Question:
I hear that anyone who has a consistent swing can improve their game by having their shafts properly aligned relative to the club head. The idea is that all shafts have irregularities that cause them to "kick" into the ball along a different path on each swing, unless the shaft has been aligned to reduce the effects of these irregularities. Has anybody out there tried this? If so, what did you think of the results? Thanks
Response:
I hear that anyone who has a consistent swing can improve their game by having their shafts properly aligned relative to the club head. The idea is that all shafts have irregularities that cause them to "kick" into the ball along a different path on each swing, unless the shaft has been aligned to reduce the effects of these irregularities. Has anybody out there tried this? If so, what did you think of the results? Thanks
I just had my new Innovative BTD46 shaft tested and aligned for oscillation. My friend, who is a clubmaker, attached a laser light to the end of the shaft, clamped the butt end and then allowed the shaft to oscillate. 2 feet from the shaft he had a 5 inch line drawn and when the shaft was properly aligned it would simply vibrate in a straight upward and downward motion. To find the correct point on the shaft one must rotate the shaft and continue to test the oscillation until the laser light changes from an eliptical orbit to a straight up and down plane. The problem is much as you stated, except that a shaft will bend on two axis on the downswing. That is to say that the shaft bends on both the lhorizontal and vertical planes just before impact. I have tried to explain the above to the best of my understanding and no doubt i would be able to do a better job if we were standing with the club and could do a practical demonstration. Cheers!! David
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I hear that anyone who has a consistent swing can improve their game by having their shafts properly aligned relative to the club head. The idea is that all shafts have irregularities that cause them to "kick" into the ball along a different path on each swing, unless the shaft has been aligned to reduce the effects of these irregularities. Has anybody out there tried this? If so, what did you think of the results? Thanks I just had my new Innovative BTD46 shaft tested and aligned for oscillation. My friend, who is a clubmaker, attached a laser light to the end of the shaft, clamped the butt end and then allowed the shaft to oscillate. 2 feet from the shaft he had a 5 inch line drawn and when the shaft was properly aligned it would simply vibrate in a straight upward and downward motion. To find the correct point on the shaft one must rotate the shaft and continue to test the oscillation until the laser light changes from an eliptical orbit to a straight up and down plane. The problem is much as you stated, except that a shaft will bend on two axis on the downswing. That is to say that the shaft bends on both the lhorizontal and vertical planes just before impact. I have tried to explain the above to the best of my understanding and no doubt i would be able to do a better job if we were standing with the club and could do a practical demonstration. Cheers!! David My understanding is that this only holds for graphite shafts, not
steel. DSA Before you buy.
Response:
My uncle has been bragging about how well spining a shaft helps in consistency. Apparently a lot of tour players had their shafts spined. Has anyone tried and noticed a difference or is it a new snake oil? What did you notice? Thanks, mthunt — Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/huntm.htm
Response:
Golfsmith has done some research on this (and is supposed to do more). The short version: there is SOME difference, but it is minimal. Accuracy is very slightly improved; the feel is slightly more consistent from club-to-club. IMHO, I doubt anyone other than a touring pro or a very good amateur (single digit handicap) would notice the difference. A 15 handicapper like myself probably would never notice the difference. After all, how often do our full shots end up within 2-3 feet of where we intended anyway? — Joe Cartpath WebPage: http://home.midsouth.rr.com/joecartpath RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/reedj.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My uncle has been bragging about how well spining a shaft helps in consistency. Apparently a lot of tour players had their shafts spined. Has anyone tried and noticed a difference or is it a new snake oil? What did you notice? Thanks, mthunt — Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/huntm.htm
Response:
I hit some balls with a driver shafted with a non-tapering shaft the other day, and I don’t know if they call it a "fat shaft" or what. But it was incredible in its accuracy — toe or heel. NOT A SHOT left the line I intended, and I wasn’t really that careful about aim when I hit them. I bet they become the shaft of the future, at least in drivers, because there seems to be no deviation from straight for mis-hit shots. Anyone else use that kind of club, and any comments about them? George
