| OK, so you've heard and read enough about golf | | | | "L" flex shaft and 5 - 6 degrees of torque? |
| shaft torque to fill the National Library of Congress - | | | | Considering the above statement, let's take a look at |
| and what have we learned? | | | | and make some static measurements not usually |
| Well, I can share with you what I have learned and | | | | discussed by club makers or club manufacturers in |
| not everyone will agree with; but here is my two | | | | general. For the purpose of this article, I will use that |
| cents worth. | | | | long drive shaft of Joe Bianchi's; a shaft I designed, |
| There's more shaft torque than what is on the | | | | designated as the ·Parabolic Action" model. |
| specification sheet, which is what most club builders | | | | The following shows degrees of torque for the shaft |
| rely on, and that's what I want to discuss in this | | | | only, then the shaft with a grip assembled, and finally, |
| article. | | | | the shaft with a grip assembled and the player's grip. |
| First of all, when it comes to designing a golf shaft, | | | | It also shows the actual torque value differences: |
| and, more specifically a golf club, there are two areas | | | | Shaft only: 4 degrees Standard Graphite Shaft, 7 |
| of physics we must contend with: static and dynamic | | | | degrees Parabolic Action, with a full 75% difference in |
| functions. | | | | Torque. |
| Static testing is generally done without motion or | | | | Shaft and Grip: 10 degrees Standard Graphite Shaft, |
| activity, such as checking the flex or torque; both of | | | | 13 degrees Parabolic Action, with yet a 30% |
| which are done by simply hanging a weight at a | | | | difference in Torque. |
| certain position on or about the shaft. Dynamic | | | | Shaft, Grip and Player: 16 degrees Standard Graphite |
| testing is done during or with motion, such as | | | | Shaft, 19 degrees Parabolic Action, with a only a 18% |
| frequency or by a person swinging the club. | | | | difference in Torque. |
| Dynamics is the reason that when two assembled | | | | As you can see, once you bring all the factors into |
| clubs are having exactly the same static | | | | play, the torque of only the shaft may not be as |
| measurements, they will not always feel or hit the | | | | significant as many would have you believe. When |
| same. Thus, dynamic measurements incorporate | | | | you take into account the above data, there is not |
| physics: all the mechanical properties of the | | | | much difference in a shaft with 7 degrees or 4 |
| components and materials, and the most difficult of | | | | degrees of torque. I believe that's why Joe Bianchi |
| all to analyze - the "human factor". I say this because | | | | and a host of other strong, fast swinging long drive |
| players will say shafts with too much torque, say 5 | | | | specialists (four players qualified for the Chrysler |
| degrees or more, slice the ball, and shafts with too | | | | Nationals with this shaft), hit a 7 degree shaft better |
| much flex, say "R" or less, cause a very highball | | | | than most players can hit a 5 degrees shaft or less. |
| trajectory and lose distance! Well, if all of this is true, | | | | It's more a control function (human) than a shaft |
| how can Joe Bianchi, a long drive specialist, who | | | | function. |
| swings at 140 mph and hits a ball in competition 350 | | | | However, let's not get crazy now, there are limits to |
| plus yards, hit two balls that I witnessed over 420 | | | | everything. Remember: no black and white, only a |
| yards and stay in a 50 yard grid, using a club with an | | | | sea of gray. |