Question:
Seems to me that I was just in your shoes a while back. Spent 3 weeks doing some research on clubs, etc. Read a book called the Insiders on Golf Equipment. Wasn’t much help. It wasn’t garbage, but on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of usefulness, I’d say it’s a 6. Then, I went to altavista to do a search, and the site www.swingweight.com popped up. The site is purely information, no affliation to merchandises, nothing. The guy who writes the clubs articles is from Dynacraft, but his views are very objective. A good read (for myself at least), and very influential in my decision to get my set of clubs. Good luck Cyril Ma Before you buy.
Response:
Get a good club maker and he will be able to advise you on what shafts you should be using and I would recommend that you try the graphite shafts. They are generally lighter and thus easier to play with. Try this site, www.proclubmakers.org, they are a non-profiting organisation supporting Clubmakers Worldwide. They even have a club maker locater on the website. Happy comeback, torture yourself on the course. Regards Jef Goh
| Dave… | | I have a very good friend, a university professor, who has basically | completed the same transition you have described. We was also an | excellent golfer in his high school and college years, then fell away | from the game. I got him back into the game and after a half a summer | playing with his original clubs, he was ready to check out the newer | equipment. | | I have seen numerous web sites dealing with what you have requested, but | I have not book marked their URLs. I’m sure some other folks will have | them at their finger tips. I have found information offered by the | manufactures very good, so you would do well to check out True Temper, | Royal Precision, UST, Grafalloy & others for top notch info on current | shaft technology. | | Hopefully you have a good pro shop in your area where you can try | different setups. You are in for a treat. The equipment now available is | pretty incredible, if not entirely overwhelming. | | Good luck with your search and welcome back to the game! | | cheers | | RJ | … | | |
| | I played alot of golf in my teens until around age 30 (10 handicap) when | business/family pressure caused me to prioritize golf out of my life. I | haven’t played since then. I’m now 51 and anticipate being able to start | playing again soon. I gave my clubs to a nephew back in 1985 and need a | new set. Alot has changed in golf club technology. | | I’ve started research to understand the options but can anyone give me a | pointer (book or website) that is a single source of the trade-offs in | today’s golf club technologies? I had a pro-line set when I played | before so will probably do that again. Even though I’ll most likely end | up being professionally fitted I’d like to be informed before I begin | that process. | | I also have a separate question. I understand that (within limits, of | course) that more flexible shafts increase distance (at a loss of | accuracy/control) vs. stiffer shafts. It would seem to me that a stiffer | shaft would be the preferred shaft for irons where accuracy is most | important. Are stiff shafts in iron sets the ‘typical choice’? | | Thanks. | | dave | | Before you buy.
Response:
Practically speaking, shafts are not a factor in accuracy. You might hear that stiffer (longitudinally and/or torsionally) shafts lead to "tighter dispersion patterns" but in reality with the type of ball striking a 10 handicap has, you’ll never notice. Nor does shaft flex produce a significant difference in distance. Two grades change in flex might produce a 1 degree difference in loft at impact and might produce a 1-2 percent change in clubhead speed. Might. Those add up to a half club or so for irons. For a driver there are so many other factors that it’s pointless to argue the merits of a driver on shaft alone. I would choose shafts solely on feel. And I would recommend steel shafts for irons. A single grade change in flex may produce a noticeably different feel but it shouldn’t affect your trajectory or distance significantly. Technology-wise, there isn’t all that much "revolutionary" in golf clubs. For your driving club, you’ll generally get the best distance and control out of a large headed (260cc+) driver with an ultralight (<65g) shaft. Your other woods can be graphite or steel. Don’t assume that graphite shafts are "softer" feeling than steel shafts. The more expensive tip stiff graphite shafts can feel exceptionally harsh if you mishit the ball (and not all that great when you nuke it right off the center of the clubface). I gather than typical OEM shafts are medium to high torque (meaning, less torsionally stiff) with softer tips, which is why they feel soft. But plain old steel can feel quite soft too. A lot of the "soft" feel comes from the clubheads anyway, especially in irons. Really, I would suggest you just find a set of irons that has an impact feel you like. As long as they fit you, they should be fine. Woods, especially driver, can be tougher to get right. I wouldn’t expect my first driver purchase to be the last and certainly not the one I like best several years down the road. -joseph I’ve started research to understand the options but can anyone give me a pointer (book or website) that is a single source of the trade-offs in today’s golf club technologies? I had a pro-line set when I played before so will probably do that again. Even though I’ll most likely end up being professionally fitted I’d like to be informed before I begin that process. I also have a separate question. I understand that (within limits, of course) that more flexible shafts increase distance (at a loss of accuracy/control) vs. stiffer shafts. It would seem to me that a stiffer shaft would be the preferred shaft for irons where accuracy is most important. Are stiff shafts in iron sets the ‘typical choice’?
