Although they may appear straightforward, the shafts on your golf clubs play a critical role in shaping your game.
The Importance of Golf Club Shafts
Imagine the golf club shaft as the core of your club – what does this metaphor mean? In essence, the shaft’s fundamental purpose is to convey the force produced from your swing to the golf ball. An appropriately coordinated shaft can make perfect the discharge edge, twisting, and generally speaking, execution on the course. Conversely, an improperly coordinated shaft can cause an inferior release edge, twist rates, and execution.
Understanding the Various Materials Used in the Construction of Golf Shafts
Historically, steel iron shafts were preferred by advanced players or those with higher swing speeds seeking a low shot trajectory, while graphite shafts were ideal for amateur golfers with moderate swings or those wanting maximum distance with lighter shafts. However, this distinction no longer holds true with properly-fitted clubs.
Graphite shafts have seen significant advancements, particularly in the past 20 years. Manufacturers now use various types of graphite and exotic materials to produce extra stiff (XS) shafts, surpassing previous performance limitations. Fun fact: some graphite shafts incorporate carbon fibers found on the nose cone of the Boeing 787.
When it comes to cost, graphite shafts are generally more expensive than steel shafts due to the advanced materials and manufacturing processes involved. Steel shafts typically range from $20 to $50 per shaft, while graphite shafts can cost between $50 and $850 per shaft, depending on the brand and specifications.
Shafts formed from a combination of steel and graphite strive to bring durability, versatility, consistency, and noise production reduction, usually showcased in prestigious golf gear.
In my travails as a golf equipment writer, I have been fortunate in receiving and testing many varieties of shafts. The following shafts performed and certainly impressed me as to distance obtained and feel experienced. My average increase in distance on my driver, fairway and hybrids produced a minimum of 10 yards while the wedge shafts were like dart throwers- so accurate.
Graphite Design Tour AD VF 4 R2 Shaft
I absolutely have loved Graphite Design shafts since I began playing golf. Their consistency, performance and aesthetics are second-to-none. Pros such as Hideki Matsuyama, Tiger Woods, Amy Yang, Brian Harman, Chesson Hadley, and Erik van Rooyen use Graphite Design Shafts.
Their newest shaft, the Tour AD VF is winning on Tour already, just having been released in 2024. I use the Tour AD VF 4 R2 (Lite/Senior Flex) in my PING driver. It is a fairway finder coupled with an additional 10+ yards and so much less dispersion rate than my previous driver shafts. Not knocking the Ventus shaft, which I could just not get comfortable with, the Tour AD VF performed exceptionally well for my game. As for the aesthetics of the shaft, I really love the jet black with red accents and finished with a gloss clear coat.
The Graphite Design Tour AD VF – Victory Force wood shafts were designed and are manufactured at the Graphite Design Japan factory headquarters. The Tour AD VF, like the other high performance Tour AD wood shafts, utilizes premium, aerospace quality carbon-fiber materials and are available in 40g R2, R1 and S flex, 50g R2, R1, S and X flex, 60g SR, S, X and TX flex, 70g S, X and TX flex and 80g X flex. For the past twenty years, Graphite design continues to be the most dominant, #1 shaft brand on the Japanese JGTO Professional Tour.
The Tour AD VF shaft profile is Firm in the butt section, Stiff+ in the center section and has a Very Stiff tip to promote Low/Mid launch angles and Low-ball spin rates. The Tour AD VF shafts utilize the modern TORAYCA® M40X carbon-fiber material in the butt section of the shaft to support a stiff, yet smooth feeling kick point and the ultra-high modulus TORAYCA® T1100G carbon-fiber material in the middle thru to the tip section of the shaft for unrivaled shaft stability and precise ball control without the loss of the exceptional feel that Graphite Design shafts are so well known for.
For slower swing speeds, I recommend either a VF 4-R2 or 5-R2 shaft.
$379.00 www.prochoicegolfshafts.com
Newton Shafts by Sacks Parente
Developed by Sacks Parente Golf, all Newton Motion shafts are available with adjustable driver and fairway wood adapters to fit heads offered by most major golf equipment companies including Callaway, Cobra, Mizuno, PING, PXG, TaylorMade, Titleist and Tour Edge.
What I really like about the Newton’s shaft offerings are their Ready-To-Play Newton Motions shafts which arrive with a premium Lamkin Crossline 360 Black grip pre-installed and are cut to modern industry-standard playing lengths.
Another feature I like is their “unique” dot system to designate flex/weight to the spineless and elongated bend profile. Their choice of finish, multi-color fading iridescent paint is ‘different” and interesting to say the least. Pretty cool looking!
All you need to do is to unscrew your driver or fairway wood head, swap out the shaft, and head to the course. It’s a simple as that! Of course, all Newton driver and fairway wood shafts are also available raw / uncut.
All Newton Motion shafts are hand-crafted, one by one, in Newton’s factory in St. Joseph, Missouri to the highest possible quality standards. Newton’s proprietary Symmetry 360 design virtually eliminates any spine and ensures consistency from shot to shot. This is especially important with drivers and fairway woods that provide loft and lie adjustability.
