Putter shafts - Do they matter?

[JakeSmith2316]

A simple question for all my MGS friends. I am seeing more companies come out with Custom putter shafts from the likes of LA Golf, KBS, as well as others. The question is, for anyone that has tried multiple shafts in the same putter have you felt a difference in performance or feel? If so, a further question is has anyone tried a graphite putter shaft such as the new KBS GPS Shaft or looking at trying one in the near future?

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

19 minutes ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

A simple question for all my MGS friends. I am seeing more companies come out with Custom putter shafts from the likes of LA Golf, KBS, as well as others. The question is, for anyone that has tried multiple shafts in the same putter have you felt a difference in performance or feel? If so, a further question is has anyone tried a graphite putter shaft such as the new KBS GPS Shaft or looking at trying one in the near future?

 

I can only speak to the strokelab shaft that yes without question it made a difference and I dont think I will ever go back to a normal putter shaft. The feel and just ease in which it has made putting is so much better than a standard steel shaft. Not sure I will go as far and see or try the other fancy ones, but if I was to go to a new putter it would have to have some sort of non standard shaft. 

[JakeSmith2316]

3 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I can only speak to the strokelab shaft that yes without question it made a difference and I dont think I will ever go back to a normal putter shaft. The feel and just ease in which it has made putting is so much better than a standard steel shaft. Not sure I will go as far and see or try the other fancy ones, but if I was to go to a new putter it would have to have some sort of non standard shaft. 

Thanks for your thoughts. My previous putter was actually the Stroke Lab Black 7s So it had the graphite top with the steel bottom. I did feel it had better balance than the others however, the toe hang that comes with the S model meant it didn’t last very long. So I made the switch to the Supernova I have now that has a KBS CT Tour.

[cnosil]

16 minutes ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

A simple question for all my MGS friends. I am seeing more companies come out with Custom putter shafts from the likes of LA Golf, KBS, as well as others. The question is, for anyone that has tried multiple shafts in the same putter have you felt a difference in performance or feel? If so, a further question is has anyone tried a graphite putter shaft such as the new KBS GPS Shaft or looking at trying one in the near future? 

Simple question, but difficult answer.    You will hear many say that the putter shaft doesn't matter because the putter moves so slowly.  Even with steel,  there are shaft profiles and the putter performs differently with the different shafts.  In steel, there is the pencil shaft made famous by TP Mills and the YSC shaft that Cameron used for a long time.    There is a different in feel with the graphite shafts; they typically feel stiffer.   I've compared a steel vs BGT stability shaft in identical heads and there were slight performance differences.   With putters, the differences will always be slight and probably something you can't measure in a single round and will probably take a full season to see any difference. For example you might see face angle deviation narrow a quarter of a degree;  this might help you make a few more 10' putts over the course of a season.   I saw a report from someone that did a Quintic comparison and the results showed a little tighter dispersion and narrowed face angle deviation that would probably translate to 1ish strokes saved per 4 rounds.  

The shaft costs seems to be coming down so I wouldn't be opposed to putting one in a putter.   I have tried the All-In,, LA Golf, Stability, PXG, and Accra;  they generally feel about the same.   I have also tried stroke lab it is designed with a different purpose than the others. 

[CFreddie]

5 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I can only speak to the strokelab shaft that yes without question it made a difference and I dont think I will ever go back to a normal putter shaft. The feel and just ease in which it has made putting is so much better than a standard steel shaft. Not sure I will go as far and see or try the other fancy ones, but if I was to go to a new putter it would have to have some sort of non standard shaft. 

Great feedback - its interesting that other major OEMs haven't leaned into putter shafts like Odyssey / Callaway, and I like that they are including the strokelab shaft in most of their putters (vs. a LA golf shaft that runs multiple hundreds of dollars).

[JakeSmith2316]

Just now, CFreddie said:

Great feedback - its interesting that other major OEMs haven't leaned into putter shafts like Odyssey / Callaway, and I like that they are including the strokelab shaft in most of their putters (vs. a LA golf shaft that runs multiple hundreds of dollars).

It might just be my lack of knowledge in the shaft game, however in the putter area the only ones I currently knew of were the Stroke Lab for Odyssey. And in terms of specialty ones the LA Golf line and the KBS line. I might need to take a look into what the others like PXG and Accra offer. 

