By Terrence Jordan
Just about any golfer can tell you what a golf club is composed of: a head, a shaft, and a grip. The head is the part that sells clubs. Golfers want a TaylorMade r7 or a Callaway Big Bertha; most don’t think about the shaft, and the grip is a complete afterthought. Behind every good golf club, though, is a good shaft, and there are many kinds that have a profound influence on your game.
Shafts have come a long way from their hickory roots. Before the modern era of golf, shafts were made of wood, much like the clubheads themselves. Courses were short, and there weren’t many “big hitters” around. The advent of golf’s titanium age has changed all this, however. Clubheads are made of titanium, graphite, and all kinds of exotic metals, and the shafts have followed suit. Golfers can now choose shafts that are built precisely for their swings. Do you have a fast swing? A slow one? An early release? Maybe you just have trouble keeping the ball in the fairway. There are numerous shafts on the market that fit perfectly with your swing eccentricities, and the technology that drives them is incredible.
Along with an increase in technology, the past few years have seen a rise in awareness about the importance of golf shafts. Many PGA Tour golfers are constantly being fitted and refitted to achieve optimal performance from their clubs, and the technology that they benefit from is now available to amateurs everywhere. Even though most of us will never know much about flex points, torsional tip matrices, and nanocarbon, that doesn’t mean that we can’t find a shaft that fits our swing. Today’s PGA pros are well-educated in how to fit golfers for the perfect shaft. Visit your local pro today and experience the difference that a high-end shaft can provide.
UST is one of the industry’s leading shaft manufacturers. Found in the bags of many PGA pros, including recent additions Jim Furyk and Davis Love III, UST’s Proforce V2 is the company’s most popular shaft. The Proforce V2 has a consistent flex profile, which allows it to be fitted more easily to golfers seeking shafts for more than just their drivers. UST’s proprietary construction method has resulted in an extraordinary power-to-torque ratio, giving golfers more distance with increased control. Randy Stuart of UST advocates the Proforce V2 as a shaft for everyone. “The V2 is designed to fit a wide variety of players, not just PGA Tour pros,” he says. “The same products that go to tour for the best players in the world can be found at retail for amateur golfers, as well.”
One of the new kids on the shaft block is
Stulz Golf. Much in the way that square drivers have used geometric advantages to gain a toehold in the driver industry, Stulz Golf has found a geometric advantage of its own. Its Nano Arrow Tri-Edge shaft is not like other shafts—it’s triangular. The unique shape adds stability to the head at impact, while also resisting drooping and twisting in the shaft during each swing. Because of this, the Nano Arrow Tri-Edge arrives at the ball squarer for longer, straighter shots. Gary Diehl of Stulz Golf sees the development of triangular shafts as a bold new step for the industry. He explains, “Our shafts are visually different, but they help all golfers. Initially, the Nano Arrow Tri-Edge will appeal to better golfers, because they are more cognizant of their problems, but golfers with handicaps above 15 have recently started to see the benefits of getting fitted with the right shaft, too.”
e21’s Scandium Alloy shafts are being well received by TOUR professionals this year, with several players consistently using them in tournament play. The e21 Eagle shaft is manufactured using a proprietary 25-step production process to create a seamless, extruded shaft. Variable wall thickness and the alloy’s high tensile strength results in a vibration dampening system called ShockBlok(TM) with 270% better shock attenuation than steel shafts that protects golfer’s bodies, bones and joints. Each e21 shaft is made from a single piece of Scandium Alloy resulting in unmatched consistency from club to club as well as unprecedented accuracy and an industry leading torque of as low as 1.4°.
One shaft company with some big ideas is
Accuflex. The company’s new Creation shaft is made of a nanomet polymer composite and features a very long butt, increasing its ability to store energy. This stored power is released at the right moment, creating an explosion in distance that feels great. The precise weight distribution and variable bending properties make for a supremely stable shaft throughout impact, minimizing shot dispersal and aiding in consistency. Besides the Creation, Accuflex has come up with the EP “Swing Pink” shaft. Designed for lower swing speeds, the EP is perfect for high-handicappers. The metallic pink look will certainly stand out on the course, and a portion of each sale of the EP is donated to breast cancer research. Where else can you improve your game and be charitable at the same time?
