In short, when the golfer needs a lighter or heavier total weight in the clubs, fitting the weight of the shaft is how that is done. In fitting the golfer for the best shaft weight, experienced club fitters study the “force and strength” of the golfer and his swing.
How do golfers choose the best shaft weight?
In fitting the golfer for the best shaft weight, experienced club fitters study the “force and strength” of the golfer and his swing.
How do I choose the right driver shaft?
Selecting the right driver shaft consists of many factors that can influence your swing speed, ball trajectory, and the feel of your driver. A driver fitting is the ultimate way of making sure that your driver shaft is suitable for you. Get the right shaft on your driver and get the most accurate and longest drives to put a smile on your face.
How to measure the length of a golf club shaft?
– How to measure the length of a golf club shaft? In order to determine the length of your club, stand tall and get someone to measure from the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor. Do this with both hands and take an average of the two measurements. The following lists what length of shafts you should consider for certain heights.
How do you know if your golf shaft is too heavy?
Nippon suggested that a player should be able to tell largely by feel. A shaft that’s too heavy will cause a “labored golf swing.” A shaft that’s too light will hurt your ability to make solid contact. When you find the right shaft weight, you’ll experience a “high energy swing” with uniform contact.
How much should my driver shaft weight?
between 45 to 60 gramsDriver shafts for sale typically weigh somewhere between 45 to 60 grams, although there are heavier driver shafts available. Most shaft weights beneath 50 grams are reserved for ladies' golf shafts.
Do I want a lighter or heavier driver shaft?
Heavier shafts provide low ball flight and spin off the tee. This makes it difficult for players with slower clubhead speeds to deliver sufficient ball speed to get the ball airborne. Conversely, lighter shafts deliver a high trajectory and increased backspin rpm off the tee.
What weight shaft should I use in my irons?
Swing Speed Vs Iron Shaft Weight Table6 Iron Swing SpeedShaft Weight< 60 mph45 – 50 grams60 – 70 mph55 – 85 grams70 – 80 mph75 – 105 grams80 – 90 mph90 – 120 grams1 more row
What golf shaft flex is right for me?
If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex. Regular – Now we are getting into the range where a majority of recreational golfers fall, and also where many LPGA pros fall. If you're between 84 and 96 mph, regular is going to be best for you.
What happens if golf shaft is too heavy?
Nippon suggested that a player should be able to tell largely by feel. A shaft that's too heavy will cause a “labored golf swing.” A shaft that's too light will hurt your ability to make solid contact. When you find the right shaft weight, you'll experience a “high energy swing” with uniform contact.
Is a lighter golf shaft better?
A lighter driver shaft rarely leads to a faster swing. “Only 12 percent of golfers swing their fastest with the lightest club,” Mucklow says.
How do I know if my shaft is too light?
A shaft that is too light will make you feel like the club is going too fast for your swing. It will feel like you have less control over the club throughout the swing and it will make you feel a little uneasy until you slow everything down, this can be dangerous.
Does shaft weight affect distance?
Heavy shafts tend to produce more distance, accuracy, and lower ball trajectory for a golfer with faster swing speeds.
What does a club champion say about weight?
Club Champion told us that weight is the first thing they look at when fitting a shaft, and Nippon said, “If a golfer can’t feel a shaft that’s properly weighted, the other factors (flex, torque, bend profile) are moot.”.
Can high balance shafts be used with standard heads?
As Fujikura explains, “High balance point shafts can be matched with heavier heads or longer club lengths to facilitate club builds with [“normal”] swing weights without having to change mass properties of the head. They can be used with standard heads at standard lengths to simply reduce swing weight.”.
Should slower swingers play lighter or heavier shafts?
One bit of common wisdom is that slower swingers should play lighter shafts and faster swingers should go heavier. This holds up sometimes, but is often wrong. As Fujikura pointed out, a slower swinger will be much better with a heavier shaft if that causes them to have more centered strikes.
When discussing the manner of fitting the shaft weight and total weight of a golf club, should the conversation also include fitting
When discussing the manner of fitting the shaft weight and total weight of a golf club, the conversation should also include fitting the swing weight, or better stated, the head weight FEEL of the golf club at the same time. This is because the two “weights” of a golf club are very much interrelated in their effect on the fitting performance of golf clubs for each golfer.
Why is it important to fit the golfer for the correct weight and swing feel?
