Picking the Right Golf Club
Shaft
If you are picking out some new golf clubs for your personal
enjoyment, one of the biggest factors will be picking the right
shaft. The shaft of a golf club is the metal that connects the
handle to the head, and effectively holds the entire golf club
together. It plays a huge role in the swing of the club.
Picking the right one can have a huge effect on your whole
game, but you have to consider many things when picking it. The
best thing you can do is get a seasoned golfer to help you out
in this matter, and try out enough golf clubs to feel confident
in your choice. There are, however, a few guidelines that will
always be helpful for someone picking out a golf club shaft.
Pay attention to them, and you can make a wise choice when
picking out your golf clubs.
The length of the shaft is definitely the factor that needs
the most thought put into it. Since everyone’s swing techniques
and height are different, the shaft you choose will have to be
tailored personally to you. One way that people determine their
desired length is to measure from their navel straight down to
the floor. Once you grip the club and lean over to make your
stroke, you will find that the length is almost always perfect.
However, if you don’t lean as much as other people (or you lean
further), the length will have to be altered. Just try out a
few lengths before you decide on one, and you should end up
being happy with the length of the golf clubs that you choose.
However, that’s not all.
Golf club shafts also have another factor that is specified
by the manufacturer, and this is the flex of the club. If you
try to bend it with your bare hands you won’t notice it bending
visibly, but when you swing your club it does bend in an almost
imperceptible amount. This can largely affect your game,
especially if you are used to using another type of club with a
different amount of flex. The main thing that changes your
choice of flex is the speed of your swing. Do you put all of
your force and speed into a swing, or do you do it more
delicately? The faster swings will probably be better off with
a stiffer shaft. Club shops should be able to help you
determine how much flex you need.
Most of these things can be altered by the material that the
club is built out of. The two most popular materials are steel
and graphite. Each one has its own unique characteristics –
generally graphite is considered to be the more professional
choice, but you may find that steel shafts work perfectly well
for you. The steel shafts are heavier and more durable, and
usually cheaper than graphite. However, graphite is perfect for
those who prefer lighter clubs and higher torque ratings. The
needs of a golfer can range across many different variables,
but many find that their needs fall within the offerings of
steel shafts.
Lots of golfers find that they are fine with simply sticking
to the golf club shafts that they have learned on. However, if
you are a dynamic golfer and you feel that you can improve your
game by buying a shaft that is more suited to you, then you
will find that it can increase your enjoyment of golf by quite
a bit. The right shaft paired with the right person can work
wonders. Therefore you should consider all of the factors that
have been discussed here, and decide how you can use them to
your benefit. With the help of expert golfers along with club
store employees, you should be able to use the combined
knowledge to pick out something great to replace your current
clubs.
|