| Golf is essentially a fairly simple game. Hit the ball, find | | | | specifications of the golf shaft can lessen some of the |
| it, hit it again and again till it falls into the hole. Simple | | | | worst effects of an off-center stroke. |
| concept to learn but it takes a lifetime to master. | | | | Playing a shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed |
| Arming yourself with a set of custom golf clubs can | | | | for example would generally result in a lot of slices. For |
| take some of the guesswork out of your game | | | | a right-handed player that would translate into misses |
| though. | | | | to the right. The ball starts out and curves to the of the |
| We all swing the club in different ways. Watch a | | | | target. Not to be confused with a fade, a slice robs |
| hundred golfers swing a club and you'll probably see a | | | | players of both distance and accuracy. |
| hundred variations of the golf swing. For sure, we'd all | | | | Many of the worlds top players have favored a fade. |
| like to have the easy, flowing swing of somebody like | | | | Easier to control and more accurate, greats like Ben |
| Ernie Els for example. Players like Ernie could probably | | | | Hogan and Jack Nicklaus all played with a fade. The |
| shoot good golf playing with just about anything. The | | | | slice is a different matter altogether and can be hugely |
| majority of club golfers however, need more help from | | | | frustrating. |
| their clubs. A set of custom built clubs will give them | | | | So how does the golf shaft effect a slice? Using a |
| the best chance of playing a decent round of golf | | | | shaft which is too stiff, means the shaft can flex (load |
| without having to re-build their swings from the ground | | | | and unload) as it was designed to and the club head |
| up. | | | | reaches the ball open - pointing to the right. For a |
| Club design has changed drastically over the last few | | | | right-handed players, the ball launches with clock-wise |
| years. Forgiving designs, over-sized drivers, easier | | | | spin and the result is a big slice. |
| hitting shafts. All have contributed to the game | | | | Conversely, playing a shaft which is too soft for your |
| becoming that little bit more consistent for thousands | | | | swing speed, and misses will usually be to the left |
| of golfers around the globe. | | | | (hook for a right handed player). The soft shaft flexes |
| Club components though are just that. Components. | | | | too much in the downswing and reaches the ball |
| The club head, shaft and grip are only individual parts | | | | closed, pushing the ball to the left with |
| of the the finished golf club. How the assembled club | | | | counter-clockwise spin. |
| will perform will depend on how these various | | | | All parts of a club have to work together to produce |
| components are put together. How our clubs will play | | | | the most consistent results. The shaft however is |
| will be a factor of the characteristics of the club head, | | | | probably the most crucial component of a golf club. |
| the shaft and the grip. | | | | Often referred to as the engine of the club, shaft |
| For the vast majority of golfers, shot pattern faults can | | | | selection has a huge impact on the performance of a |
| be traced to the shaft as the main culprit. Obviously | | | | club. The wrong head with the right shaft and you'll still |
| swing faults play a major role in accuracy and | | | | have a good club. Get the shaft wrong though and |
| dispersion, but something as simple as changing the | | | | you won't be playing too many from the fairway. |