When were golf shafts invented?
By the early 1890's, hickory was the primary wood used in golf shafts. In the 1890's club designers were experimenting with other materials such as steel tubes and solid steel rods. A Scottish blacksmith, Thomas Horsburgh made the first steel shaft in 1893.
When did the USGA start using steel shafts?
In 1924, the USGA finally legalized steel shafts, although the R&A continued to ban them until the Prince of Wales used a set at St. Andrews in 1929 which helped force a rule change. In 1924, the first steel shafts were allowed in the US Open, They were allowed in putters only.
When was the last time PGA Tour used a steel shaft driver?
Actually, since 2008, a steel-shafted driver has only been used twice in competition on the PGA Tour (the 2012 Byron Nelson Championship, and most recently at the 2014 RBC Heritage), according to Titleist. But that’s expected to change on Thursday.
What was the first club shaft made out of?
In the 1890's club designers were experimenting with other materials such as steel tubes and solid steel rods. A Scottish blacksmith, Thomas Horsburgh made the first steel shaft in 1893.
When were steel shafts legalized to golf?
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.
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.
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.
Do any pro golfers use steel shafts?
99% of the top 100 PGA Tour pros use steel shafts in their irons. Abraham Ancer is the exception using Mitsubishi's MMT 105 TX graphite shafts in his Miura TC-201 irons. Matt Kucher has also used graphite irons in the past as does Brandt Snedeker.
When did they stop using hickory shafts?
1935With the arrival and eventual legalization (1929) of steel shafts, the demand for hickory's started to diminish, by 1935 the production of hickory clubs had stopped.
When did golf woods become metal?
19791979: Taylormade Launch First Ever Metal Wood Gary Adams took out a $24 000 loan to found Taylormade and focused his time only on producing the first ever metalwood in the history of the game. It was cast of stainless steel and termed the Taylormade Metalwood.
Who invented steel golf shafts?
In the 1890's club designers were experimenting with other materials such as steel tubes and solid steel rods. A Scottish blacksmith, Thomas Horsburgh made the first steel shaft in 1893.
Are 60 year old golf clubs worth anything?
Many clubs produced as recently as the 1950s and '60s are considered "classics." Some are worth $1,000 a set, and the right kind of sand wedge can bring $500 or more all by itself.
What type of steel are golf club shafts made of?
Club shafts may be made from chrome-plated steel, stainless steel, aluminum, carbon or graphite fiber-reinforced epoxy, boron fiber-reinforced epoxy, or titanium.
Are steel shafts more accurate than graphite?
Graphite shafts are less rigid than steel shafts and tend to have more whip and flexibility. Though this can be an advantage for a player with a well-grooved swing, it also can exaggerate the problems of a poor swing and may affect accuracy.
Should I play steel or graphite shafts?
Historically speaking, steel shafts have been better for more advanced or higher swing speed players. Graphite has been more ideal for people with more moderate swings or players wanting maximum distance.
What kind of shafts does Bryson DeChambeau use?
DeChambeau's driver is Cobra's King Speedzone with an L.A. Golf prototype shaft made just for DeChambeau. The loft is 5.5 degrees—similar to what most long-drive competitors use.
Do they still make wooden golf clubs?
Persimmon Golf produce some of the finest wooden golf clubs, maintaining a tradition for the many thousands of Persimmon fans who demand the experience and pleasure of playing with modern high-performance persimmon clubs.
How old are wooden clubs?
Believe it or not, hickory golf clubs are not that rare. Literally, millions of golf clubs were made from the late 1800's until early 1930's. (That is 40 years of hickory golf club production) In the mid/late 30's, hickory shafted clubs halted production due to the new technology – steel shafted clubs.
How have golf clubs changed over the years?
Golf clubs have changed perhaps more than any other single aspect of the game in the last 15 years. Factors like aerodynamics, component weight and better graphite shafts have allowed golfers to hit the ball longer and straighter. The head of the driver is now built with aerodynamics in mind.
How do you identify old golf clubs?
Common golf clubs can be identified by these traits:Aluminum caps on the end of the handles.Nickel, chromed or stainless steel heads.Dots, lines, hyphens or other face scorings.Stamps on the back for yard ranges.Phrases on the back such as accurate, superior, aim-rite, and other common sounding names.
When did golf clubs start using steel shafts?
