Not only does the shaft become more flexible than before, thus further affecting accuracy, but it lowers the kick (or bend) point of the shaft. And while the kick point change may only affect strong players with higher swing speeds, any player may feel that the club doesn't contact the ball as solidly as before.
What does lengthening a shaft do to a golf club?
Lengthening the shaft increases the swing weight, which makes the club head feel heavier. It may even make the club too heavy for you, which will slow down your swing speed and actually reduce your distance.
Does the shaft affect how well you can play golf?
Choosing the right shaft for your clubs is all part of the goal of giving you consistency. It can give you the best chance at striking the center of the face that will result in optimal launch conditions on the course. It absolutely has an effect on how well you can play. The shaft is similar to the transmission of a car.
Is your shaft too stiff for your swing?
If a golfer is using a shaft that is too stiff for his or her swing mechanics and swing speed, any or all of the following may result: 1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2.
How do shafts affect clubhead speed and center hit consistency?
The FLEX and the BEND PROFILE of the shaft (the full length stiffness design) can have a measurable effect on clubhead speed and on center hit consistency for golfers who have a very refined and specific sense of FEEL for the bending action of the shaft during the swing.
How does shaft affect golf?
Some shafts can be lighter in weight, which once again biases a higher ball flight and produces more spin. Shafts that are heavier tend to do the opposite, lowering ball flight and spin rates.
How can changes in a golf club shaft affect performance?
Lengthening the shaft increases the swing weight, which makes the club head feel heavier. It may even make the club too heavy for you, which will slow down your swing speed and actually reduce your distance.
Does shaft on Golf Club make a difference?
It can give you the best chance at striking the center of the face that will result in optimal launch conditions on the course. 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.
How does shaft affect swing?
The heavier a shaft is, the more likely it is that your golf ball will fly low and with less spin. If it's lighter, the ball will tend to fly higher and spin more. As Briand explains, the weight of a shaft has less impact on swing speed than golfers think, but that lighter shafts could increase the rate of closure.
What happens if shaft is too soft?
When a golf shaft is too flexible, you will not be able to hit the ball straight. You will also end up losing a bit of distance. When a golf shaft is too flexible, it isn't easy to control the clubface and get it to square up at impact.
What happens if shafts are 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 ...
Do I need a stiff or regular shaft?
To check your swing speed a shot tracking device will be the most accurate method. Based on your swing speeds here are our recommendations: 80-95 mph swing speeds should use regular shafts. 90-105 mph swing speeds should use stiff shafts.
Will I lose distance with a regular shaft?
If you have a good swing but your average distance is short, there is a problem with your shaft flex. 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.
Does golf shaft really matter?
Shaft flex letters are 'essentially irrelevant,' according to an expert club fitter. Most golfers in the world know that shaft flex makes a difference to performance and feel in golf.
What shaft is best for my swing speed?
– Golf Shaft Flex ChartCarry DistanceSwing SpeedFlexUnder 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra StiffOct 15, 2019
What happens if your shaft isn't stiff enough?
When the golf ball is struck it will generally have too much spin if the shaft is too flexible, this will cause a 'ballooning' effect on the shot and it will tend to go quite high. You might have an inconsistent shot shape if the shaft is too flexible.
What happens if golf shaft is too light?
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.
Why does my golf shaft twist?
The reason is because what causes a shaft to twist is, 1) the downswing force of the golfer, 2) the fact that the shaft attaches on the heel end of the clubhead, which means all the weight of the head sticks out in front of the shaft.
Why did steel shafts take over?
In fact, the biggest reason that steel shafts took over in the 1920s and wiped the hickory shaft from the face of the golf industry was their MUCH lower torque, which resulted in far more accuracy and control of the shot. The first steel shafts were heavier than hickory shafts, but golfers were willing to deal with the downside ...
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.
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 .
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 !!
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.
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 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.
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.
How does lengthening a shaft affect swing?
Timing and Feel. In many ways, the biggest effect of lengthening a club shaft is how it affects your ability to swing the club. The combined changes in length and swing weight make the club feel different. In turn, these changes will affect your timing and even your mechanics, perhaps without you even realizing it.
What does swing weight mean?
Swing Weight. Swing weight isn't an actual weight so much as a comparison of the difference in weight between the club head and the butt end of the shaft. It's expressed as a letter-number combination, such as C9 or D2. Lengthening the shaft increases the swing weight, which makes the club head feel heavier. It may even make the club too heavy ...
Can you add extenders to your golf shaft?
You may add extenders to your existing shafts or you may replace your existing shafts with longer ones. The effects can be very different. Tom Wishon has written extensively about the effects of changing shafts in "The Golfsmith Practical Clubfitting Program" guide.
Does lengthening the shaft make the club head heavier?
Lengthening the shaft increases the swing weight, which makes the club head feel heavier. It may even make the club too heavy for you, which will slow down your swing speed and actually reduce your distance.
Does lengthening a golf club shaft affect accuracy?
Accuracy. As a general rule, lengthening any club's shaft will reduce your accuracy with that club. The longer the club, the more difficult it becomes to hit the ball solidly. This is especially true when the ball is on the ground rather than on a tee, since hitting the ball fat is more likely.
