| The Shaft Mystery | | | | found in all graphite shafts. Most players would |
| During this modern era of golf club technology, the | | | | benefit by having steel shafts in their irons, because |
| big mystery among golfers is what golf shaft will | | | | accuracy has a greater emphasis than distance, |
| maximize their efforts. If the average player tries to | | | | where as graphite shafts are very helpful in getting |
| sift through all the mumbo jumbo techno shaft | | | | greater distances from today’s oversize |
| lingo his head just might explode. And determining | | | | titanium drivers. |
| the right shaft for me can be extremely confusing. | | | | The second question to answer is shaft flex. A |
| There are just so many shafts that are available | | | | common fitting flaw is the belief that stiffer shafts |
| to golfers that can really benefit the player that it is | | | | will be more accurate because the shaft will not |
| critical that club fitters have a good grasp of what | | | | torque as much as a more flexible shaft. (torque is |
| the player needs says Tom Erwin, co-founder of | | | | the twisting of a shaft because of a miss hit shot). |
| ( | | | | However, with today’s technology many |
| Most shaft companies are now offering over 100 | | | | manufactures make a softer flex shaft without |
| different types of shaft and in turn, most consumers | | | | sacrificing torque. Players can determine what flex |
| are clueless of what engine they need to run | | | | they need by simply knowing what club they hit |
| their golf clubs. | | | | from certain yardages. |
| As experienced clubfitters, we use what | | | | The third question to answer is determining what |
| we’ve learned through hands-on assembly and | | | | kick point would best benefit that player. Most |
| customer feedback to provide each customer with a | | | | golfers would love to hit the ball a little higher. A |
| proven solution. Shaft selection is the key ingredient | | | | lower kick point would achieve a higher ball flight. |
| to crafting the perfect performance weapon | | | | Alternatively, if the player tends to have a rather |
| says Travis Carter Co-Founder of He further stated, | | | | steep outside-inside swing, a mid to high kick point |
| This problem is easily solved by answering 4 basic | | | | shaft would help them keep the ball flight lower. |
| questions
| | | | The final question to answer is, what length |
| The first answer needed is what material should the | | | | should the golf club be?. Most graphite wood |
| golfer play, steel or graphite? Graphite is generally | | | | shafts come 45-46 and once installed, the |
| lighter than steel, therefore, the average player will | | | | overall golf club will be over 47. So determining |
| hit a graphite shaft a little further than a steel shaft. | | | | the appropriate length for that golfer is critical. With |
| Graphite also has a much greater shock dampening | | | | titanium drivers, a lot of folks subscribe to the as |
| effect, which is very helpful for those players who | | | | long as you can control it mentality. However, it is |
| have nagging injuries that sometimes prevent them | | | | critical that the irons be cut at a length that is suitable |
| from playing. Alternatively, steel shafts are heavier | | | | to that particular player’s height & distance |
| than most graphite shafts so distance may be | | | | from their hands to the floor. With today’s |
| sacrificed. What is lost in distance though is gained in | | | | technology and vast amount of products to examine, |
| accuracy. Steel shafts differ from graphite as they | | | | an experienced club fitter can truly solve the shaft |
| do not experience torque or the lateral twisting | | | | mystery. |