Effect of Shaft Weight?

[Hux]

What is the difference/feel between graphite shaft weights

Hi all

Just trying to get my head around what the difference in shaft weights are for a given type of shaft, eg say a Aldila NV Protopype 60, 70 and 80.

What feel or difference in characteristics will you experience with the different shaft weights?

Thanks in advance.

[clubshack]

The most important effect of weight is how it affects your tempo. A heavier club will smooth out an erratic tempo. Also, the added mass is a factor in how much energy is transferred to the ball at impact.

[Hux]

Thanks. For some reason I cannot transfer long distance in irons to the driver.

 

I would consider myself a good striker of irons. eg 5 iron 200yds, 8 iron 165yds etc, although as a recent returnee to golf my swing is coming back but the whole game is not back together yet.

This however doesn't transfer across to the driver and I cannot seem to get past 250 metres (ahh 275yds) with most fall @ 220-240m and if I really go for it things turn to poo pretty quickly.

 

What I am wondering is whether a heavier shaft eg a 70gm or heavier will allow me better control over the club head as I do tend to lose it and slice a bit?

[Mikepaul]

Had this myself many years ago as a tenager. I changed my swing with the help of the local pro

 

The technique with the driver is different tht the irons (even a tee'd 1 iron), you need to catch the driver on the upswing. check out the swings of tiger woods or Adam Scott and I bet you are narrowing your arc at some point in your swing, also swing plane is crucial at waist height and the top of the swing should be parallel to your target line. Big hitters use their shoulders (not arms/wrists/hands) to generate very high clubhead speed. I strongly believe planned wrist hidge is flawed, look at tiger/nicklaus their wrists hinge naturally. The nick faldo wrist flick worked cause he practiced so hard, but he was such a short hitter

 

I think you need to perfect your technique before you look at shafts, why not book a lesson with your local pro?

[pocketfulladoubles]

Heavier shaft I would argue will be slightly stiffer (70 vs. 60), have a lower torque, and make it a little harder to turn over and could slightly worsen your slice. For me, dropping the shaft weight and flex a touch helped with avoiding the right side.

[Mikepaul]

I have a whiteboard 73x and gained more distance over the speeder 757 x, due to

 

1) slightlly lighter shaft (speeder 757 is 79g and whiteboard is 73g)

2) the whiteboard is high kick-point shaft so lower spin (ideal as my ss is 120mph)

 

 

In regards to above you need to find a shaft you can load properly to maximise centre of club hits. If the shaft is too boardy you start to loose distance, too whippy shaft you have trouble with hitting the centre of the club consistently and your average distance drops due to mishits.

 

are you hitting the dead centre of the driver every time ?