Shaft in golf

What is the shaft of a golf club?

The shaft, or round It is the long tube that connects the grip to the clubhead. It transfers the energy of the swing to the clubhead and influences the ball's flight, the feel at impact, and the consistency of shots. It is often said to be the club’s “engine”: two identical clubheads mounted on two different shafts will not perform the same way.

Steel or graphite: What's the difference?

Today, virtually all drivers and woods are equipped with graphite shafts, which make the club lighter and thus allow for a higher clubhead speed. For irons, the choice depends mainly on swing speed and the feel you’re looking for.

What is the flex of a shaft?

The flex is the stiffness of the shaft—that is, its ability to flex during the swing. Manufacturers indicate this with a letter:

• L (Ladies): the most flexible, for the slowest swing speeds;
• A (often called "Senior" or "Amateur"): flexible;
• R (Regular): intermediate, the most common among amateurs;
• S (Stiff): stiff, for fast swings;
• X (Extra stiff): very stiff, for the fastest players.

There is no standard: an “R” shaft from one brand may be stiffer than an “R” shaft from another. As a general rule, a shaft that is too stiff results in a ball that is too low and often drifts to the right for a right-hander; a shaft that is too flexible results in a ball that is too high and less consistent.

Weight, length, kick point: other adjustments

Weight

A lighter shaft helps you gain speed; a heavier shaft often results in a more stable and consistent swing. Manufacturers list the weight in grams.

Length

A longer shaft increases potential speed but makes it harder to center the ball. The Equipment Rules require a minimum length of 18 inches (0.457 m) and, except for the putter, a maximum length of 48 inches (1.219 m). Some professional tournaments have a local rule limiting the length of the driver to 46 inches.

The inflection point

The kick point is the area where the shaft bends the most. When bent low, it helps lift the ball; when bent high, it produces a lower trajectory.

How do you choose a shaft?

The main criterion is the swing speed, along with the tempo (a sharp swing works better with a stiff shaft) and the resulting trajectory. The most reliable method is a fitting: A specialist uses a radar gun to measure your shots over several rounds and compares the distance and dispersion.

The most common mistakes are choosing a shaft that's too stiff “because good players use stiff shafts,” or sticking with the same flex for years even as swing speed decreases with age.