
What a club builder would do is trim 1 inch from the tip section of the shaft. He would then trim whatever length necessary from the handle section of the shaft to get to a length of 45 inches. Tipping any TPT Red Range shaft 1 inch will result in a stiffness increase of 5 cycles per minute (cpm), or one-half flex.
Full Answer
Why do golf shafts have tipped tips?
The tipped shaft cuts away this stiffness and results in a softer tip than the original design. One golf instructor looked at this illustration and commented that on this shaft tipping would move the soft section closer to the tip creating higher launch and spin.
How much does tipping a shaft increase stiffness?
He would then trim whatever length necessary from the handle section of the shaft to get to a length of 45 inches. Tipping any TPT Red Range shaft 1 inch will result in a stiffness increase of 5 cycles per minute (cpm), or one-half flex.
How do you measure the stiffness of a golf shaft?
Our first measurement is made at 6″. But, we are measuring the flex of the 1″ to 11″ range of the shaft at that point. While the scale on the chart shows 6″, the flex is actually out to the tip of the shaft. In this golf shaft design you can see the shaft stiffness turn upward from 11″ toward the tip.
Are my golf club shafts too stiff?
There are a few telltale signs that might give you an indication that your club shafts are too stiff. If you have a good swing, but your distance is lacking it may be the shaft is too stiff. It may also be that you tend to either slice the ball or fade towards the rough on the right of the fairway, for the same reason.

How do I make my golf shaft stiffer?
From the tip: "Tipping" is a common term among clubmakers and involves cutting a short amount of shaft off the tip–or clubhead–end of the shaft before putting the club together. Tipping removes the thinnest part of the shaft near the clubhead, making that end of the shaft slightly stiffer than standard.
Does tipping a shaft reduce spin?
Lastly, tipping won't do much to affect spin rates and launch angle — two popular misconceptions when it comes to trimming the lower end of a shaft.
How does tip trimming affect Flex?
0:301:51What Does "Tipping" Your Driver Affect? // True Temper SchoolYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou know you can tip an inch half an inch inch and a half whatever you want and obviously the moreMoreYou know you can tip an inch half an inch inch and a half whatever you want and obviously the more you tip you're gonna affect stiffness and increase in tipnis there.
Can you make a shaft softer?
Depending on which way you go, a regular shaft can be made to feel a little firmer and a stiff shaft can be made to feel a little softer. The most common practice is by removing all the shafts from your matching irons (3 iron through to PW) then put each shaft in either the following or proceeding club.
How much stiffer does tipping make a shaft?
Tipping any TPT Red Range shaft 1 inch will result in a stiffness increase of 5 cycles per minute (cpm), or one-half flex.
Does cutting down a golf shaft make it stiffer?
"Cutting more of the grip end will still stiffen the shaft a little bit, but only because in doing so you make the shaft shorter, and not nearly as much as when trimming more from the tip end."
What happens when you tip a golf shaft?
What Is Tipping A Golf Shaft? Getting a golf shaft tipped is when the shaft is cut back (tipped) from the clubhead end, shortening the club and making the tip of the shaft stiffer. If you tip it from the clubhead end, the club will maintain the same length with a stiffer shaft at the bottom of the club near the ball.
What does a soft tip shaft do?
Well a shaft that has a soft tip has a low bend point and this helps lift the ball in the air by adding dynamic loft. Players who hit the ball too high should look for a tip stiff shaft which does not add so much loft, which produces a lower and more penetrating trajectory.
Does tip trimming change swing weight?
To decrease length, trim the shaft from the butt, or grip, end (do not trim from the tip of the shaft, as it will stiffen the shaft's flex). For every half inch of length added, the swingweight increases by three swingweight points.
What if my golf shaft is too stiff?
If your golf shaft is too stiff and your swing speed is too slow, your well-struck shot will be limited on both carry distance and shot trajectory; a too-stiff golf shaft will most often lead to weak fades or slices.
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
Stiff – This range is still considered fast, but you most likely won't be out on Tour anytime soon. If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex.
Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?
If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low.
What happens when you tip a golf shaft?
What Is Tipping A Golf Shaft? Getting a golf shaft tipped is when the shaft is cut back (tipped) from the clubhead end, shortening the club and making the tip of the shaft stiffer. If you tip it from the clubhead end, the club will maintain the same length with a stiffer shaft at the bottom of the club near the ball.
Should I tip my 3 wood shaft?
We generally do not recommend tip trimming on a driver or 3 wood shaft based on the shaft composition and how tipping could affect performance. We recommend that you consult your custom fitter or club-builder for the best tip trimming suggestions based on your individual swing and desired results.
Does tipping change swing weight?
It will reduce the swing weight by five points but have no effect on the swing dynamics. This is a method to tweak clubs if you really know what you are doing and play on the Tour.
What does it mean to tip a driver shaft?
