Choices used to be few and far between when it came to driver shafts - there will be some who even remember a time before graphite - but nowadays, the options seem endless. That can make picking out a new driver shaft a tricky decision, but it&#;s worth investing some time into making sure you find the right one for your game as the shaft is an extremely important component in how the driver performs.
It&#;s no longer just a case of choosing the stiffness you&#;d like and going on your merry way either. For your unique swing, it might be that you require something lighter for the specific head weight, or even a shaft that has a certain &#;kick point&#; that will optimize your launch conditions. Whatever it is, make sure and do your research and ideally test some different clubs out before committing to what is a big decision.
In this guide to the best driver shafts, after testing a variety of models, our aim is to give you exactly that, a guide, that will hopefully help you make the most informed decision you can. As far as picking one specific model for you, this is tricky and we would always recommend a custom fitting session so you can get a gauge on exact models. In terms of the overall best model, the Fujikura Ventus Black is hard to ignore given the performance, and the Project X Smoke HZRDUS models are very good too.
While you're here, you might also want to check out our guides to the best golf drivers and the most forgiving drivers on the market. Or, if you're new to the game - first of all, welcome - why not cast your eye over our list of the best golf drivers for beginners.
Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
How we test
When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our team tells it how it is and no manufacturer can buy a review.
In relation to shafts, we usually test them thoroughly in hitting sessions, especially when we also have a lot of drivers to test! We would also often put the same shaft in a variety of clubs to gauge performance not only in a controlled environment with a launch monitor, but also out on the golf course to see what the performance is like where it really matters.
How to choose a driver shaft
When purchasing a new driver or a new driver shaft, there are plenty of things to think about as shafts come in a variety of strengths, lengths and builds. Each can play a part in helping you perform better on the golf course, but finding the right shaft for your strength, swing type and ability can sometimes be a difficult task. But don't fret! We've dropped a few important points that you should keep in mind when picking out a new driver shaft!
1. Flex
Choose a shaft too flexible and you&#;ll overpower the club, causing it to whip round too soon. That can make it a lot easier to miss high and left and the club will generally become too hard to control. Choose a shaft too stiff and you will inevitably swing a touch slower and consequently struggle to square the face at impact, causing you to miss more shots low and right.
The general rule is the faster you swing, the stiffer your shafts should be. And given we swing our fastest with the driver, this makes the shaft a very important factor in performance that you're going to want to consider. For more detailed information on this, check out our video on 'should I use regular or stiff shafts in my golf clubs?'
2. Weight
A shaft that's too heavy and too light will also have an impact on your driver performance so it is important to get the right weight for you. Again, a lot of that comes back to how fast you swing your driver. Golfers with a swing speed between 90 and 105mph will tend to prefer a shaft weight of around 60g. 70g shafts are a better fit for players who swing the club around 105 to 115.
3. Length
A lot has been said about Bryson DeChambeau using a 48-inch driver for more distance of late but in amateurs the length of driver shaft is important because it is more likely to impact strike pattern. A longer shaft hinders consistency and the strike is usually more towards the heel, whilst a shorter shaft often produces a strike more towards the toe. If you're looking to add more yards to your game but not employ a longer shaft, why not take a look at our best drivers for distance guide.
4. Kick point
Kick point is where the shaft flexes the most. A club with a high kick point should produce a lower trajectory and help players who lose distance from a high, spinning flight, while a low kick point will launch the ball higher. Because stiffer shafts need more power or a more efficient action to work at their best, they usually feature higher kick points to help players control their ball flights.
5. Torque
A word most associated with cars, torque is also something you should know about in driver shafts. In the golfing context torque is all about resistance to twisting, so a shaft with a low torque measurement will have greater resistance and the opposite is true for a high torque measurement.
As a result high-speed players, and ones who draw the ball may prefer low torque, whilst slower swingers and slicers of the golf ball may prefer higher torque models. That being said every player releases the club in a different way and at different speeds so testing may be required here. Take a look at our best drivers for high-handicappers for several models that have draw bias built into their clubhead designs.
