variables allows me to draw accurate and direct comparisons and form a clear picture of each shaft's performance and feel characteristics.
Aretera EC1 Shafts Review: Technology
Aretera built the EC1 line on a proprietary concept they call Control Centr technology. This innovation is designed to address stability issues often associated with shafts that have a more compliant (or soft to you and me) mid-section.
It employed an advanced layered technique to unify the plies responsible for resisting twist and bending throughout the wall thickness. The goal of this seems to me to be to eliminate the feeling that the three sections of butt, mid, and tip are separate entities.
The design features a softer mid-section balanced by firmer butt and tip sections, utilizing 'ultra-premium exotic materials' to promote an enhanced torsional stability with a seemingly effortless transfer of power. They specifically aim to enhance overall connectedness and stability throughout the shaft without compromising the buttery feel.
It's also worth noting that Aretera does not believe in labeling shafts with a certain spin or launch profile. Like me, it believes profiles perform very differently in different players’ hands, offering only general guidance rather than prescriptive data.
Aretera EC1 Shafts Review: Performance and Feel
My testing quickly confirmed the idea that Aretera has focused heavily on feel with the EC1 shafts.
I was seriously impressed with the feedback and responsiveness on offer, particularly from the Blue profile. Where some shafts feel almost modular, with the three sections of butt, mid, and tip often feeling like separate and somewhat disconnected entities, with these shafts, the sections seemed to work incredibly cohesively. The result is a simply outstanding, unified feel that flows smoothly throughout the swing.
The Grey profile definitely felt a touch tighter or stiffer than the Blue overall, but both provided a really nice, lively feel that was very responsive without being unstable.
Interestingly, the actual launch monitor data produced from both was very similar (almost identical in fact) for me. As such, the differentiation between profiles here was more of a feel preference than data-driven, allowing me to choose the profile that felt best without sacrificing performance consistency.
The seamless transition from the butt to the active mid-section made the shaft feel easy to load, reinforcing the sense of "effortless flowing transfer of power" that Aretera claims.
Aretera EC1 Shafts Review: Conclusion
The Aretera EC1 is one of the smoother-feeling premium shafts I have tried in a long time. The Blue profile, in particular, offers a unique smoothness and controlled responsiveness that is rare.
The successful implementation of their Control Centr Technology - creating a unified feel from tip to butt - makes this shaft a compelling alternative to some of the current industry leaders.
I could see the Blue profile in particular working extremely well as a fairway wood shaft, where players often prioritize feel and higher launch off the deck, which is something I will most certainly be trying in my own bag.
Choose the Aretera EC1 blue if:
You are looking for the smoothest profile possible.
Choose the Aretera EC1 grey if:
You still value a soft, smooth feel but are coming into the EC1 range from a 'boardier' profile.
