There are two different ways to measure driver shaft, by shaft length and by playing length. The shaft length only refers to the shaft itself, while the playing length takes the whole club into account, and is the measurement used by the USGA to determine if a club conforms to maximum size specifications.
Full Answer
What are the different types of shafts used in golf?
Each player hit seven shots with each of four shafts. For the purposes of this test, we will refer to them as Shaft A Stock, Shaft A Aftermarket, Shaft B Stock, and Shaft B Aftermarket. Each shaft was the same weight and flex – 60 grams, stiff flex.
Do aftermarket golf shafts create more distance than stock?
The aftermarket shafts won 8/10 trials by an average of 10 yards. In short, the data we collected shows that aftermarket shafts create more distance than stock shafts. When we looked at accuracy, the picture was much more muddled. The stock and aftermarket shafts had an even 5 to 5 split when it came to offline averages .
What should I look for when buying a golf shaft?
A simple rule of thumb to remember when buying a shaft is a high kick point rating means low ball trajectory. Low kick point means higher ball flight trajectory. It also may feel like the club is “whipping” during the swing while a high kick point will feel more solid and stiff. Should I Buy Steel, Graphite, or Which Type of Shaft Material?
How much does shaft weight matter in golf clubs?
Shaft weights typically range between 50 grams and 85 grams with the 50-60 numbers being pretty common as seen in the example shafts above. Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball.
How do you know which golf shaft to use?
A player with a very fast swing will require a shaft with less flex, while a player with a slower swing will need a shaft with greater flex. Flex is generally rated as Extra Stiff (XS), Stiff(S), Firm(F), Regular(R), Senior(S), Amateur(A) and Ladies(L).
Do golf shaft manufacturers have industry standards for Flex?
There Are No Standards Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth. Over the past several decades we have seen wildly different performance from what is described by the OEM versus what the customer is actually getting. One company's stiff flex could perform exactly the same as another's regular.
How do I know what shaft I need for my irons?
If the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor is:29 to 32 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 inches.33 to 34 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 1/2 inches.35 to 36 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 38 inches.More items...•
Are golf shafts interchangeable between brands?
Yes, most golf Driver shafts are interchangeable. Golf driver shafts can be replaced as long as the new shaft is the same length and made by the same brand of golf club.
Do any tour pros use regular flex shafts?
As a whole 90% of the top 100 golfers on the PGA Tour use either an extra stiff or Tour extra flex shaft in their driver. Only a very small number of this elite group, including Brian Harman and Jason Day, use a 'softer' stiff driver shaft while not one of the top 100 uses a regular or regular+ shaft in their driver.
What swing speed should use a regular shaft?
80-95 mph80-95 mph swing speeds should use regular shafts. 90-105 mph swing speeds should use stiff shafts.
What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?
There are a few tell tale signs that your shafts are too stiff, firstly you will lose the ball to the right, because the shaft is to stiff it will be hard to square up at impact, causing the face to be open when you hit the ball, this is going to produce a fade or slice shot, generally ending up on the right side of ...
What driver shaft is most used on tour?
Fujikura driver shafts are the most used by the top 100 PGA Tour players with 28 players using them including Justin Thomas, Jordan Speith, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Louis Oosthuizen. The Ventus Blue 6X and Ventus Black 6X shafts are the most popular individual driver shafts.
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft for irons?
Who should use stiff flex irons? The starting point for this is swing speed, if you swing your driver between 90-105 mph then you will probably need a stiff shaft. This will benefit you by delivering great control of your club during your swing and stop you spraying it everywhere.
How do I know if a shaft will fit my driver?
5 factors to help you find the right driver shaft for your swingFlex. Generally speaking, a driver shaft that's too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. ... Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex. ... Length. ... Kick point. ... Torque.
Are all TaylorMade shafts interchangeable?
No, the TaylorMade R11 and M3 do not use the same adapter design, so the shaft would not be interchangeable between both heads.
Can you switch shafts on irons?
If you're thinking about changing the shafts on your golf clubs, you can either do them yourself or take them to your local golf shop.
What is standard shaft flex?
The most common flex, regular, is designated as "R" on the flex chart and is recommended for golfers who regularly drive the ball 210 to 240 yards and have a swing speed between 75 and 84 mph. Steel and graphite shafts are available in regular flex, which is appropriate for men with mid to high handicaps.
What does Taylormade S flex mean?
stiff flex"S" denotes "stiff flex" (might also be designated "Firm") "X" denotes "extra stiff flex" (might also be designated "Tour")
What is Fujikura R2 Flex?
Googled Description: The R2 is the equivalent of the modern day A-flex. Instead of calling it amateur or senior flex which is ability or age related, the R2 is simply a softer shaft than a standard regular flex for those with reduced swing speeds.
What is Rs flex shaft?
For those of you who are unaware of the nomenclature, R stands for Regular and is designed for – well, you guessed it – the regular guy. It is simply the flex built into the shaft to complement the strength of what the average male golfer may produce to provide the right feel and consistent results.
What is the difference between stock shafts and aftermarket shafts?
The difference between stock shafts and aftermarket shafts is usually found in quality control. Many times the bigger OEMs will strip off the paint of last year’s model and give them a new exterior. The graphics look attractive, but you really have no idea what is beneath it.
How much weight should a golf shaft be?
Weight. Getting the correct weight of your shaft is an important factor to consider as well. Shafts can range anywhere from 40 to 135 grams. Typically the rule of thumb is that a golfer with a slower swing speed will benefit from using a lighter shaft, and you would add weight as swing speed increases. As you might expect at this point, there are ...
What is the biggest misconception about golf shafts?
