When did graphite shafts become popular in golf?
By the early 1970's, graphite shafts were widely available to the golfing world and by 1973, they were taking the industry by storm. But by 1975, graphite's durability and performance limitations were being realized which almost caused their demise. in the shaft as it was swung. This also gave them greater durability.
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.
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.
Is it time to get over the stigma of graphite iron shafts?
Andrew Tursky, Senior Equipment Editor: As J.Wall mentioned, it’s absolutely time to get over any stigma around using graphite iron shafts. I’ll go as far as saying that more than 50 percent of golfers would find better performance and a more pleasurable experience by switching to graphite.
When did they stop using wood shafts on golf clubs?
In the mid-20th century, both the USGA and the R&A ruled that golf clubs with steel shafts could be used in tournaments. While steel was used for club shafts, wooden heads were the norm for drivers and fairway woods until the 1970s.
Do any pro golfers use graphite shafts in their irons?
Graphite iron shafts have been used by PGA TOUR professionals for decades including FedExCup Champion Brandt Snedeker and US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau. There's also a third option in iron shafts which may eventually fall into the “best of both worlds” category.
Do irons have graphite shafts?
Generally recommended for those with slower swing speeds (75 mph or less), 84 percent of woods and 28 percent of irons had graphite shafts as of 2006, according to Golf.com. Graphite shafts are traditionally more expensive than steel.
Are graphite shafts better for irons?
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.
Are graphite shafts better for seniors?
Are graphite shafts better for seniors in golf? Yes, graphite shafts are the best choice for most seniors. As I mentioned, the shaft plays a major role in ball striking, consistency, and distance. The overwhelming majority of senior players would benefit from using a graphite shaft.
Are graphite shafts easier to hit?
More lightweight than steel, hence increases swing speed and boosts distance (by 5 yards with each golf club). Because of the lighter weight, graphite shafts are easier to swing. Muffled vibrations on off-center shots. Thus, less painful in the hands, arms, and shoulders.
Do most pro golfers use steel or graphite shafts?
As discussed previously, most professional players use steel shafts in their irons because of their consistency. Accuracy with irons is key for pro players. When it comes to driver shaft and fairway wood selection, graphite is often the shaft of choice, even for pros.
Do you swing slower with graphite shafts?
Graphite Shafts These are much more flexible when compared to the steel shafts. This makes them a perfect choice for those who prefer lighter clubs and have slower swing speed.
Does Tiger Woods use graphite shafts?
Woods' Masters career has also seen players go from drivers in the 260 cubic-centimeter range to 460 ccs, and in Woods' case, the move from steel to graphite shafts in metalwoods.
Who should play graphite iron shafts?
Iron Shafts 101: How to choose between steel, composite, and carbon fiber. There used to be a basic rule for iron shafts – if you're a strong, competitive player you choose steel, and if you're older, slower, a woman, or generally not athletic, you choose graphite.
Do all woods have graphite shafts?
For fairway woods, again nearly all are equipped with graphite shafts as players tend to match the driver with the same type of shaft. Golfers, who tend to hit the ball a long way and/or need more control, may find steel to their liking.
Should high handicappers use graphite shafts?
Which Is Best For High Handicappers? High-handicapped golfers who need help generating speed should use graphite, this will really help them pick up speed.
Who invented the graphite shaft?
In 1931, Billy Burke won the US Open. He was the first golfer to win using steel shaft clubs. 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.
What wood was used for golf shafts in the 17th century?
The golf shafts in the 17th and 18th centuries were not yet made of hickory, but rather from ash and hazel or whatever hardwood was available locally including wood from trees such as danga wood, ironheart, purpleheart, greenheart, bloomahoo and bulletwood. The US used other woods from what was being used in Great Britain, ...
Why are Spalding clubs painted tan?
The clubs had steel shafts which were painted tan to give the impression of hickory. This practice was also done by other. manufacturers to help influence golfers to make the transition from hickory to steel. Spalding's steel shaft, painted to look like hickory.
What is a whistler shaft?
Nicknamed the "Whistler", Lard's shaft was made from a solid steel bar that was bored out and milled to form 6 sides. To reduce its weight, it was drilled with hundreds of small holes.
Why is the Allan Lard golf shaft called a whistling shaft?
To reduce its weight, it was drilled with hundreds of small holes. The perforations helped enhance club head speed and reduced torque significantly. When swung, these holes caused a whistling sound, hence the "Whistler" nickname. But like the other steel shafts, they never caught on. Allan Lard's perforated steel shaft.
