what is the shaft on a golf club

by Noemie Braun Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

The shaft of a golf club is the long, tapered tube which connects the golfer's hands to the club head. While hundreds of different designs exist, the primary purpose of the golf shaft remains the same: to provide the player with a way to generate centrifugal force in order to effectively strike the ball.

How important is the shaft on a golf club?

How Important are Golf Shafts? 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.May 28, 2018

What does 5.0 shaft flex mean?

Have you ever wondered what the number designation on your Project X shaft means? You know, the 5.0, 6.0, 6.5 and so on printed on the shaft. These numbers correspond with flexes from “regular” to “extra stiff plus”.Feb 2, 2018

Is the shaft the most important part of the golf club?

The weight of the shaft is the most important factor for matching the total weight of the clubs to the golfer's sense of swing timing and swing tempo. Total weight is an important clubfitting feature for helping us to achieve a more consistent, repeating swing tempo and swing timing.Sep 13, 2011

What are the parts of a golf club called?

The three main parts of the club itself are covered (grip, shaft and clubhead), as well as the many different parts of the clubhead.

How do you determine what shaft flex you need?

Some General Guidelines About Shaft Flex

Take a look at the distance you hit your driver. ...
If you have a very smooth swing, you might benefit from a softer flex even if you swing fast. ...
If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.

Sep 21, 2018

What does a 5.5 shaft flex mean?

Stiff

Regular – 5.0. Regular Plus – 5.5. Stiff – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus – 7.0.

Are expensive golf shafts worth it?

Because of the material and production differences, there's usually a price tag difference as well. While they may look identical on the outside, the aftermarket version of a shaft is housing better performance and for most golfers, that's worth a slight increase in cost.Oct 7, 2021

When should I switch from stiff to regular?

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.Jun 12, 2020

Do senior golf shafts make a difference?

The whole charm of Senior shafts is that they're lightweight, flexible, and easier to launch. As for heavy, stiff shafts, these are better suited for golfers with an above-average or faster swing speed (over 95 mph). When your swing speed is higher, getting the golf ball to launch higher is no concern.

What are the 5 parts of a 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 the bottom of the golf club called?

The sole is located at the bottom of the clubhead and consists of the area located between the heel and the toe, and between the leading and trailing edges. The marking or engraving that identifies the golf club in question will usually be found on the sole of the club.

What are the different types of golf shafts?

If you consider the material of the shaft, a golf club shaft can be of three kinds. These are-. Steel shaft. Graphite shaft. Multi-material shaft. 1. Steel shaft. Many people prefer calling the steel shaft an old shaft.

What is the flex of a golf club?

Golf club shaft flexes. While making your swing, a golf club shaft tends to bend a little. This ability of bending is known as the flex of the club. According to your swing speed, you need to choose the right flex type. If you are playing with the wrong flex type, the probability is that you are not getting the right distance and accuracy ...

What is stiff shaft flex?

Stiff (s) Stiff shaft flexes are more common for professional golfers. If you are swinging with a club speed of 84 to 90 mph and tend to take the golf ball around 240 to 260 yardages, you probably need to play with a stiffer shaft flexes. 3.

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.

Why use steel shafts in golf?

With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control. Steel shafts place a greater focus on accuracy as opposed to distance. Since they don’t get as much distance as graphite shafts, steel shafts require faster swing speed to make up for the loss of distance compared to graphite.

What is the difference between a steel shaft and a graphite shaft?

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. Stepped is the use of steps down the shaft or ridges you see while rifle is smooth all the way.

What is a multi material shaft?

Multi-material – this shaft uses both steel and graphite to create a multi-material that offers the best of both worlds. Usually the shaft is steel with graphite at the tip to help limit whip. A multi-material shaft can be found in both irons and drivers.

What is titanium shaft?

Titanium Shafts – this is a newer material type being used to build golf shafts with. It’s much lighter in weight as compared to steel but still offers that same strong support you get from steel compared to graphite.

How much does a golf shaft weigh?

Shaft weights typically range between 50 grams and 85 grams with the 50-60 numbers being pretty common as seen in the example shafts above. Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball.

Why is shaft weight important?

Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball. Lighter weight shafts tend to be swung faster (since they are lighter), increasing club speed. However, we don’t recommend looking automatically at the lightest shaft and disregarding heavier shafts.

Is there a standard for golf shafts?

There Are No Standards. 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. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

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 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.

Do you need a softer shaft for a golf swing?

Conversely, a player that extends early in their swing (most recreational golfers) would require a shaft with a softer tip. Getting this right is extremely important, and it’s often not discussed at all when people talk about choosing shafts (it’s mostly just about flex), which leads us to our next point.

What Is Shaft Length?

Shaft length is the shaft’s raw length, which is connected between the clubhead and the grip. It acts like a lever and allows a player to hit the golf ball over a great distance by using the body’s rotation.

Shaft Length in Irons

The optimal shaft length in Irons can be determined by a set of measurements like arm length, player’s height, and swing posture. A tall player would not benefit by using a golf club designed for a short golfer.

Shaft Length in Drivers

The shaft length in drivers helps you determine how fast you can swing the golf club, along with the angle of attack and the club’s path. The standard length for the drivers is 44.5 inches.

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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Choosing the Best Shaft for Your Game

One of the most difficult aspects of fitting today is choosing the best shaft for a player. There are so many variables, that club fitters and players alike almost have to have a 6th sense to determine what is the best shaft for their game. There are programs that exist, that with a little bit of input, will spit out a shaft recommendation.

Shaft Selection Primer 1.0

Single most important determining factor in shaft flex (indicator of overall strength of the player).

Trajectory - Height of Ball Flight

What is the players ball flight? What is the players preferred ball flight?

Price

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 are golf shafts made of?

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.

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 torque in golf?

Torque refers to the amount of twist in a shaft. Graphite twists more than steel.

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.

How long is a graphite shaft?

Length. A standard length graphite shaft generally is 1 inch longer than steel shafts. The longer shaft, coupled with the lighter weight of graphite, will give many players — especially those with slower club head speeds — more distance. Any gains, however, might be offset by a loss of control.

Who is Jim Thomas?

Writer Bio. Jim Thomas has been a freelance writer since 1978. He wrote a book about professional golfers and has written magazine articles about sports, politics, legal issues, travel and business for national and Northwest publications.