One of the biggest misconceptions about shafts is that there are standards out there that manufacturers adhere to. Most golfers assume that a shaft marked regular or stiff will be the same across the board, no matter who they buy it from.
Why didn't Nick Price find a stiff shaft?
Regardless of the similarity in their swing speeds, Nick Price couldn’t find a shaft stiff enough for his swing because he would apply such an enormous amount of force, whereas Couples didn’t need as stiff of a shaft because of his smooth tempo.
Why is shaft profile important?
Getting the right shaft profile for your swing is very important. It will greatly affect your ability to hit quality shots on the course . There is a lot of confusion in the golf shaft industry. With no standards for performance, the quality greatly varies, and often you get what you pay for. We hope that we have cleared up some ...
What is the most important thing about a driver shaft?
One of the most important things about shafts is how they handle the force that a player’s swing will apply. Generally speaking, there are two extremes. Some players apply a late load to their swing, which would require a stiffer tip of the driver shaft. Conversely, a player that extends early in their swing (most recreational golfers) ...
Is the shaft of a truck the same as the transmission?
It absolutely has an effect on how well you can play. The shaft is similar to the transmission of a car. While it’s not the engine, it’s still extremely important. If you are driving a truck you want a transmission that can handle its particular demands.
What is the shaft of a golf club?
Many consider the golf shaft the "engine of the club". Golf shafts are either made from graphite or steel. Both types have its benefits and disadvantages. Either way, the golf shaft is where power is stored and released at impact. Sitting in between the golf grip and club head, a solid connection is what allows the golf shaft to do its job.
What is shaft flex?
Shaft flex is a description of how much a shaft will bend under the force of a golf swing with a head attached at the tip end. The speed and frequency of your swing will determine what flex you need. There are generally 5 different flex notations (from most bendable to least bendable): A-flex (Senior), L-flex (Ladies), R-flex (Regular), ...
How long is a 0.370" iron shaft?
decreasing in length from #3-PW). 0.370" parallel iron shafts arrive in uncut lengths, usually 41" or 42" for irons or 46" or more for woods.
Why do you need a shaft in a golf club?
The shaft is a critical component of the golf club. The shaft is used to transfer the energy of your swing to the golf ball. You should not pick a shaft solely based on the popularity of a brand name or on what type of shaft your old clubs had. By taking the time to pick a shaft to match your golf swing, you can ensure your clubs will help improve ...
Where is GolfSmith located?
GolfSmith: Golf Club Shafts. Writer Bio. Based in Memphis, Jackson Lewis has been writing on technology-related material for 10 years with a recent emphasis on golf and other sports. He has been freelance writing for Demand Media since 2008.
Why are shafts important in golf?
A more flexible shaft can help increase your swing speed. There's a lot of homework a golfer should do before buying a set of clubs, and one of those is learning the options as to which shafts the clubs should have. If chosen correctly, shafts can help you get the most out of your swing, regardless of your abilities.
What are the shafts made of?
Composition. There are two shafts on the market, ones made of graphite and the others made of steel . Graphite shafts cost more, but they are lighter and easier to hit. And because graphite shafts will contribute to a faster swing speed, you will get more distance on your shots.
How many grades of flex shafts are there?
There are five grades of flex from which to choose, and the easiest way to select the right one is to find out how long your drives fly, an indication of your swing speed. The five grades of shafts are ladies, seniors, regular, stiff and extra-stiff. If you hit the ball relatively short, say 175 yards or less, you should probably pick ladies shafts.
Do you need longer shafts for golf clubs?
You might be tall, but you might also have long arms, so you would not need longer shafts. If you have a professional club fitter available, he will measure you correctly and make recommendations as to the correct length of the shafts.
Can a club fitter measure shaft length?
If you have a professional club fitter available, he will measure you correctly and make recommendations as to the correct length of the shafts. Because you would like to get the most distance from your driver, you could decide to add length to the shaft, but you would give up a degree of accuracy, so it's smart to find the common ground.
The Makeup
To begin with, we have straight-up looks. There’s generally not a lot of visual cues to tell you that a club is stock or aftermarket.
The Results
Speaking of results, PluggedIn Golf conducted a study with Club Champion to show the difference in distance an aftermarket shaft can provide. The study found that aftermarket shafts can be swung faster, have faster ball speeds, and provide more carry distance and overall total distance.
What Is The Difference Between Stock and Custom Golf Clubs ?
A stock golf club comes directly from the manufacturer, and it is not modified in any way. Stock golf clubs are built to fit an average height player. Stock golf clubs can be ordered with golf shafts that have different flexes, but they will all still come with the stock brand and manufacturer.
Do I Need A Club Fitting To Order Custom Golf Clubs?
Getting a custom fitting to ensure the custom golf clubs you order are a good fit for your game is a smart idea; however, it is not always necessary. Some players have personal launch monitors, have tried demo equipment, and have even tinkered with their clubs to know exactly what they need.
Are Custom Golf Clubs Better?
One of the questions that we are asked at Fairway Jockey most often is whether or not custom golf clubs are better. Golf clubs that are specifically built to meet the needs of a player’s game are always better. If those clubs are custom or stock, that is fine.
Why do players need softer shafts?
Some players need a softer shaft for performance reasons, and others prefer the feel of a softer shaft. At this point, it’s fairly clear that, leaving aside issues of “better or worse,” we can conclude that stock shafts are not the same as their aftermarket counterparts .
Where is Matt from Plugged In Golf?
He's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
Is stock shaft the same as aftermarket shaft?
That said, just because they have the same name as an expensive aftermarket shaft does not mean they are the same.