ELI5 How to read shaft specs

[ST3LTR0]

If you don't use reddit then ELI5 is a subreddit that stands for "Explain like I'm 5."

 

I've found it particularly difficult to learn how shafts work and how to read the shaft specs. I understand "or think I do" some of the terms such as torque "amount of turn?", weight, length, tip, but don't understand how the addition of multiple specifications together actually change the dynamics of what the shaft does. I've tried probably about 40-50 shafts so I understand that some feel stiffer, some feel "whippier", swing weight differences, etc but what I don't understand is how we put all of that together to compliment a persons swing. I've heard statements like counter balanced but don't have any understanding of what that means. Please someone explain like I'm five if you don't want to get into the details or push me into a direction where I can learn as much as possible and read about what the specs mean and what changes/benefits are caused by the various specifications. If you're willing to go beyond and detailed I would really appreciate it as well. I will not be offended if I do respond to an answer with a question and nobody answers the follow on. I really just want to learn the physics behind this stuff. 

[MGoBlue100]

Darn...  I was really hoping you had found a Reddit thread that handled shaft specs and did "ELI5"  I'm somewhat in the same boat as you, although it seems like you've perhaps spent more time & money with your research.  I'll follow this to see if it goes anywhere.

[ST3LTR0]

2 minutes ago, MGoBlue100 said:

Darn...  I was really hoping you had found a Reddit thread that handled shaft specs and did "ELI5"  I'm somewhat in the same boat as you, although it seems like you've perhaps spent more time & money with your research.  I'll follow this to see if it goes anywhere.

Good god I wish, I'd be telling everyone in the world my incredible findings. I actually just sent an email to someone at KBS probably will just get ignored asking for any information that they would be willing to share. While I am not going to pursue a job in club fitting because my pay and happiness is good where it is at right now I'd love to learn as much as one because it is interesting to me. Hopefully someone helps us out Blue!!

[MGoBlue100]

50 minutes ago, ST3LTR0 said:

Good god I wish, I'd be telling everyone in the world my incredible findings. I actually just sent an email to someone at KBS probably will just get ignored asking for any information that they would be willing to share. While I am not going to pursue a job in club fitting because my pay and happiness is good where it is at right now I'd love to learn as much as one because it is interesting to me. Hopefully someone helps us out Blue!!

@GolfSpy Barbajoand Kim Braly seem to be tight, (per Barba at least ) so hopefully you'll hear something good.  There are many many threads on here regarding shafts, flex, the fact that there is no unified specification, etc etc etc.  Good Luck in yer quest!

[ST3LTR0]

2 hours ago, MGoBlue100 said:

@GolfSpy Barbajoand Kim Braly seem to be tight, (per Barba at least ) so hopefully you'll hear something good.  There are many many threads on here regarding shafts, flex, the fact that there is no unified specification, etc etc etc.  Good Luck in yer quest!

As an update I took the kbs course which very mildly went into details. I now basically know about all kbs shafts just not quite why they do what they do in deep details. Worth the hour imo though.

[cnosil]

4 hours ago, ST3LTR0 said:

If you don't use reddit then ELI5 is a subreddit that stands for "Explain like I'm 5."

 

I've found it particularly difficult to learn how shafts work and how to read the shaft specs. I understand "or think I do" some of the terms such as torque "amount of turn?", weight, length, tip, but don't understand how the addition of multiple specifications together actually change the dynamics of what the shaft does. I've tried probably about 40-50 shafts so I understand that some feel stiffer, some feel "whippier", swing weight differences, etc but what I don't understand is how we put all of that together to compliment a persons swing. I've heard statements like counter balanced but don't have any understanding of what that means. Please someone explain like I'm five if you don't want to get into the details or push me into a direction where I can learn as much as possible and read about what the specs mean and what changes/benefits are caused by the various specifications. If you're willing to go beyond and detailed I would really appreciate it as well. I will not be offended if I do respond to an answer with a question and nobody answers the follow on. I really just want to learn the physics behind this stuff. 

i'd start with the true temper videos on youtube; they have a whole series called True Temper school that explains the basics of shafts.   

https://www.youtube.com/c/TrueTemperGolf/videos

 

 

[ST3LTR0]

3 minutes ago, cnosil said:

i'd start with the true temper videos on youtube; they have a whole series called True Temper school that explains the basics of shafts.   

https://www.youtube.com/c/TrueTemperGolf/videos

 

 

I actually stumbled across this about ten minutes ago. Thank you for the help!

