question about driver shaft

[golfro]

Alright...I'm clueless when it comes to driver shafts. I've actually never changed out a driver shaft in my life and always stuck with stock stiff shaft.

With that said, I'm intrigued by all the different shafts available. I just got a new Ping G10 with TFC129 stiff shaft which I can't really complain about...but I'm interested in seeing how a better shaft can improve my drive.

So what kind of benefits have you all seen from replacing a shaft with a better one? And between all the various stiff shafts out there, what contributes to the price difference and overall difference? I know it is all personal preference but I'm interested in hearing about why people switch out shafts.

Likewise, I want to replace the steel shaft on my 3 wood!

[delav]

I'd take the time to have your current club tested on a launch monitor. Before you go shop for shafts, you need a feel for what you are currently hitting. Things to pay attention to are launch angle, spine rates (side spin and back spin), ball speed, etc. Identify what you'd like to change with an experience clubfitter who will give you the trajectory and spin rates you desire.

Depending upon where the kick point of the shaft is, you can vary the trajectory and feel of the club quite a bit. And then there is weight as well (50 - 90g is common), which will change the stability and feel of the club further.

[golfro]

thanks delav, looks like I got some exploring to do. So many choices...

[ControlJunkie]

Alright...I'm clueless when it comes to driver shafts. I've actually never changed out a driver shaft in my life and always stuck with stock stiff shaft.

I'll go out on a limb and say that the shaft is equally important if not more important than the club head, as long as we're talking about heads from the same generation/time frame. It's much more than personal preference, it's both an art and a science

People switch shafts for lots of different reasons, as the shafts can produce more spin, or less spin. Heavier shafts work better for some, while others need lighter shafts. It's all about getting you to your optimum launch angle in a consistent manner, with as much speed as possible (in a controlled, consistent manner). I emphasize consistent because a lighter, or flexier shaft is going to be much less consistent due simply to the excess flex. The players tempo also has a lot to do with the way the shaft loads up. I swapped shafts in my 3W and it made a tremendous difference. I also just got 3 new ones in from Golf Smith, and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to put in my driver Although I probably shouldnt because I love the one in my driver, I just want a little lower trajectory. There's a good chance that there's a better shaft for you than the TFC, but it all depends on what you want your ball flight to look like (higher, lower, more piercing flight, etc). Tell us what you're looking for in terms of ball flight and feel, and I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions.

[golfro]

For the most part, I want to lower my ball flight a bit. I also tend to put a bit of backspin, roughly 2500-2700 last time I checked which caused a bit of "balooning" in flight.
I'm not a huge stickler about distance, I average roughly 250-260 yards @ 113mph avg. Just looking to see if i can get my ball flight a bit lower and drop the backspin a bit.

Likewise, my Callaway X 15* wood came with a steel shaft for very cheap. I used to play steel shafts back in high school so I didn't think it would be much of a problem and only demo'ed it by hitting it indoors into a net. While I had no problems hitting steel shafts when I was 17, now I'm 25 and I can't seem to get any kind of consistency hitting a 3 wood with a steel shaft. Time to simplify my life :)

I really can't complain about the TFC though. I mean it goes straight and gets the distance i expect. Which is why it makes me wonder...what can a shaft more fitted for my swing do for me?
I'll have to go try out some shafts once my back heels. But any ideas on suggestions from what I've described?

Thanks in advance.

[ControlJunkie]

For the most part, I want to lower my ball flight a bit. I also tend to put a bit of backspin, roughly 2500-2700 last time I checked which caused a bit of "balooning" in flight.

If you're wanting to lower your ballflight, I'd suggest a UST ProForce V2, or possibly the AXIVCore Tour Green.

As far as your other question, if you're hitting the TFC well, and you're happy with your distance and trajectory, you may just be best sticking with it. A shaft that's fitted to your swing will lead to much better distances, more control, optomized spin, and a more consistent ball flight. It will most likely change the feel of the club as well.

