All golf shafts taper from the butt to the tip, but parallel tips stop tapering below the last step, while the taper tips, continues to narrow. The taper tip was the only choice until the 1970s, when the parallel tip came on the market.
What is a parallel tip shaft on a golf club?
Parallel-tip shafts are the same, within the model type, for each iron but are trimmed to fit the length for each club. As a result, parallel-tip shafts are heavier in the longer irons and weigh less in the shorter irons.
What is the difference between standard and parallel-tip shafts?
The standard size is .370 inch for irons and would require a clubhead with a .370-diameter hosel hole. Parallel-tip shafts are the same, within the model type, for each iron but are trimmed to fit the length for each club. As a result, parallel-tip shafts are heavier in the longer irons and weigh less in the shorter irons.
What is the difference between taper and parallel tip shafts?
Parallel-tip shafts are the same, within the model type, for each iron but are trimmed to fit the length for each club. As a result, parallel-tip shafts are heavier in the longer irons and weigh less in the shorter irons. The taper tip was the standard until the 1970s, when the parallel tip was introduced.
What is the difference between a tip and a shaft?
The tip is the part of the shaft that fits into the hosel of the clubhead. The difference between the two types of shaft is the tip diameter and shaft weight. Just as its name implies, a taper-tip shaft tapers, getting smaller where it fits into the hosel.
What is a parallel tip golf shaft?
Parallel-tip shafts are the same, within the model type, for each iron but are trimmed to fit the length for each club. As a result, parallel-tip shafts are heavier in the longer irons and weigh less in the shorter irons.
How do you know if your shaft is parallel or tapered?
0:173:29Differences Between Taper Tip & Parallel Tip Iron Shafts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you see something labeled as a 355 tip iron shaft you know that's a taper tip product whereasMoreSo if you see something labeled as a 355 tip iron shaft you know that's a taper tip product whereas parallel tip shafts or in that tip.
What are the different types of golf shafts?
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).
Does tipping make a shaft stiffer?
Shaft tipping is when a club builder removes length from the tip section of a shaft, which is the end where the clubhead is installed. In most cases, tip trimming a shaft makes it meaningfully stiffer. It also increases torsional stiffness, known as “torque,” which is a shaft's resistance to twisting.
What is the difference between parallel tip and tapered tip?
The difference between a parallel tip shaft and a taper tip shaft is the tip diameter and shaft weight. All golf shafts taper from the butt to the tip, but parallel tips stop tapering below the last step, while the taper tips, continues to narrow.
Are Callaway irons taper tip?
Callaway's hosels are slightly tapered so that when the shaft is inserted it pinches in the split shaft and forms a pseudo-mechanical lock.
How do I know what golf shaft to use?
Which flex rating you use will depend on the type of swing you have. For example, beginners and those with less powerful swings tend to use a shaft with greater flexibility to propel the ball more. On the other hand, if a player has a high and powerful swing speed, they will require a stiffer shaft with less flex.
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 type of golf shaft is best?
5 Best Golf Driver Shafts (and Fairway Wood Shafts)Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Series (Best Driver Shafts Overall) First up on our list of best driver shafts is the Mitsubishi Tensei shafts. ... Fujikura Ventus Black. ... Project X HZRDUS Smoke Shaft. ... Project X EvenFlow. ... KBS TD Graphite.
How much does tipping a shaft effect Flex?
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. We can see this clearly looking a the numbers. The butt stiffness of the shaft increased one tenth of a pound, the torque, three tenths of a degree.
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.
How does a parallel shaft increase stiffness?
In doing so, the stiffness is increased by moving the mid section of the shaft closer to the tip. The tip is the softest part of the shaft. As it is cut away, the shaft becomes stiffer.
Why are longer iron shafts softer than shorter iron shafts?
The longer iron shafts have longer tips, making them ‘softer’ than the shorter iron shafts with stiffer tips. This is to synchronize stiffness in the set. Long iron heads are lighter than short iron heads. The shorter tips match with the heavier heads, increasing tip stiffness as the weight of the heads get heavier.
