The golf shaft is the most important part of the golf club
The golf shaft transfers the energy in your swing into ball flight. Get this wrong and you will not release the potential of your swing. Shaft flex choices must be based on your swing speed and swing tempo. During a customised fitting a shaft that suits your swing is chosen. This shaft must be trimmed and fitted into the club head with extraordinary care.
Take a look at the facts below:
Getting the shaft length right has to be one of the most important factors in club fitting. Too long a shaft will mean an increase in off centre hits/missed centre of gravity, resulting in off line shots and a massive loss in distance.
There is at least a 5% loss in distance on a drive for every half-inch you miss off centre, so here's the maths. Assuming you are capable of carrying your drives 220 yards...
If you miss the centre by a half-inch, your drive will be down to 209 yards
If you miss by ¾ of an inch, your drive will be cut down to 203 yards
Miss by one inch and your 220 yard drive is now only 200 yards.
Flex is not the only shaft variant to consider. Every shaft type has its own torque and bend point characteristics.This is especially relevant when it comes to choosing from the multitude of graphite shaft options out there. Choose the wrong characteristics for your swing and you could struggle to get the ball off the ground.
When tested, the average golfer increases their club head speed by only 2mph when using a 45½" driver over that of a 43½" driver; but, when they fail to hit the centre of the golf club due to the extra length the lost distance will be dramatic. The average golfer will hit a longer ball with a 43½" driver than he would with a 45½" driver so prevalent today.
It is universally agreed that there is no standard within the golf industry for governing shaft stiffness or flex. What may be considered a stiff flex shaft by one manufacturer may be considered a regular flex by another. A frequency analyser is the best way to find out the true flex of the shaft you're playing - the label cannot be trusted.
Graphite shafts are lighter than steel. This helps golfers with slow swing speeds increase their club head speed, hitting the ball further. Conversely graphite shafts can be made extremely stiff with very little shaft torque, a must for the big hitters capable of overpowering a stiff steel driver shaft.
Graphite shafts are kinder on hands and arms. They don't transmit the shock of impact like steel shafts. Good news for people suffering with problems like arthritis and tennis elbow.
Custom-Golf.co.uk uses and recommends the following shaft manufacturers:
True Temper (view)
Rifle (view)
Nippon (view)
Fujikura (view)
Aldila (view)
Grafalloy (view)
Matrix (view)
UST (view)
