Who invented the graphite golf shaft?
Frank Thomas of the Shakespeare Sporting Goods Company conceived and created the first graphite shaft in 1969. It was introduced at the PGA Show in 1970. However, it did not catch on with the masses.
When did Taylor made start making graphite shafts?
In 1973 the graphite shaft was introduced which provided more rigidity, lightness and increased strength over the steel shafts. The more modern graphite shafts are manufactured with different materials to improve performance, such as boron to reduce twisting. Taylor-Made was the first company to produce metal club headed woods.
When did the golf shaft come out?
History of the Golf Shaft. However, it did not catch on with the masses. Around the same time as the Shakespeare Company was developing its version of the graphite shaft, James Flood, an aircraft engineer, was developing his version which was introduced in April 1972 from which the Aldila company was born.
What are graphite shafts made of?
Graphite shafts start out as successive layers of graphite fibers held together by a resin (not unlike a form of epoxy) that is called a “binder” material. These sheets of graphite fiber-plus-binder material are called “pre-preg.”
Who invented graphite golf shafts?
Frank ThomasThe graphite shaft was invented by Frank Thomas and introduced to the game of golf in early 1969 while he was working for Shakespeare Sporting Goods Co, as its chief Design Engineer. Graphite (carbon fiber) was developed in the mid-196o's by Union Carbide and used almost exclusively in the space industry.
When did graphite shafts in irons?
The graphite shaft was first marketed in 1970 at the PGA Merchandise Show but did not gain widespread use until the mid-1990s and is now used on almost all woods and some iron sets, as the carbon-fiber composite of graphite shafts boasts increased flex for greater clubhead speed at the cost of slightly reduced accuracy ...
When did graphite clubs come out?
1974In 1974 Wilson Golf Company became the first well-known company to introduce graphite-shafted clubs into their product line. Various playing professionals began to experiment with the new graphite drivers.
When did they stop using wooden shafts for golf clubs?
Hickory became the standard material for golf club shafts until steel shafts were introduced in about 1925 in the US, and became standard everywhere from the mid 1930s. They had the advantage as they did not break like the hickory shafts and could be produced reliably with uniform feel in matched sets.
Do any pros use graphite shafts?
In total 100% of the top 100 PGA Tour pros use graphite shafts in their drivers, fairway woods and hybrid clubs. 14 out of the top 100 use graphite shafts in their utility irons while 21 pros use steel.
Does Tiger Woods use steel or graphite shafts?
If you're considering a steel shaft in your driver or fairway woods, please consider a proper club fitting. A steel driver shaft is a thing of the past. Tiger Woods used a steel shaft in his driver, a True Temper X100, but moved away from it 20 years ago. Even competitors in the World Long Drive use graphite shafts.
Which shaft is better graphite or steel?
Typically, steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterparts. They are more often than not made from stainless steel and they tend to weigh in between around 90g-120g. Torque or lateral twisting found in all graphite shafts is lower in steel irons.
Are graphite irons easier to hit?
It's easier on your joints Bryson DeChambeau and Abraham Ancer swear by graphite product in their irons. It's incredibly consistent and may help you pick up a bit of distance along the way.
Do golf pros use steel or graphite shafts?
Over the past decade, graphite has become the material of choice on the PGA TOUR for shafts in drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, as pros have shifted away from steel and into lighter composites that increased swing speed and distance.
What is the oldest golf club manufacturer?
St. Andrews Golf Co.(STAG)'s production of hickory clubs. St. Andrews Golf Co. is the oldest golf manufacturer in the world and the only remaining manufacturer in Scotland. While they don't have the big name of other brands such as Titleist or Callaway, they have found a way to stay in business since 1881.
What are old golf club shafts made of?
Shafts. Historically shafts were made of different types of wood including orangewood, ash and hickory; but, hickory became the wood of choice in the mid-1800s. The 20th century brought innovations in shaft construction including the development by Ping of laminated woods for increased strength.
What are old wooden shaft golf clubs worth?
How to Find the Value of Antique Golf Clubs. According to GolfWeek, the most valuable antique golf clubs can sell for as much as $80,000 at auction. However, it's not at all common to see this type of value. Most individual clubs sell for between $15 and $100 at auction or in resale shops.