The History of Steel Shaft Golf Clubs. Golfers and club designers experimented with steel shafts as early as the 1890s, but didn't fully embrace the new technology until the mid-1920s.
What type of shafts do golfers use?
Prior to the introduction of steel shafts, golfers used hickory shafts, which necessitated a slow, smooth swing that relied on timing for a well-executed shot. As the sport grew in popularity, the golf world became concerned about the availability of hickory for use in golf shafts.
What were the effects of the steel shaft on golf swings?
The typical golf swing was altered by the advent of the steel shaft. Hickory shafts required golfers to swing more with the hands, while the steel shaft allowed for a swing that used the entire body and maximized club-head speed.
Why are steel shafted clubs better than hickory shafted clubs?
Benefits. Steel shafted-clubs made for a more durable golf club than hickory-shafted clubs, which were prone to breaking. Steel shafts also allowed golfers to hit the ball greater distances by increasing club-head speed.
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.
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.
What is carbon fiber shaft?
Modern composite graphite shafts have 3 layers of fiber winding, adding substantial rigidity and performance. Carbon fiber offers increased flex, greater clubhead speed, but reduced accuracy, due to more torque. It also dissipates the stinging shock from a poorly struck shot and will protect the hands and wrist.
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 happens if you don't have a stiff shaft?
The result is a loss of distance. Added to this the direction control will be lost.
Is there a real standard for shafts in golf?
It is accepted within the golf industry that there are no real standards when it comes to shaft manufacture and the different properties they all claim to have.
When did steel shafts become legal?
1930 the Royal and Ancient Order of Saint Andrews, the golf- decision making body in Scotland, made the steel shaft legal for tournament play. 1941 True Temper introduces the first steel iron golf shaft to offer complete flex categories. 1942 True Temper’s Dynamic line is tested and introduced on the PGA Tour.
When did steel shafts stop being used?
Steel shafts were banned by the R&A until the Prince of Wales used a set at St Andrews back in 1929. Go figure, this forced a rule change in 1930.
How is a steel shaft made?
There is two primary ways to manufacture steel iron shafts. A Seamless shaft starts out as a large cylinder of solid steel, which is heated and pierced with a special machine, turning the solid steel into a large, thick-walled tube.
What were golf clubs made of?
The golf shafts were made of wood, normally either hazel or ash, which is a very rigid wood and today used in walking sticks. The shafts were then attached to the head of the golf clubs with a splint and bound tightly ...
Golf Tournament
1930-05-31 British Amateur Championship, Men's Golf, St. Andrews Links: Bobby Jones scores a 7 & 6 win over Englishman Roger Wethered for the first leg of his Grand Slam
Golf Tournament
1946-04-12 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Louise Suggs wins her first major title by 2 strokes from Eileen Stulb
Golf Tournament
1947-03-30 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Babe Didrikson Zaharias wins her first of 3 Titleholders titles by 5 strokes ahead of Dorothy Kirby
Sports History
1949-03-20 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Amateur Peggy Kirk wins her only major title by 2 strokes from Patty Berg and Dorothy Kirby
US Women's Golf Open
1950-03-19 US Open Women's Golf, Rolling Hills CC: Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins by 9 strokes from amateur Betsy Rawls
US Women's Golf Open
1958-06-28 US Open Women's Golf, Forest Lake CC: Mickey Wright wins 1st of 4 Open titles by 5 from Louise Suggs; 1st player to win Open & LPGA in same year
Golf Tournament
1960-03-13 LPGA Titleholders Championship Women's Golf, Augusta CC: Fay Crocker of Uruguay wins by 7 strokes ahead of Kathy Cornelius
How many times has a steel shaft driver been used on the PGA Tour?
Actually, since 2008, a steel-shafted driver has only been used twice in competition on the PGA Tour (the 2012 Byron Nelson Championship, and most recently at the 2014 RBC Heritage), according to Titleist. But that’s expected to change on Thursday.
Who used a steel shaft driver at the 2008 Sony Open?
Why one pro is putting a steel-shafted driver into play at Colonial. Jimmy Walker using a steel-shafted driver at the 2008 Sony Open. For the last six years, every PGA Tour player has used a graphite shaft in his driver during competition.
What shafts does Jimmy Walker use?
According to Titleist, Walker is expected to use True Temper X100 steel shafts in his Titleist TS3 driver and Titleist TS3 fairway wood.