What wood was used for the club heads?
The US used other woods from what was being used in Great Britain, including ash and lancewood. Club heads were made from tough woods such as beech, holly, apple and pear. These were connected to the shaft using a splint and then bound using leather straps.
What is Spalding's shaft?
Spalding's steel shaft, painted to look like hickory. It was not until some advances were made in the raw steel material and new manufacturing processes were developed, enabling the production of a stepped-down shaft, that steel started showing signs of becoming a clear favorite.
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.
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 feathered golf clubs invented?
With the introduction of the “featherie” golf ball in 1618 golf clubs continued to be made with wooden heads, although forging iron into the head was possible, because of the delicacy of the featheries. The wooden clubs were expensive due to the time and effort that went into making them and they were prone to break.
What wood is used for golf clubs?
Hickory quickly became the standard wood of choice for club-makers due to its availability and better durability. 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.
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.
What is the R&A golf club?
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.
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.
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.
Is graphite shaft stiffer than steel?
Graphite shafts are more flexible than steel shafts, which are generally stiff and unforgiving. Graphite shafts are available in a wider range of flexes, which is a measurement of how much bend there is in a club. Golf clubs are available in five flexes, ranging from very flexible (ladies flex) to extra stiff (X flex). On balance, graphite clubs are more flexible than steel shafts and allow for faster club head speed and more clean hits.
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.
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 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 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.
Can shaft lengths be altered?
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. New drivers come out all the time with new concepts of how its design is supposed to make you hit the ball further, however that is not the case.
2. You get the best of both worlds
Andrew Tursky, Senior Equipment Editor: As J.Wall mentioned, it’s absolutely time to get over any stigma around using graphite iron shafts. I’ll go as far as saying that more than 50 percent of golfers would find better performance and a more pleasurable experience by switching to graphite.
3. You can swing faster
Luke Kerr-Dineen, Director of Game Improvement Content: I went to our sister company True Spec for an iron fitting a couple of years ago, with one simple goal: I wanted to hit the ball further. I was sick of steel, so in came the graphite, and I was immediately vindicated.
What irons did JB Holmes play in the FBR Open?
February, J.B. Holmes captures his second FBR Open in three years, this time playing the King Cobra 454 Comp (7.5º) driver, Speed Pro 3- (13º) and 5- (18º) fairway metals and Pro CB (3-P) irons.
What is a Cobra SS iron?
Cobra releases the King Cobra SS oversize irons that feature an oversize cavity back, thin face and perimeter weighting for a superior sweet spot, greater distance and accuracy. The irons boast a cavity "muscle arch" for solid feel, along with a tungsten insert in the long irons for higher trajectory.
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.
Why Do Pros Use Steel Shafts?
Steel shafts were introduced many years ago and have undergone continuous improvement to deliver the qualities and specifications suited to modern player swing speeds. Steel shafts used to have steps in the length, and now seamless steel shafts are in everyday use. Steel shafts offer stability and less torque and flex through impact.
What are Steel Shafts Made Of?
Steel shafts are made from special steel and lately, ultra-lightweight steel is used to enhance clubhead speed through the ball. Steel is more durable, stable, stronger, and less costly than graphite. Carbon steel is another very lightweight shaft.
What are Composite Shafts?
A composite shaft is manufactured from a mixture of carbon fiber and steel and is lighter than standard steel shafts. These shafts are manufactured for specific performance characteristics demanded by the top players. They can be made for a specific golfer in terms of weight, flex, and length.
Do Pros Use Graphite Shafts in the Driver?
The driver shafts today are predominantly graphite, but specifications vary from one manufacturer to another. The shafts can be as light as 40grams, which equates to a faster clubhead speed through impact. The flex will be X-stiff or XX-stiff for the strong pros who hit the ball a mile.
Who Should Use Graphite Shafts In Irons?
Senior pros and the top players on the LPGA use graphite shafts through the bag. They are lighter than steel and allow them to generate increased swing speed to increase or maintain the distance required to overcome some of the courses they play on the Tour.
Which Pros Use Graphite Shaft Irons?
Every pro golfer wants the very best performance from the shaft they fit to their clubs. It would be reasonable to believe that most of the top players have experimented with graphite shafts in some form or another, just to ensure they are not missing out on some technology that would give them an edge over their fellow competitors.