www.GolfShaftAuctions.com - GSA USA

Dan DeRoeck

One of the surest ways to improve your performance this year is to consider a shaft upgrade for your driver, fairway woods, hybrid or irons.

Oh, that's simple right? Not really, there are many characteristics to shaft performance that you need to consider, especially when dealing with individual games, strengths, weaknesses, club head speed, ball speed, etc.

When considering a new shaft for any club, you need to determine what exactly you would like to improve upon? Is it distance, control, or both? Is it improve your ball flight, increase ball speed, increase swing speed, or maybe a combination of all of the above? The variations of shafts available in today's high tech market are many to be sure. In addition, today's shafts are designed to meet specific demands of not only the touring professional, but also average players. It looks like no demands are too great by today's golf shaft manufacturers to improve anyone's game. The trick is to know what to look for and what to incorporate into one's game to make your choice valid.

My opinion is that although you can improve your performance by knowing some of the elements listed below, it is wise to get fitted and know the exact details of your game before purchasing a shaft.
I truly believe the golf shaft is one of those underrated elements that will improving your game.

Some things to consider when shopping for new shafts are listed below:

Steel vs. Graphite-
Graphite is lighter and will allow you to generate more swing speed resulting in further distance. Steel on the other hand is heavier, more consistent and will provide more control. So what is better for you?

The majority of players opt to use graphite for drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids... this is almost standard protocol. In most cases, the battle really begins over choosing the right shaft for your irons.

If you have a relatively slow swing speed more typical of women, seniors and juniors, graphite shafts are probably your best bet. However it really becomes a preference for most people and trying out the two will most likely improve your overall chances on selecting the right one.

Shaft Flex-
How much your shaft flexes during your swing plays a major role in the ability to square the club face at impact. It is important to have the proper flex for your swing speed. Without it, there's a good chance that you'll have a hard time making good solid contact on a consistent basis. There are general charts to match your swing speed with the proper flex. Keep in mind, this is a generalization.

Swing Speed Chart:
Under 75 mph - Ladies
75 - 90 mph - Amateur and Senior
90 - 100 mph - Regular
100 - 110 mph - Stiff
Over 110 mph - Extra Stiff

Kick Point-
This is also known as bend point and is the location on the shaft that bends the most during a swing.

Think of opposites when thinking of Kick Point. A higher kick point can help lower trajectory shots and a lower kick point can aid in a higher trajectory. Unless you really need help one way or the other, it is probably best to get shafts that have a kick point somewhere in the middle range. Again, this is where getting custom fitted will improve you chances.

Torque-
Torque represents how much the shaft will resist twisting during a swing. The higher the degree of torque, the more the shaft will twist during your swing. This is essential because too much or too little torque may result in the club face not getting square at impact. Slower swing speeds typically need a higher torque while higher swing speeds need less.

Weight-
This, in my opinion, may be the characteristic most underrated. In order to attain the highest performance of your shafts, especially when considering the driver, optimum weight is crucial. Most shaft weights fall between 50 and 125 grams.

Length-
This relates more to the driver, however the length of your shaft can play a significant role. Increasing the length will provide more distance however there is a fine line to walk here... it can also reduce the control factor so you need to be careful. I personally went from a 45" to a 46" driver shaft and increased my drive about 10-15 yards without adversely affecting my control. However it's still early in the spring here in Michigan so the final verdict is still out.

Obviously obtaining the long drive is one of the holy grails of golf and can be a fun process to find on your own. Try different length driver shafts to see if it makes a difference for you.

I hope these tidbits will help you choose the right golf shaft to improve your game this year!