Get To Know Your Golf Club Shafts

The weight of golf club shafts range from over 135 grams down to less than 40 grams. Generally the graphite shafts tend to be lighter than steel, but there are some steel shafts on the market that are lighter than graphite.

The weight of the shaft is important because it directly affects the players swing. A shaft that is too heavy will not allow a player to swing the club its optimum speed.

This will take away from the players distance. Heavier shafts also make it harder to square up the clubface at impact.

A great tip is to find the lightest possible shaft that you can swing while maintaining your control and balance.

Flex

The amount of flexibility a golf club shaft has is known as flex. The natural components that take place during the golf swing cause the golf club shaft to twist and flex in a number of directions during the swing. Each shaft is designed to flex and twist at different locations and speeds.

The characteristics of a players swing must then be matched to the shaft characteristics so they can easily square the club at impact consistently. It is because of this that different shafts are designed for different players.

Generally speaking golfers with slower swings should use more flexible shafts and golfers with faster swing speeds should use stiffer and less flexible shafts.

Torque

What is Torque?

If you imagine taking a towel and twisting it from both ends, the amount it twists is known as the torque. If you can twist it a lot, it has a higher torque. If it is harder to twist it would have less torque. The same holds true for the golf club shafts.

Torque is measured in degrees. A shaft twists a lot as you swing will have higher degrees of torque and one that twists less will have lower degrees of torque.

Why is Torque Important?

Torque helps to make sure the club is square to the target at impact. Generally if you have a fast swing speed or make an aggressive pass at the ball you will need a shaft with less torque. Your strength and speed will help you get the club aligned to the target at impact.

On the other hand if you have a slow swing speed a shaft with more torque (twists more) is needed and can actually help the club face become square at impact resulting in straighter shots. When deciding on what torque to get don't forget to take into account the other factors such as club head size, weight etc.

Flex Point

What is flex point or kick point?

Flex point or kick point in the golf club shaft is the spot in the shaft that has the greatest bend when it is being swung. A shaft with a higher kick point will feel more stiff and the ball with a little bit lower trajectory. A shaft with a lower kick point will feel more flexible at the tip or close to the club head and the ball will come off the face with a little bit higher trajectory. When it comes down to it the difference between the higher and lower kick points is only about 3 inches on the shaft.

Now that you know the different properties of the shaft and have figured out witch ones are suited to your swing, let’s get the proper equipment here at The Golf Warehouse.