When is it time to get a custom driver shaft?

[Mr.Buckethead]

I am toying with the idea of getting a custom shaft put on my driver and would like to know when it is a good idea to move away from the stock shaft.

My swing is pretty consistent and doesn't look like it is going to drastically change any time in the future.

So, should I wait until my handicap is in the single digits? How do I go about getting exactly what I want? What is the average cost?

[bIGwIRE]

You really should look into getting yourself fitted at a pro shop. Even a Dicks sporting goods can hook you up to a launch moniter and make some suggestions.

[bigoak]

Go to demo days and pay attention to the clubs you like and take note of the shafts and find the one you like.

Remember" the heads are the hubcaps and shafts are the engines"

[fusioncal]

I am toying with the idea of getting a custom shaft put on my driver and would like to know when it is a good idea to move away from the stock shaft.

The custom shaft would probably help you getting down to single handicap (you know more fairways, easier shots to the greens, etc etc). So, you don't need to wait since you've already got pretty consistent swing.

The shaft selection will be based on the evaluation of the launch monitor results by a fitting pro. You could also tell him the ball flight pattern that you prefer (I wanted mid/low penetrating trajectory). What my pro did was he laid out a few shafts he thought would suit my swing based from the launch monitor result and told me their characteristics (ball flight pattern, feel, dispersion, etc). Then he told me that he already had one in mind, but still let me choose anyway. Of course in the end I went what he recommended, UST Proforce V2. The cost would be the shaft plus the installation fee though sometimes they'd waive the installation fee. What you should be concerned is the shaft cost. Premium and popular shafts like Mitsubishi Diamana and Matrix Ozik could cost as little as $300 to $700 or more. But it doesn't mean that you have to get them. There are also other cheaper but quality shafts such as Aldila, Graphic Design, Graffaloy, UST, etc. You'd be surprised the shaft that fits you could be the cheapest. Hope that helps.

[DJYoshi]

it's been time! it's really up to you on the characteristics of your ball flight that you want to change. if you're smashing drives and splitting fairways as it is..you may not need one. if you're looking for a higher or lower ball flight, more control...then i'd say go and get fitted.

what's the common thing about all of your drives that you don't like right now?
too high - go with a stiffer tip and higher kickpoint in the shaft
too low vice versa
More control - stiffer shaft, but you lose distance

I lost a good 15 yards on avg when I went from a regular flex to a stiff flex.
But who cares..the control's there right?

[beung]

You have to ask yourself what benifit is a new shaft going to give you? More distance, more control or a lighter wallet? What about your current driver are you not pleased with? These are more important factors to consider rather then what handicap you are.

I have always used stock shafts right up until a couple of weeks ago and the only reason I changed it because I bought my driver used and the shaft just didn't complement my swing.

It's always time to get stuff that fits you and works for you but you have to be able to justify the cost vs the benifit. You could spend $200 to get re-shafted but will it improve your drives and if so are the improvements worth the $200?

[DDBowdoin]

its a really hard process IMO

if you find a fitter with a launch monitor you'll probably be limited to what is availble. There are so many shafts out there but so few places where you can actually hit them. Would a high end accra or matrix shaft fit me, obviously there's a model out there that could do the trick but could I find a demo club with a 500 dollar shaft on it... not really.

right now, in terms of what is popular in the market you'll find plenty of:

UST Proforce V2, high launch models as well

Adilla NV and Proto By You

Graphite Design YS6+

Graffaloy Pro Launch Blue and Red

those are pretty much the slam dunks shafts that you'll see everywhere...

[Mr.Buckethead]

Lots of great advice in this thread. Thanks. I tried posting the question a few days ago in the other shaft thread but it did not show up for some reason.


I don't need more distance on my driver. I would like a little lower ball flight though. At times it seems to balloon up at the end.

I may look into getting a new shaft but I think I could groove my swing a little bit more before needing to tweak my game with a custom shaft.

[DJYoshi]

UST Proforce V2, high launch models as well

you can also look into

the quad series by Graphite Design. they're great...but expensive as sh**! I reshafted both my driver and my 3 wood's in the shop right now. Diamana Blue Board in the 3 Diamana White Board in the Driver. I did the driver 1st and was completely impressed. I lost another 5 - 10 yards on avg, but I can still knock it 250 and straight! the YS6 has a softer tip that might be a little too soft for a driver which is why I don't fully agree. the proto by you is awesome too. that's the shaft i'm using in tiger woods on my 360. haha.

