what is low torque in a golf shaft

What Is Torque in a Golf Shaft?

• Definition. Torque is defined as "a force that produces or tends to produce rotation or torsion." If you think of a golf shaft as an axis, the heel of the ...
• Amount. A low-torque shaft may allow only 2 degrees (or less) of twist, while a high-torque shaft might go all the way to 6 degrees.
• Materials. ...
• The Right Amount. ...

Full Answer

What is torque in golf shafts?

"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.

What happens when you use a low torque shaft?

If you are a slower swing speed golfer and you are using a low torque shaft it will feel impossible to swing. It will feel like you are swinging a plank of wood and you will hit a lot of slices as you can’t deliver the club square at impact.

What is the best lightweight shaft for low torque?

You might have a hard time finding a lightweight shaft that has that low of a torque. Here is a link to basic specs on a decent amount of shafts--you might find one that fits what you are looking for. Cobra King SpeedZone 14.5* 3 Wood, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 6.0

What is considered low torque golf shaft?

Conversely, if you have a very smooth, rhythmic swing without a very aggressive downswing move, you do not want to use graphite shafts with the torque below 3.5 degrees or else the impact feel of the shot can be stiff, harsh and unsolid, and the height of the shot may be too low.

What does torque in golf shaft mean?

a twisting forceTorque 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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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 ...

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 does a lower torque shaft feel like?

Lower torque shafts feel stiffer . What many players describe as a shaft feeling too soft or too stiff may not be related to flex as much as it’s related to torque. Additionally, the shaft’s torque will affect how it feels on mishits. Shafts with lower torque will feel harsher and more punishing on mishits. Conversely, shafts with higher torque ...

What is torque in mechanics?

Torque is the measurement of a shaft’s resistance to rotational twisting . Torque is expressed in degrees – the higher the number, the less resistance.

What is the function of the shaft's GJ profile?

Torque is a function of the shaft’s GJ profile, where G is the shear modulus (resistance of the material to twisting) and J is the shape (diameter and wall thickness). In a carbon shaft, we can vary the G by changing the type of carbon we use of the size of the torsional ply we use. Because of the steels used in golf shafts, G is always the same, ...

What is clamped on a shaft?

The butt of the shaft is clamped, a force is applied to the tip, and the degrees of twisting are measured. What can vary are the size of the clamp, the distance between the clamp and the force, and the amount of force used.

Is torque measured on graphite shafts?

Most shaft manufacturers report the torque measurement on their graphite shafts, but it’s not a number you typically see on spec sheets for steel shafts. We asked the manufacturers why that is. In short, torque values are smaller and less variable in steel . It can be measured the same way, but the range of values is not large, ...

Is GJ the same as GJ?

Because of the steels used in golf shafts, G is always the same, regardless of the heat treatment or alloy. And since most shafts have a very similar diameter profile and a small wall thickness variation, GJ, and hence torque, changes very little across steel golf shafts. -Don Brown, True Temper.

Can torsional stiffness be separated?

Bending stiffness and torsional stiffness cannot be separated in steel. Composite materials are anisotropic , meaning their properties vary in different directions. As a structural designer, there is a lot more flexibility in designing with composite materials.

What are the criteria for evaluating a golf shaft?

i] [i]There are four criteria for evaluating a shaft: 1) Weight 2) Flex 3) Torque 4) Kick point. Torque ranks third in importance.

Is torque a measure of force?

There is no standard measure of force used to determine torque, which means that it may be “relative” to the force of your swing. i] [i]Since the center of gravity (COG) of the clubhead is not in line with the axis of the shaft the shaft will bend and twist in every swing, regardless of speed.