[cnosil]

5 minutes ago, ST3LTR0 said:

I actually stumbled across this about ten minutes ago. Thank you for the help!

MGS also started a series called Shaft U with Fujikura.   Gets pretty detailed,  but talks about how shafts are made and what they try to do  

https://mygolfspy.com/mygolfspy-university-launches-shaft-u-powered-by-fujikura/

[aerospace_ray]

7 hours ago, ST3LTR0 said:

If you don't use reddit then ELI5 is a subreddit that stands for "Explain like I'm 5."

 

I've found it particularly difficult to learn how shafts work and how to read the shaft specs. I understand "or think I do" some of the terms such as torque "amount of turn?", weight, length, tip, but don't understand how the addition of multiple specifications together actually change the dynamics of what the shaft does. I've tried probably about 40-50 shafts so I understand that some feel stiffer, some feel "whippier", swing weight differences, etc but what I don't understand is how we put all of that together to compliment a persons swing. I've heard statements like counter balanced but don't have any understanding of what that means. Please someone explain like I'm five if you don't want to get into the details or push me into a direction where I can learn as much as possible and read about what the specs mean and what changes/benefits are caused by the various specifications. If you're willing to go beyond and detailed I would really appreciate it as well. I will not be offended if I do respond to an answer with a question and nobody answers the follow on. I really just want to learn the physics behind this stuff. 

Previous posts have great content/advice. Several of the golf shaft brands have very good websites and as you have found good videos.

Admittedly I am a Tom Wishon disciple for club-making, club-fitting and golf technical research. https://wishongolf.com/twgt-books/ . Tom has tremendous knowledge regarding golf shafts.

 And there are tons of Wishon Tube videos and web content if you do a search. Several of his books discuss golf shafts in depth. And MGS community has many members with tremendous knowledge and that respond to golf shaft questions. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

Another reason why getting fit is better than trying to blind buy. Example is someone looking to reduce spin and launch with or without knowing what their numbers are from a launch monitor.

The person searches the internet for reviews, they look at various websites to find low/low shafts. Buy one and it doesn’t work. They think maybe I don’t need a low/low shaft maybe a mid low. Many of the specs and how a brand lists a shaft are specific to that brand. The stiffness, torque and so on are measured different by each brand and they use different machines to measure them. Now there are going to be brands that measure at the same point and use the same machine but if you don’t know who is doing the same it’s a guess.

Once someone has been fit a couple times a pattern starts to develop for what shaft or what weight and profile of a shaft works. But it’s not a guarantee it will always work or that as an example of a certain counterbalance shaft works for the person all counterbalanced shafts will work.

[ST3LTR0]

9 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Another reason why getting fit is better than trying to blind buy. Example is someone looking to reduce spin and launch with or without knowing what their numbers are from a launch monitor.

The person searches the internet for reviews, they look at various websites to find low/low shafts. Buy one and it doesn’t work. They think maybe I don’t need a low/low shaft maybe a mid low. Many of the specs and how a brand lists a shaft are specific to that brand. The stiffness, torque and so on are measured different by each brand and they use different machines to measure them. Now there are going to be brands that measure at the same point and use the same machine but if you don’t know who is doing the same it’s a guess.

Once someone has been fit a couple times a pattern starts to develop for what shaft or what weight and profile of a shaft works. But it’s not a guarantee it will always work or that as an example of a certain counterbalance shaft works for the person all counterbalanced shafts will work.

Definitely enjoyed getting fitted just wanted to understand more. A lot more to learn for sure! 

Edited July 15, 2021 by ST3LTR0
Accidentally hit enter

[RickyBobby_PR]

17 minutes ago, ST3LTR0 said:

Definitely enjoyed getting fitted just wanted to understand more. A lot more to learn for sure! 

For sure. We all have been there. Having spent time with two shaft manufacturers helped me learn but also that what is listed on a website doesn’t correlate across the board