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Golfsmith has done some research on this (and is supposed to do more). The short version: there is SOME difference, but it is minimal. Accuracy is very slightly improved; the feel is slightly more consistent from club-to-club. IMHO, I doubt anyone other than a touring pro or a very good amateur (single digit handicap) would notice the difference. A 15 handicapper like myself probably would never notice the difference. After all, how often do our full shots end up within 2-3 feet of where we intended anyway? — Joe Cartpath WebPage: http://home.midsouth.rr.com/joecartpath RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/reedj.htm My uncle has been bragging about how well spining a shaft helps in consistency. Apparently a lot of tour players had their shafts spined. Has anyone tried and noticed a difference or is it a new snake oil? What did you notice? Thanks, mthunt — Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/huntm.htm
Response:
Spine aligning is not a cure all for accuracy. It is merely a part of the entire process. Since there is some oscillation to every graphite shaft, by spine aligning, you are merely assuring that the oscillation is in plane with the swing-path. You are, by having your graphite shafts spine-aligned, merely taking out one less factor. Naturally you will not be hearing too much positive feedback on this process from the shaft manufacturers themselves, after all that would mean that they were and continuing to sell you a shaft with a known defect. My driver shaft is spine aligned, and some days is deadly accurate and others all over the place – it still depends on the swing!!! David — RSG Roll Call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/sneddond.htm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Golfsmith has done some research on this (and is supposed to do more). The short version: there is SOME difference, but it is minimal. Accuracy is very slightly improved; the feel is slightly more consistent from club-to-club. IMHO, I doubt anyone other than a touring pro or a very good amateur (single digit handicap) would notice the difference. A 15 handicapper like myself probably would never notice the difference. After all, how often do our full shots end up within 2-3 feet of where we intended anyway? — Joe Cartpath WebPage: http://home.midsouth.rr.com/joecartpath RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/reedj.htm My uncle has been bragging about how well spining a shaft helps in consistency. Apparently a lot of tour players had their shafts spined. Has anyone tried and noticed a difference or is it a new snake oil? What did you notice? Thanks, mthunt — Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/huntm.htm
Response:
Golfsmith has indicated that spine orienting the shafts can reduce mishits from 20 – 60%, based upon tests run. However, there is still some dispute about the real benefit to the average golfer, and some dispute over the method used to measure improvement. I believe they charge $8 per shaft to orient the spine, a pretty hefty price, especially if you are only paying $5 for the shaft itself!
While I think there probably is *something* to spine aligning shafts, I’m inclined to think there’s nothing of significance in the process for anyone worse than a scratch or even positive handicap. This is based on the lack of any claims of practical effect on scoring in the Golfsmith ads. Sure, it might improve "average" contact. But what will that really matter? -joseph
Response:
Golfsmith has indicated that spine orienting the shafts can reduce mishits from 20 – 60%, based upon tests run. However, there is still some dispute about the real benefit to the average golfer, and some dispute over the method used to measure improvement. I believe they charge $8 per shaft to orient the spine, a pretty hefty price, especially if you are only paying $5 for the shaft itself! Apparently many pros who have had it done like the result. I would not be surprised to find out that the OEMs who sponsor them are spine orienting the pros’ clubs already, without publicizing it. If they publicize it, then everybody will want it on their "off the rack clubs", something that they are not yet ready to do (although I don’t know why – it would cost them nothing and add very little labor to their assembly line process). However, it doesn’t hurt to make it one thing you do before you make that next set of clubs. If you search dejanews, you will find that there have been many very good discussions on this in the past year in RSG — Bob Williams at www.golfclubmaking.com All-in-one golf clubmaking software with free spinefinder plans for the professional and amateur clubmaker ____
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My uncle has been bragging about how well spining a shaft helps in consistency. Apparently a lot of tour players had their shafts spined. Has anyone tried and noticed a difference or is it a new snake oil? What did you notice? Thanks, mthunt — Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/huntm.htm
Response:
Golfsmith has indicated that spine orienting the shafts can reduce mishits from 20 – 60%, based upon tests run. However, there is still some dispute about the real benefit to the average golfer, and some dispute over the method used to measure improvement. I believe they charge $8 per shaft to orient the spine, a pretty hefty price, especially if you are only paying $5 for the shaft itself!
