Which Golf Shaft Should You Use - Shafts Explained

How important is it to have the correct shaft fitted to your golf clubs? Without the slightest shadow of a doubt, it is the most vital component. 

The likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, who are super-fit athletes in the prime of their lives, have clubs fitted with extra-stiff shafts. If you tried to hit a golf ball using McIlroy’s driver we can absolutely guarantee that the results would be horrible.

We all swing the club at different speeds and that means there is no one-shaft-suits-all option.  So getting the right shaft for your swing is super important and a major part of any custom fitting when you buy new golf clubs.

To help provide insights into golf shafts and explain the technolgy and options around shafts; which one might be right for you, whether you should use steel or graphite - Golfshake Equipment Expert Ryan Rastall sat down to chat with KBS Tour rep Paul Steels to get all your questions answered.

Watch the video below or read on to find our everything you need to know about golf shafts including what kick point means, what is shaft loading, how different shaft options could help your game and whether you should look to try graphite shafts or simply need some help following injury or are simply a senior golfer looking to swing it faster whilst making it easier on your body.

What You Need To Know About Golf Shafts

It is important to understand the basics of a golf club shaft.

SHAFT FLEX

Most manufacturers designate their shafts as SR, R, S, X, TX, to indicate the flex on a driver or fairway wood shaft. The SR (Senior) and R (Regular) flexes are geared for slower swing speeds and golfers who need help getting the ball airborne. If you generate more speed, you may be pointed in the direction of an S (Stiff) or XS (Extra Stiff) flex. The TX (Tour Extra Stiff) is the shaft flex used by the leading tour professionals.

KICK POINT

This is the area of a shaft that will bend most during the swing. A low kick point is toward the head, a high kick point is toward the grip, and a mid kick point is near the centre of the shaft. Kick point will influence how the club feels and what trajectory the ball launches at.

WEIGHT

This measures, usually in grams, how heavy the shaft weighs. The slower your swing the lighter the shaft you will need.

TORQUE

This measures, usually in degrees, the shaft’s resistance to twisting. Low torque (around 2-3 degrees) means it doesn’t twist much, while high torque (around 5+ degrees) means the shaft twists a lot. Low torque generally works better for high swing speeds, whereas high torque fits best with slower swing speeds.

STEEL OR GRAPHITE?

Almost every modern driver is now fitted with a graphite shaft. In simple terms, this is because it is a lightweight material and allows you to generate greater clubbed speed, which is more important in drivers and fairway woods than irons. But many golfers, not just senior golfers, could also feel the benefits of using irons fitted with graphite shafts because they are far more forgiving than their steel equivalents. Graphite shafts will benefit anybody who suffers from tennis elbow, arthritis, tendonitis or joint problems. They also provide more feel with shorter irons.

For more information on the KBS Shafts featured within the video visit: kbsgolfshafts.com/