[CFreddie]

4 minutes ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

It might just be my lack of knowledge in the shaft game, however in the putter area the only ones I currently knew of were the Stroke Lab for Odyssey. And in terms of specialty ones the LA Golf line and the KBS line. I might need to take a look into what the others like PXG and Accra offer. 

Yea, I could be wrong here too (not aware of any putter shaft made by a TM / Cobra / Ping).  I believe Scottys are TT as well.

[JakeSmith2316]

9 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Yea, I could be wrong here too (not aware of any putter shaft made by a TM / Cobra / Ping).  I believe Scottys are TT as well.

Based on a quick look it does look like TT makes the shaft for Scotty’s due to the head having a flare in the head. I know Cobra uses the KBS Tour 120 exclusively at the moment as well. When it comes to trying shafts I do wonder if there is specific places that actually have the facilities to do such tests outside of Shaft and Club OEM fitting centers.

[cnosil]

26 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Great feedback - its interesting that other major OEMs haven't leaned into putter shafts like Odyssey / Callaway, and I like that they are including the strokelab shaft in most of their putters (vs. a LA golf shaft that runs multiple hundreds of dollars).

They may have input into shafts, but just like the other clubs in the bag,  they don't delve much into shafts at all.   The Ping PLD line has a graphite shaft but to my knowledge it isn't a shaft that offers the "advantages" of a stability type shaft.  The PXG option seems to be an inhouse design.  

24 minutes ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

It might just be my lack of knowledge in the shaft game, however in the putter area the only ones I currently knew of were the Stroke Lab for Odyssey. And in terms of specialty ones the LA Golf line and the KBS line. I might need to take a look into what the others like PXG and Accra offer. 

There are lots of graphite putter shafts. Others that haven't been mentioned so far in this thread: Graphite Design, Diamana, Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical,  and Patterson

 

7 minutes ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

When it comes to trying shafts I do wonder if there is specific places that actually have the facilities to do such tests outside of Shaft and Club OEM fitting centers.

the PXG shafts can be tried through a PXG fitting or at their retail stores,  the UST All-In are options in Cleveland putters so you should be able to try them at any store that sells Cleveland putters. If you were in California you could go to the KBS store and try their shafts.   Places like TrueSpec and Club Champion also offer some of the graphite options as part of a paid fitting. 

[CFreddie]

3 minutes ago, cnosil said:

They may have input into shafts, but just like the other clubs in the bag,  they don't delve much into shafts at all.   The Ping PLD line has a graphite shaft but to my knowledge it isn't a shaft that offers the "advantages" of a stability type shaft.  The PXG option seems to be an inhouse design.  

There are lots of graphite putter shafts. Others that haven't been mentioned so far in this thread: Graphite Design, Diamana, Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical,  and Patterson

 

the PXG shafts can be tried through a PXG fitting or at their retail stores,  the UST All-In are options in Cleveland putters so you should be able to try them at any store that sells Cleveland putters. If you were in California you could go to the KBS store and try their shafts.   Places like TrueSpec and Club Champion also offer some of the graphite options as part of a paid fitting. 

Thanks - I was speaking more to an OEM building a specific shaft for putters (Odyssey + Stroke Lab).  

[dlow206]

I believe they can matter, but it is individual dependent. A lot of people talk about feel related to putters (milled vs. insert, milling style, milling depth, etc.). Amongst the putter shafts, there can be feel differences. For me, a steel True Temper stepped putter shaft feels a lot softer than a Stability shaft. 

Whether you can even perceive the feel differences and whether those feel differences matter is unique to you. 

[JakeSmith2316]

9 minutes ago, cnosil said:

They may have input into shafts, but just like the other clubs in the bag,  they don't delve much into shafts at all.   The Ping PLD line has a graphite shaft but to my knowledge it isn't a shaft that offers the "advantages" of a stability type shaft.  The PXG option seems to be an inhouse design.  

There are lots of graphite putter shafts. Others that haven't been mentioned so far in this thread: Graphite Design, Diamana, Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical,  and Patterson

 

the PXG shafts can be tried through a PXG fitting or at their retail stores,  the UST All-In are options in Cleveland putters so you should be able to try them at any store that sells Cleveland putters. If you were in California you could go to the KBS store and try their shafts.   Places like TrueSpec and Club Champion also offer some of the graphite options as part of a paid fitting. 

