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