In simple terms, torque does two things, it helps control the club face through impact and it provides the feel of the shaft. If you are using a torque that is too high, say someone with a fast swing using a shaft with a torque of 6, you will hit low hooks. The club will feel like a whip, not in a good way.
What is the importance of torque in a golf shaft?
What Is Good Torque for a Golf Club Shaft?
- Types. A steel shaft will have less torque simply because of the material it is made of. ...
- Results. When you have less torque in your club shaft, it is said that you will have a straighter shot and a stiffer feel.
- Less Torque. When you strike the ball, you want your club head to be as square to your target as possible. ...
- More Torque. ...
- Expert Insight. ...
What does high torque mean in a golf shaft?
The torque is how much a golf club will resist bending during the swing. A golf shaft with a higher toque means that the shaft is going to twist more, and a golf shaft with a low torque will twist much less. Generally speaking, golfers with faster swing speeds are going to want lower torque golf shafts.
What are the best golf shafts?
best golf shafts for irons
- UST Recoil ZT9 Iron Shaft Set. UST Mamiya Recoil ZT9 Iron Shafts are known for the best and unparalleled stability in the industry.
- Aerotech Steel Fiber FC 90. The new SteelFiber FC shafts are designed with a progressive tip that gives higher ball flight in the mid- and long irons also classic ...
- Mitsubishi-Rayon Kuro Kage Black 70 Iron R Shaft. ...
What does "torque" mean for a shaft?
Torque is the measurement of a shaft’s resistance to rotational twisting. Torque is expressed in degrees – the higher the number, the less resistance. How is Torque Measured? If you read the first Shafts 101, you know that there are virtually no industry standards in shafts. Measuring torque is no exception.
What does torque mean on a golf club shaft?
a twisting force thatTorque is defined as “a twisting force that tends to cause rotation.” In the case of a golf shaft, it's the amount of twisting (or lack thereof) that occurs during the swing.
What torque shaft should I use?
The conventional wisdom on torque consists of two major tenets: 1) Players who tend to hook the ball will benefit from a lower torque shaft. Players who tend to slice the ball will benefit from a higher torque shaft. 2) Players who swing faster need lower torque.
How does golf shaft torque affect ball flight?
If we think about torque affecting how the club head is delivered to the ball at impact, you can imagine that it would affect ball flight. One study in 2017, showed that shafts with a higher torque caused a more open club face at impact which led to a slightly higher launch that tended to go right.
What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff for your swing speed?
If you are swinging with a shaft that is too stiff for you, you will lose clubhead speed, because you don't swing it fast enough to generate enough speed, and the same if it is too light, you will actually slow down your swing, so you can control the club.
Does torque matter in golf shaft?
A high-torque shaft will twist more than a low-torque shaft. Put another way, some shafts resist twisting better than others. A shaft with a lower torque rating means the shaft better resists twisting; a shaft with a higher torque rating means the shaft is more prone to twisting (all other things being equal).
What is the difference between high torque and low torque?
As previously mentioned, torque tells you how an engine feels when you accelerate. Cars with high torque engines tend to accelerate slower off the mark but quicker from low revs in a high gear. Conversely, cars with low torque engines tend to accelerate quicker off the mark but slower from low revs in a high gear.
What does high torque mean?
At the same time, the torque should be applied over the largest possible engine speed range. In terms of driving experience, high torque means the shortest possible delay between the driver pressing the gas pedal and the engine responding.
What is torque in golf swing?
Torque, which equates to Force x Distance, is the turning force that changes an object's rate of rotation. In a golfing context, this usually refers to the rotation of the shoulders during the backswing, and the hips during the swing itself.
How much does tipping affect torque?
Shaft tipping is when a club builder removes length from the tip section of a shaft, which is the end where the clubhead is installed. In most cases, tip trimming a shaft makes it meaningfully stiffer. It also increases torsional stiffness, known as “torque,” which is a shaft's resistance to twisting.
Do you lose distance with stiffer shafts?
