63, 73, 83 Gram Shaft?

[TinCupTampa]

If you have your choice... which weight would you prefer for your driver shaft and why?

I have heard that the heavier the shaft... the more piercing of a ball flight and less spin it generates... is this true?

[Cussin hacker]

Interested in this myself. I've been thinking of putting a heavier shaft in my Burner. It has a 50g shaft. Talked to Golfsmith yesterday and the guy recomeneded an Adila NV 65 or 75 stiff "within my $$ range" for a lower more controlled ball flight. I'm clueless about the fine points on shafts. I have an old Callaway warbird with a Fenwick shaft in it. Not as long as my Burner but much more controlable.

[WUTiger]

TCT,

I have heard that the heavier the shaft... the more piercing of a ball flight and less spin it generates... is this true?

Technically this is true, but not because of weight per se. A stiff shaft generates lower ball flight and less spin than a comparable regular shaft. And, the stronger the flex, the heavier the shaft. For graphites, however, the weight increase from regular to stiff isn't much. See below.

--------------------- The Callaway FT-i Tour driver used the Fujikuri 686 shaft as its standard. The flex and weight figures are: Regular = 66 grams Stiff = 68 grams X-Stiff = 70 grams ----------------------

[TinCupTampa]

TCT,

I have a 63gm Stiff Diamana Red... what advantage/disadvantage would there be to move up to a 73 or even 83 gram shaft?

[WUTiger]

I have a 63gm Stiff Diamana Red... what advantage/disadvantage would there be to move up to a 73 or even 83 gram shaft?

Can't say. It depends on what you are trying to do with a new shaft. A better shaft for your needs might be lighter or heavier than your current one.

The only consistent thing added weight would do is slow down your swing somewhat. This is normally a consideration in shafts for irons, when a person swings very fast and wants the added weight to slow things down for control.

[TinCupTampa]

Can't say. It depends on what you are trying to do with a new shaft. A better shaft for your needs might be lighter or heavier than your current one.

Less backspin is the main goal off the driver. More distance with all my longer clubs.

With my hybrids... I have better control with an 18* 85 gram than I do a 24* 65 gram... same club... different loft and shaft.

[WUTiger]

Someone ran off with my Golfworks club components book. It showed dozens of shafts in it with unit prices and their specifications.

Your best bet would be go to a golf shop and tell them what you have in your driver, and what you wish you had. They can help you out.

BTW, if you have a 3 HDCP, things can't be too bad.

[TinCupTampa]

BTW, if you have a 3 HDCP, things can't be too bad.

3.14 = PI.... but I am extremely close to single digits.

[misty_mountainhop]

~70-80g for me. Less and my tempo is too fast; more and it's too heavy for me to generate optimum distance.

A heavier shaft will tend to hit the ball lower. The ~50g shafts (and 46"?!?) around now on clubs like the TM Burner are dumb. Very few people can control them properly - the ball may go miles with the faster clubhead speed but I'd rather it a bit shorter and on the cut grass .

[Cussin hacker]

Agree on the Burner shaft. I hit it well most days but on an off day watch out.

What about kick point and torque. How do those relate to controll and distance?

[TinCupTampa]

Agree on the Burner shaft. I hit it well most days but on an off day watch out.

Kick point is purely ball flight... low kp = high ball flight, high kp = low ball flight.

Torque describes how much a shaft would twist given a certain tiwsting force. The lower the torque... the harder the feel and the less twisting force.

[Cussin hacker]

Thanks Tincup.... kickpoint was my main question. Looks like I may need a mid to high KP shaft. 65-75g. Golfsmith had it right.

[Hokie2k5]

I have a 63gm Stiff Diamana Red... what advantage/disadvantage would there be to move up to a 73 or even 83 gram shaft?

It depends on what you want to do. Diamana Red is a high launch high spin shaft designed to get the ball up in the air for a player who has trouble launching it high so they can get optimal launch conditions. Switching to a 73 or 83 gram might not do anything if a 63 gram shaft is ideal for you. When a player switches to a heavier shaft it's usually to improve accuracy or lower spin.

I would go to an experienced club fitter and explain what you want and they'll get you a solution to get there. I'd also recommend trying either the Diamana Blue or Diamana White if you are trying to lower ball flight and spin. They are much lower launching shafts (Blue - Low/Mid trjactory, White - Low).