how to choose the right graphite shaft golf digest

1. Locate an experienced club fitter. Club fitters often can be found at large golf shops, golf courses and large-scale golf ranges.
2. Measure your swing speed. This is the first step toward finding the right graphite shaft. ...
3. Evaluate, with a club fitter, various factors that are crucial to determining the proper shaft. ...
4. Test various shafts on a driving range while the club fitter observes. "Golf Magazine" states "it's all going to come down to how a shaft feels to you.

How to choose the right graphite golf shaft?

• 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.

Are graphite shafts better for senior golfers?

The graphite material helps golfers get higher swing speeds and higher launch. Seniors have the choice between senior shafted irons or regular flex. If your swing speed is lacking and you feel your distances have started to fall off, the senior shaft is the better choice. Iron shafts for seniors typically tend to be in that 60-70gram range.

What are the best golf shafts for a high handicapper?

The Best Drivers for High Handicap Golfers

1. Callaway XR 16. Approval from most golfers in the acoustics department. ...
2. Cleveland Launcher HB. High ball flight with low spin and from a draw bias. ...
3. TaylorMade RBZ Black. The RBZ Black driver is the latest in the high-tech lightweight RBZ range presenting a well-priced driver offering top performance.
4. PGX Offset Golf. Massive ‘sweet’ spot. ...

What is the best shaft for senior golfers?

• Best Iron Shafts For Seniors 2022. A golf shaft for a senior is lightweight, high launching, and offers a tremendous feel at impact. ...
• Key Components Of Irons Shafts To Consider. ...
• The Low Down. ...
• Key Features. ...
• Performance & Accuracy
• Who Is It For. ...
• Key Features. ...
• Performance & Accuracy
• Who Is It For. ...
• Performance & Accuracy

More items...

How do I know what golf shaft is right for me?

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.

What flex graphite shaft should I use?

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 weight graphite shaft should I use?

In general, golfers with slower swing speed and tempo can and should play a lighter shaft. Golfers with very fast speeds and tempo should play heavier shafts. 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 do you choose a graphite iron shaft?

Measure your swing speed. This is the first step toward finding the right graphite shaft. Your swing speed gives you and a club fitter a general idea of the best swing flex for you. If you swing the club slowly, you will need a shaft that bends more in order to maximize the distance you can hit the ball.

How do I know if I need stiff or regular flex irons?

If you have a slower swing speed, you are probably going to want to choose regular shafted clubs because the additional flex will provide a little more power and accuracy. When you swing harder, the stiff flex will be more controlled and give you the punch you need to hit better shots.

What happens if shaft is too flexible?

Having a shaft that is too flexible can also cause the ball to hook uncontrollably, because the shaft bends incorrectly, it will come through with a closed clubface causing the ball to go left, this is because the shaft can't handle your swing speed, and the head is rotating too much.

Is a 50g shaft too light?

50 gram shafts are among the lightest you will see on the market. They tend to be favoured by golfers who struggle to generate clubhead speed. These shafts are often favored by junior and senior golfers, they can give a nice boost to the driving distance of these groups.

Is a 70g driver shaft too heavy?

A 70-gram driver shaft is considered to be pretty heavy but not the heaviest. It falls into the middle but is still on the heavier side when you consider you could go with 50 or 60 grams instead.

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.

Do any pros play with graphite shafts?

Graphite iron shafts have been used by PGA TOUR professionals for decades including FedExCup Champion Brandt Snedeker and US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau. There's also a third option in iron shafts which may eventually fall into the “best of both worlds” category.

Do you get more distance with graphite shafts?

Graphite shafts are lighter than steel shafts, resulting in an increase in swing speed and distance. This is particularly beneficial to players with slow swing tempos.

Who should use graphite shafts in irons?

Iron Shafts 101: How to choose between steel, composite, and carbon fiber. There used to be a basic rule for iron shafts – if you're a strong, competitive player you choose steel, and if you're older, slower, a woman, or generally not athletic, you choose graphite.

Which shaft is the most played on the PGA Tour?

Companies like Fujikura, Mitsubishi and True Temper each offer hundreds of driver shaft options, sometimes dozens under the same model. Fujikura’s Ventus, which has been the most played shaft on the PGA Tour, is available in 23 versions on its website. True Temper’s Project X HZRDUS has 70 varieties.

What is the right shaft for a high handicapper?

The right shaft, even for a high-handicapper, lines up with the signature of your swing.”. There are general rules all fitters use: (1) A lighter shaft will be easier to swing faster and is likely to launch the ball higher. But it’s best to match your strength to shaft weight.