If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low. If you are struggling with a slice, it is highly likely you are using stiff club shafts. By figuring out the most common type of shot you are playing, it becomes easier to know whether you need a softer shaft.
How do you know what shaft stiffness to use?
Put simply, the higher the rating, the more the shaft is prone to twisting. It is the torque that also determines how the shaft feels to every player, which means that the higher the rating, the softer the shaft will feel. A shaft with a 3-degree torque will feel much stiffer than a 5-degree torque, for example.
How do I know if my golf shafts are too stiff?
If your driver's shaft is too stiff, the clubhead may not square with the ball at the point of impact, causing slices and fades. If you can't feel the weight of the clubhead loading through the shaft, it's probably too stiff, and can cause errors and issues associated with accuracy such as these.
What is torque in golf?
Warren Little / Getty Images. "Torque" is a property of golf shafts that describes how much the shaft is prone to twisting during the golf swing. All shafts, steel and graphite, exhibit torque, which is measured in degrees. A high-torque shaft will twist more than a low-torque shaft. Put another way, some shafts resist twisting better than others.
What does it mean when a shaft is high torque?
A high-torque shaft will twist more than a low-torque shaft. Put another way, some shafts resist twisting better than others. A shaft with a lower torque rating means the shaft better resists twisting; a shaft with a higher torque rating means the shaft is more prone to twisting (all other things being equal). ...
What is twisting in golf?
A golfer's swing, and the clubhead attached to the end of the shaft, exert forces on the shaft that lead to twisting. This twisting is simply a part of the swing.
Why is torque narrow?
In steel shafts, because the type of steel material is the same throughout the entire shaft, the torque exists in a very narrow range of degrees, one that is much more narrow than in graphite shafts.
Is torque a factor in golf shaft selection?
Therefore, torque is not a factor to worry about in the selection of a steel shaft, but it is a point to keep in mind for some golfers when selecting a graphite shaft.
What is shaft torque?
The golf industry’s term “shaft torque” is used to convey the relative, comparative amount that a shaft is designed to resist twisting in response to a specific force of torque applied to the shaft.
Why does a golfer need 6 or more degrees of torque?
This is because 6 or more degrees of torque in a shaft does not provide enough resistance to the twisting force that a golfer with a strong transition move and aggressive downswing tempo will generate .
Why is torque not a fitting factor?
The reason that torque is not much of a fitting factor today is because the shaft makers all design the torque of their shafts to fall in line with the flex. Shaft makers know that the faster the swing speed of the player, not always but typically that higher swing speed generates more twisting force on the shaft.
What causes a clubhead to twist?
With a majority of the head’s weight and the head’s center of gravity not in line with the center of the shaft, under the force of the downswing the force of the downswing will cause the clubhead to apply a twisting force on the shaft.
What would happen if the Rules of Golf were to allow clubheads to be designed so that the shaft would attach
If the Rules of Golf were to allow clubheads to be designed so that the shaft would attach directly in line with the clubhead’s center of gravity, shaft torque would have nothing to do with shot performance.
How much torque does a hickory shaft have?
Golfers who are used to seeing torque measurements on today’s shafts between 2 and 5 degrees would be interested to hear that a typical hickory shaft can have a torque measurement of more than 20 degrees !!
Why does the club head twist when downswing?
Because most of the weight as well as the center of gravity of the clubhead protrudes well out in front of the shaft, the moment the golfer begins the downswing, that acceleration force causes the clubhead to exert a twisting influence on the shaft.
What happens when you have less torque in your golf club shaft?
When you have more torque in your club shaft it is said that your shots can be less accurate but go further and have a nice soft feel.
Why is shaft torque important?
Shaft torque becomes increasingly important the faster you swing. Torque is the measure of how much the shaft twists during the golf swing. It may be hard to imagine this even happening, but shafts are made with that particular fact in mind. They are even made to resist it more or less, depending on your swing and what kind ...
Why does a steel shaft have less torque?
