Are some driver shafts more left vs right launch biased?

[j.b.newton]

In hitting a 5-6 different shafts, I find that I seem to push/start right some shafts while some start a little left of target.  Other than the initial launch direction, they seem to have similar (or expected) flight profiles, depending on the shaft characteristics.  For example, I seem to start Ventus Black (7x) or ADDI (7x) slightly left of target while Venus Blue (7x), Trono (7x), and any of the Diamana Whiteboards seem to start right (some more than others).  Is this just me having different swings, or has anyone else felt/seen this?

 

Thanks in advance!

[phizzy30]

The only shaft that would always start right of my target line was the TPT 15 HI.  Tough to turnover.  Only shaft in recent memory that would start left of my intended line on the regular would be the AD CQ. 

[j.b.newton]

interesting... I cant figure out whats different about or what causes it.

[leftylama]

Would be tip stiffness, soft easier to draw, stiff easier to fade

[BigBlue7]

1 minute ago, leftylama said:

Would be tip stiffness, soft easier to draw, stiff easier to fade

 

Not an absolute.  More of an "old wives tale"

[j.b.newton]

But its not a draw vs fade, as I could understand shaft properties influencing that.  It is a start line that is a few deg left vs a start line at or just right of target. (I play a slight draw on normal shots)

[Stuart_G]

22 hours ago, j.b.newton said:

In hitting a 5-6 different shafts, I find that I seem to push/start right some shafts while some start a little left of target.  Other than the initial launch direction, they seem to have similar (or expected) flight profiles, depending on the shaft characteristics.  For example, I seem to start Ventus Black (7x) or ADDI (7x) slightly left of target while Venus Blue (7x), Trono (7x), and any of the Diamana Whiteboards seem to start right (some more than others).  Is this just me having different swings, or has anyone else felt/seen this?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

It happens quite a lot.  Both with respect to shaft weight and the stiffness profile or stiffness feel  (or even swing weight changes).  However,  it's really not a characteristic of the shaft, it's a characteristic of how you and your swing react to different feels or changes in feel from the shaft.    Swing plane, release timing, and many other things can potentially be effected.   Swing alterations from shaft weight tends to be more common than from stiffness - but both are possible.   Some people can (eventually) adjust the swing to compensate - some people can not.

 

That also means it's very subjective - you have to find your own particular tendencies.   We can't really help you to figure it out or tell you which shafts will do what.   That's really a big part of the fitting process.

Edited April 23 by Stuart_G

[ARL67]

One fitter described shafts as merely "timing devices" to get our clubhead in a good position for the swing we put on it.

Edited April 23 by ARL67

[j.b.newton]

Thanks guys - that makes sense.  Its not the shaft - its the properties of the shaft that influence face angle based on the swing presented.  Even with "similar" swings, the output (face angle/path) will be slightly different because of those properties.

 

 

[Stuart_G]

3 minutes ago, j.b.newton said:

Thanks guys - that makes sense.  Its not the shaft - its the properties of the shaft that influence face angle based on the swing presented.  Even with "similar" swings, the output (face angle/path) will be slightly different because of those properties.

 

I'm not sure you're describing it correctly - you're leaving out the importance of the feel of the shaft.   Although you might understand it better than your description indicates. But just in case, I'll repeat some things.

 

There is a small effect that is a part of how the swing loads and unloads the shaft and that loading is a function of the stiffness properties of the shaft.  Therefore those properties influence how much forward bend of the shaft there might be at impact.  And that forward bend can directly effect things like dynamic loft and possibly a little bit of extra face closure.  But that's not what we're talking about.   We're talking about how the change in feel can result in an actual change to the mechanics.  Usually (but not always) subconscious changes.   That's where the bigger and more significant influences come from.

[j.b.newton]

I hate feel! 🤪  I just want numbers/data.   

 

I understand that that is not possible and understood what you were meaning.  It does make practical sense, but sometimes hard to accept that with no practice swings between shaft changes - the body can adjust so quickly.  The body is a pretty impressive machine.

[Pepperturbo]

A shaft starting right or left is NOT the shaft but how its makeup and head responds to the users' swing.  I've been playing since the 90s and not experiences any shaft (too many to recount) that actually had a bias in spite of my fast hitter style tempo and transition.