Trying to determine shaft flex in a Persimmon driver

[freddiec]

I've got a nice Wood Bros driver without a shaft band and I'm trying to figure out the shaft flex. The 1st step is 9 and 3/4 inches from the bottom of the bore thru ring. Would anybody know based on a club you have which shaft it could be assuming the shaft in mine was not tipped during install? I'm thinking it could possible be an X100, but not sure, its pretty stiff. Thanks.

[astamm8]

Is is a taper DG or parallel?

[freddiec]

Andy, I'm not sure if I know the difference. The shaft itself looks typical, like a S300 with the steps, ect.

[astamm8]

I'm not entirely sure that it matters. But there may be a different step profile for say x100 in taper and parallel. I'd guess that there is, but I don't know for sure.

To tell, you could look at the screening on the butt of the shaft, which I'm guessing you can't do because of a grip. The shaft butt width is .620" on a taper and .600" on a parallel, but again same problem. So the tip on a taper is .295, while it's .335 on a parallel. So either measure the tip diameter at the bore thru (which can be hard given it's a small number) or just compare with a known other shaft. The Blonde Texan I sent you is .295, so if it's the same it's .295. If it's noticeably bigger it's .335.

If it's parallel, it could have been tipped, so a bottom to first step measurement is no guarantee. And if its tapered which it might be in a Wood Bros (given its vintage, etc.), then there were different lengths from 45" to 42" in 1/2" increments. I think a "standard" driver install would be a 45" shaft and butt trim to length. But, one could easily use a 44" (or less) and do the same because finished length for the club was probably 43.5" or so. This would result in a stiffer shaft and bottom to first step measurement of 1" less. This would be like tipping or hardstepping the shaft. I'm guessing this might have been Norman's set up in the M43 with an x400 and then heavily tipped shaft making it even more stiff. I bet this was done by installing a 43" taper shaft, but that's just a guess.

Anyway, I have some uncut DG taper wood shafts in S flexes, so I can look at those, and we can probably figure it out, roughly, if yours is a taper shaft.

[astamm8]

"He liked Dynamic Gold X3 and X4 tipped 2", making the first step 7' from the sole."

This is a quote that you got from Dave Wood about Norman's club. At 9 3/4" to the first step it sounds like yours is an X something. I think there was only x100 in parallel tip, but there was x100, x200, x300, and x400 in taper.

I'd still be interested to hear if it's taper or parallel though.

[freddiec]

Thanks Andy !!. Will check it out

[XYB34A]

most shafts that were in persimmon woods were .294 shafts. you have to remember that shafts in woods, were not only glued, but pinned and then had whipping around the shaft too.

shafts were actually in different lengths. there were driver, 2,3,4,5 wood shafts. it was not just one shaft, then butt trim it.

there used to be an old chart on the true temper website. that u had to look for, that had what was called "classic" shafts.

it has been a while since I looked for it, hope u can find it.

the chart had lengths to the first step

another possiblity would be hireko golf, they have a lot of information on old shafts from test they have done.

[mat562]

From memory my Texan's first step is 9" up, and I'm as certain that it's an X100 as I am that night follows day.

I don't know if that helps or not.

[Bella Woods]

Fred:

Dave mentioned to me when I was talking to him last that the "stock" steel shaft for a
Wood Bros driver was taper tip (.294). So if its the original - odds are its a taper tip shaft.

You have a couple of choices - taKe the grip off & hope the shaft info is still on it, or find
someone with a frequency analyzer have have them frequency it. Measuring to the first
step is OK if nobody tipped it - but.....

As Justaman stated - the old taper tip shafts were different length depending on what
wood you were putting them into. Most people would have used a 43 12" or 44" taper
tip for a driver - but could have used 43" or 45" too.

I just measured a raw (new/unused) 43 1/2" Dynamic Gold S500 taper tip shaft and it
is about 10 3/4" to first step.

Wally

[astamm8]

I just measured an s500 45" taper shaft at 12 1/4" to the first step, which matches perfectly with Bella's measurement. So that means yours could be an S shaft in 42" (which would require a butt extension for a driver) or more likely an X shaft. That's if it's a taper shaft. But, I bet it is.

[Bella Woods]

[quote name='astamm8' timestamp='1327622929' post='4158667']
I just measured an s500 45" taper shaft at 12 1/4" to the first step, which matches perfectly with Bella's measurement. So that means yours could be an S shaft in 42" (which would require a butt extension for a driver) or more likely an X shaft. That's if it's a taper shaft. But, I bet it is.
[/quote]

I also got 12 1/4" to the first step on a 45 inch DC S500- and 9 3/4" on the
42 1/2" DG S500.

[freddiec]

Thanks Bella. The Club is 44 inches long. it seems from the info its most likely atleast a S500 if not an X flex. I'm gonna replace the grip soon and will see if anything under it tells me anything.

[astamm8]

I'd bet anything that it's an X?00, .295 taper tip 45" 'normal' instal meaning no tipping, etc. And this is a horrible way to do it, but comparing the shaft tip size in comparison with the screw next to it, with my Texan with a .335, yours looks much smaller.

What's the grip on there? Does it feel oversized at all? That's the problem with replacing the grip, if it's a taper DG the butt size is .620. There used to be more of a selection in .620 core grips. For example, my Toney Pennas have Toney Penna branded Victory half-cords (with collars!). I'm sure they're .620 too, because they're standard size. If I wanted to replace the grips, I'd probably end up with oversized. Of course, a lot of people like oversized grips though. And I don't know if Wood Brothers would have used .620 grips or just made them oversized.

[olegolfer]

I vaguely remember there is a subtle difference in shaft step length between
taper and parallel shafts, parallel sections are slighly longer. Dont have any of my old repair manuals anymore..(it used to
be in the maltby guide). Maybe someone could vefify.

[astamm8]

That's a definite possibility; the parallel and taper irons have different step profiles.

[Bella Woods]

[quote name='olegolfer' timestamp='1327718329' post='4164941']
I vaguely remember there is a subtle difference in shaft step length between
taper and parallel shafts, parallel sections are slighly longer. Dont have any of my old repair manuals anymore..(it used to
be in the maltby guide). Maybe someone could vefify.
[/quote]

Both taper and parallel tip True Temper Dynamic Gold steel
shafts have/had 1 7/8" steps. Same for the old time Dynamic
Shaft.

TT Life steel shafts were/are 1 1/2" steps.

TT DG shaft "technology" was the weight tolerance improvement.
Old Dynamic shafts would be mid range DG.

Re: R300, S300 and X300.

[astamm8]

DG iron shafts are different.

http://www.truetemper.com/golf/shadow/DYNAMIC%20GOLD%20PARALLEL.pdf

http://www.truetemper.com/golf/shadow/DYNAMIC%20GOLD%20TAPER.pdf