Fitting the golfer for the correct total weight and swing weight (head weight feel) is extremely important for enabling the golfer to achieve the highest level of shot consistency and swing repeatability . Too light or too heavy and the golfer struggles to maintain a consistent swing tempo, timing and rhythm.
Does shaft weight affect total weight?
This is because shaft weight is the No. 1 determinant of the total weight of the club. Yes, grip weight and head weight have an influence on total weight, but they aren’t as important as the effect of the weight of the shaft. In short, when the golfer needs a lighter or heavier total weight in the clubs, fitting the weight ...
What is a golf shaft?
When it comes to performance the golf shaft has been referred to as the transmission of the golf club. The flex, length, and weight can all effect how you are hitting a golf ball. In fact, the correct shaft can help any golfer hit the ball straighter and farther. Take a closer look at the different types of shafts usually offered, and find the one that’s best for your swing.
What shafts are best for a senior golfer?
With greater swing speeds and flex you will lose some accuracy with the club. Graphite shafts are best suited for senior golfers and lady golfers who cannot produce a lot of swing speed.
Why is flex important in golf?
Flex. The most important factor when buying a shaft is the flex because it affects your distance and direction. In essence flex is the ability of a golf shaft to bend during the golf swing.
How many yards can you add with a golf club shaft?
To set the record straight, with the right shafts, you could add an additional 20 to 25 yards to your game as well as improve your accuracy.
What does flex mean in golf?
Simply, flex refers to the amount a shaft will bend while you swing. If you choose the wrong flex, the club head will not hit the ball squarely which will have an impact on your distance and the trajectory of the golf ball. Although there are no standards established, there are 5 different levels of flex: Ladies, Senior, Regular, ...
Can you swing a golf club with a lighter shaft?
The weight of a club is a matter of preference. Generally, you can swing a club with a lighter shaft faster, thereby increasing your distance. But you most likely will sacrifice some accuracy. Length is also a personal matter, and clubs with longer shafts generally hit the ball further. But clubs with shorter shafts are easier to hit ...
What to consider when choosing a golf club shaft?
However, in all cases, there are 6 main things you need to consider when choosing the right shafts for your golf clubs: The flex of the golf club shaft. The material used to make the club shaft. The weight of the shaft. The length of the shaft. The kick point and torque of the shaft. The manufacturer of the shaft.
How much does a golf club shaft weigh?
According to D’Lance Golf – a top 100 club-fitter in America (Golf Digest) – the average club shaft weight for both men and ladies are as follows: “Driver shafts typically weigh 55-60 grams for men and 45-50 grams for ladies. Iron shafts can be as light as 55 grams in graphite, and 130 grams in steel.
How does weight affect golf?
Although it’s important to realize that there are exceptions, here’s how club shaft weight generally affects your golf game: Swing Speed – lighter club shafts allow you to swing the club much faster and are therefore prefered by those with slower swing speeds.
What is the kick point of a golf shaft?
The kick point of a golf shaft refers to the area that bends the most as you initiate the downswing and make contact with the golf ball. It’s important to understand the difference between low kick, mid kick, and high kick shafts because this feature plays an important role in determining the trajectory of each shot.
Why invest in graphite shafts?
For players who are lagging in the distance department, you might want to consider investing in graphite shafts because they’re lighter and will help you increase swing speed. If you have plenty of speed, a durable steel shaft might be your best bet to help you maximize control.
What does a high kick point shaft do?
A high kick point shaft means that it will bend the most at the top of the club near the grip. High kick points generally help produce a lower ball flight.
What is torque in golf?
Torque refers to the twisting forces that act on the golf club during the golf swing. It is measured in degrees and can range anywhere between 2 and 8 degrees. The higher the torque of a club shaft, the more it will twist during the swing, and vice versa.
What is the highest point of a golf shaft?
Bend-point is the highest point of the shaft when it is bending by applying pressure to both ends of the shaft; kick-point is the highest point the shaft is bending, measured by clamping down the grip and applying pressure to the clubhead, like in the swing.
Why do golfers change their shafts?
Often golfers change the shaft on their driver for reasons other than fitting the best shaft. The reason could be as simple as the golfer likes the look of the shaft or a favorite professional golfer uses the shaft. The detrimental effect on your game can be avoided by visiting a professional club fitter.
What is the difference between lighter shafts and lighter shafts?
Lighter shafts typically result in increased clubhead speed. In addition to the weight, its center-of-mass or balance point can play a role in performance. Heavier shafts promote less spin with a lower left-to-right trajectory while lighter shafts promote higher ball flights with more right-to-left trajectories.
