Golf shaft technology explained

In this article, we will discuss the golf shaft technology, because we feel it's something that deserves a lot more attention than it’s getting. Things like kick-point, weight, length or flex of a golf shaft have a tremendous impact over its performance and, indirectly over your game. But allow us to explain it better in the few lines below:

Why are golf shafts important?

A solid golf shaft can add a lot more consistency to your game. A proper shaft that suits your style of play will allow you to strike to the best of your abilities and will also provide you in great launch conditions. To make things even more explicit for you: golf shafts are to golfers what tennis racquets are to Roger Federer. Extension of their arms.

Things to know about golf shafts components

The shaft flex

It is the critical part of any golf shaft because it impacts direction and distance. It's important to know that you choose the correct flex depending on your type of swing: if you swing fast, go for a less flexed golf shaft, while if you prefer slower sings, then faster flexes work best.

There are many types of flexes on the market, such as Stiff flexes, Regular flexes, Firm flexes, flexes for amateurs and flexes for women. Again, take time and analyse your game before choosing a flex.

The shaft torque and the shaft kick-point

The torque refers to the movement of the shaft while you execute your swing motion. Usually, you can find the information about it in degrees. Bear in mind that shafts with more torque will feel softer. Additionally, torque impacts the ball’s trajectory.

The point where the shaft bends are known as the kick-point. Although different kick-points affect the direction of the balls, the effects aren't that significant. What people should know is that high kick-points are great for low trajectories, while lower kick-points are suitable for higher trajectories.

The weight and the alignment of a shaft

A shaft that is lighter allows you to add more speed and to strike the ball farther away. When discussing the weight of a shaft, it’s taken into account the raw and uncut part of it, before the installation process.

The alignment of a shaft is dictated by the small and often hard to trace irregularities found in golf shafts. These minor things can refer to an imperfect shaft material, a not so correctly rounded shaft, different weights on the shaft’s sides etc. Still, you can find that many of these irregularities can make a massive difference in your game.

What are golf shafts made of?

Golf shafts can come in different forms, sizes, and structures. Regarding the materials they incorporate, some of the most common are steel shafts and graphite shafts. Manufacturers also sell mixed-material shafts, usually made out of carbon fibers, titanium or other combinations of metals.

Steel shafts offer a lot of strength, are very durable and cost significantly less than their graphite counterparts.

Graphite shafts cost more, they offer less durability but provide you with better swing speed, superior power at the expense of control.

The mixed-material golf shafts are relatively new, and there’s currently not so much information about them. Still, people say the difference is not so significant in comparison to other types of shafts.