Golf Shafts (After Market)
I have previously written that the golf shaft is the engine of the club. When it comes to performance, the flex, kick point, torque and alignment affects it. There are different types of shafts for different clubs and players in the market. Golf shaft technology has come a long way.
Types of Golf Shafts
Types of Golf Shafts
Steel Shafts
Steel shafts are generally more durable and are stronger. Being made from carbon steel they are mostly cheaper than graphite. Steel shaft does not go through the torque of graphite (torque being the lateral twisting of the shaft in motion), therefore, you will benefit from straighter shots as you get less whip. The emphasis here is on accuracy and control but not distance. You do require a faster swing speed to play steel shaft compared to graphite.
Even in steel shafts there are two types - Stepped steel and Rifle steel. Stepped steel shafts gradually reduce the diameter of the shaft where it is thicker at the top and thinner at the tip. You could see the steps in the chrome-plated shaft. This method is used in the majority of the major manufacturers golf clubs. Rifle steel shafts are smooth from the top to the bottom with no steps. It is claimed that Rifle shafts eliminates energy loss compared to Stepped shafts. In the beginning steel shafts weight from 105-125g but NS Pro introduced light weight steel at first at 95g but today can go down to 75g. (Photo below is a stepped shaft as you could see the nodes).
Graphite
Graphite is not only less durable but also more expensive than steel. The lighter weight aids those who has slower swing speed for more distance with the extra whip from you swing. More distance but less control. Graphite can weight from as little as 50g to 85g. Graphite shafts have mostly very colourful graphics and designs. Graphite shafts actually help to dampen vibration but not so steel shafts. This may help somewhat to prevent golf elbow. However, it it more difficult to achieve consistent feel and a certain 'stiffness' throughout all the shafts.
Flex
Shaft flex is one of the most important factors if not the most important simply because it directly affects direction and distance. You will need to have the correct flex in the shafts of your golf clubs in order to have the best performance. Flex is the ability of the shaft to bend during a swing. With the force and speed of a golf swing, all shafts no matter what make or how stiff will bend. Just watch the photograph of a pro at swing. Players with faster swing speed will need less flex. Vice versa for those with slow swing speed. Flexes are normally rated as XS (extra stiff), S (stiff), R (regular), A (senior) and L (ladies). A was originally meant as for amateur.
It is important to note that different manufacturers have different specification of flex. For example, an American R (regular) could be equal to a Japanese/Asian spec S (stiff). You measure flex by using a Shaft Deflection Board or a Frequency Analyzer. It is about the bending characteristics of the shaft when weight is applied. The stiffer the shaft the quicker the vibration.
Torque
You will probably not see it with your naked eyes but torque is the twisting movement of the shaft during a swing. Higher ratings mean the shaft twists more so a 3.5 degree torque shaft will feel stiffer than one at 4.5 degree torque. This being the case, more flex more torque means higher trajectory. Give the pro a regular graphite and he will balloon his shots.
Kick-Point
This is basically the point where the shaft bends. Higher kick point means lower shots and meant for better and stronger players as the entire club feels like one piece.
Alignment/Spine
When you buy a set of ready-made golf clubs, they always comes with stock shaft. You may find a particular stick you hit more consistently than the rest. This is probably due to this one having a shaft that has been most properly aligned. This is called the "spine" of the shaft.
Stock Shafts
Stock shafts are mass produced at much cheaper costs and fixed to most of you ready-made golf clubs bought from the shelf. They have some irregularity inherent in them due to the manufacturing process. Examples are the shafts are not truly rounded, problems at the joints, uneven weight of material, You will have to find the spine of each shaft for the perfect balance. To have that perfect balance you will need to PURE the shaft (Plane of Uniform Repeatability) using science and equipment to find the most consistent and dominant position.
Length
Every person is of varying heights and the best option is to get fitted. Generally, longer the shaft , greater the distance. This is why you find a certain brand/model that hits longer using the same iron. It is one of the ways to go further but do note that the longer the shaft and club the harder it is to hit the sweet spot. When one hits a club just an inch off target of the sweet spot, you will lose 14% of carry distance.
Off The Shelf
Many golfers continue to play with the wrong shafts or poorer ones. Some have even told me that when you hit lower the ball will go further. How is that? Try throwing a couple stones - one high and one low and see which one goes longer. We are not talking about ballooning the ball. To achieve maximum distance, the ball must reach a certain apex before going back down so having the right flex with a right shaft matters. In an above paragraph on stock shafts, I have explained the makings. These days, even the quality of stock shafts have gotten better. What happened was probably a marriage of convenience where major golf brands offer some branded golf shafts and offer them as stock shafts. Shafts makers benefit too on this way. However, I am somewhat apprehensive that by stamping the brand on the shaft does not necessary make them the best shafts. Below is a photo of a Fujikura Motore F3 that came with my old Titleist driver as a stock shaft.
Flex
Shaft flex is one of the most important factors if not the most important simply because it directly affects direction and distance. You will need to have the correct flex in the shafts of your golf clubs in order to have the best performance. Flex is the ability of the shaft to bend during a swing. With the force and speed of a golf swing, all shafts no matter what make or how stiff will bend. Just watch the photograph of a pro at swing. Players with faster swing speed will need less flex. Vice versa for those with slow swing speed. Flexes are normally rated as XS (extra stiff), S (stiff), R (regular), A (senior) and L (ladies). A was originally meant as for amateur.
It is important to note that different manufacturers have different specification of flex. For example, an American R (regular) could be equal to a Japanese/Asian spec S (stiff). You measure flex by using a Shaft Deflection Board or a Frequency Analyzer. It is about the bending characteristics of the shaft when weight is applied. The stiffer the shaft the quicker the vibration.
