SELECTING THE RIGHT SHAFT FOR YOUR GAME – SHAFT KICK POINT

Hello Golf Circuit Fans!

I’m back with the final installment in our series of selecting the right shaft for your game.  In our last three posts we’ve focused on shaft flex, shaft weight, and shaft torque.  Today, we’re zeroing in on one final element of proper shaft selection – kick point.

The kick point of a golf shaft refers to the place where it bends or flexes at impact, or how the flexibility of the shaft was distributed along the length of the shaft.  Today this may also be referred to as the bend profile or bend point of a shaft, but it really means the same thing.

There are a few things that golfers should keep in mind when evaluating the kick point of a shaft:

• As a general rule shafts with low kick points will encourage a higher ball flight, so golfers looking for a higher trajectory should seek shafts with low kick points, and golfers seeking a lower trajectory should seek shafts with lower kick points.

• Golfers with quick tempos and high swing speeds will generally prefer shafts that have a stiffer butt end, and golfers with smoother tempos and lower swing speeds are likely to prefer shafts with softer butt ends.

• The later you release your club the stiffer you will want the tip end of the shaft to be to encourage optimum launch conditions.  If you tend to release the club early you will want to look for a shaft with a softer tip section.

It’s also important to keep in mind that kick points or bend profiles are not uniform between shaft manufacturers, and they also may differ between shaft flexes and weights.  This means that one shaft’s high kick point may not correlate directly to another’s.  Ultimately, it’s important to experiment with different shafts to see which fits your swing best.

Well – that wraps up our series on selecting the right shaft for your game!  Hopefully these four posts have been informative and give you some guidance when it comes to selecting the right shaft or shafts for your game, and with the new interchangeable technology in many of today’s newest driver’s experimenting with different shafts can be a lot of fun as long as you understand the elements that affect performance!

Until next time,

James

Golf Circuit PGA Teaching Professional

Click Here ====> Check Out Golf Circuit’s Great Selection of Shafts!

SELECTING THE RIGHT SHAFT FOR YOUR GAME – SHAFT TORQUE

Hello Golf Fanatics!

I’m back with another installment of Golf Circuit’s series on shaft fitting.  As more and more interchangeable drivers appear on the market it’s important that golfers understand all of the factors that go into selecting the right graphite shaft for their game. In our first two shaft fitting posts we focused on shaft flex and shaft weight, and today we’re going to zero in on another popular element of shaft fitting – torque. Shaft “torque” refers to the twisting of the shaft on the downswing and through impact.

Torque is measured in degrees, and ranges between 2 degrees to 8 degrees depending upon the construction and design of the shaft. The higher the torque the more twisting the shaft will experience during the swing. While torque is often discussed by both amateurs and professionals, it actually has a very limited effect on shaft performance. In my experience working with major equipment manufacturers shaft torque actually has more of an effect on the “feel” of a graphite shaft than the actual performance of the shaft.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when evaluating the torque of a shaft:

• A graphite shaft with a torque range of 3 degrees to 6 degrees will be well suited to most any golfer.

• A graphite shaft with a torque range of below 3 degrees may have a feel that is preferred by stronger players or those with quicker swing tempos.

• A graphite shaft with a torque range of 7 degrees or higher may have a feel that is preferred by players with smoother, slower swing tempos.

Of the three elements of shaft fitting we have discussed so far torque is by far the least important. Both shaft flex and shaft weight will have a much more dramatic effect on the overall feel and performance of your club.

That’s all for this week my friends, but stay tuned next week when we wrap up our four part series on shaft fitting with a discussion on kick point and trajectory!

From Tee to Green,

James

Golf Circuit PGA Teaching Professional

Click Here ====> Check Out Golf Circuit’s Great Selection of Shafts!

SELECTING THE RIGHT SHAFT FOR YOUR GAME – SHAFT WEIGHT

Greetings Golf Circuit Fans!

Today I want to bring you the second installment of Golf Circuit‘s shaft fitting series.  In our first installment we focused on defining shaft flex and how it plays into performance and fitting, and today we’re going to focus on another element of graphite shaft construction and design – weight.

Measured in grams, Shaft weight is one of the most under appreciated elements of shaft fitting and it has a major role in the feel and performance of a golf club.  Today’s ultralight graphite shafts weigh in at around 40 or 50 grams, while their heavier counterparts tip the scales at 80 to 90 grams.

Shaft weight affects a club in the following ways:

• Performance:  A heavier shaft will often be stiffer and better suited for stronger players, while ultra light shafts are engineered to increase swing speeds and increase distance in players with average to mild swing speeds.

• Feel:  Heavier shafts can cause players with quick tempos to slow down their swings because they can actually feel the club more during their swing, while lighter shafts can almost feel weightless and easy to swing.  Heavier shafts are also sometimes well suited for experienced players who learned the game with older equipment since they better mimic the feel of the clubs they developed their swing for.

Use the following as general rules when selecting shaft weight for your swing:

• 40-50 grams (ultra-light):  These shafts are best for players who like the feel of a lightweight club, swing with a smooth tempo, and have mid to low swing speeds.

