High Torque Golf Shaft Analysis

You've done it all -- read the latest magazine reviews, analyzed all the online reviews, even demo'd a few drivers. You finally drop your hard-earned money on a brand new ball-crusher, and you're so excited you head right to the range to try it out. You set up, take that first swing when *clunk*... you barely drive the ball 50 yards. You think, "Maybe I was too excited," so you settle down and try another swing. You hit this one solid, but it slices hard. So does the next one. You're astounded as you think, "What just happened? I thought this club was the perfect one for me!" It's more than likely you chose the right clubhead, but not the right shaft.

Every day golfers buy clubs based solely on the technology present in the clubhead but pay …show more content…
Flex is generally rated as Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior and Ladies.

Torque -- this is the golf shaft's resistance to twisting. Higher values (e.g. 5.0) indicate that the shaft twists more than a shaft with lower values (e.g. 2.0). A high torque golf shaft can sometimes feel as if it flexes more; a very low torque shaft can sometimes feel too stiff and "boardy."

Bend point -- the shaft's bend point is often characterized as low, medium, or high. A shaft with a low bend point will tend to drive the ball higher than a shaft with a high bend point (which will tend to drive the ball lower).

Weight -- shaft weights can vary significantly depending on which type of club you are buying (wood or iron) and the material composition of the shaft. The most popular graphite driver shafts often weigh between 55-65 grams. Although it's often advised to pick the lightest shaft available to increase your clubhead speed, you should examine your swing to determine what weight to choose. If you tend to swing the clubhead with a fast tempo, you may benefit from a heavier shaft with thicker/stronger walls. Golfers with a smooth tempo may be able to take advantage of lighter weight