0:5911:44The Purpose of Shaft Tipping - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOf that particular shaft. And really what it comes down to guys whether you're analyzing a shaft byMoreOf that particular shaft. And really what it comes down to guys whether you're analyzing a shaft by ei curve or by you know designated bend profile the tip mid. And butt section are all analyzed
What is a bend signature on a shaft?
The bend signature of this shaft design gives further insight into the effect of tipping a shaft. We see a very small shift in the profile signature of the tipped vs untipped shaft in comparison to the next higher flex. The designer of this shaft chose to make a significant change in the mid section of the stiffer shaft.
Is it common to tip a driver shaft?
It is a common practice to tip driver shafts. This is a quick overview of the effect of tipping. The charts in this article show three shafts, a 60 S, a 60 X and a 60 S tipped 1 “. The first chart shows be bend profiles. Notice how the tipped shaft slightly shifts the profile toward the tip. It is unchanged, just slightly shifted. In this model, the 1” tipping is not even a small percentage of the difference between the S and X flex versions of this shaft.
Does tipping a driver shaft change the ball flight?
One golf instructor looked at this illustration and commented that on this shaft tipping would move the soft section closer to the tip creating higher launch and spin. An excellent observation. Tipping driver shafts will produce a very, very small change in ball flighting. However, you must know the tip characteristic of a shaft before you alter it.
Why do golfers tip their shafts?
Better players tend to make the most use of this technique in order to fine-tune their shafts to precisely the amount of flex and feel they’re looking for. And sure, they could just as well switch to a different shaft, but tipping affords even greater fine-tuning to a particular flex profile. In most cases, shaft tipping is done to steel iron and wedge shafts but occasionally is done in graphite shafts for woods and drivers as well.
How does tipping differ from “shaft stepping”?
Shaft stepping, another common practice seen usually among better players, means altering your club’s shaft profile by offsetting your shafts based on what iron they’re designed for. A “hard step” is to put a 5-iron shaft into a 4-iron clubhead and so on through the set. This makes the shaft play a little stiffer. A “soft step” is the opposite — it means putting a 3-iron shaft into a 4-iron head (and so on through the set) to make the shaft play a little softer.
What does it mean to tip a golf club?
“Tipping” or “tip trimming ,” as it’s sometimes called, means trimming a club shaft from the clubhead end, not from the grip end where it’s most often cut. ...
What is a hard step in golf?
A “hard step” is to put a 5-iron shaft into a 4-iron clubhead and so on through the set. This makes the shaft play a little stiffer. A “soft step” is the opposite — it means putting a 3-iron shaft into a 4-iron head (and so on through the set) to make the shaft play a little softer. To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.
What does cutting off a shaft tip do?
Cutting off a section of the shaft tip can make it feel as if it were stiffer.
When you tip a shaft, do you need to have parallel shafts?
When you tip a shaft — which by the way, you need to have parallel shafts to do this — you alter how the shaft performs by making it slightly stiffer and increasing torque for less twisting through impact.
What is a parallel shaft?
A parallel shaft is one that has a constant diameter from the tip and up to a specified distance on the shaft. Conversely, a taper tip is as it’s described — the shaft tapers towards the tip. Most new clubs (irons and woods) are designed to accommodate parallel shafts, but can also accommodate a taper shaft using brass adapter shims.
How to tell if your golf club shaft is too stiff?
There are a few telltale signs that might give you an indication that your club shafts are too stiff. If you have a good swing, but your distance is lacking it may be the shaft is too stiff. It may also be that you tend to either slice the ball or fade towards the rough on the right of the fairway, for the same reason.
What is stiffness in golf?
The stiffness or flex of the shaft is a much-neglected aspect of your golfing equipment as most golfers are more interested in the brand, or technical features, or looks of their clubs. What most golfers fail to appreciate is the effect that ‘swing speed’ has on selecting the correct amount of flex of the shaft.
Why are graphite shafts better than steel?
Graphite being a much lighter material than steel makes it easier to swing faster and see an increase in distance off the tee. For this reason, they were considered the correct shafts for beginners and intermediate golfers.
How many irons do you need to hit 150 yards?
If you can hit 150 yards with a wedge, 9, or 8 iron you probably need stiff shafts. Using a 6 or 7 iron on 150 yards, go for a Regular flex, and 5 iron or more than Senior or Ladies shaft flex would be the way to go.
What to look for in short irons?
With the shorter irons, approaching the green, around the green, or from the bunkers control is critical. Here you would be looking for a stiffer shaft with less flex as the swing speed is not as great a factor in the short game.
What happens if you change your shaft too much?
Now you will find the club face will close before impact resulting in a right to left fade if not a slice. The trajectory will also be increased as will the spin and should this be combined with a windy day your golf round will become a grind.
What is the shaft of a golf club?
The golf shaft is known as the ENGINE of the golf club. On the downswing, as the hips rotate, the weight transfer takes place and the body uncoils, the shaft of the club bends. This bend is also known as flex, and as this flex straightens out, power is transferred from the shaft to the club head and through to the ball.
