why composate golf shafts are bad

Misses are fat (hit behind the ball): Shafts are too flexible in the butt and or tip section, too long or too heavy. Wedges: Misses are off the toe: Shaft is too short, butt section and/or tip section is too stiff, or shaft is too light.

Full Answer

What happens if a golf shaft is too flexible?

The shot will probably feel less solid and more harsh, even when impact occurs in the center of the face, because of the different impact vibrations transmitted up the shaft to the golfer's hands. If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results:

Are shafts one of the most misunderstood product categories in golf?

One of the most misunderstood product categories in the golf industry is shafts. There are plenty of myths and mistruths out there that we wanted to clear up for you in this article and share what we have learned at Pete’s Golf over the past several decades.

Is your shaft too stiff for your swing?

If a golfer is using a shaft that is too stiff for his or her swing mechanics and swing speed, any or all of the following may result: 1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2.

Why are graphite golf shafts popular?

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. The flexibility, or flex, of a shaft refers to its amount of bend.

What is the best material for golf club shafts?

Generally graphite is more expensive than steel and less durable. The lighter weight provides greater swing speed for more power, but it sacrifices control due to the flex generated during the swing. The variation in flexes (and colours) make graphite shafts a very popular choice with professionals and amateurs alike.

Why are graphite shafts bad?

Disadvantages of Graphite Shafts 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 graphite shafts in my irons?

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.

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.

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 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.

When should you switch to graphite shafts for irons?

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. Golfers with slower swing speeds can benefit from lighter shafts than help them swing faster which creates higher launch, more ball speed, and ultimately more distance.

Are graphite shafts good for high handicappers?

The choice of Steel or Graphite shafts irons will mainly come down to swing speed. Graphite suits slower swings and steel suits faster swings. Besides that Steel provides more stability and with steel shafts, getting lighter, they are becoming a more attractive offers for many high handicappers.

Do graphite or steel irons go further?

The graphite shafts are more forgiving and do not sting when you mishit, and beginner golfers should take advantage of that. Also, the lighter graphite shafts make the irons go farther when hit well, so it is a win-win for golfers in the game improvement section.

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.

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

Average 7 Iron Distances are following: Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women)

What shafts does Tiger Woods use?

Tiger has a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 60 TX shaft fitted to his driver.

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.

Why didn't Nick Price find a stiff shaft?

Regardless of the similarity in their swing speeds, Nick Price couldn’t find a shaft stiff enough for his swing because he would apply such an enormous amount of force, whereas Couples didn’t need as stiff of a shaft because of his smooth tempo.

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 difference between stock shafts and aftermarket shafts?

The difference between stock shafts and aftermarket shafts is usually found in quality control. Many times the bigger OEMs will strip off the paint of last year’s model and give them a new exterior. The graphics look attractive, but you really have no idea what is beneath it.

Why is shaft profile important?

Getting the right shaft profile for your swing is very important. It will greatly affect your ability to hit quality shots on the course . There is a lot of confusion in the golf shaft industry. With no standards for performance, the quality greatly varies, and often you get what you pay for. We hope that we have cleared up some ...

What is the most important thing about a driver shaft?

One of the most important things about shafts is how they handle the force that a player’s swing will apply. Generally speaking, there are two extremes. Some players apply a late load to their swing, which would require a stiffer tip of the driver shaft. Conversely, a player that extends early in their swing (most recreational golfers) ...

Is the shaft of a truck the same as the transmission?

It absolutely has an effect on how well you can play. The shaft is similar to the transmission of a car. While it’s not the engine, it’s still extremely important. If you are driving a truck you want a transmission that can handle its particular demands.

What shafts are used in PGA Tour driving irons?

In fact, a number of PGA Tour professionals are now using composite shafts in their driving irons, and some, like Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, and Fred Couples, are playing composite shafts in their standard irons. With all the different options, choosing the right iron shafts can be difficult. So how do you know if you should choose steel ...

Can you go back to steel after switching to graphite?

But he also finds that most get used to the new sensation very quickly and almost none go back to steel once they’ve become accustomed to graphite.

Does steel have a lot of vibration?

You prefer a smoother feel: As previously mentioned, steel transmits a lot more vibration to the body, which can contribute to injury. However, those vibrations are also called “feedback,” and some players absolutely need that for control of not only distance but also the clubhead itself.

Is steel shaft lighter than graphite?

Steel shafts are now offered in lighter weights than ever before but not as light as graphite and not as varied in the flex profiles available. Steel tends to have very low torque (rotation during the swing) and also a stiffer tip section, while graphite can offer much higher torque rates and more flex in the tip.

Is graphite or steel more consistent?

Steel shafts were always known as exceptionally consistent while graphite was unpredictable and overly light and flexible. In truth, many of these generalizations were actually somewhat accurate, as graphite shafts were a work in progress for quite awhile.

Why is it not fun to play golf?

It’s not as fun to play golf when you’re uncomfortable with your equipment and constantly making compromises. Peace of mind, comfort, confidence and predictability are huge reasons to get properly fit clubs in your bag.

Why use clubs that fit your swing?

A major benefit of using clubs that are made to fit your golf swing is that they tighten dispersion. You may still hit a hook or a slice, but instead of hitting houses all day, you might stay between the tree line.

Can you adjust your swing to the equipment during the round?

You can also adjust your swing to the equipment during the round to avoid major pitfalls. But for a lot of us, a score matters. And if you want to fire your best round, then using clubs that are made for your golf swing is going to help tremendously. Here are the two main things I learned after playing a round of golf with poorly fit clubs.

What happens if a golf shaft is too flexible?

If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results: 1. The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from ...

How to make sure your shaft flex is well matched to your swing?

The best thing to do is make sure your shaft flex is well-matched to your swing (by meeting with a clubfitter or at least a teaching pro in a hitting bay when buying new clubs). But when in doubt, always err on the side of more flexibility in the shaft.

Why does a golf shot feel more solid?

3. The shot will feel more solid because impact vibrations transmitted up to the hands along a shaft which is both more flexible and more bent will feel more solid .

Why does my golf ball flies lower?

1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2. The ball may tend to "leak" to the fade side of the target because the golfer cannot cause the desired forward bending of the shaft at impact, which helps bring ...

Can a golfer's loft decrease?

If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from the golfer's maximum potential distance. On the other hand, if the golfer is using too little loft, which is the case with a very high percentage of players today with the driver and 3-wood, the more flexible shaft could bring his launch ...

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 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 ...

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.

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.

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.".

Why are graphite shafts less expensive?

Fortunately the only change in graphite shafts is that they have become a lot less expensive, and more consistent -- in most cases -- because of the improved methods of mass production and lower material costs and advanced designs.

Is graphite fiber the same as filament?

Graphite fiber shafts are now almost all made using a flag-wrap method which is less expensive than filament winding, but the properties of the composite are essentially the same and the material is very stable and will not change over time.