198:. Simply, the shaft flex is the amount that the shaft will bend when placed under a load. A stiffer shaft will not flex as much, which requires more power to bend and "whip" through the ball properly (which results in higher club speed at impact for more distance), while a more flexible shaft will whip with less power required for better distance on slower swings, but may torque and over-flex if swung with too much power causing the head not to be square, resulting in lower accuracy. Most shaft makers offer a variety of flexes. The most common are: L (Lady), A (Soft Regular, Intermediate or Senior), R (Regular), S (Stiff), and X (Tour Stiff, Extra Stiff or Strong). A regular flex shaft is generally appropriate for those with an average head speed (80-94 mph), while an A-Flex (or senior shaft) is for players with a slower swing speed (70-79 mph), and the stiffer shafts, such as S-Flex and X-Flex (Stiff and Extra-Stiff shafts) are reserved only for those players with an above average swinging speed, usually above 100 mph (160 km/h). Some companies also offer a "stiff-regular" or "firm" flex for players whose club speed falls in the upper range of a Regular shaft (90-100 mph), allowing golfers and clubmakers to fine-tune the flex for a stronger amateur-level player.
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its performance. Prior to steel, a player would need a slightly different swing for each shaft given the inherent inconsistencies in the hickory shafts. The graphite shaft was first marketed in 1970 at the PGA Merchandise Show but did not gain widespread use until the mid-1990s and is now used on almost all woods and some iron sets, as the carbon-fiber composite of graphite shafts boasts increased flex for greater clubhead speed at the cost of slightly reduced accuracy due to greater torque. Steel, which generally has lower torque but less flex than graphite, is still widely preferred by many for irons, wedges and putters as these clubs stress accuracy over distance.
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filament wound, had extremely consistent properties and were extremely expensive. Subsequent, less expensive flagwrapped versions of the graphite shaft introduced by other manufacturers several years later had inconsistent properties and as a result professionals and skilled amateurs were initially skeptical of the new technology when compared to steel; however, advances in technology, developed by Bruce
Williams, an engineer working with an Ohio-based composites company, eventually changed this perception. Graphite shafts are now more common than steel.
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swung at greater speed. Since 1999 performance shafts have been integrated into the club making process. These shafts are designed to address specific criteria, such as to launch the ball higher or lower or to adjust for the timing of a player's swing to load and unload the shaft at the correct moments of the swing for maximum power. Whereas in the past each club could come with only one shaft, today's clubheads can be fit with dozens of different shafts, creating the potential for a much better fit for the average golfer.
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however these tend to be stiffer along their length as well. Most recently, many brands have introduced stiff-tip shafts. These shafts offer the same flex throughout most of the shaft, in order to attain the "whip" required to propel the ball properly, but also include a stiffer tip, which cuts back drastically on the lateral torque acting on the head.
138:. While hundreds of different designs exist, the primary purpose of the golf shaft remains the same: to provide the player with a way to generate centrifugal force in order to effectively strike the ball. When properly gripped the player can hit the ball further and more accurately, whilst applying less force.
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New drivers come out all the time with new concepts of how its design is supposed to make you hit the ball further, however that is not the case. It all comes down to the shaft. The shaft is 80 percent of the club and can improve your distance by 20 yard. It is important to get the correct fitting in
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Kick Point - The point over the length of the shaft where it is designed to bend. Individual shaft models are designed to flex at different points. Generally, kick points nearer to the grip end of the club tend to produce lower launching, lower spinning shots. Kick points nearer to the club head tend
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Widely overlooked as a part of the club, the shaft is considered by many to be the transmission of the modern clubhead. Current graphite shafts weigh considerably less than their steel counterparts, (sometimes weighing less than 50 grams for a driver shaft) allowing for lighter clubs that can be
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was the dominant material for shaft manufacturing, but it proved difficult to master for most golfers, as well as being quite frail. Steel would become the ubiquitous choice for much of the second half of the twentieth century. Although heavier than hickory, it is much stronger and more consistent in
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to the clubhead, which causes less of the shaft to flex and produces a higher launch angle. The higher the kickpoint, the lower the launch angle. Because kickpoint also has an effect on how much of the shaft flexes, it can be used to fine-tune the shaft's flex to the player's individual swing tempo.
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Lastly, shafts are quantified by their "kick point", which is the point on the shaft where the flex is the greatest. They are generally defined as "low-kick", "medium-kick" and "high-kick", but the difference between all of these is only a few inches. Low-kick shafts flex the most at a point closer
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On off-center hits, the clubhead twists as a result of a torque, reducing accuracy as the face of the club is not square to the player's stance at impact. In recent years, many manufacturers have produced and marketed many low-torque shafts aimed at reducing the twisting of the clubhead at impact,
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shafts began to emerge in the late twentieth century. The graphite shaft was invented by Frank Thomas in 1969 while working as Chief Design
Engineer for Shakespeare Sporting Goods, in collaboration with Union Carbide. The original graphite shafts manufactured by Shakespeare Sporting Goods were
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and are generally lighter in weight than steel shafts. Graphite shafts became popular among amateurs, because lighter weight helped generate increased club-head speed. The carbon fiber also dissipated some of the stinging vibrations that were caused by poorly struck shots.
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Length and Weight - These variables are used to tailor a golf club to a particular player. Shaft lengths can be altered to suit golfers of different heights. Golf shafts are manufactured in various weights to suit players of any skill or strength
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near the grip and between 35 and 48 inches/89–115 cm in length. Shafts weigh between 45 and 150 grams depending on the material and length.
