Golf clubs are consisted of different components and shaft is one of them. A good shaft should allow us to deliver proper swing. In this case, we should make sure that we use the right kind of shaft for our clubs. There are many characteristics of golf clubs that we should know. As an example, we should know about the flex classification of club shaft. Extra stiff shaft allows the head to reach more than 100mph, 90 to mph for stiff shaft, and 70 to 90 mph for regular shaft. Torque of the shaft is defined as the amount of twist that the shaft can have for a specific amount of force. Shaft with lower torque have less twist and it feels harder. Shafts made from steel usually doesn’t twist much and it’s fairly constant. Graphite shafts have varying torque, depending on manufacturer’s classification. We should know that, it’s difficult to hit if stiffer shaft with low torque doesn’t have adequate head speed. Higher torque is needed if we want to achieve a slower swing speed, On the other hand, lower torque is needed for faster swing. Another characteristics that we should know is bend point. We can define it as the bending ability of the shaft. In general, bend point affects the overall shot trajectory.
With the lower bend point, we will feel that the club head moves through impact. If the shaft has higher bend point, it may feel like that the shaft as a one-piece feel. In general, we may need to use shaft with higher bend point, because it will be much easier to control. The length of the shaft is also essential. It’s different with each club. As an example, most 7 Iron has shaft with a length of 34.5-inch. A standard driver has shaft length of 43-inch. Recent technology in driving technology allows longer shaft. Some drivers are now 45-inch long and some models are even longer. However, the length shaft shouldn’t be more than 48-inch. The weight of steel driver is usually between 90 and 120 grams. Graphite shafts are lighter at between 65 and 90 grams. In general, lighter shaft allows for longer distance and increase speed of the club head. The shaft of the shorter iron is usually at 110 grams, while the longest iron is at 120 grams. It means that the weight different between each number of iron is 2 grams. Based on the above characteristics, it is clear that choosing the right shaft can be a complicated task and it is something that we shouldn’t take lightly.
Pro golfers can afford to get custom fitted golf clubs for them. In this case, they can get their swing dynamics analyzed by the computers. With digital technology, much of the guess works can be eliminated. If we have enough budget, we may look for shaft manufacturers who scan our swing styles and body postures. This should allow us to get the best shaft for our golf clubs. In gold, equipment is essential and if our golf clubs could barely reach far distance in one swing, then it is less likely that we will be able to maintain low scores.