Mostly this is done for graphite shafts that a more expensive than that. Apparently many pros who have had it done like the result. I would not be surprised to find out that the OEMs who sponsor them are spine orienting the pros’ clubs already, without publicizing it. If they publicize it, then everybody will want it on their "off the rack clubs", something that they are not yet ready to do (although I don’t know why – it would cost them nothing and add very little labor to their assembly line process).
Cost them nothing??? First they would have to license the technology. Big $$$. Then they have to test each and every shaft. $$$. Then they have to change their mfg process to get the shaft just right. It would cost a lot more than they’d be able to add to the price–that’s my guess as to why we don’t see it from the major OEM’s. John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator
Response:
It’s just like bowling equipment the pro can drill, leverage, Track flare, balance, arc all by changing the drilling pattern. Will a 10-20 handicapper see any benefits, Probably not. But a Scratch or Plus bowler will. Heck some Pro’s will find 6 balls of the exact same type, pin, and CG then drill them 6 different ways JUST for one tournament – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Golfsmith has indicated that spine orienting the shafts can reduce mishits from 20 – 60%, based upon tests run. However, there is still some dispute about the real benefit to the average golfer, and some dispute over the method used to measure improvement. I believe they charge $8 per shaft to orient the spine, a pretty hefty price, especially if you are only paying $5 for the shaft itself! While I think there probably is *something* to spine aligning shafts, I’m inclined to think there’s nothing of significance in the process for anyone worse than a scratch or even positive handicap. This is based on the lack of any claims of practical effect on scoring in the Golfsmith ads. Sure, it might improve "average" contact. But what will that really matter? -joseph
Response:
from PING’s website http://pinggolf.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pinggolf/solution?11=000308-0026… 52543906&14=&2715=&15=&2716=&57=search&58=&2900=uI2LKpKKzc&25=6&3=spine http://pinggolf.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pinggolf/solution?11=000308-0019… 52534279&14=&2715=&15=&2716=&57=search&58=&2900=uI2LKpKKzc&25=6&3=spine I have seen a couple of cheap ways of doing spine orienting. 1) Fasten a laser pointer to the head end of the shaft, with the butt end clamped in a vice. Twang the shaft to get it moving up and down. It will take on a egg shaped orbit sometimes. Turn in vice and repeat until it wants to vibrate in a vertical plane. 2) Float the shaft in a pan of water. The heavy side of the shaft sinks to the bottom. The ends can be sealed with corks or sponge ear-plugs. A little "Jet-Dry" wetting agent can improve the results by reducing the surface tension of the water. Plastic eavstrough makes a good pan. Or sneak the shafts into the bath-tub when the wife isn’t looking :O Zig
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Golfsmith has indicated that spine orienting the shafts can reduce mishits from 20 – 60%, based upon tests run. However, there is still some dispute about the real benefit to the average golfer, and some dispute over the method used to measure improvement. I believe they charge $8 per shaft to orient the spine, a pretty hefty price, especially if you are only paying $5 for the shaft itself! Mostly this is done for graphite shafts that a more expensive than that. Apparently many pros who have had it done like the result. I would not be surprised to find out that the OEMs who sponsor them are spine orienting the pros’ clubs already, without publicizing it. If they publicize it, then everybody will want it on their "off the rack clubs", something that they are not yet ready to do (although I don’t know why – it would cost them nothing and add very little labor to their assembly line process). Cost them nothing??? First they would have to license the technology. Big $$$. Then they have to test each and every shaft. $$$. Then they have to change their mfg process to get the shaft just right. It would cost a lot more than they’d be able to add to the price–that’s my guess as to why we don’t see it from the major OEM’s. John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator
Response:
from PING’s website http://pinggolf.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pinggolf/solution?11=000308-0026… 52543906&14=&2715=&15=&2716=&57=search&58=&2900=uI2LKpKKzc&25=6&3=spine http://pinggolf.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pinggolf/solution?11=000308-0019… 52534279&14=&2715=&15=&2716=&57=search&58=&2900=uI2LKpKKzc&25=6&3=spine
Ping could easily get sued over that second one. While I do not like the patent that was issued for spine alignment, it is very broad. I have seen a couple of cheap ways of doing spine orienting.
