Quality OEM shafts?

[Divot Tool]

I've noticed a trend with the majority of new drivers being released. Many of them feature high end stock shafts, most notably the UST V2 shafts. (Wilson Spine, Ping G10, Nickent 4DX the list goes on) I'm curious to know if there are differences in quality from a manufacturing perspective (tolerances, materials etc.) between an OEM UST V2 and a UST V2 which purchased from your local club fitter.

I'm curious to know how club manufacturers can afford to put $75 shafts in thousands of drivers and not charge the upgrade? Lastly, are the shaft manufacturers cutting corners to accommodate such market demands? If so, it begs the question how much is that stock shaft in my driver really worth...a few pennies?

thanks

[Everardo]

As far as quality goes many times there are differences, club manufacturers in the past would typically use a lesser quality (tolerlence, model, etc) as their stock shaft. Now though they realize that by using an NV or V2 shaft would actually be a selling point. As the shaft makers don't want to have their good name given a bad wrap so quality must stay good to keep the marketing machine rolling.

Take for example the stock graphite shafts using in Ping's, they're actually made by Aldila for Ping using the requirements and specifications requested and designed by Ping. Ping still needs a high quality shaft so that their clubs will perform as advertised but by using their own private label they can save a few bucks per club.