Shopping for shafts

[IanC]

Hey All, first time poster here.

I recently replaced a decade old Burner (10.5 degree, stiff) with a Ping Anser (9.5 adjustable, stiff) and I'm considering an extra stuff shaft. I've never changed out a driver shaft and don't know where to start. What brands/features/elements should I look for?

I don't know my swing speed but I can get 300+ yards of ball flight with either club depending on tee height. The Ping rolls better, though.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

 

[billchao]

1 hour ago, IanC said:

Hey All, first time poster here.

I recently replaced a decade old Burner (10.5 degree, stiff) with a Ping Anser (9.5 adjustable, stiff) and I'm considering an extra stuff shaft. I've never changed out a driver shaft and don't know where to start. What brands/features/elements should I look for?

I don't know my swing speed but I can get 300+ yards of ball flight with either club depending on tee height. The Ping rolls better, though.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

 

Start by going to an experienced fitter. Shafts can be tricky and complicated, especially driver shafts. What works for one person may not work for another even though they have similar swing speeds and handicaps.

Why do you feel you need to change shafts?

[IanC]

1 hour ago, billchao said:

Why do you feel you need to change shafts?

Good question.  Two things here.  

1: I've been looking at a bunch of the "suggested" shaft stiffness by distance and, depending on manufacturer, I should be hitting a extra stiff shaft.

2: I can be a bit wild at times off the tee.  When I hit a regular shaft club I can get REALLY squirrely, regardless of head.  If I get more accurate moving from regular to stiff, then would I still get even more accurate moving from stiff to extra stiff?  I don't know.

Or, is the answer "Chill out and get consistent with the Ping.  It's good enough?"

[billchao]

28 minutes ago, IanC said:

1: I've been looking at a bunch of the "suggested" shaft stiffness by distance and, depending on manufacturer, I should be hitting a extra stiff shaft.

As I understand it, shaft weight is more important than shaft stiffness. Needing a stiffer shaft isn't automatic based on swing speed or carry distance. It has to do with how you load the shaft in transition, too.

Plus, there is no industry standard on stiffness, so one manufacturer's bend profile can differ drastically from another's. That's why it is important to go see a good clubfitter.

Are you having issues with your trajectory, or are you just curious because what you are reading based off of general recommendations?

28 minutes ago, IanC said:

2: I can be a bit wild at times off the tee.  When I hit a regular shaft club I can get REALLY squirrely, regardless of head.

That sounds to me like possibly a swing issue more than anything else. Yes, hitting the wrong shaft can keep you from getting optimal launch numbers, but good players can hit the ball well with ill-fitting equipment.

It could very well be that the regular shaft does not fit you well. Regular shafts tend to be lighter and stronger swingers tend to lose the feel for the club more, but like I said, if your swing is good, you're still going to hit it fairly well.

28 minutes ago, IanC said:

If I get more accurate moving from regular to stiff, then would I still get even more accurate moving from stiff to extra stiff?  I don't know.

It's hard to say, that's why you need to see a fitter and test things. You could very well get worse with an x-stiff shaft. There is no direct cause and effect relationship with shaft changes.

For example, I did a fitting recently. We decided I needed heavier iron shafts to launch the ball higher. The general assumption on shafts is lighter launches higher, so there you go, throw that out the window for me.

We also tried a number of driver head and shaft combinations and found that none of them really helped me hit the driver any better. Sometimes it's just a swing issue and changing the equipment doesn't help.

Go see a fitter