Those are interesting examples about how to (maybe) do it. I doubt that those processes would be cheap if you include the amount of time necessary to do the analysis. The problem for companies is that the patent on spine alignment will not allow them to use *any* means without licensing the technology. 1) Fasten a laser pointer to the head end of the shaft, with the butt end clamped in a vice. Twang the shaft to get it moving up and down. It will take on a egg shaped orbit sometimes. Turn in vice and repeat until it wants to vibrate in a vertical plane. 2) Float the shaft in a pan of water. The heavy side of the shaft sinks to the bottom. The ends can be sealed with corks or sponge ear-plugs. A little "Jet-Dry" wetting agent can improve the results by reducing the surface tension of the water. Plastic eavstrough makes a good pan. Or sneak the shafts into the bath-tub when the wife isn’t looking :O Zig
John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator
Response:
I certainly didn’t pay Mssr. Weiss & Co. anything to attach an old drill chuck to the end of my shafts and "trial-and-error" the best plane (careful not to use "licensed" terminology). Great for a few clubs at a time. Why does finding the best plane have to be so "scientific" when real-world techniques get very near the same resutls? Obviously, OEM’s may disdain the idea of a high-volume shaft spining station using a clamp and drill chuck! Ron Cost them nothing??? First they would have to license the technology. Big $$$. Then they have to test each and every shaft. $$$. Then they have to change their mfg process to get the shaft just right. It would cost a lot more than they’d be able to add to the price–that’s my guess as to why we don’t see it from the major OEM’s. John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator
Before you buy.
Response:
I certainly didn’t pay Mssr. Weiss & Co. anything to attach an old drill chuck to the end of my shafts and "trial-and-error" the best plane (careful not to use "licensed" terminology). Great for a few clubs at a time. Why does finding the best plane have to be so "scientific" when real-world techniques get very near the same resutls? Obviously, OEM’s may disdain the idea of a high-volume shaft spining station using a clamp and drill chuck!
Read the patent and let me know what you think. There is no way an OEM could get away with what you are doing. http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PA… (That’s a little long isn’t it 
John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator
Response:
You mean OEM’s don’t have a "little back room" for touring players? 
Ron – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Golfsmith has indicated that spine orienting the shafts can reduce mishits from 20 – 60%, based upon tests run. However, there is still some dispute about the real benefit to the average golfer, and some dispute over the method used to measure improvement. I believe they charge $8 per shaft to orient the spine, a pretty hefty price, especially if you are only paying $5 for the shaft itself! Mostly this is done for graphite shafts that a more expensive than that. Apparently many pros who have had it done like the result. I would not be surprised to find out that the OEMs who sponsor them are spine orienting the pros’ clubs already, without publicizing it. If they publicize it, then everybody will want it on their "off the rack clubs", something that they are not yet ready to do (although I don’t know why – it would cost them nothing and add very little labor to their assembly line process). Cost them nothing??? First they would have to license the technology. Big $$$. Then they have to test each and every shaft. $$$. Then they have to change their mfg process to get the shaft just right. It would cost a lot more than they’d be able to add to the price–that’s my guess as to why we don’t see it from the major OEM’s. John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator
Before you buy.
Response:
You mean OEM’s don’t have a "little back room" for touring players? Ron
Yea, I’m sure they do whatever it takes to keep them happy, but then they are not selling it. John Baima Silver Shot Custom Clubs www.silvershot.com DFW Golf and the Java Swingweight Calculator