• 60-70 grams (mid-weight):  These shafts are great for average players who aren’t sure what they are looking for.  They fit a variety of swing speeds and tempos without a drastic light or heavy feel.

• 80-90+ grams (heavy-weight):  These shafts are best fit for strong players with quick tempos who are looking for a substantial shaft that will help them control their swings.  These shafts can also be great for senior players who grew up building their swings using the heavier equipment of the past.

Keeping this information in mind should better help you understand the numbers found on your current graphite shafts, and also select new shafts that will improve your performance and lower your scores!

That’s all for this edition, but stay tuned for our next post when we will focus on another element of shaft fitting – torque.

Your Friend,

James

Golf Circuit PGA Teaching Professional

Click Here ====> Check Out Golf Circuit’s Great Selection of Shafts!

Selecting The Proper Shaft For Your Game – Shaft Flex

Hello Golf Circuit Fans!

I’m back with another blog post to help you get the most out of your game, and today I am kicking off a series of posts on a popular topic in the equipment world today – shaft fitting.  The new interchangeable shaft technology that manufacturers like TaylorMade, Callaway, Nike, and now Ping have introduced makes it a snap to alter the performance of your driver.

When it comes to selecting the proper shaft there are a few elements that every golfer should be aware of to ensure maximum performance for their unique swing – flex, weight, and torque.  In the first edition of my series on shaft fitting I want to focus on shaft flex.

Shaft flex has a significant bearing on performance.  Most graphite shaft manufacturers engineer their shafts in multiple flexes which refer to how easily the shaft bends during the swing, including the following:

• “A-Flex” or “Soft-R” are often designated as mens senior flexes (“A” originally referred to amateur).  These can also be great for strong juniors or ladies with higher swing speeds, and also for men with extremely smooth swings.

• “R-Flex” is designated as a mens regular flex, but can also be great for ladies with strong or quick swings.

• “S-Flex” is designated as a mens stiff flex.

• “X-Flex” or “Tour-S” are mens extra stiff flex.  These shafts are most often reserved for expert players, but they can be great for stronger men who have extremely quick swings.

• “L-Flex” is designated as a ladies regular flex but can also be great for seniors with slower swing speeds.

Golfers should be aware that selecting a shaft which is too flexible for their swing will likely cause a wild shot pattern and unpredictable ball flight.  While a small boost in distance may result from a shaft that is too soft or flexible, the benefit is usually outweighed by the loss of directional control.  On the other hand, when golfers select a shaft that is too stiff they will likely experience enhanced control but a significant loss in distance.

Golfers can also utilize these different flex properties to match various courses and playing conditions.  A stiffer shaft may be better suited for a tight short course or windy conditions, while a softer shaft might be better suited to a wide open course in calm conditions.

Keeping these ideas in mind should help you find the right shaft(s) for your game and get the most out of today’s modern driver technology.  Stay tuned because next time we will be focusing in on another element of proper shaft fitting – shaft weight.

Until then keep it in the short stuff!

Your Friend,

James

Golf Circuit PGA Professional

Click Here ====> Check out Golf Circuit’s Great Selection of Interchangeable Shafts

 

Lower Your Scores With Properly Fit Wedges

Hello Golf Circuit Followers!

My name is James and I am the resident PGA Teaching Pro here at Golf Circuit.  I’ll be posting tips here on our blog to help you get the most out of your game, and today I want to talk a little bit about your wedges.  There are two basic elements that affect the performance of your wedges, and ensuring that you have both fit to match your game can really help you lower your scores!

Loft:  Most pitching wedges have between 46 and 48 degrees of loft, and the gap in loft between irons is usually 4 or 5 degrees.  This gap, plus the change in length, is what causes irons to carry different distances.  Knowing the loft on your pitching wedge can help you select the proper wedges for your game.  If your pitching wedge has 46 degrees of loft, the next step down would be a 50 degree gap wedge, and then a 54 or 56 degree sand wedge, and then a 58 or 60 degree lob wedge.  Having the right lofts on your wedges makes it easy to hit variety of different shots without having to adjust your swing too much.

Bounce:  There is another angle called bounce that directly affects the performance of your wedges.  Bounce is the angle between the leading edge of your wedge and the turf and it’s usually between 8 and 14 degrees.  The higher the bounce the greater the distance between the leading edge and the turf or the sand.  High bounce wedges are great for players that take large divots, those playing in wet conditions, or those playing from fluffy sand.  Low bounce wedges are great for those who take little or no divot, those playing in hard pan conditions, or those playing from hard sand.

The easiest way to start building a set of wedges that fits your game is to have your pro measure your pitching wedge loft.  That will help you determine exactly what wedges you should be shopping for to minimize distance gaps.  Also, keep in mind the playing conditions at your local course(s) when selecting bounce to maximize your performance around the green.

 

From Tee to Green,

James

 

 P.S. Don’t forget to check out Golf Circuit’s great selection of wedges!  Click Here! <=======