Is shaft length a factor?
Shaft length is certainly a factor in how far you hit a given club. However, some clubs benefit more than others. Installing longer shafts in wedges and short irons will almost always result in more distance, as most players have little trouble swinging the shorter clubs.
Do golf clubs have longer shafts?
Effects of Lengthening a Golf Club Shaft. Tall players like Bubba Watson have to use longer shafts in all of their clubs. Most players consider using longer shafts in their clubs at some time or another, believing that longer shafts equal more distance, although that isn't necessarily true. There are two ways to lengthen your shafts.
What happens if a golf shaft is too flexible?
If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results: 1. The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from ...
How to make sure your shaft flex is well matched to your swing?
The best thing to do is make sure your shaft flex is well-matched to your swing (by meeting with a clubfitter or at least a teaching pro in a hitting bay when buying new clubs). But when in doubt, always err on the side of more flexibility in the shaft.
Why does a golf shot feel more solid?
3. The shot will feel more solid because impact vibrations transmitted up to the hands along a shaft which is both more flexible and more bent will feel more solid .
Why does my golf ball flies lower?
1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2. The ball may tend to "leak" to the fade side of the target because the golfer cannot cause the desired forward bending of the shaft at impact, which helps bring ...
Can a golfer's loft decrease?
If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from the golfer's maximum potential distance. On the other hand, if the golfer is using too little loft, which is the case with a very high percentage of players today with the driver and 3-wood, the more flexible shaft could bring his launch ...
What are the attributes of a golf shaft?
In some way or another, flex, kickpoint, shaft weight and length, balance and torque can all impact a player’s ability to place a ball where intended.
Which is better, a stiffer shaft or a flexible shaft?
Generally speaking, more flexible shafts are better for players with slower swing speeds and stiffer shafts are more suitable for more experienced players with higher swing speeds. Torque is a measurement of how much a golf shaft will rotate around its center axis, or “twist,” for lack of a better word.
What is the Torque of a golf ball?
Torque, which is a measurement of how much a golf shaft rotates when stressed, such as during a swing, can impart undue spin to a ball. A professional trainer can help you uncover this. ●The ball flies too high or too low - this could be a problem associated with kick point.
What is a kick point in golf?
Kick point, also known as flex point or bend point, is a slightly subjective assessment of how “high” or “low” on a shaft the shaft itself seems to bend.
Why is a golf shot thin?
By contrast, a shot is said to be thin when the leading edge of the golfer’s clubhead strikes too far up on the side of the ball. This can also adversely affect distance and accuracy, and a thin shot will typically have a low trajectory.
Why does my golf ball slice?
A slice or a fade can be caused by a problem with the golfer’s form, wherein the clubface strikes the ball in an “open” or “closed” position - that is , at an angle rather than straight-on. This imparts spin to the ball, which causes it to curve in flight.
Why is distance important in golf?
This is because distance is directly related to the energy transfer that results from the speed of a swing. Players with slow swing speeds can be put off by stiffer shafts that don’t accommodate their abilities, whereas more flexible shafts can make it easier for some players to reach greater distances. If you can’t reach the distances you would ...
What Happens If Your Driver Shaft Is Too Stiff?
Playing with the correct shaft in your driver is incredibly important. With the correct shaft flex you will be able to deliver the club at optimum speeds, and produce the correct numbers in terms of launch and spin on the golf ball.
What is Shaft Flex, And Why Is It Important In Drivers
Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends while you swing the club, if you swing it slowly you will need a more flexible shaft, while if you swing it fast you will need a stiffer shaft.
What Are The Signs Your Driver 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 the course.
Will You Adapt Your Swing To The Incorrect Shaft Flex
Yes you will, if your shaft is too stiff you will adapt your swing in more ways than one.
How Does Weight, Kick Point And Torque Affect Shaft Flex
90% of the time shaft flex is impacted by weight, the heavier the shaft is the stiffer it is, and the lighter the shaft is the more flexible it is.
How Does Swing Speed Affect What Shaft Flex You Should Use?
Swing speed is the main influencer in what shaft you should use. The faster you swing the more the shaft will bend, so the more you need to control it.
How To Discover Your Swing Speed?
By using a very fancy piece of machinery called a launch monitor, you are able to track how fast your swing speed is. The most popular companies are Trackman, Flightscope and GC Quad.
Why add a 10g extension to the end of a golf club?
So, adding a 10g extension to the end moves the balance point backwards, making the club feel relatively the same since the balance point moved back towards the grip of the club due to the increase in weight at the grip end.
How much weight does a driver need to remove from a wedge?
If we are talking about a wedge, he has to remove close to 19-20 grams of weight from the head to get back to original weight/flex. If we are talking driver, it might be somewhere around 15 grams. SW grams to weight is often said to be 2 grams of headweight per SW point, but it actually varies depending on club length.
Does a shaft extension change the weight of the shaft?
Shaft extensions, especially when using a bit of old shaft, don't really change the shaft weight per unit of length enough to worry about. Swingweight is a measure of levered force balance around the fulcrum so since the length to the head (heaviest and furthest from the fulcrum) increases the swing weight increases.