What are the two types of iron shafts?
There are two types of iron shafts, factory trimmed sets and parallel shafts . The unitized parallel tip shaft was introduced by True Temper is the early 70’s. That was long before my involvement with golf gear so I will not make any attempt to discuss the history. This article will start with a brief explanation of the two shaft types and then discuss what I see using EI measurements. If you are a golfer and not a club builder I will lay out some background knowledge to give you a fundamental understanding of iron shafts. If you are a club builder and have not seen one of my presentations about parallel shafts, this article presents a unique understanding of the properties of parallel shaft sets.
What is the essence of a flighted shaft?
We are creating a flighted shaft set. The longer shafts will have a propensity to launch higher while the shorter shafts will launch lower. That is the essence of what is called a flighted or a progressive launch set of shafts.
Is a 4i shaft shorter than a 3i shaft?
The 4i shafts is 1/2 inch shorter than the 3i shaft, the 5i is 1/2 shorter than the 4i and so on. This photo is of such a set, 4i – wedge. In a set like this, the distance between the tip and the first step is where you will see the 1/2 inch increment.
Do iron shafts show profiles?
Future reviews of iron shafts will not only show the profiles of the 6 iron as I have in the past. The set make ups will be included.
What is the difference between a parallel tip shaft and a taper tip shaft?
The difference between a parallel tip shaft and a taper tip shaft is the tip diameter and shaft weight. All golf shafts taper from the butt to the tip, but parallel tips stop tapering below the last step, while the taper tips, continues to narrow.
When was the parallel tip shaft introduced?
When the parallel tip shaft was introduced in the early 70s, tour players still preferred the feel of the Dynamic taper tip because the parallel tip version of the shaft decreased in weight down through the set to the short irons. This happened of course because when you use one master shaft for every head, you cut more from each iron shaft ...
What is a taper tip shaft?
Each taper tip shaft is built to length for a specific iron and is the same weight throughout the set of irons. Most of the forged irons from all the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers, ie TaylorMade, Ping, Nike) were offered with the Dynamic iron shaft because that is what the tour players most often used.
How does a master shaft affect a golf club?
This happened of course because when you use one master shaft for every head, you cut more from each iron shaft from the long to the short iron clubs. This changed the balance point of the clubs when built with the Dynamic parallel tip version vs. the taper tip version. With a parallel tip shaft, the narrowest portion of the shaft is a constant diameter, but not a constant weight. While the size does vary between manufacturers, the industry standard for irons is .370 inch. Golf clubs are different lengths within the same set; the higher-numbered irons are shorter than the lower-numbered irons. Because the club maker starts with the same shaft and trims it for each iron, the weight of the shaft changes.
What is the diameter of a taper tip iron shaft?
The standard tip diameter for a taper tip iron shaft is .355 inch, slightly smaller than a parallel tip. Each taper tip shaft is built to length for a specific iron and is the same weight throughout the set of irons
Why is a taper tip shaft tapered?
The reason is because it is FAR less expensive to make a set of taper tip shafts ...
How many different shafts were needed for taper tip irons?
Thus if a golf company was building R and S flex woods and irons in a 1,2,3,4 wood and 2-PW irons, they had to buy and stock 26 different shafts to build the sets. If they were out of stock in 1 or 2 of these shafts, they could not finish the sets.
What is a golf shaft?
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. So when choosing a shaft, it's important to know what specifications to look for. The golf club head and golf grip will each have their own specifications/measurements as well, and having all this information on hand can guide you to choose the right shaft, as well as ensure the club assembly process goes smoothly. Here are 5 golf shaft specifications you'll want to know:
What size shaft tip for golf club?
The shaft tip size is the the diameter of the tip portion of the shaft. For irons, this will usually be 0.370" (parallel) or 0.355" (tapered). For woods, it will be either 0.335" or 0.350". To choose the tip size needed, you'll want to match it with the ID (inside diameter) of the hosel of the golf club head.