Why graphite shafts?
Compared to steel shafts, which were the driver shaft of choice for most pros until around the early 2000s, graphite shafts are made with lightweight materials to help golfers pick up swing speed. Being that distance is crucial in golf, playing with steel driver shafts is seen as a competitive disadvantage in the modern game.
What is the speed of a Titleist TS3?
According to Titleist, Walker’s Trackman numbers with the new driver show ball speeds in the “high 170’s” and spin rates between 2,220 and 2,300 rpm.
When did golf clubs start using inserts?
It was felt that an insert of the right material could give the already much peppier new golf ball an even faster sendoff, and added distance. Thus, in 1913 the company began offering clubs with a variety of insert materials — for example, one of compressed paper.
When were inserts used in golf clubs?
The first use of inserts in wooden head clubfaces came around the middle of the 19th century, with the advent of the gutta-percha ball. Until then, the golf ball was a leather bag filled with feathers. It was not much of a threat to the condition of the clubface. The solid, hard-rubber gutta-percha, however, caused nicks and dents in clubfaces, and finally just wore them out. To prevent this, someone got the idea of putting a slab of thick leather into the center of the clubface. It made manufacture costlier, but saved throwing the entire club away when it became too guttie-worn.
How did MacGregor Golf get its name?
How MacGregor Got Its Name. There is a subtle touch of innovation in how MacGregor Golf got its name. In March 1898, Edward Canby hired Willie Dunn as his head staff professional. Dunn was the eldest member of a famous Scottish golfing family.
What is MacGregor Golf?
The MacGregor Golf Co. was founded on innovation — on the creative process of making something new from existing resources. And through the thick and thin of a storied business history, the company has maintained that particular inventive genius in golf equipment design and manufacture.
How much hickory was used in golf clubs?
A newspaper account of the test also made an argument for the coming of steel, noting that it was more uniform and durable than hickory, cheaper to buy, and that with the growing popularity of golf, some 5,000,000 feet of hickory was used annually for golf clubs. In short, the hickory supply was becoming limited.
What is a model of a lathe?
A model of the item to be copied is secured on one side of the lathe. As it turns, its contours are passed over by a stylus. A cutting tool also secured on the lathe is connected to follow the path of the stylus. In doing so, it transforms a piece of unformed material into an exact replica of the model.
Who taught golf in 1894?
Golf pros of the time were jacks-of- all-trades — they taught golf, maintained the course, made clubs. One day, in 1894, while the professional at the Myopia Hunt Club, in Massachusetts, White was in his shop laboring over a new wood clubhead. A local carpenter, named Gardner, happened by.
Why do golfers use steel shafts?
The first reason is that better golfers tend to have more swing speed than beginners, so they do not need the extra help that graphite shafts possess.
Why is it important to choose the correct golf club shaft?
Golf club shafts are very useful if you have relevant knowledge because they can have an effect on your ball flight and accuracy of your shots. Most golfers focus on basically everything but choosing the correct shaft and shaft type based on their swing speed.
Why are putters made of steel?
Putter shafts are going to be steel because the flex of your putter does not matter. Some golfers do experiment with different types of steel shafts in their putters because the feel can be different depending on the shaft.
Why do women's golf clubs have graphite shafts?
Graphite shafts are also found in almost every set of women’s and senior golf clubs because it helps equal out the lack of swing speed that they have . Steel shafts are practically nonexistent with senior and women golf club shafts. Another category of golf clubs that almost always have graphite shafts is game improvement irons for all types ...
Why are graphite shafts used in golf?
Graphite shafts are found in virtually every driver on the market because they are lighter and promote clubhead speed for golfers to really bomb it down the fairway. No matter what the skill level is, a graphite shaft is most likely going to be used with a driver. Graphite shafts are also found in almost every set of women’s ...
What shaft type is best for a driver?
Best Shaft Type for Your Driver. Graphite shafts are going to be your best bet when it comes to your driver. The swing speed and forgiveness that a graphite shaft offer will make your performance the best.
Why does my golf ball go right?
The ball goes right due to too stiff of a shaft (for right-handed golfers). Not able to work the ball as well with graphite shafts in irons. Low trajectory if the shaft is too stiff. Too high of a trajectory if the shaft is too flexible. Less accuracy if the shaft is too flexible and “whippy”.