[DDBowdoin]

the quad is an ill shaft but is 350 plus...

[Stacey_E]

Here's a mid handicapper's take on a reshaft. A good shaft is $100 installed. Swingweighted and spined (if you're into that) by someone who knows what they are doing might cost more. If you resale a decently new brand name driver you should get $100 to $150. Take the shaft money and sell the driver, kick in $50 or $100 more for a newer, better fit driver. If you don't, you might resale your driver anyway and the new exotic shaft will add virtually nothing to the resale value. This is if you are not "married" to your current driver head.

I really really dig my ProForce V2. I never had a driver shaft with so much feedback. And my first bounce after landing is wicked, some 20-25 yards. Ad about 15 - 20 more in roll.

[rrassoc]

I had a TM460 that I was ballooning. I got it used for next to nothing from someone on eBay (another story in itself). It felt good, but after a while I noticed I was consistently ballooning the ball and getting no roll. So I went to a local pro and got fitted.

Two things happened:
I found out that my swing speed wasn't as fast as I thought, so I needed a regular flex instead of firm, and

I came away with a few shaft options and picked the least expensive ( ***********

Then, realizing that I needed regular flex shafts helped me understand why I didn't like the 3W and 5W that came with my set. They felt like baseball bats. Fortunately, I recently won a closest to the pin prize during a scramble event and received a new driver! I traded that in for two new shafts, and now I love my fairway woods!

Proper shafts make a huge difference, even for a ~20 handicapper like me, and there are cost-effective options for your level of play.

In the words of David Starsky / Ben Stiller, "Do it. Do it; do it."

[Kabdog]

Here's a mid handicapper's take on a reshaft. A good shaft is $100 installed. Swingweighted and spined (if you're into that) by someone who knows what they are doing might cost more. If you resale a decently new brand name driver you should get $100 to $150. Take the shaft money and sell the driver, kick in $50 or $100 more for a newer, better fit driver. If you don't, you might resale your driver anyway and the new exotic shaft will add virtually nothing to the resale value. This is if you are not "married" to your current driver head.

For the past 3yrs. I've been hitting a Callaway 454ti with a standard Aldila NV 65g stiff shaft. I just upgraded to a Hyper X 8.5 with a UST Proforce V2 77g X-stiff and it's a whole new game. Turns out my swing speed (112-120) was too much for the standard Aldila. The ball flight with the V2 is so penetrating and I'm getting more roll. It's added at least 20yds to my drives. I would highly recommend having your swing checked out. It's the only way to go.

[RickPro]

Honestly do not get anything reshafted. if you have to reshaft, just buy a new driver. I made this mistake before twice before, and now i have learned my lesson. getting a new custom shaft isn't bad, but with the new technology of getting a new driver is cheaper in the long run because that club u reshaft will only last at most 6 month's. I bought a great big bertha with rugar titanium 8 degree brand new back in the days. i reshafted because it was the greatest driver at the time and i was just amazing with it. reshafted and still loved it. then the biggest great big bertha came out. then the 460cc drivers came out, and now im stuck with a driver that is worth nothing. i can probably sell it on ebay for $10, and the cost of getting it reshafted cost me $100.00
you probably should switch your driver every 1-3 years, because this club get the most abuse. this club you hit the hardest and over time the graphite deteriorates. make it it flex more and more so if it was a stiff it will go to regular and then to senior flex.

i started with a callaway big bertha, tommy armour tommy gun ti, great big bertha, biggest great big bertha, titleist, to a Cleveland Launcher 8.5 tour.

im about to purchase a cleveland hibore xl tour 8.5
so dont reshaft, just buy a year old driver that is 1/2 price.

[Crafty]

I would try to do the fitting outside where you can see ballflight if thats possible. Im not saying luanch monitors lie, but they sometimes do.

As for shafts,you can get a lt of different shafts in different price ranges. For example, some shafts from Matrix can go up to $1,000. But you can also get a quality shaft like the V2 for about $70. Just gotta find whats right for you and check the price tag.

Best o' luck!

[clemsontiger]

Get fitted for a custom shaft. Take suggestions from the people and try them. Do not buy a new shaft without buying them.