Aldila has been a fixture in the golf world for years. The company’s VS Proto shaft combines carbon nano-tubes with the A65 Performance Resin System and ultra-high modulus graphite fibers to create one of the longest, straightest shafts in the business. The NVS shaft, used by Paula Creamer and dozens of other pros, has a responsive tip for a higher ball flight and a consistent taper for increased feel. Designed for the low-handicap player, the NVS and its high launch can take your game to new heights.
One of the most popular shaft companies on the PGA Tour is
Fujikura. The company’s new Fit-On shaft system allows each golfer to find a shaft that is fitted perfectly with his or her swing. The RE*AX TP showcases Fujikura’s Rombax technology, which combines the company’s proprietary Triax material with a computer-woven, braided box weave composite. This prevents ovaling in the shaft, making for a more stable head and more consistent shots. The E 300 series shafts are made for higher swing speeds. These shafts have a firmer tip for a long, penetrating trajectory. The heavier weight and lower torque makes the E 300 series perfect for aggressive swingers. The Rombax shaft, Fujikura’s newest offering, is geared specifically for today’s enormous driver heads. With a tip that is reinforced by Kevlar Triax and a computer woven composite, the Rombax is Fujikura’s most versatile, reliable shaft.
Graphite Design International has a new premium performance shaft that incorporates the company’s revolutionary “4-Axis Material.” The Tour AD Quattro Tech provides increased stability with a low kickpoint, providing golfers with a high, long ball flight. Four different weight categories make the Tour AD Quattro Tech ideal for golfers of all abilities and swing speeds. Golfers will also love the incredible feel of the Pershing shaft. With a high balance point and a variety of weights, torques, and kickpoints, the Pershing is a premium shaft that can work for any golfer.
Mitsubishi Rayon has created a shaft that continues the company’s tradition of high-performance, highly respected shafts geared towards good golfers. The Diamana White Board is equipped with a stiff tip and mid-section for reduced spin and stability throughout the swing. A softer butt section provides great feel. The Diamana White Board comes on the heels of the Red Board and Blue Board. These three high-quality shafts each offer unique options to low-handicappers. The Blue Board has a stiff butt section and a stable mid-section for increased control and less kick, while the Red Board has a stiff mid-section and an active tip to encourage a higher, more accurate ball flight. All three shafts live up to the Diamana name that PGA Tour golfers have come to trust.
Penley is targeting golfers of all ability levels with its new P2 shaft. The use of an all-new patented aerospace technology called DynamX allows the P2 to possess an extremely low torque and great feel. The benefits of having lower torque are two-fold—accuracy is improved and distance is bolstered. The P2 also eliminates the harsh vibrations that are associated with most low-torque shafts. Penley’s ETA (Energy Transfer Accelerance) shaft is designed to maximize energy transfer from the butt to the tip of the shaft. Designed for better players, the ETA has a high launch angle and a low spin rate, both crucial elements in driving distance. Most golfers will be amazed at how much longer their drives travel with the ETA.
Grafalloy has welcomed new shaft technology with open arms. A subsidiary of True Temper, the company’s Epic shaft utilizes Nanofuse technology, a material that is created by the fusion of nano-crystalline molecules with a composite polymer substrate. Do you know what means? Neither do I, but it sure makes a strong, light shaft. The Epic offers tremendous control and feel while also aiding in energy transfer and distance. The ProLaunch Red shaft from Grafalloy has some technology of its own. Micro-Mesh tip technology provides lower torque and more stability, while the low, penetrating ball flight gives golfers the tour trajectory that they’ve wished they could have.
Today’s golf shafts are more and more advanced compared to their predecessors. Space age materials have made many drivers’ specs sound like they came straight from NASA. This has meant nothing but good things for golfers, as distance, control, feel, and accuracy have all been made easier. Even with the recent explosion in shaft technology, those in the industry expect there to be more advancements in the future. Randy Stuart from UST expects shafts to get even lighter. “This will be achieved by better designs made possible by advanced materials and manufacturing capabilities,” he says. Gary Diehl of Stulz Golf is extremely optimistic about the future. “I think we will see tons of innovation in the coming years,” he states. “Different materials, placements of flexing in the shaft—all of these things can alter performance in a positive manner, and it’s going to be a race between the shaft companies to see who can come up with these things the fastest.”
With the rate of improvement in shafts today, it’s amazing to consider how far the industry has come in the past 20 years. The next 20 promise even more innovation and technology, but for golfers that can fit themselves with any of these new shafts, the future is now.
