Shaft weights?

[Wallydog1101]

I can't find out any answers on shaft weights, when it comes to comparing, lets say a 75 gram regular shaft vs a 55 gram stiff shaft. Can I get any knowledge from this gallery? I'm looking at the Tenesi Orange shaft. I have a swing speed at 100mph and I'm a 12 hdcp. My most troublesome shot, would be the shot missed to the left(hook).

[MisterT]

Many people believe that you can swing a lighter shaft faster. In my experience, shaft weight is largely about feel (when combined with the head and shaft) to make more consistent contact on or near the center of the club face. I found shafts in the 55 gram range were troublesome for me while 65 gram and heavier shafts seemed to work better. I knew where the club head was during the swing and that showed up in my fitting results.

[Billfitz]

IME shaft weight has far less effect than shaft stiffness. A right miss usually means the shaft is too stiff, a left miss usually means the shaft is too soft.

[Stuart_G]

On 2/16/2022 at 7:03 AM, Wallydog1101 said:

I can't find out any answers on shaft weights, when it comes to comparing, lets say a 75 gram regular shaft vs a 55 gram stiff shaft. Can I get any knowledge from this gallery? I'm looking at the Tenesi Orange shaft. I have a swing speed at 100mph and I'm a 12 hdcp. My most troublesome shot, would be the shot missed to the left(hook).

 

Weight is generally considered the most important shaft spec to get fit properly.  It can potentially have a big influence on rhythm and tempo and timing - and therefore the consistency and accuracy of the results.

 

Unfortunately, there are no useful generalizations you can use to help you decide.  It's just too subjective.   The ONLY way to get any answers is to get out and test the different weights and see how the change in shaft weight effects you and your swing.   Now if you start with a lighter shaft, you can actually test out how you would do with a heavier shaft by adding lead tape to the shaft - usually starting with 10 gm increments and working down to 5 gm increments.

 

This is best guide to use to do that testing.   All it takes is a bucket of range balls, a roll of (high density) lead tape and foot powder spray.  It's written for driver but the same concept and process applies to any club (when it comes to shaft weight and/or swing weight).

 

 

[Wallydog1101]

Thank you all for the input. I can't wait for spring.

 

[nbg352]

On 2/16/2022 at 2:03 PM, Billfitz said:

IME shaft weight has far less effect than shaft stiffness. A right miss usually means the shaft is too stiff, a left miss usually means the shaft is too soft.

Feel is everything. A shaft is just a shaft until you swing it. Then, it is either the right shaft or wrong shaft. If launch and feel is good then it is right regardless of the flex shown on the barrel. We get too wound up with flex, when all we should care about is feel, launch angle, spin and direction. Find a shaft that does all that and break out the epoxy because you have found a true playmate. Flex is just a suggestion and to this day, there is no standardization.

[nbg352]

On 2/16/2022 at 7:03 AM, Wallydog1101 said:

I can't find out any answers on shaft weights, when it comes to comparing, lets say a 75 gram regular shaft vs a 55 gram stiff shaft. Can I get any knowledge from this gallery? I'm looking at the Tenesi Orange shaft. I have a swing speed at 100mph and I'm a 12 hdcp. My most troublesome shot, would be the shot missed to the left(hook).

Weight is only one of  many things that contribute to the hook. IE: getting stuck is the most common, causing a hook or a push slice. Grip size can be a factor, lie angle, ball position, the way you grip the club, another. Weight and flex affect feel, launch angle. Lack of proper feel can also contribute to direction. Since weight affects feel, as does overall stiffness and where the shaft is stiffest along its length. Think less about weight and flex. Think only feel, launch angle, direction and spin. And make sure your swing is fairly sound before you go chasing that perfect shaft

[bbiggs]

When I tinkered with shafts a couple of years ago I ended up going back to what I originally used even though I would never be fit into that shaft due to its heavier weight and profile. Point being, that it has a lot to do with feel to achieve the right timing and tempo in my opinion. 

[Stuart_G]

10 hours ago, bbiggs said:

Point being, that it has a lot to do with feel to achieve the right timing and tempo in my opinion. 

 

The good fitters are aware of that.  Unfortunately, fitting has gotten a lot of bad rep because most people who call themselves fitters really shouldn't.  The real good ones are few and far between.   In the vast majority of cases, if it's a pro shop or a retail store, it's not really a true fitting.  Even then you have to be very discriminating about the ones that are left.

Edited March 5, 2022 by Stuart_G

[Billfitz]

On 2/17/2022 at 8:29 AM, Stuart_G said:

Weight ...can potentially have a big influence on rhythm and tempo and timing - and therefore the consistency and accuracy of the results.

+1. I learned long ago that if my tempo is quick my hands, upper body and lower body get out of sync, and I'll spray the ball all over the place. If I have a slow takeaway and a slight pause at the top it's all good. When ultralight shafts first hit the market I tried them and found that they worked with my swing tempo much better than heavier shafts. My experience seems to be born out with super soft ultralights like the AutoFlex. I can see Matsuyama doing well with a lighter shaft than his DI 8 TX. Bryson? No way.

Edited March 5, 2022 by Billfitz

[bbiggs]

5 hours ago, Stuart_G said:

 

The good fitters are aware of that.  Unfortunately, fitting has gotten a lot of bad rep because most people who call themselves fitters really shouldn't.  The real good ones are few and far between.   In the vast majority of cases, if it's a pro shop or a retail store, it's not really a true fitting.  Even then you have to be very discriminating about the ones that are left.

Completely agree.  I have paid for multiple fittings that were not worth anything.  Sadly it seems that a proper fitting is becoming harder and harder to obtain.