What is a shaft on a golf club?
The shaft is the part of the club that connects to the clubhead. It is located in the middle of the club, between the grip and the head. The grip covers the top part of the shaft whereas the bottom end is inserted into the clubhead through the hosel. Shafts are offered in a variety of flex levels to accommodate different swing speeds.
What do the a and M stand for in golf shafts?
"A" originally stood for "amateur." The "M" stands for "mature" or "medium." Also, of course, "S" is taken by "stiff." Some golf shafts bend more than others, depending on how much stiffness is built into the shaft when it is manufactured.
What type of shafts do low-handicap golfers use?
Low-handicap golfers tend to use a combination of both, with steel more popular on drivers and long irons, clubs that require copious amounts of club head speed and power. Titanium golf shafts are fairly new on the market and are not in common use yet, as shaft flex variation has been slow to develop.
How to choose the right shaft for your golf swing?
Start by using a launch monitor to analyze your golf swing speed. If your swing ranges between 85 mph and 95 mph then you should start with a regular flex. If your swing speed is faster than 95 mph, then you should try a stiff shaft.
What are the different types of shafts for golf clubs?
There are generally five types of shaft flex: ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra stiff. If you have a flex that doesn't match your swing speed then you're probably losing distance and/or accuracy. An incorrect shaft flex becomes more noticeable the longer the club gets (ie. with the driver).
What are the parts of a golf club called?
A golf club is made up of 3 components: the clubhead, the shaft, and the grip.
What is a soft tip golf shaft?
A tip soft shaft is one that is designed to be more flexible in the tip portion of the shaft which we define as the last 16” to 21” of the shaft. Likewise there can be any number of variations in how stiff the tip section of a shaft is designed.
What are the different flex types for golf clubs?
There are five flex ratings for golf clubs--extra stiff (X), stiff (S), regular (R), senior (A) and ladies (L). Generally, the faster your club speed, the stiffer the shaft, but use care when selecting a flex. If you are not certain or in between flexes, it is better to select a softer flex than a stiffer one.
What are the 5 parts of a golf club?
The components of a golf club include a shaft, ferrule, grip, hosel and clubhead.
What is the flange on a golf club?
The flange corresponds to the area of the sole that extends back from the clubface. In a sand wedge, the flange is given an angle towards the ground which is called the bounce angle. Putters are the clubs for which manufacturers take the greatest liberties as far as flange is concerned.
What is a soft stepped shaft?
Soft stepping is the process where club shafts are made slightly more flexible. For example, if you had a stiff flex, after soft stepping the club it would become closer to a regular shaft and easier to hit if a player had issues with it being too stiff.
What does a softer golf shaft do?
While it varies from player to player, most will notice a slightly lower ball flight and more feel in the hands with a softer flex. For some, it can also help maintain spin compared to using the same shaft across the board.
What is a light flex golf shaft?
This is a flex that suits those who swing it just a little too slowly for a regular shaft. This shaft will give you even more forgiveness. Golfers that hit their driver between 210-230 yards will benefit from lite flex. Driver swing speeds of about 85mph will be great for this shaft flex.
What is soft regular flex?
With a relatively low swing speed, the senior flex helps you square the clubhead at impact and generate more power. PING recommends its “soft regular” shaft flex for players who swing their drivers at 90 mph or less.
What shaft flex should a beginner use?
But if a beginner player already has a decent swing motion and generates clubhead speed between the range of 95 to 110 mph or more, then a stiff shaft or extra stiff shaft could be justified to be used by a beginner golfer.
What shaft flex should I use for irons?
Determine the Proper Shaft Flex for Your SwingIf You Can Hit 150 Yards with a...Then Your Optimal Shaft Flex Is...6- or 7-IronRegular Flex (R)5-Iron/Hybrid or 4-Iron/Hybrid(Male or Female)Senior Flex (A/M)Any Iron/Hybrid lower than 4 or any Fairway Wood (Females or Juniors)Ladies Flex (L)1 more row•Apr 6, 2022
What is flex in golf swing?
Once you choose steel or graphite, there is also flex to consider. Flex refers to the amount of "bowing" the shaft has during the swing. The faster your swing speed, the stiffer the shaft flex you will need.
