Choosing the right shaft is important for many reasons. Without going into swing
mechanics, (maybe a topic for another day), there are a couple of basic points you
should know about a golf swing; you need to swing fast, and hit the correct spot on the
club face for a good shot. Your shaft is the catalyst for that. Both flex and weight should
be considered. Below are a few of the important factors about the correct shaft and why
it matters:
- Distance & Speed: Professional golfers swing their driver between roughly 110-
125+ mph. They use an “Extra Stiff” shaft to keep control of their clubface. If it
was too flexible it would be hard to control. Your average recreational golfer
swings their driver between roughly 75-95 mph, so they need a more flexible
shaft to add speed, usually a “Regular” flex. - Trajectory & Launch Angle: different shafts have different “kick points”, which
will help determine the height of the ball. The “kick point” is essentially where the
club bends, which will determine your launch angle. A low kick point raises the
launch angle, and a high kick point lowers it. - Accuracy: The Torque of your shaft, essentially how much it bends, and the
weight, will determine your “dispersion”, or how accurate you are. If you don’t
have the correct shaft, and don’t have control, your accuracy will suffer. -
Tempo & feel: golf is a feel game, and if you don’t have the correct shaft, it
won’t feel right during your swing, and you won’t perform well.