Why do golf shafts have different amounts of stiffness?
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. The slower a golfer's swing, generally speaking, the more flex he or she requires in the shafts that are in their golf clubs.
How do I choose the right shaft flex for my golf clubs?
Knowing your swing speed and carry distance can help you select the right shaft flex for your golf clubs. 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 do players look for in a golf shaft?
Generally, players are looking for either Distance, Distance and Control, or Control. With regards to the shaft - The lighter the shaft, the longer the overall club length and more flexible the shaft is (within the players flex range), the greater the potential for distance gain.
What is the shaft on a golf ball for?
Acting as a lever, the shaft is what allows a golfer to hit the ball over great distance simply by using the rotation of his body (hips, shoulders and arms). The distance between the golfer and the ball – through the shaft – is what allows for the multiplication of the force onto the golf ball.
What does MSI mean on golf shaft?
Material Stiffness IntegrationMaterial Stiffness Integration, MSI, is the main design concept by which Graphite Design develops it premium golf shafts. Composite materials consist of two main components, graphite fibers and resin.
What does MSI stand for on Aldila shafts?
Martin Flores and Chez Reavie also have it in their driver and Kevin Chappell has the 80 T version in his 3- and 5-woods. And for those wondering what MSI stands for, it's a strength rating for carbon fiber. So the Tensei modulus strength of the shaft is 130 million pounds per square inch.
What does 130 MSI mean in golf shafts?
The ROGUE®™ White 130 M.S.I. pushes the limits of performance with the use of extremely high modulus, 130 M.S.I. Graphitic Carbon Fibers to provide the ultimate in performance from a Mid Launch, Low Spin profile.
What do the letters mean on a golf shaft?
Eventually, the shaft industry developed five different shaft flex designs, designated by the letters L for Ladies; A for Amateur, which evolved into the senior flex; R for Regular; S for Stiff and X for Extra Stiff.
Are Aldila Rogue shafts good?
From the original 125 MSI to the newer 130 MSI in Silver and Black, the Aldila Rogue shafts have been high end performers that have stacked up wins on professional tours and in fitting bays across the world.
What flex do I need for my irons?
Should You Use Regular or Stiff Flex Shafts?6-iron Carry Distance6-iron Swing SpeedShaft flex (all clubs)< 130 yards60 – 70 mphSenior Flex131 – 155 yards71 – 80 mphRegular Flex156 – 175 yards81 – 90 mphStiff Flex> 176 yards91 + mphX-Stiff FlexApr 13, 2021
How do you know what shaft stiffness to use?
The higher the speed, the stiffer the shaft. Steel shafts, which are heavier than graphite, are stiff and less forgiving than graphite. According to Golf.com, graphite shafts are lighter and can help increase swing speed. Selecting the right flex for your shaft is key to good ball striking.
What shaft stiffness 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 is the shaft of a golf club?
Many consider the golf shaft the "engine of the club". Golf shafts are either made from graphite or steel. Both types have its benefits and disadvantages. Either way, the golf shaft is where power is stored and released at impact. Sitting in between the golf grip and club head, a solid connection is what allows the golf shaft to do its job.
How long is a 0.370" iron shaft?
decreasing in length from #3-PW). 0.370" parallel iron shafts arrive in uncut lengths, usually 41" or 42" for irons or 46" or more for woods.
What is shaft flex?
Shaft flex is a description of how much a shaft will bend under the force of a golf swing with a head attached at the tip end. The speed and frequency of your swing will determine what flex you need. There are generally 5 different flex notations (from most bendable to least bendable): A-flex (Senior), L-flex (Ladies), R-flex (Regular), ...
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.
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.
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.
Where is the 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.
What is the function of a golf shaft?
Function of the Shaft. Acting as a lever, the shaft is what allows a golfer to hit the ball over great distance simply by using the rotation of his body (hips, shoulders and arms). The distance between the golfer and the ball – through the shaft – is what allows for the multiplication of the force onto the golf ball.
Why is a shorter shaft better for golf?
Conversely, a golfer with an extremely fast swing speed may find he is able to better control his driver when it is fitted with a shaft that is shorter than usual. A shorter shaft would position him closer to the ball for more control, at the cost of slightly less leverage and ultimately less distance.
