Golf Club Shafts - Design and Traits
Considering the design of a golf club shaft is very important for a skilled golfer while purchasing a golf club, as this gives a strong hold over the game and its equipment. Mostly the designs of golf club shafts are predetermined and set for almost all brands, but getting a better design gives you a better leverage. Golf club shafts are of many different materials and shapes. It is up to you to decide which one suit you best. A few traits are –
- Steel shafts – Steel shafts are more durable, stronger and cheaper than the graphite ones. Mostly carbon steel is used, although stainless steel is also used sometimes. These shafts are preferred by those who want an extra hold over the game, as the shots are more controlled with the steel shafts. This gives room for greater accuracy. Steel shafts do not give lateral twisting as the graphite ones. There are two types of steel shafts.
a). Stepped Steel Shafts – In the stepped steel shafts, the diameter decreases from the wider butt end to the narrower end where it is attached to the golf club head. This shape also helps in producing flexibility of kick points. The shaft is straightened, hardened and chrome plated to give it stiffness and consistency. These kinds of shafts are used by a majority of golfers.
b). Rifle Steel Shafts – The main feature of these shafts are that these are smooth and with the same diameter throughout from the top to the bottom. These types of shafts maintain great energy in the shots unlike the step technology ones, which loses some energy due to the flex in the shaft.
- Graphite Shafts – Although graphite is more costly than steel, but is less durable. The advantage of using a graphite shaft is that it is of less weight and therefore gives more speed due to swing. They weigh only about 50-85 grams. This makes these shafts more powerful. But the flexibility of the shaft makes one experience less control over the shot played. These graphite shafts are very popular amongst the experienced, women and amateur golfers, as the swing produced by this is more than that of the steel shafts. It fulfills the standards of the ust golf shafts.
- Multi Material shafts – These are the new options in the shaft market, where both steel and graphite are used in combination to make shafts to get the best of both the materials. The upper part is made of steel, whereas the lower tip is made of graphite to rid of unwanted vibrations.