Another driver shaft question...

[timastyle]

I have done a google search and looked on this site, but haven't found anything that really explains it. I've seen where certain shafts offer tighter dispersion than other. What is the primary cause of this? Also, is there a link someone can point me to that explains all the different numbers found in driver shaft specs? I know the general definitions, such as flex, kickpoint, torque (although I haven't been able to find what the harm of having too low of torque could be). Any help is appreciated!

[Shanks A Million]

Torque is what really affects dispersion. Torque is a measure of how much a shaft twists during the swing. It's measured by placing a twisting force on the shaft and measuring the amount it twists, in degrees. Almost all steel shafts have a torque around 3°. Graphite shafts can have as little as 2°, or as much as 12° (or more) of torque.

Why it matters is when you load and unload the shaft, it twists. A shaft with too much torque for your swing won't be able to come back to its neutral position fast enough, and the club face stays open, resulting in a slice. If the torque is too low, it can promote a hook, because most golfers have swings that are timed to their steel iron shafts. Having too little torque is not usually a concern though, but too much torque is.

To give an extreme condition, my driver SS is around 110 mph. My driver has 3.5° of torque. My fairway wood has 2.8° of torque. These numbers work well for me. I also have some older fairway woods with about 10° of torque. These things are slice machines. I can't hit anything but a huge banana slice with these things. When I first got them, I thought it was my swing, so I made some corrections. I then took out my driver, and proceeded to snap hook the piss out of it. This is when I began to realize just how much torque could affect your shot. The idea is to get the best shaft for you, if you're worried about hooking, get a little lower torque, if you are worried about slicing, get less.

[vokeyprince]

if you are of 16 you dont realy need to know about torque you just need to try some shafts and see what works best for you .
you need different torques for different swings

[timastyle]

The idea is to get the best shaft for you, if you're worried about hooking, get a little lower torque, if you are worried about slicing, get less.

Thanks for the input, but don't you mean if you're too worried about hitting a hook, then get a higher torque and if you're worried about hitting a slice get a lower torque? If I generally miss with a slice, I would want something with a lower torque right?

if you are of 16 you dont realy need to know about torque you just need to try some shafts and see what works best for you .

What difference does my handicap have anything to do with knowing what the characteristics of a shaft is? Isn't it prudent for me to educate myself on what the benefits and drawbacks are of shafts before I make a decision? While I am planning on getting fit for a driver shaft, I would also like to know what to look for and make sure the person that is fitting me actually knows what they are talking about rather than upselling me or what have you. It's like telling a person who just started driving a car to not worry about gas mileage, horsepower, torque, safety, and all the other specs in a car and just saying "test drive some cars and find the one you like the most. you haven't been driving for long, so nothing else matters at this point".

[mikeinodessa]

if you are of 16 you dont realy need to know about torque you just need to try some shafts and see what works best for you .

If you really don't know the answer you should just .... keep quiet

[Shanks A Million]

What difference does my handicap have anything to do with knowing what the characteristics of a shaft is? Isn't it prudent for me to educate myself on what the benefits and drawbacks are of shafts before I make a decision? While I am planning on getting fit for a driver shaft, I would also like to know what to look for and make sure the person that is fitting me actually knows what they are talking about rather than upselling me or what have you. It's like telling a person who just started driving a car to not worry about gas mileage, horsepower, torque, safety, and all the other specs in a car and just saying "test drive some cars and find the one you like the most. you haven't been driving for long, so nothing else matters at this point".

Just ignore the ignorant people. The only real difference comes in really fast swings, and then, it takes a lot to make much of a difference. Low torque shafts are vastly superior for people with very high swing speeds, because the swing is too fast for a higher torque shaft to come back to square during the swing. If your irons are steel shafted, and they fly straight, but your woods are graphite shafted, and they all start right, and continue right, then you need a lower torque shaft. If your problem is an over the top slice, then no shaft will cure it. The key is to make sure that all of your shafts load and unload similarly, so that each club goes the same direction, whatever direction that may be.

[timastyle]

Just ignore the ignorant people. The only real difference comes in really fast swings, and then, it takes a lot to make much of a difference. Low torque shafts are vastly superior for people with very high swing speeds, because the swing is too fast for a higher torque shaft to come back to square during the swing. If your irons are steel shafted, and they fly straight, but your woods are graphite shafted, and they all start right, and continue right, then you need a lower torque shaft. If your problem is an over the top slice, then no shaft will cure it. The key is to make sure that all of your shafts load and unload similarly, so that each club goes the same direction, whatever direction that may be.

Thanks again Shanks!

Here are a couple videos I just took with my driver: Any thoughts? I know my balance is off in a few and I'm working on it...

[Shanks A Million]

I think you just spin too much. You need to slide the hips forward, not spin them around.

[timastyle]

I'm going to post the videos in the Play Tips portion of the forum for critique, but one thing I constantly felt at the range though was that the shaft would vibrate a bit at impact, even on solid shots. Any idea what would be causing this? I currently play the R7 Limited TP driver with the Taylormade version of the Rombaxx 75 S.

[Shanks A Million]

I'm going to post the videos in the Play Tips portion of the forum for critique, but one thing I constantly felt at the range though was that the shaft would vibrate a bit at impact, even on solid shots. Any idea what would be causing this? I currently play the R7 Limited TP driver with the Taylormade version of the Rombaxx 75 S.

Ah, could just be a loose part, maybe one of the weights in it is loose? Maybe the shaft itself is a bit loose. You can take it to a shop and they might be able to diagnose it.

[Chuck Porter]

I believe that lower torque shafts are beneficial not only to people with high swing speeds but also to people who swing fast(quick tempo). I don't have a high swing speed, but my tempo is very quick. I have had best results with the V2 shaft. My swing is also compact, and I read that a tip stiff, lower torque shaft is better for those with a compact swing.

[timastyle]

I believe that lower torque shafts are beneficial not only to people with high swing speeds but also to people who swing fast(quick tempo). I don't have a high swing speed, but my tempo is very quick. I have had best results with the V2 shaft. My swing is also compact, and I read that a tip stiff, lower torque shaft is better for those with a compact swing.

What tempo would you think my swing? I feel I have a slow backswing with a quick, kind of jerky, downswing. Never have been able to identify my swing tempo really.

[Chuck Porter]

It seems slow compared to mine! In all seriousness, your tempo IMO appears to be average. I'm no expert, but you have a nice tempo to your backswing. Mine is too quick- I'm working on making it smoother.

I just read in one of the golf magazines to imagine your downswing like a roller coaster. It reaches it's fastest point at the bottom of the hill. Leadbetter says in March 2010 G.D. to make the 1st part of your downswing as smooth as last part of downswing. Club should pick up speed as it moves through impact, according to Leadbetter.

[Dub]

Good to hear that you are also taking tempo into account as well.

Kick point is also important, too.

So many options for each of us, regardless of our swing types. It pays to experiment.

[timastyle]

Thanks Dub. I agree with you that kickpoint is also important, but I know more about that than torque and what causes the dispersion to be tighter.

Another thing I realized today is that when I hit the ball well, I have in essence a knuckball. The ball comes off wiggling. What could be causing this?

[Shanks A Million]

Thanks Dub. I agree with you that kickpoint is also important, but I know more about that than torque and what causes the dispersion to be tighter.

Lopsided ball, too little spin, damaged cover. A lot of things really.