What is the missing link to the best possible performance?

The shaft is the missing link to the best possible performance. Get the right shaft and your swing becomes more effortless. Let the head solve direction. The right shaft is going to be all about consistency and speed, speed, and more speed.”. The challenge is that there are thousands of potential right shafts.

How much does graphite shaft weigh?

Graphite shafts are much lighter, less durable and more expensive in comparison to steel shafts, and weigh between 50 and 85 grams – around half the weight of a steel shaft! These light-weight shafts help to provide a greater swing speed for more power, however, it sacrifices control due to the flex generated in the swing.

What is the difference between steel shafts and graphite shafts?

Steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterpart s. They are often made from carbon steel, but stainless steel is sometimes used, and start at 120 grams.

What is a multi-material shaft?

A recent addition to the market are multi-material shafts which are used on both irons and drivers. This type of shaft incorporates steel and graphite into one shaft to get the best of both worlds for each player, to suit all playing types. Generally, the shaft is made using a steel shaft that has a graphite tip.

How long should a 5-iron shaft be?

The following lists what length of shafts you should consider for certain heights. 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.

What is the first thing to decide on golf shafts?

The first thing is to decide is what type of golf shafts you would prefer, followed by shaft flex, kick-point, torque rating and length. Each of these different aspects of golf club shafts that can influence the performance of your club, and each must be carefully considered before you put in an order. Read on to find out all about how ...

What is the kick point of a golf shot?

The shaft kick-point – also known as flex-point – is the point where the shaft bends and affects the trajectory of the shot. Although the effect is only small, it is still measurable.

What is flex in golf clubs?

Put simply, the flex determines a golf club shaft’s ability to bend during a swing, affecting the distance and direction. Therefore, getting the right flex in your golf clubs is important.

What is the best shaft for a golf club?

And the answer, more often than not, is graphite shaft. It’s the best driver shaft in terms of swing speed and distance. Let me explain below. The standard shaft almost every driver is equipped with is graphite. The lightweight of graphite has enabled golf club manufacturing companies to extend the driver shaft.

How much does a golf shaft weigh?

Generally speaking, shafts weigh between 36 grams and 140 grams. And the difference between these numbers itself has the capacity to create a difference of 5-10 mph in your swing speed. Mostly beginners and senior golfers have a slower swing speed. That means they need a shaft to boost distance for them.

What is the shaft of a driver?

Without the shadow of a doubt, the shaft of a driver is what determines the speed, distance, and accuracy of your drive. So you better be using the best graphite shafts for drivers. As graphite shafts are the most common in drivers. Plus, they’re the most popular among beginners, seniors, intermediate golfers, and professional players.

Why do golfers reject shafts?

The most common reason why golfers reject shafts involves backswing. If your timing is not right at the point where your golf club returns to square, then you lose confidence. Irrespective of whether the shaft you’re using is too rigid or too soft. And please don’t be mistaken; this can happen with an old shaft too.

Why is the feel of a golf club important?

The way your golf club feels throughout your swing is important. That’s because the feel is the very rhythm of your golf swing. Such as the shaft feeling fast or slow on your downswing. Needless to say, this directly affects the nature of your every golf shot.

Is graphite shaft better than steel shaft?

Needless to say, graphite shafts now perform just as exceptionally as steel shafts. And in some cases, even better than them. Just keep in mind that a lighter graphite shaft helps in boosting swing speed. And the outcome of this is increased distance. No wonder graphite shafts are the most popular for drivers.

Does graphite reduce vibration?

Another important thing to note is that modern, improved graphite design shafts greatly reduce vibration on impact. Much more so than steel shafts. Earlier models offered a combination of more speed and less control and accuracy. But the recent ones have finally managed to close the gap.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

Why is my golf ball inconsistent in all directions?

Improperly fit shafts can cause inconsistency in flight direction, due to the mismatched flex characteristics of the shaft to the player, and the players perception and compensation for the mismatched flex. Generally, too flexible a shaft can cause inconsistent directional ball flight in all directions. Too stiff a shaft can lead ...

Can club fitters analyze data?

Yes, we as club fitters can analyze data we acquire on many of the wonderful launch monitors that are available, and narrow down choices based on the data. This does take some of the guess work out of the decision and gives us performance data to base a decision on.

Do shafts always equal performance?

A broad range of prices exist in the shaft category. Price does not always equal performance. From a performance standpoint, shafts should be chosen based on their specifications and how those specifications fit the players swing characteristics, providing the desired trajectory, feel and consistency.