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), ...
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 happens if you swing too heavy?
If the overall club is too heavy, you can lose swing speed which can result in a loss of yardage. Too light of a club will be hard to guide and control which can lead to mishits. Players with faster swing speeds or more accelerated tempos can benefit from heavier shafts.
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I’m thinking of doing some experimenting with parallel irons shafts. I know the main differences from taper tip are that they will be descending weight, and obviously the tip is a parallel .370” diameter. But I vaguely remember reading that there is also a bend profile/IE curve difference.
Feedback
I’m thinking of doing some experimenting with parallel irons shafts. I know the main differences from taper tip are that they will be descending weight, and obviously the tip is a parallel .370” diameter. But I vaguely remember reading that there is also a bend profile/IE curve difference.
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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
What is torque and kickpoint?
Torque refers to the amount of twist in a shaft. Graphite twists more than steel.
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.".
What is a parallel tipped shaft?
Parallel tipped shafts offer an infinite number of custom fitting options through tip trimming - you can get any flex you need in any cpm increments. You could of course hard step or soft step parallel tipped shafts as well if they are available in discrete lengths like the Nippon or Rifle shaft - however tip timming is much more flexible.
How to stiffen a shaft?
To stiffen the flex of a shaft, you tip trim it. If you have a heavier than normal head, and you want to stiffen the shaft to play to spec, you need to tip trim the shaft to stiffen it for the heavier head. You don't have that option in a taper tipped shaft.
How many cpm does a tapered shaft have?
Tapered tipped shafts offer only hard or soft stepping options - extremely limited - for custom fitting flex and only offer 3-4 cpm adjustments depending on the shaft.
Can you tip a shaft?
And both shafts can be hard/soft stepped and both can be tipped so as far as custom fitting is concered they are equal. And when you tip a shaft it can change the shaft characteristics so I wouldn't reccommend that option.
Is there a difference between DG taper and parallel shaft?
Yes, there are some differences between the DG taper and parallel shafts - however I do not believe anyone other than the top tour players can tell these difference in a playing test.
Is a taper S300 stiffer than a parallel?
You could have a taper S300 that measures stiffer than a parallel from one batch, then a parallel that measures stiffer on another day.
Can you blind range with the same iron heads?
We' ve done blind range testing with identical iron heads - one bored out to accept a parallel shaft and the other shafted with a tapered shaft - no differences noted by the testers.
How big is a golf shaft?
Most current shafts are approx,58 inches/14,7 mm in diameter near the grip, and taper down to 0,355 or 0,370 in diameter at the tip.
Why is shaft length important in golf?
An increased shaft length creates a greater swing-arc, which relates to more distance. Shorter stature golfers often increase the length of the shafts and stand further away from the ball. The longer the shaft the less control and this is where fitment assists.
How many layers of fiber are in a graphite shaft?
Modern composite graphite shafts have 3 layers of fiber winding, adding substantial rigidity and performance.
What is flex in golf?
Flex. Put very simply, flex is the amount of bend in the shaft. It affects launch angle, spin, ball flight, control, carries, and distance. Shafts are qualified in different ways but reference to flex is the most important. Powerful swings require stiffer shafts which put less load on the shaft.
What weight shafts are available for clubfitters?
Clubfitters now have the option to fit these shafts with weights from 95 to 110gm. This is a reduction from the 115 to 125gm range previously on offer. Steel generally has less flex, more stability, low torque, and provides more accuracy. Standard steel shafts are shorter.
What is the holy grail of shaft selection?
Most golf retail outlets and driving ranges have the latest technology to measure this, and is the holy grail of shaft selection.
When did steel shafts become legal?
Finally in 1924 steel shafts were legalized and Billy Burke was the 1st to win the US Open with steel. From 1960 to 1970 the aluminum shaft was introduced but besides expensive, it broke very easily. Then followed graphite shafts, displayed at the 1970 PGA merchandise show for the first time.