What does tapered shaft mean in golf?
This means that they are wider at the top near the grip and progressively become smaller in diameter as they approach the clubhead.
Does the shaft length of a golf club decrease as the loft increases?
For the clubs situated in the middle of those, generally, the shaft length will decrease as the loft will increase. So for example, a 5-iron will be a bit longer than a 6-iron, which will be longer than a 7-iron, and so on.
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.
What Is Shaft Flex?
Shaft flex is the degree to which the shaft will bend or flex during the swing. A more flexible shaft bends easily during the swing and has the potential to produce a longer-ranged shot.
How Does Shaft Flex Impact Your Golf Game?
The shaft flex of your golf club has an immense effect on the game’s outcome as a whole. From high irons to wedges and drivers, you have to make sure they have the correct flex for trajectory, accuracy, and distance.
How to Choose the Shaft Flex for You?
You can know the correct flex for your shaft by evaluating your swing at a golf equipment store. They’ll check all kinds of things like ball speed, distance, clubhead speed, spin, and many other factors. They also try several shafts in the same driver head to give the most accurate results.
What Shaft Flex Should You Use for The Driver?
It would be best if you choose the stiffest shaft flex for your driver because it is often the club that has the maximum swing speed. Since it carries the maximum swing speed, you may consider choosing the most accurate shaft flex.
How to Determine the Right Flex for Your Iron?
Choosing the right flex for the iron depends on the club you use for hitting a 150-yard shot. If you’re about to take a 150-yard shot, consider using these flex for your irons.
Final Thoughts
When selecting a flex for the shaft in your clubs, the tradeoff is between accuracy and distance. Choosing a senior flex helps you to achieve greater distance due to its flexibility but at the cost of lower accuracy.
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Breakdown of Golf Shafts Used by Top 100 PGA Tour Players
Take just a quick glance at the golf shafts used by the top 100 players on the PGA Tour across all of their clubs and the detail with which they go when it comes to shaft choice choosing which shaft becomes immediately obvious.
Driver Shafts Used by Top 100 PGA Tour Players
When looking at the driver shafts used by the best players on the PGA Tour the attention to detail which they clearly pay when putting together their clubs is clearly in evidence.
Fairway Wood & Hybrid Shafts Used by Top 100 PGA Tour Players
The detail which PGA Tour players go into when it comes to choosing the golf shafts for their clubs is again evidenced in the fairway wood and hybrid shafts they use.
What Iron Shafts Do the Pros Use?
Compared to the variety of shafts the best pros choose in their drivers, fairway woods and hybrids when it comes to the shafts the top 100 PGA golfers use in their irons there seems to be much more of a consensus among the players.
What Wedge Shafts Do the Pros Use?
Looking at the shafts used in the wedges of the best 100 PGA Tour pros it was interesting to note that again while many of the pros kept the same shaft as they used for their irons, especially when it came to the pitching wedge, there was again a big variety of wedge shaft models being used.
What is a 50 gram shaft?
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.
How does a driver head affect a golf club?
Altering the weight of your driver head will change the swing weight of your club. This is defined as the difference in weight between he grip end and the head end and both can be altered. A heavier head usually results in a faster swing speed with the same club.
How much does an Autoflex driver shaft weigh?
The AutoFlex driver shaft can weigh as little at 39g and is baffling even the most experienced fitters with astounding performance, you need never struggle for speed again. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are shafts out there that can get into 90g and above.
What are the drawbacks of a heavier shaft?
The drawbacks of a heavier shaft include that it can be harder to generate the swing speed required to make the club work optimally. The extra weight can reduce distance in a point related to the swing speed point. It can also be harder to get height on the ball.
Do swings work better with lighter shafts?
Steep swings work better with lighter shafts. If you release early then a heavier shaft may help and those struggling to load the shaft may want to go lighter. There is also the issue that some people just really prefer the feel of a heavier or lighter shaft. Proper fitting is vital here.
Is a heavier driver shaft better for golf?
Let’s start with some basic physics, heavier objects take more force to move, you can thank Isaac Newton for figuring that one out. Heavier shafts can feel stiffer which can be a pro for golfers with a high swing speed. This extra weight can also help control that speed.