Newton proprietary shaft engineering delivers individually tailored flex profiles, that satisfy all swing speeds and deliver less dispersion (straighter), and longer distance, from a smoother transfer of energy (less effort).
The Newton shafts use a “Dot” for each of the six profiles they offer. Each dot is a specific profile with six dots being the strongest (stiff) flex. For example there are broad “speed designations” where for example a 5 Dot equates to 105-115 MPH and the six dots equates to 115 MPH.
Newton Motion shafts flex identically no matter what clocking position the club is set.
As for performance, our testing group, loved the shaft. One of our testers, a 6 handicap, was getting 20+ yards with the shaft in his Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max driver! I picked up 10 yards with my driver!
What I like about the Newton Shafts are that they are available both as uncut and ready to play with the adapter of your choice. FYI, adapters alone range between $30-$40 if purchased separately. The adapters are available in the eight brands mentioned above.
The six different DOT profiles are impressive and unique in shaft flex identification currently in use. What really is a consumer friendly USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is the shaft comes with a 30-day guarantee for either your money back or an exchange for a different Dot, plus, free shipping to 48 states. Very clever salesmanship!
$250.00 www.newtonshafts.com
redZNE wedge shafts
These wedge shafts are the brain child of Barney Adams (Adam Golf) and his Breakthrough Golf Technology Company.
Their newest iteration of their wedge shaft is the redZNE shaft, and according to BGT it is the most advanced and precise wedge shafts ever created, enhanced with innovative upgrades for maximum spin performance and improved feel.
The RedZNE™ offers a host of performance benefits and is compatible with all wedge brands. Our testing group was enamored with the soft feel combined with superior distance, control, and precision on every swing.
Delving further into the “secret”, BGT explained that the unique selling propositions, were the following:
- Stiffer carbon fiber upper section, 54% stiffer, for a consistent, smooth feel without reverb
- Maximum spin performance, enhancing accuracy by 50%
- High-performance carbon fiber tips for lower launch and better distance control
- Redesigned connectors for optimized weight distribution
- Enhanced swing weight for consistency and maximum smash factor
As for the specs of the shaft, 3 weights are available for optimal feel, control and consistency – 90g, 115 g or 130 g.
Our testing group was all very positive about the performance of the shaft in their wedges. The testing group and I, loved the feel and dart-like accuracy it produced. The shafts color scheme was a big hit as well.
BGT offers free installation in your putter (you send your putter to them) and a one-year product warranty.
$199.99 https://breakthroughgolftech.com/shop/redzne-wedge-shaft/
KBS Max HL Wood Shaft and KBS MAX HL Hybrid Shaft
These shafts are crafted for players with slower swing speeds who want to achieve a higher launch and added spin, without sacrificing accuracy and forgiveness. The MAX HL follows the same E.I. curve as the KBS MAX Graphite Iron Shaft. This innovative Driver/Fairway wood shaft is tailored for those who base their choice on “swing speed” rather than the conventional “flex”.
The NEW KBS MAX HL is designed for a wide range of players seeking to MAXimize the performance of their driver/wood shafts with trajectory, spin, and distance in a consistent, lighter weight package.
Wood Shaft specs:
- Weight: 40g, 42g, 45g
- Flex Options: R2, R, S
- Launch/Spin: High/High
Available Colors: Red, White, Black
Price: $99.95
Hybrid Shaft specs
As with the wood shaft above, the NEW KBS MAX HL Hybrid is designed for a wide range of players seeking to MAXimize the performance of their hybrid shafts with trajectory, spin, and distance in a consistent, lighter weight package, making it easier for you to produce performance on every shot.
- Weight: 40g, 50g, 60g, 70g, 80g
- Flex Options: R2, R1, R, S, X
- Launch/Spin: High/High
- Available Colors: Red, White, Black
Price: $74.95
Benefits of Shaft Fitting
- Improved Accuracy: Custom-fitted shafts provide better control, leading to more precise shots.
- Increased Distance: Optimized shaft flex and torque can result in longer drives and fairway shots.
- Consistent Performance: A properly fitted shaft ensures consistency, making your performance more reliable.
- Enhanced Feel: Players experience a smoother swing with the right shaft, improving overall comfort and confidence.
- Optimized Swing Speed: Tailored shafts match your swing speed, maximizing energy transfer and efficiency.
- Adaptability: Fitted shafts are compatible with adjustable club heads, allowing for quick adjustments and flexibility on the course.
Investing in custom-fitted shafts like the Newton Motion Fairway Woods shaft can significantly improve your game by providing the perfect blend of control, power, and consistency.
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. Visit www.facebook.com/PGTAA to see all the latest mental strategies, travel, and equipment reviews. Currently, he also works with between 10 to 12 PGA TOUR players on the mental side of golf.
He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and serves both as a consultant and mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers” and his previous book, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf,” which is still on the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His current book, “The Right Mind for Golf,” is now in its 13th reprint and is available on Amazon and at the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Just released on June 30th, his new book, “The Right Mind for Putting,” is now available at https://www.pgtaa.com/product/the-right-mind-for-putting-2023. Mental drills are essential for golfers looking to improve their performance on the course. Golf is a unique sport that requires a combination of physical skill and mental focus.