What is shaft flex?
Shaft flex is the factor in a driver shaft that most golfers understand in broad terms. However, it is far more intricate than the letter on the shaft indicating the flex. The holistic description of the flex of a shaft is something called an EI profile. This presents the stiffness of a shaft, from one end to another.
What is torque in golf?
Torque is the twisting movement of the shaft during the golf swing measured in degrees and shown as a rating. The more the shaft twists, the higher the rating, and the more the shaft twist. It is the torque that also determines how the shaft feels. This means that the higher the rating, the softer the shaft will feel.
What is a stepped steel shaft?
You will find stepped steel shafts on most irons. A steel strip is rolled into a tube, mechanically drawn, step pattern formed, and the walls are made thinner at the tip and thicker at the top.
Why is it important to have the right shaft?
Having the right shaft plays a huge role in improving your game to the highest level that you can achieve. However, there are so many factors involved that not all golfers are aware of.
How long does it take to find the perfect shaft profile?
It is difficult to give basic recommendations and the perfect shaft profile can only be found in a fitting and usually over longer playing periods. It can take years for a player to find the perfect profile. Therefore a player usually stays with it and remains consistent throughout the set.
What is the softest point of a shaft?
Then there are shafts with a stiff tip and a soft grip area. Basically the tip is the softest point of the shaft. These shafts are nevertheless stiffer at this point than, for example, in the middle of the shaft.
How fast can a 6 iron hit?
This category includes above average amateurs who hit their 6 iron between 155 and 170m and have a club head speed between 80 and 90mph. Please note that these are only approximate values.
What is graphite shaft?
Theoretically, they can combine the best of both worlds. A graphite shaft is basically lighter and able to dampen vibrations better. Shaft weight: The weight of a shaft influences both the total weight and the swing weight of the club.
What does the stiffness of a shaft mean?
The stiffness indicates the stiffness of the entire shaft, but not whether the shaft is stiff in the tip, middle or butt section.
Is a carbon shaft flexible?
A carbon shaft therefore does not mean being flexible at the same time. You can find the respective shaft weight in the charts above. It is important to know that a number like 80 always represents a "lower limit" and the actual weight is always slightly above this number, e.g. 83g.
Is a carbon shaft stiffer than steel?
Basically, carbon shafts tend to be lighter than steel, but can be built just as stiff - sometimes even stiffer. A carbon shaft therefore does not mean being flexible at the same time.
What shafts do you need for a slow swing?
Slow swing speeds will generally require softer-flex shafts, while high swing speeds need stiffer shafts; due to variations in swing patterns, however, swing speed is only one portion of finding the right shaft. Briand’s recommendation is to use your current driver shaft as a baseline.
What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff?
Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that’s too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.
What does low torque mean on a shaft?
5. Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.
What happens if you have a longer shaft?
As Briand says, a longer shaft will cause a less consistent strike on the face, and the golfer will tend to hit the ball closer to the heel. A shorter shaft, on the other hand, will cause a more consistent strike pattern, but impact location will tend to be on the toe. A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ...
How tall is Rickie Fowler's shaft?
A look at Rickie Fowler's fairway wood shaft, which measures 42 inches with 0.5 inches of tipping. Fitting a golfer into the exact right shaft for them over the internet is a tall, if not impossible, task. All driver swings are different, and there are so many options on the current market. Shafts are made with different flexes, lengths, weights, ...
Does tipping a shaft change the bend point?
Remember, though, that tipping a shaft will change the bend point, and it’s also irreversible, so make sure you know the purpose behind tipping your shaft. 2. Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex.
Does a high bend point lower or raise the ball?
According to Briand, a high bend point will lower ball flight and a low bend point will raise ball flight. So, if you tend to have a ball flight that’s too high, look for shafts that have a high kick point, and vice versa. It’s important to note that variations in length and shaft tipping will impact the designed bend point of a shaft.
What are the characteristics of a golf shaft?
Golfers often want to know about the three main characteristics of a golf shaft: weight, kick point, and torque. In this video, you will learn how these three specs are actually connected and how they affect each other.
What does the shaft do in golf?
Having the right shaft in your golf clubs makes a world of difference to your game. The shaft affects club performance on everything from spin, launch, and speed. The wrong shaft could cause the ball to launch too high or too low as well as spin too much and cause you to lose distance.