6. Custom fitting
The easiest way for you to gain a lot of understanding around driver shafts and which will be best suited to you is through custom fitting. Fitting experts will be able to see how fast you swing and cater a driver shaft to your swing speed, along with the other factors we mentioned here.
For more information on some of the best drivers on the market right now, take a look at our guides to the best Callaway drivers, best TaylorMade Drivers and best Titleist drivers.
FAQs
Whilst information on shafts is hard to come by, we believe the most used driver shafts come from Fujikura and two of the most popular models are the Ventus Blue, and the Ventus Black.
The answer to this question will depend on a variety of factors but first we would always recommend going to see a professional fitter because they will be able to guide you to using shafts more suitable for your game. What we have found is when asking this question to fitters, they often say that people should use their current driver shaft as a baseline. If shots tend to be low and little spin, then they would recommend trying a softer flex, whereas if shots are ballooning, try a stiffer shaft. If you're caught between two flexes, you can &#;tip&#; a softer flex to make it stiffer in the tip section. As far as particular model goes, this would require the expertise of a professional fitter because every single golfer is so different.
Torque in a club shaft is something that you might not have come across before when talking about golf club shafts. It refers to how much the shaft twists laterally in the downswing. This can have a big impact on how open or closed the face is at impact and thus how much you draw or fade your shot. If you are prone to a bad slice, you might want to use a shaft that has a higher torque to try and add a draw bias onto your shots. Meanwhile, if you have a natural draw you might want to use a shaft that has a lower torque if you want to hit the ball straighter.
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Whether you are repairing your broken golf club or buying a new golf club, there are a few things you should know before choosing a golf shaft. The first thing is to decide is what type of golf shafts you would prefer, followed by shaft flex, kick-point, torque rating and length. Each of these different aspects of golf club shafts that can influence the performance of your club, and each must be carefully considered before you put in an order. Read on to find out all about how to pick the right golf shaft for you in this guide.
Photo credit: optimarc / Shutterstock
There are two basic types of golf shafts: steel and graphite. Often, your club will have been originally assembled with either of these types of shafts, however if you decide that you would like to change your type of shaft, you should know the difference between each shaft type. There are some newer options that combine the two materials, known as multi-material shafts.
Steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterparts. They are often made from carbon steel, but stainless steel is sometimes used, and start at 120 grams.
Many players will benefit from having steel irons as torque or lateral twisting found in all graphite shafts doesn&#;t occur in steel. Therefore, steel shafts offer more control and have greater emphasis on accuracy than distance, which means that a faster swing speed is required to generate the same distance as a graphite shaft.
Steel shafts are recommended for players with normal swing speeds, who could do with more control when playing.
Graphite shafts are much lighter, less durable and more expensive in comparison to steel shafts, and weigh between 50 and 85 grams &#; around half the weight of a steel shaft! These light-weight shafts help to provide a greater swing speed for more power, however, it sacrifices control due to the flex generated in the swing.
As a result, graphite shafts are a good choice for all golfers. In particular, they are suited to women golfers and seniors, who may struggle to produce a fast-enough swing speed to use a steel shaft effectively.
This shaft type often comes with an extensive range, including a variation in flexes and colours, which appeals to amateurs and professionals alike.
A recent addition to the market are multi-material shafts which are used on both irons and drivers. This type of shaft incorporates steel and graphite into one shaft to get the best of both worlds for each player, to suit all playing types.
Generally, the shaft is made using a steel shaft that has a graphite tip. The steel shaft allows the player to control the ball flight more, whilst the graphite tip ensures the golf ball can go the distance without any unwanted vibrations.
Steel shaft ready for assemble | Photo credit: optimarc / ShutterstockRELATED: Quick Golf Club Size Guide for Beginners
Put simply, the flex determines a golf club shaft&#;s ability to bend during a swing, affecting the distance and direction. Therefore, getting the right flex in your golf clubs is important.
