Shafts

The goal of shaft design is to utilize new materials in order to create better balance, dampen vibration, and reduce torque (resistance to twist.)

Each material has its trade off. Steel, while consistent, has a weight factor. Aluminum offers lightweight but reduced strength. Titanium offers lightweight and strength but is costly. Graphite offers lightweight but is inconsistent. The latest space age material Thermoplastics offers light weight and features Viscolasticity - Dynamic Stiffening. This means if the golfer swings slowly the shaft will have softer characteristics while if he swings harder the shaft will automatically stiffen. The question is will the manufacturer be able to produce these shafts with consistent characteristics at a reasonable cost.

The first consideration in determining the proper shaft is whether you have a preference for steel or graphite. When we design a shaft, the club head is a major consideration in the ultimate makeup of the shaft.

Graphite or Steel?
There is a common belief that graphite shafts will add distance to your shot. Actually, the best way to add distance is through increased club head speed and/or improved technique. If you can swing a graphite-shafted club faster, increased distance may result. There is, however, no guarantee of this occurring since there are other factors involved. Steel-shafted clubs generally produce more consistent shot patterns and are generally heavier than graphite-shafted clubs. Graphite-shafted clubs generally have better vibration absorption characteristics than steel-shafted clubs.

Choosing the proper shaft is the most challenging aspect of club fitting since shafts vary greatly in characteristics.

Weight- generally, steel shafts are heavier than graphite shafts, although "steel-weighted" graphite shafts are becoming more and more common. Heavier shafts generally yield higher overall weight and higher swing weighted clubs. Lighter shafts generally yield lower overall weight and lower swing weighted clubs. (Differently weighted heads are selected for different weight shafts when made to measure clubs are assembled, allowing us to build golf clubs to individual customers needs.)

A golfer's club head speed is an accurate way to determine a starting point for shaft recommendations. Club head speed can be equated to the distance the golfer hits a 5-iron or driver. If possible, the golfer should try a variety of shafts to determine which shaft produces the most desirable shot trajectory and feel. Stiffer shafts will generally produce a lower ball trajectory and firmer feel, while more flexible shafts will generally produce a higher ball trajectory and a softer feel.

Shaft labels
Marketing influences often dictate whether a particular shaft is marked "S" (stiff) "R" (regular), "A" (senior), or "L" (ladies). The average male golfer should use an "R" but manufacturers know that the vast majority of them want to hit with "S". Some manufacturers are wisely getting around that dilemma with new terminology such as "Release", "Easyflex", "Turboflex", "Smoothflex", and "Speedfit".

Shaft flex
A measurement of how much a shaft will bend under a certain LOAD. During the early part of the downswing, the club shaft bends - opening the clubface. As the downswing approaches the point of impact, the shaft recoils against this bending, returning the shaft towards a straight position at the point of impact, presenting the clubface square to the ball. Shafts with more flex generally feel softer and can help golfers with slower swing speeds hit shots with optimal trajectory.

"Flex" would be a relatively simple factor to fathom if club manufacturers followed a uniform set of standards. Unfortunately, they do not. Flex standards vary not only from manufacturer to manufacturer but also, from model to model within certain manufacturers' product lines. Callaway, for one, is notorious for labeling weak flex shafts as "S".

True Temper unbelievably uses weight sorting to determine flex.Their theory is that a heavier shaft (over 113 gms) has more steel and, therefore, a thicker wall and, therefore, requires a "S" label. No other shaft characteristics are taken into account.

It is important to remember that strength is not the key determinant in deciding what flex is appropriate for any given golfer. Even clubhead speed is of secondary importance in determining what flex to use. What matters most is the golfer's tempo and the particular point in his swing WHERE unloading occurs and how forcibly he does that unloading. If your release is very late (not necessarily fast), then you need a stiffer flex. If your swing is smooth and rhythmic (though not necessarily slow), then you should use a softer flex.

Flex point/Kick point
The flex point or kick point is the point where the shaft flexes the most. In general, the lower the flex point, the easier it is to get the ball airborne.

Torque
Torque is a measurement of how much a shaft will twist under a certain load. As force is generated in the downswing, the shaft bends but also "twists" or torques. Without some torque, the shot would feel very rigid at impact. Too much torque and you'll lose control. Shafts with more torque will feel softer since the shaft absorbs more vibration. The trade-off can be less accuracy.

While flex is the most important of the three for most golfers, weight and torque also contribute significantly to the overall feel of the club. The weight and torque are designed into a shaft to complement the flex characteristics for the best performance and feel. Feel is very important when selecting a shaft. Most golfers can tell the difference between a stiff shaft and a flexible shaft by the feedback they get from hitting a golf ball. Generally, more flexible shafts have a softer feel than firmer shafts, and therefore feel better at impact. The golfer should be aware that a shaft that is too flexible might produce higher than optimal ball trajectory (possibly resulting in a loss of distance) and less control.

Frequency
Frequency is the number of reverberations cycles per minute(cpm) the shaft will register when its end tip is pulled and then released, while the butt is clamped in place. The more reverberations the shaft makes per minute the stiffer the shaft. Frequency is amplitude independent. That means regardless of how far the shaft is deflected (half or full swing), the frequency remains constant. Clubs built with frequency matching have exceptionally close frequencies while retail irons can vary up to 60 CPM.

So, how does one choose what shaft to use? The easiest way is to ask for three 5-irons from the same product line each with a different flex. Tape over any flex indicative markings. Then hit a large bucket of balls on a full length range alternating between clubs. Keep track of your results and stick with the one which provides the best results. If it turns out to be a senior flex then buy senior flex. But, do not assume that a Callaway set will be gauged by the same standard as a Taylor or a Ping or any other set. Test the flexes of the brand you are going to buy. The best way is to use a proper fitting center or have the clubs shafted by a certified club maker.

Don't test for flex in one brand and then buy another. Odds are, they won't be the same. Also remember that the exact same shaft with the exact same flex will swing differently depending upon the weight of the clubhead. A heavier head from one manufacturer will make an "R" shaft flex closer to an "A". A lighter head from another will make it seem more like an "S".

Most retailers would have you believe that swing speed is the key to determining the proper clubs, but club makers and most professionals would tell you shaft labels should be disregarded. Buying golf clubs based of your swing speed would be like buying shoes based on your height.