Legacy shafts vs. todays shafts. Specifically Fujikura Reax 65 TP

[Nurseryman007]

I have a TaylorMade Burner, yes, it is old but when I try new drivers they just don't feel as good and the distance is about the same. The shaft in this model,( TP) , is the Fujikura Reax TP 65. length 45,  S flex, 66 g, tip flex 101, butt flex 80, torque 2.8. 

Most of the new shafts in this weight and flex have much higher torque numbers but doesn't this lead to the head being less stable ? I am a bit confused on this.

Thanks

[Billfitz]

Higher torque is less stable, but not hugely so. Of all the shaft specs it's probably the least significant. Where twisting of the head is concerned higher shaft torque is offset by the high MOI of current heads.

 

[Stuart_G]

14 hours ago, Nurseryman007 said:

Most of the new shafts in this weight and flex have much higher torque numbers but doesn't this lead to the head being less stable ?

 

No, not in the vast majority of cases.   Torque is really just about feel - and usually just the feel at impact for off-center hits.

 

Effect of torque on the ball flight results for off center hits is really negligible - that's really ALL about the head MOI and c.g..  

 

For controlling the head during the swing, there is a threshold torsional stiffness that's needed but 1) once you get below that threshold, it doesn't result in any further improvement of the control and 2) shaft designers are well aware of that threshold so generally don't have any problems keeping the torque values appropriate to the players who typically fit into the stiffness profile.   That wasn't always the case in the early years of graphite shaft development but it's not something anyone has had to worry about for more than 20 years.

 

So in modern shafts, it's really all about the feel and, for those sensitive to it, how the feel might effect the swing.

 

And in fact, there has been a general tendencies to increase the torque a bit over the last 5 years or so to improve the feel.

Edited February 18, 2022 by Stuart_G

[Nurseryman007]

Thank you for taking the time to explain this.