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| Tips For Buying the Correct Shaft |
considering getting clubs with steel shafts remember they are
generally heavier, lower torque, lower launch and lower cost.
Graphite shafts will tend to be lighter, have varying degrees of
torque, higher launch angle and a higher cost.
Below are the four main criteria that are used to choose the
correct shaft and some general guidelines that will give you a
better understanding of what may work best for you. These are
meant as guides to help educate, not rigid rules that must be
followed exactly as written.
1. Shaft Flex - that is the flexibility of the shaft, or the "whip" of
the shaft and is available in 5 different flexes: Ladies, Senior,
Regular, Stiff and Extra Stiff. The most common way to be fit for a
shaft is by measuring your swing speed, so using your driver
swing speed as a guide, here are the numbers for proper fitting.
Ladies - 69 mph or less
Senior - 70- 82 mph
Regular 83 - 98 mph
Stiff 98 - 109 mph
Extra stiff - 110 mph or more
Your tempo is also a factor in evaluating the proper flex, tempo is
the rhythm of your swing. A slow tempo would be when a person
gradually builds up speed through the swing, as compared to a
fast tempo where the speed is generated through rapid
acceleration. So if for example, you have a slow tempo and your
are undecided between regular and stiff flex because your swing
speed ranges between 94 and 98 mph, then you might choose
regular due to your particular tempo. The reason for considering
the regular flex is because the slower tempo "loads" the shaft
less, that is to say that less pressure is exerted on the shaft than
if you had a fast tempo.
2. Shaft Weight - shafts weigh anywhere from 45 to 130 grams.
When choosing a shaft weight, lighter will give you more club
head speed and distance, heavier will give you more control and
accuracy. Also a heavier shaft will launch the ball lower than an
equivalent lighter shaft. Here are some approximate guidelines as
to typical fitting of shaft weight in a driver:
Ladies 45 to 55 grams
Senior 48- 60 grams
Regular 49-65 grams
Stiff 49 to 68 grams
Extra stiff 58-76 grams
Also graphite iron shafts tend to be about 10 grams heavier than
graphite wood shafts within the same set.
3. Trajectory - this is determined by the bend point (also called
kick point) and the tip stiffness and the weight of the shaft. The
flex point is where the shaft bends and it can be low, mid, or a
high bend point. The tip stiffness is the firmness of the thinnest
section of the shaft at the bottom of the club and can be soft,
medium, or firm tip. Typically a person with a fast swing speed will
want a heavier, high bend point and tip stiff shaft while a person
with a slower swing speed will like a lighter, low bend point and
soft tip shaft. Also as you increase the launch angle you typically
will increase the backspin rate.
Low launch and low spin = high bend point, stiff tip, and heavy
shaft.
Mid Launch and medium spin = mid bend point, medium tip
and mid weight shaft.
High Launch and high spin= low bend point, soft tip, and
lightweight shaft
4. Torque - the amount the club head will rotate around the shaft,
either clockwise or counter clockwise and is measured in degrees.
Low torque shafts will rotate the least amount,
and will also help correct a hook and are typically best fit for
higher swing speeds while high torque shafts will rotate more and
help correct a slice and are typically best fit for slower swing
speeds.
Low torque 2°-3° = high swing speed, firm feel, hook correction
Mid torque 3.1°-4.4° = average swing speed, medium feel, no
hook or slice correction
High torque 4.5°-5.9° = slow swing speed, soft feel, slice correction
Now that you understand the basics of choosing a shaft that is
best for you it will be easier to make a more educated buying
decision. Look for tips next week on buying a new set of irons,
focusing on iron head design and engineering that is best for you.
Good luck in your search!
Any questions or comments regarding the above
information contact: Darcy Schmidt at 905 732 9692 or drop
by Golf Stuff in Welland
generally heavier, lower torque, lower launch and lower cost.
Graphite shafts will tend to be lighter, have varying degrees of
torque, higher launch angle and a higher cost.
Below are the four main criteria that are used to choose the
correct shaft and some general guidelines that will give you a
better understanding of what may work best for you. These are
meant as guides to help educate, not rigid rules that must be
followed exactly as written.
1. Shaft Flex - that is the flexibility of the shaft, or the "whip" of
the shaft and is available in 5 different flexes: Ladies, Senior,
Regular, Stiff and Extra Stiff. The most common way to be fit for a
shaft is by measuring your swing speed, so using your driver
swing speed as a guide, here are the numbers for proper fitting.
Ladies - 69 mph or less
Senior - 70- 82 mph
Regular 83 - 98 mph
Stiff 98 - 109 mph
Extra stiff - 110 mph or more
Your tempo is also a factor in evaluating the proper flex, tempo is
the rhythm of your swing. A slow tempo would be when a person
gradually builds up speed through the swing, as compared to a
fast tempo where the speed is generated through rapid
acceleration. So if for example, you have a slow tempo and your
are undecided between regular and stiff flex because your swing
speed ranges between 94 and 98 mph, then you might choose
regular due to your particular tempo. The reason for considering
the regular flex is because the slower tempo "loads" the shaft
less, that is to say that less pressure is exerted on the shaft than
if you had a fast tempo.
2. Shaft Weight - shafts weigh anywhere from 45 to 130 grams.
When choosing a shaft weight, lighter will give you more club
head speed and distance, heavier will give you more control and
accuracy. Also a heavier shaft will launch the ball lower than an
equivalent lighter shaft. Here are some approximate guidelines as
to typical fitting of shaft weight in a driver:
Ladies 45 to 55 grams
Senior 48- 60 grams
Regular 49-65 grams
Stiff 49 to 68 grams
Extra stiff 58-76 grams
Also graphite iron shafts tend to be about 10 grams heavier than
graphite wood shafts within the same set.
3. Trajectory - this is determined by the bend point (also called
kick point) and the tip stiffness and the weight of the shaft. The
flex point is where the shaft bends and it can be low, mid, or a
high bend point. The tip stiffness is the firmness of the thinnest
section of the shaft at the bottom of the club and can be soft,
medium, or firm tip. Typically a person with a fast swing speed will
want a heavier, high bend point and tip stiff shaft while a person
with a slower swing speed will like a lighter, low bend point and
soft tip shaft. Also as you increase the launch angle you typically
will increase the backspin rate.
Low launch and low spin = high bend point, stiff tip, and heavy
shaft.
Mid Launch and medium spin = mid bend point, medium tip
and mid weight shaft.
High Launch and high spin= low bend point, soft tip, and
lightweight shaft
4. Torque - the amount the club head will rotate around the shaft,
either clockwise or counter clockwise and is measured in degrees.
Low torque shafts will rotate the least amount,
and will also help correct a hook and are typically best fit for
higher swing speeds while high torque shafts will rotate more and
help correct a slice and are typically best fit for slower swing
speeds.
Low torque 2°-3° = high swing speed, firm feel, hook correction
Mid torque 3.1°-4.4° = average swing speed, medium feel, no
hook or slice correction
High torque 4.5°-5.9° = slow swing speed, soft feel, slice correction
Now that you understand the basics of choosing a shaft that is
best for you it will be easier to make a more educated buying
decision. Look for tips next week on buying a new set of irons,
focusing on iron head design and engineering that is best for you.
Good luck in your search!
Any questions or comments regarding the above
information contact: Darcy Schmidt at 905 732 9692 or drop
by Golf Stuff in Welland