Golf-FAQ.com

why use a heavier golf shaft

by Ignacio Zulauf Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Heavy shafts tend to produce more distance, accuracy, and lower ball trajectory for a golfer with faster swing speeds.

Do heavier golf shafts increase swing speed?

A key factor in maximizing swing speed is maximizing muscle activation, which is why certain golfers can swing heavier shafts faster than lighter shafts. Slightly heavier shafts can activate additional muscle groups, effectively “turning on” more speed in a golfer’s swing.

What are the benefits of using Heavier shafts?

- Heavier shafts can be played a bit shorter without creating a swingweight that is too light. - Heavier shafts can add more control to your swing and possibly reduce shot dispersion. - Heavier shafts can provide more vibration dampening for improved feel.

Should you use a heavy or lighter shaft for your golf clubs?

Unless you are very experienced, it is highly recommended that you start with a slower swing speed using a lighter shaft and increase the shaft weight as you start swinging the club faster. According to the U.S. Golf Teachers Federation, the biggest benefit to be gained from a heavy shaft is accuracy.

What happens when your golf shaft is too heavy?

If your golf shaft is too heavy you might experience: 1 Loss of quality of strike 2 Lower clubhead speed 3 Hit your golf ball too low 4 A reduced spin resulting in low ball trajectory of woods 5 Loss in accuracy and consistency

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What happens if golf shaft is too heavy?

Nippon suggested that a player should be able to tell largely by feel. A shaft that's too heavy will cause a “labored golf swing.” A shaft that's too light will hurt your ability to make solid contact. When you find the right shaft weight, you'll experience a “high energy swing” with uniform contact.

Should I play a heavier shaft?

Shaft weight influences the flight of your ball. As Golf.com's Andrew Tursky says, “playing with a heavier shaft will result in less spin off the tee, and give you a lower ball flight.” Conversely, lighter shafts tend to generate an accelerated rate of spin and offer higher ball flight.

Do I need heavier shafts in my irons?

A key factor in maximizing swing speed is maximizing muscle activation, which is why certain golfers can swing heavier shafts faster than lighter shafts. Slightly heavier shafts can activate additional muscle groups, effectively “turning on” more speed in a golfer's swing.

Do heavier shafts go further?

A heavier shaft will only increase distance for the golfers that have high swing speeds. For golfers with slow swing speeds, a heavier shaft will decrease the distance. Hitting a golf ball far is all about ball speed. The more clubhead speed you have, the more ball speed you can create.

How do I know if I need a heavier golf shaft?

Furthermore, your strength, swing speed, swing tempo, and club length play an enormous role in determining shaft weight. Faster swing speeds and tempo will require a heavier shaft while lower swing speed and tempo require lighter shafts. Another concept to consider is progressive weighting through the set.

Is a 70-gram driver shaft too heavy?

A 70-gram driver shaft is considered to be pretty heavy but not the heaviest. It falls into the middle but is still on the heavier side when you consider you could go with 50 or 60 grams instead. Those 10 grams sometimes make a significant difference.

What happens if iron shafts are too light?

Too light of a shaft encourages an early unhinging of the wrists in the downswing, a swing flaw shown here with an iron known as casting that robs you of speed. Mucklow's data also shows that a heavier shaft improves your swing path.

How heavy should my shafts be?

In general, golfers with slower swing speed and tempo can and should play a lighter shaft. Golfers with very fast speeds and tempo should play heavier shafts. Driver shafts typically weigh 55-60 grams for men and 45-50 grams for ladies.

What shaft weight do the pros use?

60-gramIt is why the most popular weight for driver shaft-weights on the PGA Tour is still in the mid-60-gram range, with some players having tried shafts less than 50 grams. But more and more, there are exceptions -- players opting for driver shafts decidedly heavier than most of their tour brethren.

Who needs a heavier driver shaft?

In the end, a heavier driver shaft is best suited to players with faster tempos looking for a lower launch of the tee. If you are a faster swinging golfer and are in the market for a new shaft, it is worth researching the Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X.

What shaft is best for my swing speed?

– Golf Shaft Flex ChartCarry DistanceSwing SpeedFlexUnder 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra StiffOct 15, 2019

What happens when golf shaft is too soft?

Incorrect flex A golfer using a shaft that is too flexible may experience a ball flight that is too high, a ball that spins too much, or a shot pattern that has inconsistent dispersion.

Does a heavier shaft make it stiffer?

Heavier shafts can feel stiffer which can be a pro for golfers with a high swing speed. This extra weight can also help control that speed.

Are heavier drivers better?