A steel shaft will have less torque simply because of the material it is made of. A degree of 3 to 4 is normal for a steel shaft. Graphite shafts can have a lot more torque. Since graphite is not a solid piece of material, the torque can be much higher; to degrees of 7 or 8.
When you strike the ball, do you want your club head to be square?
When you strike the ball, you want your club head to be as square to your target as possible. When the club head twists, it can make the club head a degree or two open or closed when it makes contact. Therefore you want less torque when you are looking to straighten your ball flight.
Does Tiger Woods know how much torque he needs?
Certainly Tiger Woods knows exactly how much torque he needs for every club in his bag , but for a beginner it won't matter much. Torque should be one of the last things you look at when trying to improve your game. Golfweeks' Adam Woodard breaks down the results from the match.
What is torque in a shaft?
Torque is really pretty simple: it’s the shaft’s resistance to twisting. Torque is measured in degrees (meaning: how many degrees will the shaft twist under a certain amount of force), and you’ll typically see measurements as low as 2° and as high as 5°, 6°, or 7°. As with many other things, these numbers don’t necessarily mean a lot ...
What are the two main tenets of torque?
The conventional wisdom on torque consists of two major tenets: 1) Players who tend to hook the ball will benefit from a lower torque shaft. Players who tend to slice the ball will benefit from a higher torque shaft. 2) Players who swing faster need lower torque.
Why should you care about torque?
You should care because torque is a major component in how a shaft feels, much more than flex . You could have an XX-stiff shaft with high torque, and it might feel “smooth” or even “whippy.”. Alternately, you could have a senior flex shaft with low torque that can feel “boardy.”.
Does torque affect where the ball ends up?
Torque also has a major impact on where the ball ends up. All other things being equal, a shaft with higher torque will lead to a club face that is pointed further left (for a RH golfer) at impact…but we know “all other things” are rarely equal when you add in the human element.
Is torque a rule?
Torque matters, and, like flex and weight , there are no easy rules to follow. You need to try a variety of things and be fit into the shaft that will work best for you.
How does torque affect golf swing?
Torque will also affect ball fight if it is too high for fast swing speeds by opening or closing slightly on shots hit a bit off-center. If torque is too low the shaft will have a very hard to feel on feedback and you may not get the desired height or trajectory on your ball flight. Golf shaft flex is also important when determining ...
What are the factors to consider when selecting a golf shaft?
Other factors in selecting a shaft are the flex, the kick point, and the weight. These all play into the right shaft for you, but let’s not forget that a consistent golf swing in the most important factor in deciding what shaft is best ...
How much torque does a Proforce V2 shaft have?
Using the proforce v2 wood shaft, the shafts are grouped in three weights. 55 grams 65 grams and 75 grams. The torque is 3.7 for 55 grams, 3.0 for 65 grams and 2.2 for 75 grams. Although this shaft is not made in a ladies flex, when there is one in other models the torque will be the highest of the five flexes.
Why are shaft prices higher?
One of the reasons shaft prices are higher and the quality is better on shafts sold separately by shaft manufacturing companies is because it costs more to manufacture a lower torque shaft.
What are the most common materials used in golf shafts?
Two of the most popular materials used are steel and graphite or a combination of both. Steel shafts have existed since the days of Nelson and Hogan and have been a common staple in golf equipment. Graphite came along many years later and a pre-graphite shaft was fiberglass. The shaft surfaced in late 1960s and early 70s.
How fast should a golf driver flex?
A basic guide for the flex would be 75 mph or lower with your golf driver would call for a senior of lady flex.
Does torque affect shaft price?
Today, golf shaft torque is always given as a specification by shaft manufacturers and will affect the price of the shaft. The more expensive shafts will have lower torques. One of the problems with manufacturers of standard shafts (OEM) is that the torque is too high for golfers with faster club head speeds.
Why do golfers need torque?
Golfers with slower swing speeds (less than 90 mph) typically need higher torque to help them return the clubface to square at impact. Of course, a shaft’s torque must mesh with other qualities (length, weight, flex etc.) to produce the desired results for any individual golfer.