Are graphite shafts better for irons?
Graphite shafts are much lighter and more expensive in comparison to steel shafts, and weigh between 50 and 85 grams. As a result, the lightweight shafts on graphite irons can help to create a greater swing speed for more power.
Can I put graphite shafts in my irons?
Composite materials are lighter than steel and therefore represented the best option to build lighter, more flexible shafts. To date, plenty of golfers can benefit from iron shafts that weigh less than 60 grams and that's still the primary use case for graphite iron shafts.
How do you tell if your irons are steel or graphite?
A skilled player can often tell what they may have done wrong or right by the feel of the swing and impact; more so than a beginner. The steel-shafted club is heavier than the graphite club. Players with a high swing speed may find that this fits their swing tempo better and allows them more control.
Are graphite irons easier to hit?
It's easier on your joints Bryson DeChambeau and Abraham Ancer swear by graphite product in their irons. It's incredibly consistent and may help you pick up a bit of distance along the way.
Who made the graphite shafts for the driving range?
Because of Campbell’s relationship with Shakespeare in 1962 – 1964 with the Gary Player Black Knight golf clubs Campbell purchased the graphite shafts from Shakespeare. Further research is required to determine what company supplied the metal and graphite heads for the driving range clubs.
What golf shafts were invented in the 1940s?
During the 1940’s companies like Wilson experimented with irregular steel golf shafts. The SPIRAL shaft and the HEX shaft soon appeared.
What wood was used to make golf shafts?
Around 1820 clubmakers introduced hickory for making golf shafts. This wood proved to be more durable than the ash, apple, and beech wood that were being used. The process to make a golf shaft began by fastening a one inch square piece of hickory about four feet long in a lathe.
What is the second generation of Wonder shafts?
The second generation of black wonder shafts for irons and woods called the Black Knight” model after the famous PGA star Gary Player appeared to have no manufacturing problems.
When did Shakespeare golf shafts come out?
In the1962 Shakespeare Golf Company introduced their version of the fibreglass shafts. One problem soon arose with the cream coloured fibreglass “Wonder shafts”. The hosel connecting the wooden head to the shaft cracked. The irons with wonder shafts also cracked exposing the interior steel shaft. The second generation of black wonder shafts for irons and woods called the Black Knight” model after the famous PGA star Gary Player appeared to have no manufacturing problems. The average golfer soon rejected the new Shakespeare shafts because the clubs appeared heavier than normal to the average public golf course player.
What was the name of the golf club that replaced hickory?
In the late 1920’s Spalding introduced the Alan Lard version of a steel shaft to replace the hickory. Known also as “The Whistler”, the Lard golf club hardly resembled any comparison to the standard wooden round golf shaft. Also in the mid twenties Cuthbert Butchart developed a bamboo shaft for golf clubs. He fastened six pieces of bamboo and ...
Why did the practice driving range business expand?
During the early 1970’s the practice driving range business began expanding probably due to the greater television exposure. New players began their careers at the local driving facility. Until this time driving ranges supplied the new comers woods with persimmon headed drivers. The operators immediately discovered these persimmon woods could not withstand the wear and tear of being hit constantly by beginners.
Who invented graphite shafts?
And the name I associate with the first graphite shaft is its inventor, Frank Thomas.". Jerry Tarde, Editor-in-Chief, Golf Digest.
When was graphite invented?
The graphite shaft was invented by Frank Thomas and introduced to the game of golf in early 1969 while he was working for Shakespeare Sporting Goods Co, as its chief Design Engineer. Graphite (carbon fiber) was developed in the mid-196o’s by Union Carbide and used almost exclusively in the space industry.
When did Frank join the USGA?
In 1974 Frank was asked to join the USGA as its Technical Director where he continued to innovate. He directed the development of almost all the performance standards for golf equipment, now used to help maintain the integrity of the game of golf enjoyed by so many people around the world.
Where was the graphite shaft made?
The graphite golf shaft was created in a golf ball factory at Plymouth Meeting, PA ! – Trenham Golf History
Who tested graphite shafts?
