Gone are the days of looking at a swing and saying, “That guy is an X-stiff.”

How do you know what shaft is right for you and for your specific, unique swing? Do you hit up on your driver? Do you work your irons? Do you want a specific flight? Those are all factors in determining the right shaft.

Using Foresight Sports GC Quad/GC Hawk launch monitors, Golf Town Master Club Fitters have tremendous insight into how each individual swings the club, and how that impacts fitting. But fitting a golfer for a specific shaft is part science, part art.

Where to start

A lot of it comes down to feel, with fitters looking at the results on a swing monitor and then responding to the player’s perspective. There’s no single swing, and each golfer may want a different result.

That said, there are generalities—a lighter shaft with more flex will launch higher, and a stiffer, heavier shaft will make it harder for a golfer to draw the ball—but even those elements are only part of the equation. Every shaft has its own characteristics that need to be taken into account.

For many, the question is how to narrow the myriad of stock shafts that are available through many manufacturers, let alone considering the after-market shaft options.

For example, Mizuno uses a “Shaft Optimizer” (available at Golf Town) to narrow the number of potential shafts to three for iron sets. That’s a good place to start considering all the variations in shafts and flexes offered in each.

Watch the results

With hundreds of shaft options, a Golf Town Master Fitter will help you navigate your way to what works for you and your objectives.

With a driver you might want to launch it high with a draw, while perhaps a golfer is more concerned about a lower flight with irons—the right shaft helps you achieve that. Irons also interact with the turf (hopefully your driver doesn’t!) so that’s another consideration in picking the correct shaft.

Beyond the flight, distance, dispersion, spin, weight, and launch numbers will all play a factor in picking the right shaft for your game. Our Master Club Fitters are here to help you make the proper decision. Every manufacturer has different shafts that come standard with their irons and woods, making it even more important to spend time on a radar device that can measure your swing. Visit a Golf Town near you to book an appointment with one of our Master Club Fitters today.