How fast does a golf club need to be to match torque?
The basic rules when choosing a shaft with the right torque are as follows: Golfers with high swing speeds (100+ mph) typically need lower torque shafts.
What does low torque mean in golf?
Basically, a low torque value means the shaft will twist very little during the swing; a high-torque shaft twists more. The range of available torque is wider in graphite shafts than steel, because manufacturers can blend different graphite composites to produce very specific characteristics. Still, the torque range that applies to most golfers is ...
What is the shaft of a golf club?
By now, most golfers are aware that the shaft is the so-called “engine of the golf club .” They have a basic understanding of how length, weight and flex affect ball flight and shot distance. They may even be familiar with the concept of the shaft’s bend or kick point.
What is torque in golf?
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT TORQUE 1 A lower-torque shaft will help a golfer create a more leftward dispersion. 2 A higher-torque shaft will help a golfer create a more rightward dispersion. 3 These guidelines seem to fly in the face of conventional wisdom about shaft torque, which has long stated that lower-torque shafts help golfers avoid a snap hook due to their greater resistance to twisting.
How is shaft torque measured?
Shaft torque is measured by a device that records the amount a shaft will twist under a certain amount of force, and it’s recorded in degrees. A shaft with 3 degrees of torque will twist less than a shaft with 5 degrees of torque, and so on. Torque is a separate variable from the more talked about measurement of “shaft flex,” which deals with ...
How does torque affect dispersion?
While it’s true that low-torque shafts are more resistant to twisting, it’s this same resistance to twisting that actually causes a shaft to “snap back to square” more easily than higher-torque shafts at impact and thus produce a tendency to move dispersion to the left.
What shafts help with left and right dispersion?
A lower-torque shaft will help a golfer create a more leftward dispersion. A higher-torque shaft will help a golfer create a more rightward dispersion. These guidelines seem to fly in the face of conventional wisdom about shaft torque, which has long stated that lower-torque shafts help golfers avoid a snap hook due to their greater resistance ...
Is torque important in shaft fittings?
Torque is not the most important consideration in most shaft fittings, but it must always be considered. In this article, we dive into what our testing reveals about torque so you can understand torque it does… and just as importantly, what it doesn’t do.
Can you hit a drive with a junior golfer's driver?
Imagine you’re a golfer with a very fast swing speed, and just for fun, you hit a drive with a junior golfer’s driver. Because this shaft is too weak for you in terms of torque, the first swing you make with the junior club is likely to create a big miss to the right if you’re a right-handed golfer.
Is torque a variable?
Torque is a separate variable from the more talked about measurement of “shaft flex,” which deals with the up and down bending of a shaft, but the two variables are related in the sense that more flexible shafts tend to have higher torque and stiffer shafts tend to have lower torque. The reason for this relationship is that a golf shaft is both ...
How to measure torque on a shaft?
One way to measure torque is to clamp one end of the shaft and apply a constant couple-moment (turning force) to the other end. The more the shaft twists, the higher the torque.
Where is Erik from Ping Golf?
Erik currently manages the Innovation and Fitting Science Department at PING Golf. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2010 from Arizona State University, where he studied plasma physics and micro-satellite propulsion. Since starting at PING in 2010 as a research engineer, Erik has played a part in the development of various technologies and projects, including iPing, Turbulators, nFlight fitting software, and the PING Custom Fitting Manual.
Does a shaft work with one driver model?
Another important thing to note is just because a shaft worked well with one driver model or set of irons, does not mean it will perform optimally for the same player in another model. The way a shaft behaves and delivers the club head depends on the characteristics of the head itself. The mass properties of the head (things like total mass and center-of-mass location) can change quite a bit from model to model. As a result, a player may find that one shaft works really well in one model, but another shaft works best in another model.
Is there a difference between high and low torque?
From a performance standpoint, there was little difference (at least statistically) between shafts of high and low torque. There did appear to be some minor evidence to suggest shafts with lower torque delivered the face more shut, while shafts with higher torque delivered the face more open relative to path.