Torque
You will probably not see it with your naked eyes but torque is the twisting movement of the shaft during a swing. Higher ratings mean the shaft twists more so a 3.5 degree torque shaft will feel stiffer than one at 4.5 degree torque. This being the case, more flex more torque means higher trajectory. Give the pro a regular graphite and he will balloon his shots.
Kick-Point
This is basically the point where the shaft bends. Higher kick point means lower shots and meant for better and stronger players as the entire club feels like one piece.
Alignment/Spine
When you buy a set of ready-made golf clubs, they always comes with stock shaft. You may find a particular stick you hit more consistently than the rest. This is probably due to this one having a shaft that has been most properly aligned. This is called the "spine" of the shaft.
Stock Shafts
Stock shafts are mass produced at much cheaper costs and fixed to most of you ready-made golf clubs bought from the shelf. They have some irregularity inherent in them due to the manufacturing process. Examples are the shafts are not truly rounded, problems at the joints, uneven weight of material, You will have to find the spine of each shaft for the perfect balance. To have that perfect balance you will need to PURE the shaft (Plane of Uniform Repeatability) using science and equipment to find the most consistent and dominant position.
Length
Every person is of varying heights and the best option is to get fitted. Generally, longer the shaft , greater the distance. This is why you find a certain brand/model that hits longer using the same iron. It is one of the ways to go further but do note that the longer the shaft and club the harder it is to hit the sweet spot. When one hits a club just an inch off target of the sweet spot, you will lose 14% of carry distance.
Off The Shelf
Many golfers continue to play with the wrong shafts or poorer ones. Some have even told me that when you hit lower the ball will go further. How is that? Try throwing a couple stones - one high and one low and see which one goes longer. We are not talking about ballooning the ball. To achieve maximum distance, the ball must reach a certain apex before going back down so having the right flex with a right shaft matters. In an above paragraph on stock shafts, I have explained the makings. These days, even the quality of stock shafts have gotten better. What happened was probably a marriage of convenience where major golf brands offer some branded golf shafts and offer them as stock shafts. Shafts makers benefit too on this way. However, I am somewhat apprehensive that by stamping the brand on the shaft does not necessary make them the best shafts. Below is a photo of a Fujikura Motore F3 that came with my old Titleist driver as a stock shaft.
Fujikura Speeder (Stock)
Matrix Ozik (Stock)
After Market
Then there are the 'after market' golf shafts from shaft specialists. These are high end shafts especially made for individual custom-fitting. Now these are like high end monster cable for you for an audiophile's high end music system and speakers. The photo below is the Tour AD-DI (after market) developed by Japanese shaft specialist Graphite Design that was once used by Tiger Woods. These high end shafts can go for $350 to $1500 and there are a few that go for even much more. There are so many brands - Aldila, Fujikura, Miyazaki, Ozik Matrix, UST Mamiya, Grafalloy, Project X, True Temple, Nippon NS pro, Mitsubishi and Basileus.
Mitsubishi has three very famous ones - Rayon, Diamana and Bassara. I inquired once, the Bassara cost more than 500 bucks and the beautiful Basileus I once asked cost $1,500. It killed further conversation and enthusiasm.
I really should have stuck to badminton. At least, the shafts are cheaper. An array of shafts to explore.
These are the shafts by Graphite Design.
Mitsubishi Rayon has the Fubuki, Diamana, Kurokage and Bassara.
You have to find one that suits you.
When you purchase a golf driver off the shelf with a stock shaft that says its flex is "R" as in Regular, when you get it tested it could have more flex than what a female professional would use. There is no standard to govern shaft flex and that is the bug bear. It could be the reason why golfers are often changing drivers. If that is your case, it may be time to explore the right shaft.
The Graphite Design "Nano Reloaded" is a very fine shaft made exactly like its more expensive brother the Tour AD. Exactly except with one less expensive material and the price difference is about a hundred bucks.
I chose this because it was better priced and I selected a Five instead of a Six since it is lighter. Lighter stock shafts can be a problem but this quality shaft even if slightly lighter does not goes haywire when loading a shot.
The consistency is always there.
This is the one that Tiger once used - the Tour AD-DI where DI stands for Deep Impact.
The DI-6 means it is more than 60g, 63 to be exact.
The rings do look like those of poisonous snakes.
SR is Stiff Regular meaning Regular flex with a stiff tip.
With such shafts you can be daring and go for it and rip it! If your shots go awry, it is your swing not the shaft.
If all else fails and nothing helps. Perhaps you could change to table tennis. Or dress well and look good. I saw some driver covers which can look lovely in your bag. Such as when feeling evil, you could have one with Darth Vader. You could say "I do no fear the dark side as you do". Or ''I am altering the deal, pray I don't alter it further". Perhaps ''The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force, I find your lack of faith disturbing". ''The circle is now complete, when I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master''. ''No, I am your father". ''Wah si lin lao peh!''
At other times when you are angry there is another dimension.
Finally wisdom. Be calm. ''When nine hundred years you have reached, look as good you will not''. ''Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is''. ''That is why you fail''. ''A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defence, never for attack''. ''Adventure, excitement. A Jedi craves not these things''. ''Judge me by my size, do you?'' ''Fear is the path to the dark side, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering''. ''Wars not make one great''. ''Do. Or do not. There is no try''.
I did all my shafts at Vin Golf at Far East Shopping Centre including the NS Pro Zelios for the irons. Look for Razel, he is an experienced and good fitter.
Golf as in life. Play as it lies.
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