Special Putter Shafts- Real Deal or BS? Any Insights?

[PJE]

I read on a golf website about new model of multi material putter shaft which comes in three different flexes. Supposedly, you will putt the ball straighter or more accurately with the correct flex.  These shafts retail for $250. 

The article also referenced multi material Stroke Lab putter shafts and another maker's advanced putter shafts.

All of the putters I've ever used have plain or conventional steel shafts so I was wondering if anyone has had experience with any of these advanced, multi material, putter shafts? Do they actually work as far as making more putts or are these shafts just marketing hype? 

Your insights or opinions will be appreciated. 

[lefthack]

My putter shaft is "graphite" no idea of a flex (or brand for that matter) and it's awesome. I just thought it was cool my putter came with a graphite shaft. 🤣

 

I would expect nothing but the best in my $16 putter. I paid $6 because I had a $10 coupon, but still. $16.

 

<edit> $12? you right handers get all the goods. Mine was new.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tour-Percision-Milled-TP-M1-35-Putter-Graphite-Tour-precision-shaft-/184106812879?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

Edited May 7, 2021 by lefthack

[indianagolf2]

This is a great question

[VA golfer]

The biggest difference I have found since putting a graphite shaft in my putter is distance control has improved. People will say that it deadens feel on a putter. I have found the complete opposite. I will never play a putter without a graphite shaft again. Now the tricky part is finding a place you can try all the different flex options. I could not find one so I went on my gut which flex would suit me and got lucky. I have a smooth tempo with my stroke so I went with one flex "softer" than steel. I highly recommend checking out the Accra FX putter shaft as it is less expensive than most of the other options. I paid $160 for mine at the time installed. Club Champion is Accra Dealer/fitter and some of the locations might have all of the options for you to try before you buy. 

[phizzy30]

I've tested the old Matrix(now LA Golf) graphite shaft.  At one time it was over 200 retail I think.  Feels nice but that was about it.  The new LA Golf putter shafts retail for 400.  My local guy had a demo in a Newport 2 that I tested.  It was ok.  I can't ever see myself spending that much on a putter shaft.  I get that half your strokes come from putting but 400 is steep for something that probably won't improve my putting significantly.  

[North Butte]

Given the amount of magical thinking surrounding shafts and club fitting, no surprise that eventually someone started making money off extending that to putter shaft "fitting". If you give someone three different $250 putter shafts and have them hit a hundred or so putts and see the results on an elaborate computer stroke monitor, they will eventually find one of them where they get in a groove and make a bunch of good strokes in a row. The $250 will seem well worth it to them, sale made.

[Valtiel]

I think the only real tangible merit is in weight distribution options, the ability to make a heavy shaft that is also soft, and the general feel difference.  None of these are objective improvements though, merely other options. 

[cardia10]

What does your swing speed with a putter need to be for flex to matter? Asking for a friend. He hits his putter 250 and swings it 110 mph.

Edited May 12, 2021 by cardia10

[Ger21]

Try a KBS CT Tour, and you'll save yourself a few hundred $$.

[North Butte]

Also for what it's worth, I heard that Taylormade tips their putter shafts wrong.

[PorkChopExpress]

Some days the putts drop 

some days it doesn’t 

Edited May 12, 2021 by desaille

[phizzy30]

5 hours ago, North Butte said:

Given the amount of magical thinking surrounding shafts and club fitting, no surprise that eventually someone started making money off extending that to putter shaft "fitting". If you give someone three different $250 putter shafts and have them hit a hundred or so putts and see the results on an elaborate computer stroke monitor, they will eventually find one of them where they get in a groove and make a bunch of good strokes in a row. The $250 will seem well worth it to them, sale made.

Agree.  However, how many golfers actually go in to get their putter fitted?  Also, not many people are willing to drop money on either a putter fitting or graphite shaft.  But I do get your point. 

[PJE]

Thanks to everyone for the insights. Play well!

[North Butte]

3 minutes ago, PJE said:

Thanks to everyone for the insights. Play well!

And if you can't play well, at least putt well. That's my motto.

[indianagolf2]

400 putter shaft...for my 2 cents I'd attend a 1 day short game school or tons of online lessons..but thats me lol

[Republius]

On 5/12/2021 at 7:28 AM, Ger21 said:

Try a KBS CT Tour, and you'll save yourself a few hundred $$.

Rory McIlroy won last week at Quail Hollow with the KBS CT Tour Putter Shaft, which is steel and $29.95 or $39.95 depending on the finish.

 

I enjoyed the feel of the newer KBS Tour One Step Putter Shaft, which is steel and $64.95 or $74.95 depending on the finish, even better than the KBS CT Tour Putter Shaft - which was a lot stiffer to me. Lydia Ko won recently in Hawaii with the KBS Tour One Step Putter Shaft.

 

If, like me, you are uninterested in spending $200 to $400 for a multi-materials putter shaft then try the KBS steel putter shaft offerings that are really good deals.

Edited May 15, 2021 by Republius
precision of wording

[Skipperation]

Haven't tried the graphite version, but another vote for the KBS CT Tour. The only issue I have with it is the large butt diameter with messes grip thickness up bit and I can't get a GripMaster leather grip on there but the feel and distance control with it is great. Plus it's a bargain compared to the competition.

[A.Princey]

Other than changing the weight, stiffness and possibly the butt diameter(for optimizing final grip size), that’s about all there is to gain going the non-conventional route. Heck, you might find your best results cutting your own graphite shaft from a random club, this is all so subjective.