Golf Shaft Fitting - A Simple Guide

When it comes to golf clubs, the shaft is often overlooked. Yet, it plays a critical role in how a club performs and feels. A properly fitted shaft can help you hit longer, straighter shots, while the wrong one can lead to inconsistency and lost distance. Let’s break down the different types of shafts, how they’re made, and how to choose the right one for your game.

Steel Shafts: Seamless vs. Welded Tube Construction

Steel shafts are popular for their consistency and control. There are two main ways they’re made:

Seamless Steel Shafts

• Start as a solid steel cylinder.
• The cylinder is heated and pierced to create a thick-walled tube.
• The tube is gradually stretched and thinned to form a shaft.
• Step-downs (the tapered sections of the shaft) are formed to fine-tune performance.

Welded Tube Steel Shafts

• Begin as a flat steel strip that is rolled and welded into a tube.
• Uses high-frequency welding, which fuses the edges without extra material.
• Excess metal is removed in a process called skiving.
• The tube is stretched, shaped, heat-treated, straightened, and plated to prevent rust.

Both methods produce durable steel shafts, but seamless shafts are generally considered more uniform, while welded shafts offer a cost-effective alternative.

Graphite Shafts: Lightweight and Powerful

Graphite shafts are commonly found in drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, and some irons. They offer a lighter weight and better vibration dampening compared to steel. Here’s how they’re made:

• Start with layers of graphite fibers held together by a resin (called “pre-preg”).
• Pre-preg sheets are wrapped tightly around a steel forming mandrel.
• The number of layers and the type of graphite used determine the shaft’s weight and stiffness.
• The wrapped shaft is covered in cellophane and baked in an oven to harden.
• The mandrel is removed, the shaft is sanded, and then painted to match the desired look.

Graphite shafts are often preferred for their ability to generate higher clubhead speeds, making them ideal for players looking for more distance.

Choosing the Right Shaft Weight

The weight of your shaft impacts swing feel and shot consistency. Here’s a general guideline:

• Drivers: Lighter shafts (50-65g) help generate more speed.
• Fairway Woods: Slightly heavier than drivers (+10g).
• Hybrids: Heavier than fairway woods (+10g).
• Irons: Typically heavier than hybrids for better control.

Shaft Flex: Finding the Right Feel

Shaft flex refers to how much the shaft bends during your swing. The right flex ensures you maximize power and accuracy. Here are the common flex ratings:

• Junior
• Ladies (L)
• Senior (A, M, Lite, R2, Soft Regular)
• Regular (R)
• Stiff (S)
• Extra Stiff (X)
• Long Drive Shafts: XX-Stiff or even XXX-Stiff for extreme swing speeds.

A shaft that’s too stiff won’t load properly, reducing power and leading to lower shots often going to the right (for right handed golfers). A shaft that’s too flexible will over-release, often causing a high, inconsistent ball flight (often goes to the left for right handed golfers)

Kick Point: Controlling Ball Flight

Kick point refers to the part of the shaft that flexes the most during the swing, influencing ball flight:

• High Kick Point: Produces a lower ball flight, reduces draw spin.
• Mid Kick Point: Balanced flight, good for most players.
• Low Kick Point: Launches the ball higher, good for players needing more carry distance.

How Shaft Flex Works During the Swing

As you swing, the shaft flexes in different directions:

• At takeaway, the shaft bends slightly away from the ball.
• Near the top of the backswing, it flexes in the opposite direction.
• During the downswing, the shaft stores energy before releasing at impact.
• A properly fitted shaft releases energy efficiently for maximum distance and control.

A shaft that’s too stiff won’t load properly, reducing power and leading to lower shots. A shaft that’s too flexible will over-release, often causing a high, inconsistent ball flight.

Final Thoughts: Matching the Shaft to Your Game

Getting the right shaft means balancing weight, flex, and kick point to match your swing. In general:

• Stronger golfers benefit from heavier, stiffer shafts for stability.
• Average players need a balance of weight and flex for control and feel.
• Seniors and slower swingers should look for lightweight, more flexible shafts to generate speed and distance.

By understanding how shafts work, you can make a more informed decision when selecting clubs. Whether you prefer steel for control or graphite for speed, the right shaft can make a huge difference in your performance on the course! Fortunately you don't have to navigate this potential minefield on your own. Visit The Pro Shop nearest you and have one of our Master Fitters fit you with the right shafts for your game.