Shaft weight effect on ball flight and direction

[IcemanYVR]

All things being equal, what's the difference between a 66g and 76g (in a driver) shaft on ball flight... higher, lower? Will it have a tendency to go more right or more left, or is just a feel issue.

Also... is it stiffer?

[tws1098]

From what I understand it should be a touch harder to hit consistently but should create more club head speed with equal swings. I am not sure on trajectory, I would think it would be similar as long as all other characteristics are equal as you mentioned. Stiffness should be the same.

[cody west]

from my own personal experience lighter goes higher and because it is more flimsy it creates more variable exaggerating your common miss. if you ask a club fitter, stiff=more slice and softer=hook but thats just what iv heard

the weight in the shaft should keep it down. im having the same problem right now after switching from a 73g to a 65g shaft and a more cone shaped driver

[tws1098]

from my own personal experience lighter goes higher and because it is more flimsy it creates more variable exaggerating your common miss. if you ask a club fitter, stiff=more slice and softer=hook but thats just what iv heard

But a stiff shaft is a stiff shaft isn't it? One should not be flimsier than another in terms of flex. It may feel flimsier because it is lighter but should flex the same shouldn't it?

Edit: want to make sure you know I am not intending to be a smart ass with the questions, I am honestly asking as that was my assumption.

[cody west]

But a stiff shaft is a stiff shaft isn't it? One should not be flimsier than another in terms of flex. It may feel flimsier because it is lighter but should flex the same shouldn't it?

no, there are actually degrees of stiffness within a flex. there are 3 kinds of stiffnesses measured. there's tip stiffness, butt stiffness and overall stiffness. for example my friend and i both have the UST Proforce V2 stiff but myne is like 3 grams heavier, or some minuscule numer, and my tip stiffness and butt stiffness are much stiffer than his but both shafts fall into the "stiff" category. this is kind of a guess but im guessing the kick is a measure of stiffness withing the flex because the less stiff the tip is the more kick it is going to have, another example is that my same friend with the UST Proforce shaft has a ~3.6* torgue and i have ~2.7* and that could also contribute to the stiffness within a flex.

this is why it is so important to get fitted if you have the money. there are so many small variables and not all stiff shafts are the same

[tws1098]

ahhh I see. Thanks.