More and more golfers are switching to graphite shafts. In fact, most players today use clubs with graphite shafts. Graphite shafts are lighter than steel shafts. That translates into 2-4 miles more of swing speed for most weekend golfers, adding six to 12 yards more in distance. Using the right shafts—whether steel or graphite— can boost your game to another level, even for players with high golf handicaps.
Despite their popularity, graphite shafts still have some common misconceptions about them, many of which that we hear in golf lessons. Below we discuss three of the more common ones and talk about the two most critical factors in choosing graphite shafts—flex and torque.
#1: No Benefit For Average Golfer
One misconception is that graphite shafts provide no benefit golfers with high golf handicaps. The theory is that these golfers release the club (unhinge the wrists) too early in the downswing to benefit from graphite shafts. All golfers benefit from graphite shafts—even those with high golf handicaps.
As one golf executive put it “even if you come over the top and release early, the shaft is still dong something at impact.” In other words, even if you release the club early, causing the clubhead to decelerate, the shaft will still be in a flex mode. So you’ll get some benefit from the shaft. You just won’t get as much as Tiger Woods or John Daily.
# 2: Graphite Shafts Wear Out Quickly
Another misconception we hear in golf lessons is that graphite shafts wear out quickly. Graphite shafts wear well regardless of what you’ve heard. Today’s graphite shaft materials have outstanding fatigue properties. So they last a long time. You might get some slight “micro-cracking” between a composite’s fibers and adhesives at first. But otherwise, graphite shafts are good for the long haul.
#3 Custom Shafts Offer The Best Result
A third misconception is that custom shafts produce the best results. While custom shafts offer more options for matching a swing or launch condition, they don’t necessarily provide the boost in power over standard models some might expect. The shaft’s original mass properties are the key to performance. Mass properties determine a shaft’s weight and flexibility. Weight and flexibility drive performance.
Flex Is The Key
Flex is the key when it comes to judging graphite shafts. Flex is a shaft’s ability to bend during the golf swing, as I’ve explained in my golf tips newsletter. Since you can’t actually see the shaft bend with the naked eye, you have to rely on the manufacturer’s ratings system. Flex ratings on shafts are generally categorized as follows: Ladies (L), Regular (R), Senior (S), and Extra Stiff (XS). A shaft sold as standard (stock) flexes to fit most players.
But flex ratings aren’t consistent from manufacturer to manufacturer. So many golfers use frequency to measure shaft flex. Frequency is a more reliable measurement than the letter ratings. Frequency is the number of times a shaft oscillates, either vertically or horizontally, known as cycles per minute, or CPM. The faster the rate of oscillation, the stiffer the shaft. The slower the rate of oscillation, the more flexible the shaft.
Torque is another factor
Another factor with graphite shafts is torque. Torque is the club’s tendency to twist in your hands. Faster swingers do better with less torque because they help better golfers hit the ball straight. Slower swingers do better with more torque. The extra torque gives them more of a chance to square the clubface at impact. Weekend golfers with high golf handicaps tend to have slower swings. So you should consider graphite shafts with higher torque ratings.
Ultimately, the choice of a shaft boils down to feel, just as it did for Tiger. A simple way to find the right feel—as I’ve said in my golf tips newsletter—is to take your favorite club and determine its shaft’s characteristics. Then, find shafts with similar characteristics and use them for your other clubs. Having the right shafts boosts accuracy and power. More power and accuracy can dramatically reduce golf handicaps.
