Golf Shafts for Drivers: Six Traits to Evaluate

A golf club is not just a club; it is a grip, a shaft, and a head, and all of these components work together to deliver the requisite performance. As you are well aware, you’re probably not in the habit of expecting the same level of performance from a putter that you are from a driver. You need a very separate set of traits in a putter than you need from a driver.

So, then, what should you consider in a new golf shaft for a driver? Here are the top six traits to evaluate when you are considering refitting your favorite driver head to a new shaft.

1.Material

The first thing you should weigh is the material from which the shaft is made. Most modern golf shafts are made from either steel or graphite/carbon fiber. While steel shafts are heavier than carbon shafts, they are also typically more affordable and more durable, and they are usually stiffer as well. This suits them to players that have a higher swing speed.

By contrast, carbon fiber shafts are lighter and less durable, but they can be manufactured in a wider range of weights and flexes, making them more suitable for a larger number of players. You just need to make sure that the shaft’s other traits line up.

2.Length

Length is another very important trait that will impact a golf shaft’s suitability for your use. If a shaft is too short, it can ruin your posture as you “stoop” to try to reach for the ball; it can also adversely impact your accuracy and your distance.

If a shaft is too long, it can create similar problems. For example, as a shaft grows in length, the perceived swing weight will increase, which can slow down your swing speed, actually decreasing your range. Longer shafts can also cause you to misjudge the distance to the golf ball and chunking a divot from the ground.

It helps to be professionally measured so you know what sizes to look for in golf shafts.

3.Weight

Weight will also impact your abilities with a golf shaft. Generally speaking, the heavier the shaft, the more it will slow down your swing, whereas lighter shafts will enable you to achieve higher swing speeds and better distance. That is one of the reasons that lighter graphite shafts are preferable to some players with slower swing speeds.

4.Flex

Shaft flex is a measurement of how flexible the shaft is, and how much it will bend as it loads with energy through the swing. There are a number of stiffness ratings, ranging from XS (extra stiff) to more flexible ratings like A (amateur) and S (senior).

The stiffer a shaft is, the more it will benefit a player with a higher swing speed. Experienced players with high swing speeds can achieve the best distance and accuracy with stiffer shafts. However, these stiff shafts can be frustrating for inexperienced players and players with slower swing speeds.

Players with slower swing speeds would probably do better with a more flexible shaft that enables them to generate higher swing speeds to achieve the greater distance that they couldn’t reach with a stiff shaft.

5.Torque

Torque is a measurement of how much a golf shaft will twist around the centerline, given as a number that represents the degrees that the shift will twist. For most golfers, this is not something that needs extra care and consideration, however, there are two things to know.

A shaft with particularly high or low torque, in the hands of an experienced golfer with a fast swing, can produce shots that fade to the left or right.

6.Kick Point

Kick point is a measurement of how “high up” on the golf shaft it flexes the most. A shaft with a high kick point flexes high up by the grip; a shot with a low kick point flexes lower down by the club head.

Shafts with high kick points tend to feel stiffer and produce relatively low trajectories and good distance, whereas shafts with a low kick point generally feel “whippier” and produce higher trajectories. An experienced golfer can learn to accommodate to a kick point, but it is something to be aware of nonetheless.

There are some other fine points you might want to weigh when you are looking for a new golf shaft for a driver, and we’re here to help with that. You can use our online shaft fitting tool if you’re not able to come into our retail shop to take advantage of our expert services - although we would love to see you in our store in Dallas, Texas!

For any of you that are looking for some personal help or suggestions, give us a call at 800-955-9550, and our staff would be more than happy to learn more about your goals, your specific strengths, and weaknesses, and help connect you with a new golf shaft for a driver.