Tool: Find the shaft for you

It’s no secret that little standardization exists within the shaft industry. The Shaft Playability Factor rankings help you account for flex, weight, torque, bend point and tip stiffness and find the correct shaft for you. Use this simple tool to take advantage of the most simple and effective shaft selection system in clubmaking!

Now, use this tailored list to select an appropriate shaft at The GolfWorks – online at www.golfworks.com or inside of any Golf Galaxy store and at www.golfgalaxy.com.

Back to Article Discussions

Article Discussion 5of5starslarge

  • 6:39PM - Jul 19, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #223
    Report This

    Ralph..

    The shaft lengths remained the same. The original shafts were Callaway Firm, but they were older. I had the 5 iron tested, and before the reshaft, it registered as a senior flex. I guess the age of the shaft caused it to deteriorate?

    In my 1st round with the new shafts, I was hitting over 140 with my new shafted 9-iron. Normally, I would have hit an 8 iron with the older shafts. I managed to hit my 5-iron ~pin high on a 205 yard par 3 which was very uphill. I would have definitely hit at least a 4-iron before the reshaft. In another round, I hit my reshafted 7-iron to a 168 labeled Par 3 which was uphill to ~2’ and I was just right of the green (on a ball which wasn’t solidly hit) on a 176 yard par 3. And it was a windless day during both rounds.

    I’ll update you after this week. I’ll be playing a couple of rounds next week in Gulfshores, AL and I printed a couple of your fitting scorecards for the rounds.

    Thanks for the shaft tool. It has seemed to help me very well.

    Ted

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:33PM - Jul 19, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #222
    Report This

    Isualum2001, it seems that for some reason you picked up more distance than normal which makes me hesitant to suggest any change at this time until I can get more information. In irons, unless you simply cannot get the ball airborne or you sky it everytime, you should never see more than a 5 to 7 yard distance change with simply a shaft change. Are you sure the club length did not change? Did the swingweight go down from the change allowing you more head speed? It sounds as if you should just stay where you are for a number of rounds to see if the changes you are experiencing remain as positive as they sound.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:24PM - Jul 19, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #221
    Report This

    5b2m, you need to first be sure what the club length of your driver actually is. If it is over 45” this may be your problem. Many hard hitting players benefit from 44 1/2”. These are just things to think about as I have never seen you swing.

    If you are going to change shafts, be sure to measure and record the exact club length, swingweight, total weight and hopefully the frequency in CPM (cycles per minute). The Golf Galaxy stores can measure this for you. I do not like to see golfers taking out the current shaft and replacing it without knowing the other changes that can and do occur. In this manner it is much easier to troubleshoot and correct shaft playability when we have an apples to apples comparison as a benchmark.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 10:48PM - Jul 17, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #220
    Report This

    • 5b2m

    • 5b2m
    • User
    • 3 Comments

    Ralph, You have stated that ****-trimming a graphite shaft stiffens it 1/3 of a flex. Does this mean that ****-cutting a shaft 1.5 inches would change a shaft a full flex?

    My final question is on how much you have to tip trim a shaft to get it to play a full flex stiff in a graphite driver shaft?

    Thanks for all your answers,

    Scott

    Respond

    Quote

  • 12:42AM - Jul 17, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #219
    Report This

    Ralph.. I reshafted my 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 irons with 4B3M Grafalloy Procustion shafts. Since the reshaft, my 150 yard club is either an 8 or 9 iron, a change from a previous 7 iron in the older shafts.

    Should I look into 5B3M shafts or stay with the 4B3M? My irons are way more consistent than before with the newer shafts.

    Thanks in advance.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 7:35PM - Jul 16, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #218
    Report This

    • 5b2m

    • 5b2m
    • User
    • 3 Comments

    Ralph, Thanks for your help. I have the 4B2M (Aldila NV 65 stiff) in a 8.5 degree Cleveland Launcher Comp. I hit this driver long, but not very straight. I recently bought a Maltby 5B2M shaft from Golf Galaxy and was hoping this would help me put the ball in play more often. I swing 110-115, and get ball speeds of 165-170. I love this driver, but I miss it both ways.

    Any other help you can give me would be appreciated.

    Thanks again,

    Scott

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:39PM - Jul 16, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #217
    Report This

    5b2m, first of all, the difference in a 5B2M and a 5B2H is that the “H” is saying that this shafts tip section stiffness and the torque will help to correct a “hook” tendency. So, this means the torque will be less and the shaft tip will be stiffer.

    The “5” is an X flex designation and if you are not a tour pro or an overly aggressive, down and through swinger, I usually recommend staying with the 4 or “S” flex shaft. If you hit it very high (a 3 vs. a 2 in the second number), you would need to stiffen the tip of the shaft flex and possibly move up to a 5 (X flex). Since you are a 2, the 4B2M shaft should be fine. Another problem would be if you were hitting the ball both left and right often, but you listed M which means you hit it straight. So, the long way to say that I do not think you have any problems.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:14PM - Jul 15, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #216
    Report This

    • 5b2m

    • 5b2m
    • User
    • 3 Comments

    Ralph, If I just figured out I am a 5B2M and the driver shaft I use is a 4B2M, what kind of ball flight problems could I run into? I also wonder what makes a shaft a 5B2M instead of a 5B2H? Thanks for any help you can give me.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 4:31PM - Jun 24, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #215
    Report This

    tremor, I am at a little disadvantage here as I do not know how you release the clubhead. So, let’s assume I figured this out correctly and you are a fairly late release player who is probably accelerating the clubhead at an accelerating rate coming into impact at about or slightly over 100 MPH.

    Some notes first before we talk shafts; If a player hits the ball low and wants to hit the ball high, the shaft is not the answer without giving up a lot of directional control. There are many other variables, including yourself, that also control trajectory. For instance, teeing the ball 1/2” higher and also hitting it 1/2” higher on the clubface is the same as adding 1 degree of loft to your driver (not to mention lowering the center of gravity of the clubhead to the balls center of gravity which equals higher flight). I would like for you to use an impact decal and find out exactly how high on the face you are actually striking the ball.

    OK, the shaft question; I really do not think a soft tip shaft such as the UST Proforce 75 High Launch is the answer. However, it could be a very good shaft for you if you can hit the ball consistently straight with your type swing. You will only raise the trajectory a little (usually 1 or 2 degrees maximum), but you will not go from a low hitter to a high hitter. Being a 3 handicap, you probably know your swing pretty well. I would mention that it may be good to have someone else look at it to see if they can detect anything that would make you hit it lower with the driver. Possibly ball position or a slide forward coming into impact?

    As you can see, I am struggling here a little, but trying to help so don’t take anything too personal here. I do like the driver you are playing as I am a Titleist driver fan on most of their driver models. Finally, I don’t feel I can give you any other shaft recommendations here until we do some sleuthing and narrow a few things down. You may be able to now give me some more info about your swing and anything you might discover or agree or disagree with me here.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 10:50PM - Jun 23, 2008RE: Tool: Find the shaft for you

    #214
    Report This

    Ralph,

    I am a strong player (3 handicap) and play a Titelist 983K 10.5 degree driver in a Harrison Striper Titanium S. shaft. I love the feel and playability of 983K head. I have very active hands and tend to hit the ball low (even with the 10.5) but straight and pretty far. I am looking for a shaft that will get me a higher launch, but still give me distance and control with a 983K head combo. I was thinking the UST Proforce 75 High Launch. Any suggestions?

    Rod

    Respond

    Quote

Post Comment