Why do golf clubs have grooves?
The grooves serve two purposes: to impart spin on the golf ball and to wisp away moisture between the ball and the club face. Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers win The Match.
What is a hosel and ferrule?
The ferrule is a round black piece of hard plastic that covers the area where the shaft and hosel meet. The ferrule serves no functional purpose; it's used for aesthetics. Some clubs use a bore-thru design instead of a hosel.
What are wrap grips?
They are designed to be good in the rain and with sweaty hands. Wrap grips can help golfer with proper hand placement. Corded grips look fuzzy--it's actually the inside material of the golf grip pulled through to the outside. Cords have a tough feel to them and are durable.
What is the difference between a non-corded grip and a non-corded grip?
Cords offer a responsive feel when hitting the golf ball, but also cost the most. Non-corded grips are smooth and seamless. They deaden the feel of impact on the hands. The thickness of the grip is your next consideration.
What is a golf grip made of?
The grip is made of a synthetic rubber composite. There are grips designed to suit every golfer's preferences. The most popular designs are wraps, cords and non-corded. Wraps are usually the cheapest of the three designs. They are designed to be good in the rain and with sweaty hands.
What is a bore thru club?
Some clubs use a bore-thru design instead of a hosel. Bore-thru club heads have a hole in the heel of the club that runs entirely through the head. The shaft is installed into this hole.
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.
What type of shafts are used in low handicap golf?
Low-handicap golfers tend to use a combination of both, with steel more popular on drivers and long irons, clubs that require copious amounts of club head speed and power. Titanium golf shafts are fairly new on the market and are not in common use yet, as shaft flex variation has been slow to develop.
What are the parts of a golf club?
What Are the Names of the Parts of a Golf Club? Golf clubs are composed of a club head, shaft and grip. The sport of golf has been around since the 1400s. What started out as the simple use of a single piece of wood has evolved to involve technologies like graphite, steel and titanium. The modern club has changed significantly over time, ...
What is a graphite shaft?
Graphite tends to give the golfer a more flexible shaft for generating increased club head speed and more impact upon the ball. It's typically found on women's clubs, and those for amateurs and seniors.
What is a golf grip?
Grips are to a golf club what tires are too a car. The grip sits on the opposite end of the club and is what you use to hold it. The grip is the only part of a golf club you actually touch. Grips are primarily made of rubber. They provide stickiness so that, when a golfer swings the club, he doesn't have to worry about his grip slipping and ...
Why do golf clubs have stickiness?
They provide stickiness so that, when a golfer swings the club, he doesn't have to worry about his grip slipping and the hand position changing at impact. He also doesn't have to worry about the club flying through the air in the follow through.
What is the weighted part of a golf club?
The Club Head. The club head is the weighted part of the club that creates impact with the ball. There are three basic types of club heads: the wood, iron and putter. Each of these results in a different type of ball trajectory and distance.
When was golf invented?
The sport of golf has been around since the 1400s. What started out as the simple use of a single piece of wood has evolved to involve technologies like graphite, steel and titanium. The modern club has changed significantly over time, but there are certain facets of the club, namely the head, shaft and grip, that remain fairly consistent year ...
What shafts do golfers use?
For most golfers, a graphite shaft works great. Most iron sets are made with graphite shafts as well so you get that material type by default usually unless you specifically seek out steel shafted irons. With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control.
What to know about golf shafts?
In today’s guide we will review everything you need to know about golf shafts. Picking out the proper golf shaft is very important as it will impact several components of your golf swing. For example, picking the wrong golf shaft flex can cause you to hook or slice the golf ball. It also can hinder the total distance the ball flies by having too much spin or too low of launch. But don’t worry, at the end of reading today’s guide you’ll be much more educated on the buying process and how to pick out the right golf shaft. Lets Get Started!
How to determine golf shaft flex?
Start by using a launch monitor to analyze your golf swing speed. If your swing ranges between 85 mph and 95 mph then you should start with a regular flex. If your swing speed is faster than 95 mph, then you should try a stiff shaft.
What is the best shaft for golf?
