Your Guide to Choosing the Right Shaft For Your Driver
Choosing the right shafts can significantly impact your performance on the course. When most golfers buy clubs off the rack, they will only focus on 2 aspects beyond the manufacturer and model…the loft of the driver head and the flex of the shaft. For golfers looking to get the most out of their game, club manufacturers generally offer a number of other shaft options in addition to the plethora of after-market options that are available. With so many choices, it's important to understand the factors that can help you find the right shaft to suit your game.
Shaft Length
The length of the driver shaft directly affects a golfer's ability to generate clubhead speed and control the ball flight. Longer shafts will generally lead to greater clubhead speed, resulting in increased carry and overall distances. That distance can come at the cost of consistency and accuracy though. Many golfers notice a significant increase in control when they trade a few potential yards off the box for a driver that is 1 or 2 inches shorter.
Most men’s drivers you’ll find in stores will run ~45” and women’s drivers will run ~44”. With that said, depending on your priorities and the characteristics of your swing, you can consider a driver a bit shorter or longer depending on if you’re looking for more distance or control. By rule, outside of high level competitive play, you can go up to 48”. That’s impractical for almost all of us unless your ambitions include outdriving your buddies at all costs. With that said, most of us will be happy with something in the 43-45” range as long as we can keep it in or close to the fairway.
Ultimately, finding the right driver shaft length involves considering individual swing characteristics, body type, and personal preferences. There is general guidance based on your height and wrist-to-floor measurements available as a starting point, but that’s based solely on your physical characteristics. As with all aspects of building your preferred set of clubs, testing different options with a club fitter or instructor can help you maximize your performance on the course based on your physical characteristics, swing, and golf goals.
Shaft Flex
Choosing the right shaft flex is a crucial decision for any golfer. The shaft flex directly affects the performance and accuracy of a golf swing. It determines the amount of flex or bend in the shaft during the swing, directly affecting the speed and timing of the clubhead. A golfer with a slow swing speed would benefit from a more flexible shaft, which allows for greater clubhead speed and distance. On the other hand, a golfer with a fast swing speed will usually benefit from a stiffer shaft that offers more control. It's vital to consider factors such as swing speed, tempo, and skill level when selecting the right shaft flex for optimal performance and consistency on the course.
Recommended Shaft Flex by Swing Speed
Up to 75 mph: Ladies
75-85 mph: Senior
85-95 mph: Regular
95-105 mph: Stiff
105+ mph: X-Stiff
Shaft Weight
The weight of a golf shaft can significantly impact a player's swing speed, control, and overall feel for the club. Measured in grams, it’s easy to disregard the importance of finding the right shaft weight but it can have a significant impact on your game.
A shaft that’s too heavy can make it difficult to square the club up consistently and a shaft that’s too light can allow your hands/arms to take over and flip the clubhead too easily.
We’ll save the conventional wisdom speech here and simply say there’s no better reason to trial and test different shafts than this. Finding the right shaft weight in your driver can significantly impact your shot dispersion, consistency, and distance. Try out some different options and see what performs best for your game.
Shaft Torque
Shaft torque refers to the shaft’s resistance to twisting during the swing and has an impact on the feel of the club, and in turn your confidence. Unlike some of the other characteristics of a shaft that are printed on the shaft itself, you often have to look up the specs online for a particular shaft. Measured in degrees, you’ll find most shafts with ~2-7 degrees of torque.
The “standard” assumption is that lower torque shafts are better for high swing speed players, while higher torque numbers are better for slower swing speeds. There’s also an idea that a higher torque rating will generally help (right handed) golfers who are missing to the right or want to encourage a draw. Lower torque ratings will generally help (right handed) golfers who are missing to the left or want to encourage a fade. With that said, your mileage will vary and as with all aspects of choosing the right shaft, we encourage you to test, test, and test. It is essential to find the right balance between torque and shaft flex to maximize performance and consistency, enabling you to achieve the optimal distance, accuracy, and feel.
Shaft Kickpoint
The kickpoint refers to the point along the shaft where you’ll find the apex of the bend of the shaft when it flexes during the swing. The position of the kickpoint can significantly impact the trajectory and ball flight of the shot. A lower kickpoint, closer to the clubhead, tends to produce a higher ball flight with more spin. On the other hand, a higher kickpoint, closer to the grip end, offers a lower ball flight with less spin. The kickpoint can greatly influence the feel of a club during the swing and is a crucial factor for golfers seeking to optimize their performance on the course.
Like torque, this is another characteristic that you’ll usually have to look up online.
Conclusion (tl;dr)
Finding the right driver shaft for your game is more than just looking at the flex. Kickpoint, torque, length, and weight aren’t marketed like flex, but they can have a significant impact on your game. Analyze your swing, your common misses, and your golf goals off the tee. Then test some options or consider a proper club fitting to get the most out of your game. Choose wisely!