Gary Player and Don January tested the shafts. Thomas introduced the graphite shaft at the 1970 PGA Merchandise Show. Tony Perla, professional at Sunnybrook Golf Club and a two-time winner of the Pennsylvania Open, became Thomas’ local test pilot for the graphite shaft. Perla, the longest driver in the Philadelphia Section, was the perfect test for the shaft. With his power any flaws in the shaft were obvious.
What was Shakespeare's golf shaft?
By 1962 Shakespeare thought they had solved the Golfcraft shaft problems and began producing clubs with their version of fiber glass shafts. These shafts, all fiber glass, were a slight improvement on the Golfcraft shaft. They were strong and didn’t flutter, but too heavy. Shakespeare produced a Black Knight model and paid Gary Player to play the clubs. Player represented Shakespeare but played with steel shafts painted black to resemble the fiber glass shafts. By 1968 Shakespeare had given up on fiber glass for golf shafts.
Did Shakespeare ever get a patent for a graphite shaft?
Somehow due to the timing of Thomas’ introduction of the graphite shaft and application for patents Shakespeare never received a patent on the shaft. That was a blessing for the golfers. More than a dozen entities began working on graphite shafts. By 1974 several golf companies were offering clubs with graphite shafts. The only downside was the price of those golf clubs. A driver with a graphite shaft cost $100 to $120 opposed to $40 for a steel shafted driver.
When was graphite shaft introduced?
In 1973 the graphite shaft was introduced which provided more rigidity, lightness and increased strength over the steel shafts. The more modern graphite shafts are manufactured with different materials to improve performance, such as boron to reduce twisting.
When were steel shafted golf clubs invented?
The first few decades of the 1900’s saw a lot of experimentation and innovation in the club design. Around 1925 the steel shaft was introduced in the United States, although blacksmiths had experimented with them since the late 1890’s. The R&A, named from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, is the governing body of the game of golf. The R&A finally legalized the use of steel shafted clubs after the Prince of Wales used them on the Old Course at St Andrews in 1929. The steel shaft provided for greater accuracy and durability. In 1931, after the R&A banned concave-faced wedges, Gene Sarazen invented the modern sand wedge which had a straight face and added bounce.
What were the clubs made of in the 1500s?
In the 1500s a set of clubs consisted of: a set of play clubs, “longnoses”, for driving; fairway clubs or “grassed drivers”, for medium range; “spoons” for short shots; “niblicks” similar to wedges; and a putting “cleek”. These golf clubs were made up of wood with the shafts being made from ash or hazel and the club heads being made ...
What is the evolution of golf?
The Evolution of the Golf Club. Since the inception of the game of golf, players have continually tried to improve upon their equipment. The earliest golf clubs were initially carved by the golfer themselves and typically out of wood. Golfers soon turned to skilled craftsmen to produce higher quality equipment.
When was the Guttie ball invented?
In 1848 the “guttie” ball was introduced by Rev. Adam Paterson, which quickly made the “longnoses” or drivers obsolete. Bulgers emerged to replace the longnoses which had a bulbous head, resembling modern woods. By 1900, persimmon became the material of choice for wooden club heads, which was also imported from America.
What were the names of the golf clubs after World War II?
The traditional names of the clubs, like “niblicks” and “spoons”, were replaced by the standard numbering system used to this day. There was little development and advancement for the next few decades. After World War II development of golf clubs were influenced by research into synthetic and composite materials.
Why were feathered golf clubs so expensive?
The wooden clubs were expensive due to the time and effort that went into making them and they were prone to break. This high cost of the clubs made the game of golf an activity reserved for the higher class. Club-makers experimented with different materials on the club face, such as leather, metal, bone fragments, and other materials to increase distance and prevent breakage.
When was graphite shaft invented?
Graphite shafts began to emerge in the late twentieth century. The graphite shaft was invented by Frank Thomas in 1969 while working as Chief Design Engineer for Shakespeare Sporting Goods, in collaboration with Union Carbide.
What is the purpose of a golf shaft?
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. When properly gripped the player can hit the ...
What is a flex shaft?
