The
Shaft Is The Engine
Customers often ask us, " Will this shaft work well with this
club head?" By asking this question, the customers are
taking the position that the club head is the principle
component of a golf club. We believe that the golf shaft
is the engine of the golf club and the most important component
in club performance.
To determine which shaft is best for you, lets consider these
points:
Flex: Flex is one of the most
commonly misunderstood parts of the golf shaft. NOTHING is
more important in choosing your new set of clubs than the
correct shaft flex. You can have the best club head and the
sweetest swing, but if the shaft isn't the right flex for you
(your tempo and swing speed), you won't hit a good shot,
unless you know how to modify your swing to compensate for the
different characteristics of the club you are using. Most
amateurs don't have that kind of skill and frankly don't need
that skill. That being said, you could actually swing slower
with a regular flex club and achieve the same distance you
would with a stiff club swinging at a faster speed. This is
because the regular shaft, if it unloads properly through the
impact zone, actually adds club head speed at impact and
therefore more distance. A stiff shaft minimizes this
unloading effect, and, if you don't swing fast
enough to need it, you could be cheating yourself out of
a few yards. A fast hard swing is also usually harder for most
amateurs to control, so examine your game and make an informed
decision on shaft flex.
The way to determine the flex you
need is by your club head speed. The following can be a guide
to determine your club head speed: (have your club
head speed measured if at all possible)
If your swing speed is less than 70 MPH (You choose a
3 Iron or a 3 or 5 Wood from 150 yards) you should use a Ladies
flex.
If your swing speed is 70-80 MPH (You choose a 4 or 5 Iron
from 150 yards) you should use a Senior flex.
If your swing speed is 81-96 MPH (You choose a 6 or 7 Iron
from 150 yards) you should use a Regular Flex.
If your swing speed is above 95 MPH (You choose a 8 or 9 Iron
from 150 yards) you should use a Stiff flex.
Be honest with yourself about your
swing! Choosing a flex that is too stiff is a
common mistake that will hurt your game!
Kick Point: The kick point (also
called flex point, or bend point) refers to the position on
the shaft where the shaft bends while the club is accelerating
toward the ball.
The kick point slightly affects ball flight. (Choosing the
correct flex for your swing is much more important, and has
the greatest affect on ball flight.) The kick point on
the shaft is no more than 2 to 3 inches between high, medium
and low. Most of our shafts have a mid kick point that is fine
for the vast majority of golfers.
Graphite vs. Steel: Both steel
and graphite shafts can work for anyone. One common
misconception is that if a golfer plays regular flex steel,
that he should play stiff flex graphite. Actually, the flex is
the flex. Regular is regular, and stiff is stiff. Pro's with
similar swing speeds choose different options here. Tiger uses
steel and Daly uses graphite, so go figure. The following are
our very general recommendations:
Men aged 15-55, steel shafted irons, graphite shafted woods.
Seniors, graphite shafted irons and woods.
Ladies (all ages), graphite shafted irons and woods.
Graphite is lighter weight, and enables players to generate
more club head speed, and achieve greater distance. Steel,
while heavier, may help slightly with accuracy.
