Choosing the Best Driver Shafts

Making a statement like the ‘best driver shafts’ can be a tricky one, because while there is such a thing as objective quality, what defines a golf shaft as the best for one person may not apply to the situation of another player. Every player has unique strengths and weaknesses, as well as measurements and capabilities, that will drive his or her choices in golf shafts, whether for a putter, an iron, or a driver.

And since we mentioned that, what makes a good shaft for a driver for one player might not be a good fit for another. Additionally, a player who likes a steel shaft in a putter might like a graphite shaft in a driver.

To be clear, when you are at the driving range practicing or on the fairway where it counts, your ability to drive golf balls is critical. While they do say that ‘you drive for show and putt for dough,’ you won’t be putting for anything if you can’t get the ball on the green in the first place. There are entirely different considerations that make the best driver shafts what they are and differentiate them from shafts for other clubs.

The first thing to take into consideration is the material from which the shaft is made. Far and away, the two most common materials against which you will come are steel and carbon fiber composites or graphite.

Steel is much heavier than graphite, and it is generally also a lot easier to produce and thus cheaper. Steel is also often significantly cheaper and offers less torque rating than other similar graphite shafts. That results in fairly stiff shafts without a lot of flex or torque. They do transmit a lot of feedback to the player’s hands through the shaft as well, which some players may not appreciate because it can translate into sting and vibration. All of that being said, steel shafts are also remarkably tough and will last a long time, if not a lifetime.

By contrast, graphite shafts are much lighter than steel and can be made to be significantly more flexible. This can benefit players who have a slower swing speed and require a lighter shaft to compensate for their lack of high swing speed and carry distance. That makes graphites more suitable to a wider range of players because they can be manufactured to a wide range of specifications. However, they are not as durable as steel shafts and tend to be significantly more expensive.

Regardless of the material, you will come across shafts that are rated for shaft flexion and will typically fall into one of the following categories: extra stiff, stiff, firm, and regular. You will also see shafts rated as ladies, senior and amateur, all of which are generally less stiff and more forgiving to accommodate slower swing speeds and thus, slower clubhead speeds.

There is something else to take into account when trying to determine what makes the best driver shafts, and that is your set of measurements. You either need to take your own measurements or have a professional take them for you. Most shafts are constructed to match players whose measurements (taking into account the distance from their hand to the floor) fall between about 30 and 40 inches.

The thing is, if you are just starting out, how can you find out what your preferences are in shaft material, and what your swing speed and measurements are? The answer is easier than you might think, and it’s to work with an experienced professional who can interview you, observe your swing speed and form and take your measurements.

That’s our specialty here at Dallas Golf Company. While you can use our Online Shaft Fitting Tool to help you select shafts and clubs if you already are familiar with your abilities and measurements, our professionals are always ready to serve you from our store location in Dallas.

If you visit our retail location to take advantage of our professional fitting services, you will be able to meet with our pros who will interview you to get to understand your style and capabilities as well as your preferences. From there, they will observe your swing, take your measurements, and even let you try out some recommended equipment to let you get a feel for what might be a good fit.

Even if you’ve just come to our site to shop through our collection, you will find a huge range of club shafts in steel and graphite from many of the best names in the industry, including Aldila, Mitsubishi, Fujikura and many more. Take a look through our collection of some of the best driver shafts in the industry, and if you have any questions, call us at 800-955-9550. Better yet, if you can come visit us in our store in Dallas, stop on by.