How to Get the Right Shaft for a Golf Club? (Shaft Guide You Need to Know)

You have either broken your shaft accidentally. Or you simply want to buy a new shaft. Whatever the case, you can do one of two things here. Either take your broken shaft for repairs. Or purchase a new one, which means you have to get the right shaft.

Whenever buying a new shaft, you have to take certain factors into consideration. Such as whether you want to get a graphite or steel shaft. Then after that comes the task of deciding the shaft flex and bend point you play with. You even have to consider the correct torque rating of the shaft. Along with the shaft length.

If you’re new to the game of golf and golfing equipment, then this might not seem like such an easy undertaking. In that case, I’ve got you covered. What I’m going to do is talk about each of these factors at length. So you can understand every bit of it. And ultimately get the right shaft for your game.

Get the Right Shaft – Types of Shafts

What shaft should I use? This is a commonly asked question. And the answer purely depends on your personal preferences. But generally speaking, there are two different types of shafts for golf. One is graphite while the other is steel.

·       Graphite Shaft

Graphite material is lighter than steel. But it’s also more expensive and less durable than their steel counterparts. Graphite shafts weigh twice as less, just to be more specific. The lightweight design here delivers a higher swing speed. But at the expense of sacrificing control because of the flex produced in your swing.

This means graphite shafts are perfect for golfers struggling to create a faster swing speed. This includes women and senior golfers.

·       Steel Shaft

Heavier steel shafts are more affordable to buy.And more durable to keep. Constructed using carbon steel or stainless steel, steel shafts are good for irons. That’s because there are no chances of lateral twisting or torque in the case of steel. Unlike graphite shafts.

You should also know that steel shafts give you more control and accuracy. So if your swing speed is faster, then you’re required to produce the same distance created by the graphite shaft.

Normal swing speed golfers benefit the most from steel shafts. You know the type of players that could use more control during gameplay.

·       Multi-Material Shaft

Driver shafts and iron shafts these days are made of a combination of steel and graphite. So you get the good parts of both the materials. The ball flight control of the steel shaft. And the vibration-free distance of the graphite tip.

Get the Right Shaft – Shaft Technology

Shaft Flex

The question, what golf shaft flex is right for me, gets asked very often. So it’s not such a difficult task to find out the correct answer. But first, let me make one thing very clear. What is shaft flex? It’s the club’s ability to bend at the time of the swing. This has a direct relation with the direction and distance of your shot.

So how much flex you require actually depends on your swing speed. On a general note, beginners have a less powerful swing, right? This implies they demand greater flexibility for hitting the ball further. On the other hand, a higher swing speed requires lesser flex, thus a stiffer shaft.

Here’s a table for that; the ultimate golf shaft flex chart.

Shaft Flex/Kick Point

What is the flex or kick point of a shaft? It’s the point at which the shaft does the bending. It’s where the shaft affects the course or trajectory of your golf shot. This effect may be small, but it’s still measurable.

A higher kick point delivers a low trajectory. While a lower kick point gives you a higher trajectory. In the case of the former, you get a one-piece feel. And with a lower kick point, it feels like the tip of the shaft whips through the clubhead.

Shaft Torque

Torque rating, measured using degrees, determines the level of shaft twist during the swing. The higher this rating, the more the twisting action of the shaft. With a higher torque, the shaft feels softer.

Also, when the torque rating is 3 degrees, the shaft flex feels relatively stiffer. In comparison to a torque rating of 5 degrees.

It goes without saying that both steel and graphite shafts offer torque. You can’t eliminate this factor entirely. But you can remember that a lower shaft torque implies lower trajectory too.

[YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99Hawrr__iA]

Get the Right Shaft – Shaft Length

So what is the correct shaft length for you? Why is the shaft length so important in the first place? Let me explain with an example. A ball impact half-an-inch off-center is equal to a carry distance loss of 7-percent. As for a ball impact one-inch off-center implies a carry distance loss of 14-percent. This means you have to get the proper length for consistent, solid shots.

To measure, stand tall and have someone measure the distance between the floor and the meeting point of your hand and wrist. Measure both hands. Now take the average of both these measurements.

If the measurement is…

·        Between 29 inches and 32 inches, then a shaft length of 37 inches is fine.

·        33 inches or 34 inches, then a shaft length of 37.5 inches is fine.

·        35 inches or 36 inches, then a shaft length of 38 inches is fine.

·        37 inches or 38 inches, then a shaft length of 38.5 inches is fine.

·        39 inches or 40 inches, then a shaft length of 39 inches is fine.

·        41 inches or more, then a shaft length of 39.5 inches is fine.

Final Words

In the end, I would also like to add that you can get custom-fitted. This is not a luxury only reserved for Tour players anymore. As long as you’re okay with spending money and time, you can get professionally fitted. Custom fitting is done with irons, wedges, woods, and putters from the majority of golf equipment manufacturers now.

As for professional golf club fitters, they help you find the perfect lie angle, loft, swing weight, face angle, length, and more. So you can get the right shaft no matter what.

Author Bio:

Carolyn Heller has managed to create a quality golfing blog that golf enthusiasts love to catch up on. She created the platform, Golf Depends, so she could share not only her years of golfing expertise, but also her views, commentary, and opinions about the vast world of golf. Her posts consist of a very useful combination of golfing information and news, varying from advanced and professional to the most basic and obvious.