[golfro]

Well after debating if i should switch out the driver shaft, i finally just went and got fitted for a driver shaft.

Maybe its the 2 week break I took but my drives were blasting today. I was meaasured at 113-118mph, 1.38-1.42 smash factor (one up at 1.48 :D), 270-280 yard distance. Only thing was my back spin...apparently with my swing speed, the TFC my G10 came with isn't optimal so the back spin was all over the place. Well, they recommended the Graffaloy Prolaunch Red which was on sale for $30 so I went ahead and made the switch. I'll be picking it up tomorrow and hitting the range right away! Excited. I'm looking for that low-mid trajectory piercing shot.

[jeffrey r]

Well after debating if i should switch out the driver shaft, i finally just went and got fitted for a driver shaft.

Let us know what you think. I actually own a G10 9* with a Prolaunch Red (Reg flex), and a G10 9* with a TFC 129D (Reg Flex), so I am curious to hear how you make out with one over the other. The G10 TFC shaft is surprisingly good and seems to mate well with the G10, even though the TFC shaft feels very flexible. In actual usage, it holds together quite well and produces good distance without terrible dispersion. The Prolaunch Red on the other hand feels much more stout and less flexible (even in the Reg flex), and also works well with the G10 head. I've only played one round with my G10 PL Red club, and results were mixed, but that is as much due to me than the club. For my next round in a week or so, I'll game my G10 TFC 129D club, and see how it works out on the course. On the range, results have been pretty similar between the two, with the PL Red having a lower trajectory as expected.

Good luck.

[golfro]

Let us know what you think. I actually own a G10 9* with a Prolaunch Red (Reg flex), and a G10 9* with a TFC 129D (Reg Flex), so I am curious to hear how you make out with one over the other. The G10 TFC shaft is surprisingly good and seems to mate well with the G10, even though the TFC shaft feels very flexible. In actual usage, it holds together quite well and produces good distance without terrible dispersion. The Prolaunch Red on the other hand feels much more stout and less flexible (even in the Reg flex), and also works well with the G10 head. I've only played one round with my G10 PL Red club, and results were mixed, but that is as much due to me than the club. For my next round in a week or so, I'll game my G10 TFC 129D club, and see how it works out on the course. On the range, results have been pretty similar between the two, with the PL Red having a lower trajectory as expected.

I actually picked them up last night but the guy said I should hold off a couple days before I start swinging them so I'll be headed to the range tomorrow after work to test them out. I personally have no problem with the TFC stiff. I think its a decent shaft and I was still getting the distance and hitting some great shots with it. What I was not happy with was the high trajectory which was apparently caused by the back spin from my swing. According to the fitter, the Prolaunch Red stiff will help keep the trajectory lower and give me a bit more control of my backspin so i don't experience ballooning liek I've been getting.

I'm a fan of a piercing, more penetrating ball flight from my driver so hoepfully this will fit the bill. If not, it was only $30 so no huge loss there. I did however hit a Taylormade Burner Superfast that they had on with a Prolaunch Red stiff and it definitely took my backspin down a bit and I was already adding 10 yards to my drives. The ProLaunch Red definitely feels a bit more stout. My swing speed is roughly at 113-118 so the fitter was contemplating if I should go with a x-stiff or stiff. I think stiff is about right though I haven't hit the x-stiff. I'll report back with some results tomorrow evening.

[golfro]

Hit the range last night and I must say, I definitely do love the new shaft. Ball flight was just where I want it with minimal balooning. Previously I experienced the ball climbing up and die down but with this shaft, I'm able to get a much lower penetrating trajectory. I'll be hitting it on a launch monitor this week sometime to see how my numbers have changed from the TFC shaft. I'm falling in love with thsi driver all over again!

on a side note... when i was getting fitted for my shaft, I played around with some drivers. I hit the Taylormade Burner Superfast and damn, that is one hell of a driver. Admitedly, I often dismiss Taylormade products (not sure why) and never gave this driver a thought but after hitting it, I'm impressed. However, I'm sticking with my G10 :)