– Joseph N. Hall … perl, golf, music, and so on Music – http://www.digitalweapons.com Book — http://www.effectiveperl.com The Usual Crap — http://www.5sigma.com/joseph
Response:
A few years ago, I believe some of the folks at GOLF Magazine wrote a book about clubs and technology. I can’t recall the name, I believe John Adrisani was one of the authors. I recall though that is was a well written objective piece, somewhat of a contrast to what you find in a lot of golf magazines that tend to swallow the marketing of the manufacturers. To say shaft flex affects distance or accuracy is a simplification. I think more than anything it is a question of feel. The right flex fits in with your swing and helps you develop the right tempo. Any differences in accuracy and distance are minimal and such that with a few trips to the range and time, your swing and timing adjust to fit with the new flex. More than anything, it is important that your clubs are consistent throughout. I think that is really the big reason to measure flex at all — to ensure that you can make all the clubs flex the same. Otherwise, you might tend to hit one club left, another right, another straight. The more consistent the clubs, the more likely you can use one consistent swing and get the same results. Most big OEMs do a decent job with consistency. This is the quality you buy with a big name brand. A good clubfitter can do a better job than the big OEMs in hitting this consistency. A poor clubmaker can do an awful job, and the trouble is it is very difficult to tell the difference unless you have your own clubmaking equipment to check his or her work. It seems as though you have read up on the technology and fitting issues. I would imagine just by friendly conversation you would be able to evaluate if someone knows what they are doing. As always recommendations are key. — JoePete – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I understand that (within limits, of course) that more flexible shafts increase distance (at a loss of accuracy/control) vs. stiffer shafts. It would seem to me that a stiffer shaft would be the preferred shaft for irons where accuracy is most important. Are stiff shafts in iron sets the ‘typical choice’?
Response:
Dave… I have a very good friend, a university professor, who has basically completed the same transition you have described. We was also an excellent golfer in his high school and college years, then fell away from the game. I got him back into the game and after a half a summer playing with his original clubs, he was ready to check out the newer equipment. I have seen numerous web sites dealing with what you have requested, but I have not book marked their URLs. I’m sure some other folks will have them at their finger tips. I have found information offered by the manufactures very good, so you would do well to check out True Temper, Royal Precision, UST, Grafalloy & others for top notch info on current shaft technology. Hopefully you have a good pro shop in your area where you can try different setups. You are in for a treat. The equipment now available is pretty incredible, if not entirely overwhelming. Good luck with your search and welcome back to the game! cheers RJ … – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I played alot of golf in my teens until around age 30 (10 handicap) when business/family pressure caused me to prioritize golf out of my life. I haven’t played since then. I’m now 51 and anticipate being able to start playing again soon. I gave my clubs to a nephew back in 1985 and need a new set. Alot has changed in golf club technology. I’ve started research to understand the options but can anyone give me a pointer (book or website) that is a single source of the trade-offs in today’s golf club technologies? I had a pro-line set when I played before so will probably do that again. Even though I’ll most likely end up being professionally fitted I’d like to be informed before I begin that process. I also have a separate question. I understand that (within limits, of course) that more flexible shafts increase distance (at a loss of accuracy/control) vs. stiffer shafts. It would seem to me that a stiffer shaft would be the preferred shaft for irons where accuracy is most important. Are stiff shafts in iron sets the ‘typical choice’? Thanks. dave Before you buy.
Response:
I also have a separate question. I understand that (within limits, of course) that more flexible shafts increase distance (at a loss of accuracy/control) vs. stiffer shafts. It would seem to me that a stiffer shaft would be the preferred shaft for irons where accuracy is most important.
Flexible shafts will generally make it easier to hit the ball further with less effort but if they are too flexible for your swing speed you will probably lose some of your potential distance and definately accuracy. Stiff shafts are for players who swing the club faster/hit the ball harder. If shafts are too stiff for you it will noticeably decrease your length and feel harder to strike the ball solidly. It will also be harder to get the club- face square at impact, shots will leak out to the right and lower. Are stiff shafts in iron sets the ‘typical choice’?
You’d have to ask the manufacturers for stats but I’d say that stiff shafts were for top players or guys who hit the ball pretty solidly. Regular shafts are the ‘typical choice’ As you said you were planning to get your next set of clubs professionally fitted, you’ll get the shafts most suited to your swing and ability. The Sea Ram
Response:
I played alot of golf in my teens until around age 30 (10 handicap) when business/family pressure caused me to prioritize golf out of my life. I haven’t played since then. I’m now 51 and anticipate being able to start playing again soon. I gave my clubs to a nephew back in 1985 and need a new set. Alot has changed in golf club technology. I’ve started research to understand the options but can anyone give me a pointer (book or website) that is a single source of the trade-offs in today’s golf club technologies? I had a pro-line set when I played before so will probably do that again. Even though I’ll most likely end up being professionally fitted I’d like to be informed before I begin that process. I also have a separate question. I understand that (within limits, of course) that more flexible shafts increase distance (at a loss of accuracy/control) vs. stiffer shafts. It would seem to me that a stiffer shaft would be the preferred shaft for irons where accuracy is most important. Are stiff shafts in iron sets the ‘typical choice’? Thanks. dave Before you buy.