The most common is the shaft flex. Simply, the shaft flex is the amount that the shaft will bend when placed under a load. A stiffer shaft will not flex as much, which requires more power to bend and "whip" through the ball properly (which results in higher club speed at impact for more distance), while a more flexible shaft will whip with less power required for better distance on slower swings, but may torque and over-flex if swung with too much power causing the head not to be square, resulting in lower accuracy. Most shaft makers offer a variety of flexes. The most common are: L (Lady), A (Soft Regular, Intermediate or Senior), R (Regular), S (Stiff), and X (Tour Stiff, Extra Stiff or Strong). A regular flex shaft is generally appropriate for those with an average head speed (80-94 mph), while an A-Flex (or senior shaft) is for players with a slower swing speed (70-79 mph), and the stiffer shafts, such as S-Flex and X-Flex (Stiff and Extra-Stiff shafts) are reserved only for those players with an above average swinging speed, usually above 100 mph (160 km/h). Some companies also offer a "stiff-regular" or "firm" flex for players whose club speed falls in the upper range of a Regular shaft (90-100 mph), allowing golfers and clubmakers to fine-tune the flex for a stronger amateur-level player.
What is stiff tip shaft?
These shafts offer the same flex throughout most of the shaft, in order to attain the "whip" required to propel the ball properly, but also include a stiffer tip, which cuts back drastically on the lateral torque acting on the head.
How much does a spherical shaft weigh?
Shafts weigh between 45 and 150 grams depending on the material and length.
What are the variables used to tailor a golf club to a particular player?
Length and Weight - These variables are used to tailor a golf club to a particular player. Shaft lengths can be altered to suit golfers of different heights. Golf shafts are manufactured in various weights to suit players of any skill or strength level.
What are golf clubs made of?
Early golf clubs had wooden shafts, most commonly made of hickory. These shafts were resilient and withstood the forces created by the golf swing, but unlike modern, more stiff shafts, their high flexibility required a skilled swing to produce consistent results.
How long is a golf club?
The USGA specifies that the overall length of a club must be between 18 inches and 48 inches, with the exception of putters, which can be longer. The shaft must be permanently affixed to the clubhead, meaning it cannot be adjusted during play.
What is flex in golf?
Flex is a measure of how much the shaft bends. That bend is based on how fast the club is swung and how long the swing takes from takeaway until the ball is struck.
Can the same shaft feel different?
The same shaft can have a different feel when paired with different clubheads. The shape, weight of the clubhead and length of the hosel all can affect the shaft's flex.
When did graphite shafts come out?
Graphite shafts were introduced as early as the 1970s, but came into mass production in the 1990s. Graphite shafts are often used by golfers with slower swing speeds (less than 75 mph), like women, senior men golfers or juniors.
Which shaft absorbs more vibration?
Graphite shafts absorb more vibration than steel shafts and, according to Golf. com, are easier on a player's hands and wrists. When a golfer mishits a ball and hits the ground, the vibration from the contact with the ground is absorbed by the hands and wrists when a steel shaft is used. With a graphite shaft, the vibration is dampened and there is less chance of injury to the joints.
Is graphite shaft longer than steel shaft?
Graphite shafts are generally about a half-inch longer than steel shafts, according to Learn About Golf. Though there are many advantages to graphite shafts, they are typically more expensive and less durable than steel shafts.
Can graphite shafts increase torque?
Golfers may be able to generate more torque with graphite shafts. Because graphite shafts are lighter, many golfers are able to increase torque by using graphite because they will increase their swing speed and change the angle of the club head at impact, thus producing greater distance.
What is a graphite shaft?
Graphite shafts start out as successive layers of graphite fibers held together by a resin (not unlike a form of epoxy) that is called a “binder” material. These sheets of graphite fiber-plus-binder material are called “pre-preg.” The graphite fibers used to make the pre-preg sheets can vary in strength and stiffness (called the “modulus” of the graphite material) to afford the shaft designer more creativity in the performance design of the shaft.
What determines the weight of a shaft?
That diameter, plus the number of layers wrapped around the mandrel and the variety of pre-preg material used, determines the weight and stiffness of the shaft. More layers wrapped around the mandrel equals greater wall thickness, which equals a stiffer and heavier shaft.
Can pre-preg be used to make shafts stiffer?
In addition, greater stiffness can also be achieved by using stronger and stiffer sheets of pre-preg. In this manner, the shaft walls can be thinner – but still have enough stiffness – to achieve a lighter weight in the shaft.
