All About Shafts
With all of the different shafts available on the market today selecting the one best suited for your game can be a daunting process. In this article I will shed some light on the performance characteristics and the pro’s and con’s of certain types of shafts versus others as well as a question and answer session addressing some of the most common questions about shafts. To make things easier to understand I have provided a glossary of terms used to describe shafts.
Flex- The relative overall stiffness measurement of a shaft from the tip end to the butt end. Most shafts are rated as either regular, stiff, extra stiff, or senior. Unfortunately, there is no industry standard for measuring or quantifying the stiffness of one shaft versus another and this makes shaft flex a very objective and relative term.
Torque- A shafts measured resistance to twisting. Torque is measured in degrees. The torque of a shaft will play a large role in providing the “feel” of a shaft. Lower torque shafts are more stable and will twist less than shafts with higher torque on off center hits thereby providing a tighter shot dispersion. The downside of a low torque shaft is that they tend to have a harsh or “boardy” feel and will play stiffer than a shaft of equal flex but higher torque.
Bend point/ Kick Point- This is the relative location up or down the length of the shaft where the flexing predominately occurs. The bend point of a shaft has traditionally been linked to influencing the launch angle, shot height, and spin rate of the ball. Shafts with high bend points and stiffer tips tend to launch the ball lower with less spin compared to shafts with softer more flexible tips. Recent research has shown that shaft bend point plays a much lesser role in determining ball launch and spin rates versus club head loft and the vertical angle that the club head approaches the ball (angle of attack) and has more to do with providing the “feel” of the shaft of the shaft as it loads and unloads during the swing. Shafts with softer tips will tend to feel like they have more “kick” at impact.
Weight- The overall weight of a shaft is measured in grams. All things being equal, a lighter shaft can be swung faster and with less effort when compared to a heavier shaft. Historically, steel shafts weigh more that graphite shafts, however many companies are now manufacturing lighter weight steel shafts as an alternative choice to graphite. Graphite shafts for woods range anywhere from 45 grams to around 80 grams. Steel shafts for irons fall into the 85- 130 gram range. A few more points about shaft weight;
• Faster swings with aggressive tempo’s will tend to perform better with a heavier shaft.
• Slower swings with a smooth change of direction will tend to benefit from a lighter shaft
• Those seeking more distance and height should play a light weight shaft
• Those looking for more control, tighter shot dispersion, and a lower ball flight should lean towards a heavier shaft.
Question- With all the choices available, how will I know what shaft is best for me?
Answer- As a general rule shafts tend to fall into one of three categories;
• Low trajectory
• Mid trajectory
• High trajectory
There are also sub- categories defining spin rate;
• High
• Mid
• Low
When it comes to driver shafts, a relatively high launch, low spin combination has been shown to maximize distance, but as I mentioned earlier, club head loft and angle of attack play a far more important role in determining launch and spin. That being said, you may experience a slightly different feel in your hands at impact but will probably notice very little difference in the performance of one shaft versus another within the same genre. Most companies offer a selection of stock shafts that satisfy each of the three categories mentioned above as well as several custom order shafts available at no extra charge. The only question left is deciding what your preferences are in terms of feel and ball flight characteristics.
As far as iron shafts go, the main question is whether you need distance or control? Again, all things being equal, a lighter shaft will generally produce slightly higher club head speeds and a higher ball flight than a heavier weighted shaft. Graphite shafts offer a softer and smoother feel and seem to absorb unwanted vibrations from impact better than steel shafts and therefore place less stress on the joints of the wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Many companies are now producing “tour weight” graphite shafts for irons that feature playing characteristics similar to steel but with the feel characteristics of graphite. Most club manufacturers are now offering these shafts as a custom option but come with an up charge.
Question- How do I know what flex shaft I should be playing?
Answer- That mostly depends on two things;
1. Club head speed
2. Swing tempo
As a general rule, faster club head speeds require stiffer shafts. How you swing fast also plays an important role. For instance, two different players with the same club head speed may require shafts with different flexes. A player with a fast tempo and an aggressive transition from back swing to down swing tends to require a stiffer and heavier shaft versus a player who has a slower tempo with a more casual unhurried change of direction. Try to find the most flexible shaft that still allows you to maintain maximum distance, directional, and trajectory control. Shafts that are too stiff or too heavy can cause poor swing habits to arise.
