Your Buyer's Guide
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Author : dcss Date : 03-Feb-2006
What kind of club shaft do you require?
The Golf Club shaft is the piece that connects the grip of the golf club to the head of the club. The length and composition of the shaft determines the control you have over your swing and over the driving distance of your golfing shots. There are two Types of golf club shafts - steel and graphite (or composite) shafts, including the latest hybrid club heads. Torque is the measurement of the golf club shaft’s resistance to twisting and it is calculated in degrees from 1.7 to 5.5 degrees. Steel club shafts are heavier, with lower torque ratings. Graphite shafts are lighter, with better torque ratings which improve the club head speed, shock absorption, and flex. The club head speed can be increased by increasing the shaft length. Graphite golf club shafts are more preferred than steel ones.
Every shaft has a flex rating (usually L, R, S, XS) which determines the amount of bend in the shaft as you swing the club and a bend point known as a kick point. This bend is not visible to the naked eye as it is subtle, and caused by the weight and the force of the club head as it swings back and through. This bend is helpful to increase speed during hits and to get extra distance. The amount of flex in a shaft often differs by manufacturer. Determine your swing speed before choosing a new shaft.
Finally, the flexing of the shaft during your swing will transfer more power on contact and absorb more of the shock from contact, preventing it from fully transferring to the hands and wrist. Flex for an iron is measured by determining a shaft's cycles per minute from a fixed point. Moreover, you would be interested to know that wood flexes are measured with a digital flex board which measures a shaft's resistance to bending in pounds. The correct flex for your swing is very important. Having a flex that doesn't match the needs of your swing will result in the clubface being misaligned at impact, causing your shots to go off-target. Shaft flex impacts, either directly or indirectly effect the accuracy, trajectory and distance of your shot.
Therefore, female golfers, beginners, seniors, and others with slower swings will get more distance with a flexible shaft, but low-handicap golfers will tend to use stiffer shafts, as they are able to generate club head speed of their own through better technique. Those forces are generated by the type of swing that you have - fast or slow, smooth or jerky!!!