Home     Iron Heads     Driver Heads     Fairway Wood Heads     Putter Heads     Shafts     Grips     Wedge Heads     Utility Heads     Supplies and Accessories     Closeouts / Specials     Trimming Charts     Links     FAQs     Testimonials     Policies     Articles     Contact Us     Site Map     Newsletter Signup     SHOPPING CART

What is it in the swing that really changes how the same shaft bends/performs? For now we know these things . . . .

1. The more forceful the start of the downswing (transition) the more the golfer can apply INITIAL BENDING FORCE to the shaft, and in doing this, moreso in the butt to center section of the shaft. We know that if we take a butt flexible design shaft and give it to a golfer who really starts to pour on the coal immediately at the start of the downswing, the result can be more toe hits from too much shaft droop, or at the least a little too flexible of a feel overall to this type of golfer. Likewise if we take a butt firm bend profile design and have the golfer with a real smooth transition, gracual ramp up of the speed of the club on the downswing, this shaft tends to hit the ball a little lower and feels more "harsh" or "boardy" to that type of golfer.

2. The later the golfer is able to hold on to the wrist cock angle on the downswing before unhinging it, the more bending force is put on the tip half of the shaft and the LATER this bending force is put on that part of the shaft. THis is THE KEY MOVE in the golf swing that determines if and by how much, the shaft can combine with the loft/CG of the head to contribute to the launch angle of the shot. Very early release, such as unhinging the wrist cock right when the downswing starts - that move will hit all shafts pretty much the same exact height for the same loft/CG of the head. If there is ever a height difference in clubs with different shafts for the early release golfer, it comes NOT from the bending difference of the shaft, it comes from the total weight, swingweight, length, etc differences that may be in the two clubs and how that affects the golfer's overall swing to possibly result in a more upward or downward angle of attack into the ball - not from the bending. Early release causes the shaft to bend forward TOO EARLY in the downswing - so by the time the club gets to the ball, this forward bending of the shaft from the release of the wrist cock has been DONE AND GONE. Late release means that centripetal force exerted by the unhinging of the wrist-cock angle will act on the CG of the head to "push" it and the shaft with it more forward as the club comes to impact. How much it bends the shaft forward is a product of 1) how late the release, 2) the actual centripetal force exerted in the release (Tiger is about 80lbs, 100mph golfer is about 50lbs, 80mph golfer about 30lbs), 3) the bend profile design of the shaft - ie how stiff and how tip stiff the design, 4) how far back the CG in the head is from the centerline of the shaft.

Real Late release + high centripetal force + very flexible shaft + very deep CG = shaft increasing the launch angle by as much as 3* over what the loft/CG and angle of attack determine. And this is ONLY for wood shafts, not iron shafts because in terms of REAL BENDING AMOUNT, all iron shafts are much stiffer than all wood shafts due to their shorter length + larger tip section diameters. Again, if a golfer perceives a LOT HIGHER flight with a different shaft, in addition to this amount of forward bending that can be generated, it is eminenly possible the shaft's contribution to the overall and total feel of the club will have caused swing moves that resulted in a more upward angle of attack into the ball.

I can't stress this relationship of the overall and total feel of the club to how the golf swing changes/adjusts to cause results that are not specific to the shaft's bending or shaft's real performance.

Anyway, this is way too long already - I can tell that I got the old passion for sharing what we know going a little too much. If this triggers questions, fine, I will be happy to share any answers I know as well as tell you that we may not know that yet. But overall, do please keep in mind that

1. The same shaft reacts totally different to different swing transitions, downswing acceleration, wrist cock release points

2. The shaft is ONLY a product of its weight, torque, balance point, length and overall stiffness as defined by its bend profile - things like material or manufacturing differences DO NOT AFFECT ITS PERFORMANCE, but they DO AFFECT ITS FEEL, which in turn can affect the golfer's swing moves

3. The shaft can only affect the total weight/swingweight of the club, contribute with the loft/CG of the head to determine the final launch angle but only for golfers with a somewhat later to very late release, contrinute slightly to accuracy based on its torque vs the golfer's transition and downswing acceleration.

TOM WISHON