Question- What in the world could cause a shaft to cost $400?
Answer- No idea!!! Seriously though, it’s mostly the manufacturing process and marketing. A prime example of “the more expensive it is the better it must be”. This is true to a certain extent but a very, very small percentage of the golfing population would see any benefit from one of these exotic upgrades.
Torque- A shafts measured resistance to twisting. Torque is measured in degrees. The torque of a shaft will play a large role in providing the “feel” of a shaft. Lower torque shafts are more stable and will twist less than shafts with higher torque on off center hits thereby providing a tighter shot dispersion. The downside of a low torque shaft is that they tend to have a harsh or “boardy” feel and will play stiffer than a shaft of equal flex but higher torque.
Bend point/ Kick Point- This is the relative location up or down the length of the shaft where the flexing predominately occurs. The bend point of a shaft has traditionally been linked to influencing the launch angle, shot height, and spin rate of the ball. Shafts with high bend points and stiffer tips tend to launch the ball lower with less spin compared to shafts with softer more flexible tips. Recent research has shown that shaft bend point plays a much lesser role in determining ball launch and spin rates versus club head loft and the vertical angle that the club head approaches the ball (angle of attack) and has more to do with providing the “feel” of the shaft of the shaft as it loads and unloads during the swing. Shafts with softer tips will tend to feel like they have more “kick” at impact.
Weight- The overall weight of a shaft is measured in grams. All things being equal, a lighter shaft can be swung faster and with less effort when compared to a heavier shaft. Historically, steel shafts weigh more that graphite shafts, however many companies are now manufacturing lighter weight steel shafts as an alternative choice to graphite. Graphite shafts for woods range anywhere from 45 grams to around 80 grams. Steel shafts for irons fall into the 85- 130 gram range. A few more points about shaft weight;
• Faster swings with aggressive tempo’s will tend to perform better with a heavier shaft.
• Slower swings with a smooth change of direction will tend to benefit from a lighter shaft
• Those seeking more distance and height should play a light weight shaft
• Those looking for more control, tighter shot dispersion, and a lower ball flight should lean towards a heavier shaft.
Question- With all the choices available, how will I know what shaft is best for me?
Answer- As a general rule shafts tend to fall into one of three categories;
• Low trajectory
• Mid trajectory
• High trajectory
There are also sub- categories defining spin rate;
• High
• Mid
• Low
When it comes to driver shafts, a relatively high launch, low spin combination has been shown to maximize distance, but as I mentioned earlier, club head loft and angle of attack play a far more important role in determining launch and spin. That being said, you may experience a slightly different feel in your hands at impact but will probably notice very little difference in the performance of one shaft versus another within the same genre. Most companies offer a selection of stock shafts that satisfy each of the three categories mentioned above as well as several custom order shafts available at no extra charge. The only question left is deciding what your preferences are in terms of feel and ball flight characteristics.
As far as iron shafts go, the main question is whether you need distance or control? Again, all things being equal, a lighter shaft will generally produce slightly higher club head speeds and a higher ball flight than a heavier weighted shaft. Graphite shafts offer a softer and smoother feel and seem to absorb unwanted vibrations from impact better than steel shafts and therefore place less stress on the joints of the wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Many companies are now producing “tour weight” graphite shafts for irons that feature playing characteristics similar to steel but with the feel characteristics of graphite. Most club manufacturers are now offering these shafts as a custom option but come with an up charge.
Question- How do I know what flex shaft I should be playing?
Answer- That mostly depends on two things;
1. Club head speed
2. Swing tempo
As a general rule, faster club head speeds require stiffer shafts. How you swing fast also plays an important role. For instance, two different players with the same club head speed may require shafts with different flexes. A player with a fast tempo and an aggressive transition from back swing to down swing tends to require a stiffer and heavier shaft versus a player who has a slower tempo with a more casual unhurried change of direction. Try to find the most flexible shaft that still allows you to maintain maximum distance, directional, and trajectory control. Shafts that are too stiff or too heavy can cause poor swing habits to arise.
Question- What in the world could cause a shaft to cost $400?
Answer- No idea!!! Seriously though, it’s mostly the manufacturing process and marketing. A prime example of “the more expensive it is the better it must be”. This is true to a certain extent but a very, very small percentage of the golfing population would see any benefit from one of these exotic upgrades.