Conclusion of Heavier vs Lighter Driver Heads In Golf It is clear that a heavier driver head can help you to achieve longer distances, however you need to be able to generate sufficient clubhead and ball speed. Lighter driver heads can help you to get the ball airborne and provide consistent carry.

Is a 65g driver shaft heavy?

What is this? This is your average shaft weight, most regular, stiff and x-stiff shafts are 65 grams. Mid to low handicap golfers would use a 65 gram shaft. The 65 gram weight helps players with swing speeds of 90mph to 105mph generate enough speed while still keeping the head under control.

Are stiff shafts heavier?

A stiff shaft is firmer and harder to bend than a regular shaft, and so more often than not, they're also heavier in weight. As a rough rule of thumb, the more speed you generate, the stiffer your shafts should be.

Why is a heavier shaft better?

A heavier golf shaft is believed to both lower the launch angle and spin rate of a golf shot. Heavier golf shafts generally have less torque and resist the amount of twisting that takes place during a golf swing.

What does a heavier shaft do?

But does the weight of the shaft really make a difference? A heavier golf shaft is believed to both lower the launch angle and spin rate of a golf shot.

What is the best speed for a golf shaft?

As a guideline slower speeds below 85 mph will benefit more from lightweight shafts, mid speeds between 95 and 105 mph midweight shafts, and fast speeds over 105mph heavy shafts. Ultimately the best-suited shaft is the lightest shaft that enables you to exert control over your shot while still getting a good distance.

What are the negative effects of heavier shafts?

Some of the negative effects of using heavier shafts are: A decrease in swing speed and loss in distance. Difficulty in releasing the club. Heavier shafts create less spin resulting in less control around the greens.

How much does a steel shaft weigh?

Steel shafts weights vary between 85g to 130g and although this does not seem like an enormous difference it will make an impact in your shot-making ability. Furthermore, your strength, swing speed, swing tempo, and club length play an enormous role in determining shaft weight.

What are golf shafts made of?

Shafts are manufactured from steel, graphite, multi-material, titanium, and nanofuse shafts. Heavier shafts are generally made from steel and lighter shafts from graphite. Manufacturers add the most commonly used shafts as standard, but there is an aftermarket shaft available to suit your swing down to a tee.

How much shorter is a driver shaft than a fairway shaft?

Most stock shafts from manufacturers use the same weight of shaft in fairway woods as their driver models. Fairway woods have shafts that are between 1 and 3 inches shorter than your driver shaft.

How does swing speed affect the quality of the strike?

The effect of your swing speed. Your swing speed exerts forces on the shaft and makes it bend. The faster your swing speed the more bend you will get in the shaft. When there is too much bend in the shaft it will affect the quality of the strike, control, and ball trajectory will be affected.

What is the debate around golf shafts?

The debate around shafts is related to heavier vs lighter golf shaft and the pros, cons, and benefits of each. In general the weight of the club will determine how fast you can swing ...

What happens when a golf club shaft is lighter?

When a shaft is lighter, it reduces what’s known as the total weight of a golf club, which is the weight of all components: the head, the shaft, the grip, and the things that hold them together such as the tip, tape, and epoxy. When the total weight of a club is reduced, it allows some golfers to swing faster.

Why is the weight of a golf club head important?

This is because, at impact, the transfer of energy is related almost entirely to the weight of the clubhead.

Why use lighter shafts?

Using a lighter shaft allows more weight to be placed in the clubhead through adjustable weights, hotmelt, etc. without increasing the total weight of the club. This “redistribution” of shaft weight into the clubhead can be one of the last tweaks in a fitting that unlocks more distance off the tee.

What is the difference between a lighter and heavier package?

Both packages are the same size and shape; the only difference is the weight inside. To carry the lighter package, you may only require the strength of your hands. With the heavier package, you will likely need the strength of your arms, shoulders, and core muscles… potentially even your legs.

How many inches of shaft is closest to clubhead?

The first four inches of the shaft nearest to the clubhead also play a role in energy transfer, but it’s a minor role as the first four inches of the shaft, regardless of shaft model, does not vary as much as clubhead weight.

How to increase distance on golf clubs?

There are two factors that are critical to increasing distance, and lighter shafts can help with both factors. These factors are: 1 The Speed The Club Head Is Travelling At Impact 2 The Mass Of The Club Head

Can a lighter race car beat a heavier race car?

If all other factors are the same, a lighter race car will beat a heavier race car to the finish line every time. This is how it’s possible for a weaker golfer to achieve the same clubhead speed as a stronger golfer if the stronger golfer is using a shaft that’s too heavy for him or her.