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Flex - The measure of a shaft's flexibility. This measure is relative and varies among manufacturers. Most commonly referred to in terms of
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Early golf clubs had wooden shafts, most commonly made of hickory. These shafts were resilient and withstood the forces created by the
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Modern composite shafts have three layers of fiber winding, adding substantial rigidity, and in turn, performance.
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Material - generally steel or graphite/carbon fiber. More exotic materials have been offered with minimal success.
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Shafts are quantified in a number of different ways. The most common is the shaft
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is the long, tapered tube which connects the golfer's hands to the
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Professional
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to produce higher launching, higher spinning shots.
173:The shaft is roughly .58 inch/14.7 millimeters in
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641:Professional Golfers' Association of America
255:order for you to see the results you want.
50:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
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114:Learn how and when to remove this message
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48:adding citations to reliable sources
1534:Albatrosses in notable tournaments
1074:Women's major championship winners
896:European Ladies' Team Championship
891:European Amateur Team Championship
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1086:Senior major championship winners
1062:Men's major championship winners
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673:World Golf Teachers Federation
631:United States Golf Association
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621:International Golf Federation
819:Senior Players Championship
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1507:R&A World Golf Museum
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847:U.S. Senior Women's Open
842:Senior LPGA Championship
824:Senior Open Championship
776:Women's PGA Championship
766:The Chevron Championship
1502:World Golf Hall of Fame
809:Senior PGA Championship
646:Professional golf tours
781:The Evian Championship
183:shafts are woven from
1696:Travel + Leisure Golf
886:Espirito Santo Trophy
731:The Open Championship
1707:JTBC Golf&Sports
1517:Jack Nicklaus Museum
1181:Granted Royal status
1124:Ladies European Tour
1114:European Senior Tour
786:Women's British Open
44:improve this article
1485:Caddie Hall of Fame
992:Youth Olympic Games
972:Mediterranean Games
901:International Crown
377:Obsolete golf clubs
1243:Robert Trent Jones
1144:PGA Tour Champions
1129:LPGA of Japan Tour
987:Summer Universiade
982:Pan American Games
962:Inter-Allied Games
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29:This article
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1659:
1643:Golf Channel
1577:Hickory golf
1497:Greenskeeper
1162:golf courses
1052:Male golfers
967:Island Games
691:Triple Crown
588:Country club
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104:January 2011
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42:Please help
30:
1702:Video games
1661:Golf Digest
1582:Indoor golf
1512:USGA Museum
1303:Philippines
1258:Donald Ross
1236:by designer
1212:Philippines
957:Asian Games
916:Solheim Cup
626:The R&A
572:Instruction
505:Golf course
458:stroke play
232:extra stiff
1741:Golf clubs
1675:Golf World
1627:Urban golf
1622:Speed golf
1612:Skins game
1587:Long drive
1557:Beach golf
1549:Variations
1527:Furyk's 58
1475:Architects
1190:by country
1169:by feature
1099:Asian Tour
1095:Most wins
925:World Cup
921:Walker Cup
876:Curtis Cup
746:Claret Jug
686:Grand Slam
581:Facilities
560:Golf swing
532:golf clubs
483:Stableford
463:match play
294:Golf clubs
259:References
148:golf swing
74:newspapers
1617:Snow golf
1597:Park golf
1572:GolfCross
1562:Disc golf
1359:2000–2003
1354:1945–1999
1349:1851–1945
1344:1353–1850
1283:Australia
1276:Countries
1134:LPGA Tour
911:Ryder Cup
726:U.S. Open
612:Governing
593:Golf club
553:Technical
537:golf ball
527:Equipment
493:penalties
473:foursomes
468:four-ball
453:etiquette
136:club head
132:golf club
31:does not
1735:Category
1720:Category
1682:Golfweek
1567:Footgolf
1318:Thailand
1313:Scotland
1217:Portugal
1160:Lists of
1139:PGA Tour
1005:Rankings
656:PGA Tour
603:Pro shop
498:playoffs
488:handicap
438:Glossary
426:Overview
370:See also
327:Pitching
238:(A), or
181:Graphite
175:diameter
162:Graphite
1298:Ireland
1202:Iceland
1044:Golfers
1034:Amateur
934:Women's
520:hazards
478:scoring
443:Outline
433:History
224:regular
155:hickory
142:History
88:scholar
52:removed
37:sources
1655:GolfTV
1480:Caddie
1470:Awards
1308:Russia
1222:Sweden
1197:Canada
1022:top 10
862:events
796:Senior
736:venues
682:Majors
345:Putter
313:Hybrid
250:level.
240:ladies
236:senior
169:Design
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1689:Links
1636:Media
1337:Years
1328:Wales
1293:India
1288:China
1207:India
1176:Links
1029:Women
1017:No 1s
929:Men's
758:Women
565:drive
510:links
448:Rules
361:Shaft
354:Parts
323:Wedge
301:Types
234:(X),
230:(S),
228:stiff
226:(R),
130:of a
128:shaft
95:JSTOR
81:books
1454:2022
1449:2021
1444:2020
1439:2019
1434:2018
1429:2017
1424:2016
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1409:2013
1404:2012
1399:2011
1394:2010
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1384:2008
1379:2007
1374:2006
1369:2005
1364:2004
869:Team
651:LPGA
419:Golf
335:Sand
318:Iron
308:Wood
242:(L).
196:flex
126:The
67:news
35:any
33:cite
1012:Men
701:Men
542:tee
339:Lob
331:Gap
46:by
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