Which flex rating you use will depend on the type of swing you have. For example, beginners and those with less powerful swings tend to use a shaft with greater flexibility to propel the ball more. On the other hand, if a player has a high and powerful swing speed, they will require a stiffer shaft with less flex.
There are a range of different types of flex ratings:
It is worth bearing in mind that different shaft manufacturers vary in their specifications of flex &#; for example, one manufacturer&#;s &#;regular flex&#; might be another&#;s &#;firm flex&#;. Furthermore, all shafts, no matter how stiff, exhibit flex in one way or another.
Even though getting fitted for a specific shaft is the best way to find the right shaft, this chart will give you some general guidelines that can help get you started in the right place:
Carry Distance Swing Speed Flex Under 200 yards Under 75 mph Ladies or Senior 200 to 240 yards 75 to 95 mph Regular 240 to 275 yards 95 to 110 mph Stiff Over 275 yards Over 110 mph Stiff or Extra Stiff
RELATED: Do I Need Custom Fitted Golf Clubs?
The shaft kick-point &#; also known as flex-point &#; is the point where the shaft bends and affects the trajectory of the shot. Although the effect is only small, it is still measurable.
For clarity, a shaft with a high kick-point will often give a low shot trajectory and create the feel of a &#;one-piece&#;. On the other hand, a low kick-point will usually give a high shot trajectory and a feeling of the shaft tip whipping the clubhead through.
Every shaft has a torque rating, which is measured in degrees, in order to determine how much the shaft will twist during a swing. Put simply, the higher the rating, the more the shaft is prone to twisting.
It is the torque that also determines how the shaft feels to every player, which means that the higher the rating, the softer the shaft will feel. A shaft with a 3-degree torque will feel much stiffer than a 5-degree torque, for example.
Every shaft &#; whether it be graphite or steel &#; has a certain amount of torque. You won&#;t be able to get rid of torque completely, but it is worth remembering that the lower the torque, the lower the trajectory will be.
Photo credit: optimarc / ShutterstockOnce the shaft is installed onto your golf club, you must determine the right length for you. But how important is shaft length, we hear you say? Well, the importance of length, according to research, is extreme. For instance, ball impact that is 0.5 inches off-centre equates to a 7% loss of carry distance, and an impact that is 1 inch off-centre equates to a 14% loss of carry distance. So, the key to choosing the right shaft is finding the correct length that provides a repeating, solid hit each time.
In order to determine the length of your club, stand tall and get someone to measure from the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor. Do this with both hands and take an average of the two measurements.
The following lists what length of shafts you should consider for certain heights. If the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor is:
If you have picked the wrong shaft, you will immediately know. When you go to swing the club, you will find that the ball won&#;t go as far as it should, and you may hit the ball off-centre. You may also find that the club may feel &#;dead&#; if the shaft is too heavy or stiff, or alternatively it can feel too soft and weak &#; both can significantly impact your game. Therefore, if you don&#;t know what to do, don&#;t guess, because you may end up with the wrong shaft for you and it can be costly to rectify if you have to buy more shafts or new golf equipment.
Custom fitting &#; which was once reserved only for Tour players and the best amateurs &#; is now available to any golfer who's willing to spend the time and money to get a properly fitted set of clubs.
With today&#;s technology and vast number of products to examine, an experienced club fitter can help anyone find the right club shaft for their golf club. Custom fitting can be done with woods, irons, wedges and even putters from most manufacturers, and professional fitters will work with you to decide the custom fit lie angles, face angles, lofts, lengths, swing weights and other options.
Custom fitting may well increase the cost of your set of clubs, but the benefits in terms of performance (and not changing clubs so often) are definitely worth the extra money. This is seen by our team in this YouTube video, demonstrating with a golf driver:
Get in touch with our PGA professional fitter today on 324 , or talk to a member of staff in store, to book a custom fitting.
Feature image credit: optimarc / Shutterstock
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