So it’s all about the shaft?

[JustOne]

If you're in any doubt why the shaft flex is important (as I was) take a look at the Harrington clip here below. Pause it on 1:12 and just see the shape of the shaft. I appreciate that different shafts will flex in different ways so Harrington will no doubt have some trouble if somebody switched his shaft for one that is a lot softer!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPyfoIgq588

Nothing to do with the shaft it's just the video isn't shot on a high speed camera. Trick of the light so to speak.

Watch this video of A.Palmer from about 1min 30sec, it's shot on a highspeed camera so you see very little shaft flex, it then shows Tigers afterwards... at 1min 54sec.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJlzwpzVdsQ which ISN'T shot on a highspeed camera.

 

[RGDave]

If you were buying second hand Mizunos (for instance), it costs about £25 max to be c/f. Then buy your second hand clubs with the correct shaft already fitted. All you need then is to get your pro to loft and lie them for you. Wouldn't cost that much more.

Sounds similar to what I did.

 

[Region3]

If you're in any doubt why the shaft flex is important (as I was) take a look at the Harrington clip here below. Pause it on 1:12 and just see the shape of the shaft. I appreciate that different shafts will flex in different ways so Harrington will no doubt have some trouble if somebody switched his shaft for one that is a lot softer!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPyfoIgq588

I'm not certain that the shaft actually does that. I asked about the shaft flex in this pic.

Apparently, digital cameras scan the image line by line, so with a fast moving object like a golf club it can appear to bend because each part of the club is imaged a split second later than the previous bit.

 

[Alex1975]

The shaft is much more important. Give a middle handicapper a blade with the right shaft and they will probably get better results than with a cavity back and the wrong shaft. Flex and weight are obviously important, but launch angle and spin are also important.

This is exactly what I am talking about, so why are our clubs made my Taylor Made and Ping when they have done the easy part?

Anyways I think I have made my point. Is it the case that the shaft companys are actualy just comapnys that make metal products or carbon products for all industies?

 

[Region3]

I type too slow

 

[fundy]

Interesting way of looking at it, Titleists new 910D driver has a choice of 2 different head types, or 205 different shafts!!!!!

 

[Tiger]

The shaft is much more important. Give a middle handicapper a blade with the right shaft and they will probably get better results than with a cavity back and the wrong shaft. Flex and weight are obviously important, but launch angle and spin are also important.

So, for example, TT DG launch low, but has higher spin, so the ball then climbs and for some players then drops out of the sky. Project X and KBS launch higher (although still not high), but the ball flies flatter with less spin.

Decent custom fitting with a launch monitor is needed to see all this stuff.

This was exactly my experience when I had my fitting. TT DGs just kept going up and up while the PXs had a more penetrating flight. In response to your question Al I have one of my own: what came first club or shaft manufacturers?

I'm thinking that club manufacturers came first. Then with advances in technology smaller companies recognised that they could use materials to develop shafts, maybe companies started by folk who initially plied their trade making shafts for a major club manufacturer. Taylormade, Titleist, Ping don't sell you a head they sell you a club. In that club are a range of components a grip, a shaft, a club head. I reckon if you took a group of people and had them extensively custom fit by three leading manufacturers that their statistics would be consistent across the three clubs and they might not even prefer the one with the best performance stats because of aesthetics/feel. I don't think it is shaft or head but the right combination of both.

Sure Jezz will know the answer!!!!!

 

[ScienceBoy]

We will all get bag rash on graphite shafts it's more than likely just a bit of paint thats come off.

I think that is just all it is, but they are only stock shafts, ping something or other.

I needed a new driver a while back so bought these new, had them all year, played A LOT! bag got old started to rub off the paint an now it looks bad.

Plus they have regular shafts and my swing has improved so much this year I think I might need stiff, how much would changing it cost?

 

[JustOne]

Apparently, digital cameras scan the image line by line, so with a fast moving object like a golf club it can appear to bend because each part of the club is imaged a split second later than the previous bit.

In theory you could actually use that to see how fast you are swinging the club... as the digital line writing is constant the more bend on the club - the faster you swung it.... if you get it as banana'd as Tiger's then you're swinging FAST

(it would be hard to measure precisely though)

 

[haplesshacker]

With the Nike SR8T Fit shaft adjusment system, the new Titleist adjustable shaft.

Would it not be possible to essentially self build a set of clubs at the Pro Shop. With interchangable shafts and heads.

That way we could have say, a few different shaft head combinations. So you'd have a shaft that suited windy days with a lower spin and launch angle, and one better suited to parkland courses.

Same thing with the heads a more forgiving SGI set perhaps, and then something a bit sexier for those times when we are striking the ball well.

It kinda goes against Bobs thread the other day. But surely the possibilities are there?

Of course. It would just over complicate things.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

OK just to throw something new into the equation, what about kick points? We agree that C/F or launch monitors will get the right flex but what about the kickpoint too as this will surely impact trajectory and spin

 

[Ethan]

OK just to throw something new into the equation, what about kick points? We agree that C/F or launch monitors will get the right flex but what about the kickpoint too as this will surely impact trajectory and spin

Kickpoint determines launch angle, and I mentioned that. A lot of people misread kickpoint, thinking that high kickpoint means high launch, when it means the exact opposite.

In graphite shafts, torque is another factor, but that is often misinterpreted too.