| The shaft of the golf club is said by many to be the | | | | 105+ 255+ X |
| engine of the golf club. The more I think about this | | | | Bend Point: Often confused with kick-point, the bend |
| statement, I'm not convinced it is accurate. I am | | | | point is the maximum position of the shaft when it is |
| maintaining the more accurate statement is that the | | | | subjected to a bending force. Kick-point is determined |
| swing is the engine and the shaft is the transmission. | | | | by a different test and is not the same. Bend-point |
| Regardless of what you consider the shaft to be, all | | | | designations are; low, mid, and high. The terminology |
| golfers need to know which shaft is right for their | | | | might lead you to believe that the bend point |
| swing. | | | | designations are in distinctly different places on the |
| While it is best to be fit by a professional club fitter, | | | | shaft. In reality, all bend points will be within an |
| golfers should have a good idea what type of shaft | | | | approximately 6-inch section of the shaft. Bend point |
| they should be looking for. There are three main | | | | can effect trajectory slightly. Low bend point shafts will |
| specifications that the typical golfer should keep in mind | | | | slightly increase the trajectory, and high bend point will |
| when choosing a shaft. Most golfers will at least be | | | | slightly decrease the trajectory. Additionally, low bend |
| familiar with these specifications: flex, bend point, and | | | | point shafts will feel more flexible at the tip end. |
| torque. | | | | Generally speaking, players with more feel prefer |
| Flex: flex is the relative stiffness of the shaft, more | | | | higher bend point shafts, and high- handicapped players |
| specifically, the shaft's resistance to bending when a | | | | do better with low bend point shafts. |
| force is applied. Flex is categorized with the following | | | | Torque: Torque is the measurement in degrees that |
| designations from the most flexible to the stiffest; | | | | indicates the amount of twisting the shaft sustains by |
| L-flex (ladies), A-flex (senior), R-flex, (regular), S-flex | | | | the force of the swing and the impact of the clubface |
| (stiff), and X-flex (extra stiff). Any information about | | | | with the ball. Torque has more of an effect on feel |
| shaft flex is given in generalities only. Since there are | | | | than any other fitting parameters. The lower the torque |
| no industry standards, every companies designations | | | | of the shaft, the more it will feel stiff in the tip. Torque |
| concerning flex can be different. Traditionally, a golfer | | | | is no longer considered a factor in shaft fitting, with |
| will base a flex decision on swing speed, or driving | | | | only a couple exceptions; feel, and those of the player |
| distance. Although this is not the only determining | | | | with a very fast swing speed and a fast tempo, or the |
| factor, the following is a good place to start. | | | | player with a very low swing speed. The fast swing |
| Club head speed: Driving Distance Flex | | | | speed player should (>95mph), should not use a |
| Up to 65 mph 160 yards or less L | | | | shaft with a torque greater than 5 degrees, and the |
| 60-75 mph 160- 180 A | | | | low swing speed player should not use a torque less |
| 75- 90 180- 225 R | | | | than 3.5 - 4 degrees of torque. |
| 90- 105 220- 255 S | | | | |