Pros And Cons Of A Heavier Driver Shaft

Bryson DeChambeau has been a cult figure among golf fans for his ability to smash bombs off the tee. His swing speed, combined with low loft, and a heavy driver shaft, delivers explosive ball speed and outrageous distance.

Driver Shafts And Their History

According to Golf WRX’s Ryan Barath, shafts were constructed from wood until the 1920s. It was then that British fishing rod producer Apollo released their steel shafts, which took time to get the approval of the everyday player.

How Important Is Shaft Weight To Your Game

The team at TPT Golf mentions that shaft weight impacts your swing and clubhead speed and muscle activation.

What Factors Influence The Driver Weight You Should Use

According to True Temper Sports, four factors influence the driver weight you should use. These factors include swing speed, clubhead speed, trajectory, and spin.

Pros Of Heavier Driver Shafts

TPT Golf suggests that heavier shafts are ideal for increasing swing speed. While this might sound outrageous, it is true. When swinging a heavier shaft some players maximize muscle activation, which helps them maximize speed.

Cons Of Heavier Driver Shafts

The first disadvantage of a heavier shaft comes in the form of clubhead speed.

How To Know If Your Driver Is Too Light

Tim Briand says that a light shaft does not make you swing faster. Contrary to the numerous claims.

Socrates

Light shafts do not necessarily equate to more speed. If you do some searching you will find articles where a heavier shaft actually helps players with speed and accuracy.

ThinkingPlus

Inertia. Once moving, the heavier shafts will have more inertia meaning it takes more force to cause it to deviate from its path.

Yarra

So whats the real reason pros use such heavy shafts. I always see 130gram iron shafts. If speed is king, then why not use lighter? is it for more control? Same for drivers, I usually see 80 gram stuff

Valtiel

The same reason a club with a head is easier to control than one without a head, to use an extreme example to prove the point. :p

bluerrpilot

It is neither one way or the other definitively. Ideal shaft weight is subjective to the one swinging it. Lighter shafts offer more control/speed to some and less to others. There is no better or worse, instead simply what fits to your swing.

NRJyzr

Inertia. Once moving, the heavier shafts will have more inertia meaning it takes more force to cause it to deviate from its path.

5teveoh

It is neither one way or the other definitively. Ideal shaft weight is subjective to the one swinging it. Lighter shafts offer more control/speed to some and less to others. There is no better or worse, instead simply what fits to your swing.

Why use a heavier shaft?

A heavier shaft can help you execute a long, slow takeaway more conducive to a well-struck golf shot. Opt for a heavier shaft if you have a tendency to over-swing or try to "kill" the ball.

Why is a heavier shaft better?

A heavier golf shaft may provide an improved sense of control and cure some of your golfing woes. When selecting equipment, it's always wise to find the shaft that produces the happy medium between distance and accuracy for your game.

What type of iron should I use for a golf swing?

Despite the remarkable advances in shaft technology, most professional golfers still opt for more traditional, and heavy, steel-shafted irons -- in part for this sense of feel and control. Choose heavier shafts to improve your sense of feel of the club throughout the swing.

What are the benefits of a heavier shaft?

A heavier golf shaft may provide an improved sense of control and cure some of your golfing woes. ...

Does a heavier shaft fly?

However, a shot with a heavier shaft will also not fly as far off the target line. Opt for a heavier shaft if you have problems controlling the ball.

Is too much spin bad for golf?

However, more spin can be beneficial or detrimental. On soft greens, too much spin may suck the ball off the playing surface. Similarly, too much spin to the left or right will produce drastic hooks and slices that will be difficult to keep in the fairway.

Feedback

I've always used driver shafts in the 60-65g range, and am a bit wild with the driver at times. Was thinking of trying a heavier shaft, maybe the 75g range. Assuming that I get the correct flex and bend profile for my swing, what would be the pros and cons of a heavier shaft? I'm thinking pros would be: better control and more consistency.

Feedback

I've always used driver shafts in the 60-65g range, and am a bit wild with the driver at times. Was thinking of trying a heavier shaft, maybe the 75g range. Assuming that I get the correct flex and bend profile for my swing, what would be the pros and cons of a heavier shaft? I'm thinking pros would be: better control and more consistency.

Feedback

For some reason I always play better with heavy clubs. For example my 4 wood is 42.25 inches with a 90 gram shaft tipped .75 less than the trimming instructions call for. Comes up about d0. Overall weight is 355 grams. I love it. Feels like a seven iron in my hands....just so workable and comfortable.

Feedback

I have an aggressive transition and have had enormous difficulty keeping my swing on plane. Outside-in swing path. I switched my driver from 45.75”, 55 gram shaft, 305 gram club weight to a 44.5”, 65 gram, 339 gram club weight. Huge, huge improvement.

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