Confused about shaft spining

[Able Hands]

Don't know if I am mentally challenged or if I am over thinking the concept. I have spent more time on youtube in the last few days than I ever have in my life combined. There seems to be a lot of similar yet differing ideas on this subject.

Is there a really good walk through anywhere?

What is the difference between the spine and NBP?
I have one shaft that shows what I call "the spine" solidly in two positions every time (about 180* apart). I have another shaft that is all over the place (piece of crap shaft lets not worry with that right now). I obviously have no idea what I am talking about or doing so let me ask a few specific questions, and we'll see where this goes...

Before I get gored for not using the search function. I have used it on this, and many other sources. Like I said I have viewed and read many, MANY videos and posts on the subject.

Given the shaft that is showing two positions, how do I know which is THE spine?
Next, once I/we have identified THE spine how do I position it relative to the club head?
As a point of reference, which seems to be lacking everywhere on this particular question, if I set the club head on the ground with an imaginary shaft in it... The striking face of the club is oriented at 9 o-clock, I'm a righty. The reason that I am deliberately being so specific is that I have seen (on video) and read that THE spine should be aligned at 3, 12, and 9 o-clock. So, which is it?

[Zeph]

I can understand if you are confused, because I don't understand anything here.
Is "the spine" something at the club or just the spine angle of the...spine in your body? What is NBP?

[LBlack14]

NBP = Natural Bend Point

When you put your shaft in your finder and spin it, the spot that pops to the top is the NBP. I align this to the target and forget about the rest of that overblown crap. I still see no significant results or evidence that it makes a difference.

[mc0388]

Don't know if I am mentally challenged or if I am over thinking the concept. I have spent more time on youtube in the last few days than I ever have in my life combined. There seems to be a lot of similar yet differing ideas on this subject.

My understanding of spining position is this:

The spine of the shaft should be facing 3 oclock or 9 oclock: Since the spin is the over lap point of graphite and is slightly thicker and heavier than the rest of the spine, you can find it by spinning it, heavy side down. The rules say (this is not a quote but my understanding of it). The spine can only be positioned so that it is neutral (meaning 3 or 9 oclock). The belief is that, if positioned, lets say at 5 oclock the spine will effect the shaft to bend in a slightly different way than a perfectly weighted shaft would. It is allowed only to make all clubs in ones bags consistent not perform better.. I hope that makes sense.

[Jcp907]

NBP = Natural Bend Point

LBlack, When you state that you still see no evidence that it makes a difference, are you talking about spining the shaft itself, or are you talking about the rest of the crap?

[LBlack14]

I'm talking about spining the shaft and as you see here there will be different opinions of how to aline. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Some one above says spine to 3 or 9, I was taught 12 or 6.

[mc0388]

This is quoted rule for spining:


This Rule effectively restricts shafts from being designed to have asymmetric properties, so that however the club is assembled, or whichever way the shaft is orientated, it will make no difference to the performance of the club.

However, most graphite shafts have a small "spine" running along the length of the shaft which does make them bend a little differently depending on how they are fitted to the head. This is generally regarded as being "within manufacturing tolerances" (see preamble to Appendix II) and therefore not a breach of Appendix II, 2b. Manufacturers of clubs may orientate or align shafts which have spines for uniformity in assembling sets or in an effort to make the shafts perform as if they were perfectly symmetrical. However, a shaft which has been orientated for the purpose of influencing the performance of a club, e.g., to correct wayward shots, would be contrary to the intent of this Rule.


I guess by this interpretation you can fit the shaft at 3,6, 9, and 12. I think that 3 and 9 make sense because you are in line with the lateral forces of the swing. Where at least in my oppinion, 12 or 6 could possibly make the club head rotate differently, similar to torque. Yet again I could be wrong.

[LBlack14]

Use a yardstick as an example. If you swing a yardstick thru the air with the small rigid side (spine) toward your target the thing moves inconsistantly. If you swing it with the larger flat side (NBP)toward your target it is more stable. Therefore spine should be located at 6 or 12, at least that's my thinking and how I was taught to understand it.

[mc0388]

Use a yardstick as an example. If you swing a yardstick thru the air with the small rigid side (spine) toward your target the thing moves inconsistantly. If you swing it with the larger flat side (NBP)toward your target it is more stable. Therefore spine should be located at 6 or 12, at least that's my thinking and how I was taught to understand it.

Makes sense for a yard stick, considering the large flat surface that is causing it to bend only one way? Shit I give up, your right, 6 and 12

[LBlack14]

Makes sense for a yard stick, considering the large flat surface that is causing it to bend only one way? Shit I give up, your right, 6 and 12

LOL!!! That's what I mean, in my search for right and wrong I found there is none. Some do it one way, some the other and hell, sometimes I don't do it at all. Just can't really tell a performance difference.