Steel – A steel golf shaft is usually stronger and more durable (less likely to snap) than a graphite shaft. It’s also less expensive and sometimes stainless steel is used in the creation of the steel shaft. There is also two variations, stepped steel and rifle steel.
Why does my golf shaft have a slice?
When the golf shaft is too stiff, it doesn’t unload properly at impact. This can lead to the face staying open and result in a slice golf shot. Beware, a slice isn’t always an indication the shaft is too stiff so if you already have a slice, it could be caused by another fault in your golf swing.
Why do golf clubs have shafts?
During the golf swing the shaft causes deflection (bend) that causes the clubhead to be in a forward and toe downward position relative to the grip of the club.
What is the most common shaft material used in golf clubs?
Graphite Shafts. Graphite – this type of shaft is usually lighter weight compared to a steel shaft but it’s less durable and more expensive to make. Graphite is one of the most common shaft types used in golf clubs and can arguably be considered the main shaft material used, beating out steel.
Why do golf shafts bend?
Shaft makers vary the amount of stiffness because golfers have different types of swings—different swing speeds, different tempos—and different amounts of stiffness in a shaft better match up to those different swings.
How to choose shaft flex?
These are just general guidelines, however; the best way to choose shaft flex is to go through a club fitting. Not every golfer can (or is willing) to do that, though.
What happens if you mismatch your golf shaft?
If your swing is mismatched to your golf shaft flex—if you are using an X flex shaft, for example, when you should be using an R flex shaft—you will have a harder time squaring the clubface at impact. The way your shots are flying can clue you into the possibility you might be using the wrong flex.
When were steel shafts invented?
Alas, no. Golf industry veteran Tom Wishon, of Tom Wishon Golf Technologies, explains: "Shortly after steel shafts were introduced in the 1920s, steel shaft makers discovered they could change the diameter and wall thickness of the tubes to create shafts with different amounts of stiffness to better match to the different swing speeds ...
What does it mean when a golfer's swing is slower?
The slower a golfer's swing, generally speaking, the more flex he or she requires in the shafts that are in their golf clubs. And the faster the swing, the more stiffness. Tempo also matters: A jerkier swing requires more stiffness, a smoother swing less stiffness, generally speaking.
What is the difference between golf shafts?
Differences in Golf Shafts. Golf shafts come in such a wide variety that it can be bewildering. Shafts are made from different materials, with different amounts of flexibility and torque, and in different lengths and weights. Compounding the problem, there is no uniform industry standard for shafts, so a stiff shaft from one manufacturer might feel ...
How long is a golf driver shaft?
Longer shafts have been the rage in golf in the early 21st century, with the standard driver length extending from about 45 to 48 inches.
Why do golfers use graphite shafts?
Many golfers gravitate toward graphite because its lighter weight can translate to more club head speed and more distance. Titanium shafts and hybrid shafts are also available, although neither have attained the popularity of steel and graphite.
What is flex in golf?
The flexibility, or flex, of a shaft refers to its amount of bend. Shafts that bend easily are suited for golfers with slower club head speeds. The extra flexibility enables a slow swinger to hit the ball farther.
What is the difference between graphite and steel?
Graphite shafts made a big splash when they entered the marketplace in the 1970s. Graphite is lighter and generally more flexible than steel. It also is more expensive.
Is there a uniform industry standard for golf shafts?
Compounding the problem, there is no uniform industry standard for shafts, so a stiff shaft from one manufacturer might feel completely different than a stiff shaft from another manufacturer. As Golf.com states, "you need to experiment with different combinations of shafts and clubheads to come up with your ultimate prize.".
How are steps added to a shaft?
As far as how the steps are added to the shaft, it’s done through a machining process called “swaging,” whereby the diameter of the steel is altered slightly in an efficient manner with minimal material waste. Depending on the pattern and length between the steps — as well as the length of the tip and butt sections — launch, ...
Is Dynamic Gold a stepped steel shaft?
Both shafts are considered extra-stiff products, but according to Paul Loegering, True Temper’s director of Tour operations, there are some differences based on the steps (or lack thereof). True Temper's Dynamic Gold is a stepped steel product.
Do steel shafts have ridges?
There’s a good chance it features a uniform smoothness or has some subtle ridges in the lower section of the shaft.