I do have a feeling a KBS fitting day in Carlsbad might me in my future soon. I have a fairly basic fitting with my current clubs but I would love to splurge and get 100% dialed in on everything when I get closer to my handicap goals. 

[CFreddie]

1 minute ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

I do have a feeling a KBS fitting day in Carlsbad might me in my future soon. I have a fairly basic fitting with my current clubs but I would love to splurge and get 100% dialed in on everything when I get closer to my handicap goals. 

 

[JakeSmith2316]

1 minute ago, CFreddie said:

 

I was expecting a more emperor Palpatine style GIF, but that’ll do, that’ll do. 

[CFreddie]

Fine fine.

[cnosil]

14 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Thanks - I was speaking more to an OEM building a specific shaft for putters (Odyssey + Stroke Lab).  

We are assuming Odyssey builds the shafts...can't show a definitive yes or no on that.   The only other would be LA Golf; their putters have the LA Golf shaft as you would expect 

[MattWillGolf]

9 minutes ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

I do have a feeling a KBS fitting day in Carlsbad might me in my future soon. I have a fairly basic fitting with my current clubs but I would love to splurge and get 100% dialed in on everything when I get closer to my handicap goals. 

[JakeSmith2316]

8 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Fine fine.

 

3 minutes ago, MattWillGolf said:

Now, do I do the whole $350 full bag or split days to focus on one item? Haha.

 

Back to the original discussion however, I appreciate all the new info I have gathered today and will definitely look into specialty golf shafts if never mind, when a new putter makes its way to by bag.

[TylorJudd]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I can only speak to the strokelab shaft that yes without question it made a difference and I dont think I will ever go back to a normal putter shaft. The feel and just ease in which it has made putting is so much better than a standard steel shaft. Not sure I will go as far and see or try the other fancy ones, but if I was to go to a new putter it would have to have some sort of non standard shaft. 

This... The stroke Lab is so smooth. It's a completely different feel. It was a huge game changer for my putting personally

[Triple_Putt]

I’m not sure but I’d like to try it!

[MattWillGolf]

4 hours ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

A simple question for all my MGS friends. I am seeing more companies come out with Custom putter shafts from the likes of LA Golf, KBS, as well as others. The question is, for anyone that has tried multiple shafts in the same putter have you felt a difference in performance or feel? If so, a further question is has anyone tried a graphite putter shaft such as the new KBS GPS Shaft or looking at trying one in the near future?

 

I asked this of Ryan Barath, a club builder, formerly with TXG and now a writer for  golf.com. He said that these specialty shafts resist twisting/flexing better than steel and because of that they would be more helpful with putts at longer distances.

[RickyBobby_PR]

8 minutes ago, MattWillGolf said:

I asked this of Ryan Barath, a club builder, formerly with TXG and now a writer for  golf.com. He said that these specialty shafts resist twisting/flexing better than steel and because of that they would be more helpful with putts at longer distances.

Ryan has been around for about 20 years. He’s not just a club builder he’s a club fitter who has worked with pro golfers, he was part of WRX before TXG and Modern Golf. A pretty good resource for information 

[gophergutz]

5 hours ago, CFreddie said:

Yea, I could be wrong here too (not aware of any putter shaft made by a TM / Cobra / Ping).  I believe Scottys are TT as well.

Ping has a lot of models now with graphite shafts, including a number of their PLD models.

[gophergutz]

5 hours ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

 

Now, do I do the whole $350 full bag or split days to focus on one item? Haha.

 

Back to the original discussion however, I appreciate all the new info I have gathered today and will definitely look into specialty golf shafts if never mind, when a new putter makes its way to by bag.

IMO, unless one is a low single-digit capper or better, one has a lot more to worry about than one's putter shaft.

Have time and $$$ to burn ? Knock yourself out.

 

1 hour ago, MattWillGolf said:

I asked this of Ryan Barath, a club builder, formerly with TXG and now a writer for  golf.com. He said that these specialty shafts resist twisting/flexing better than steel and because of that they would be more helpful with putts at longer distances.

See above. There's a lot more a high capper can do to improve his game than worry about putter shafts being less resistant to twisting by an nth of a degree.

You're hitting a ball that's not round on a surface that's not flat, assuming you've read the line and distance correctly, and then assuming you can bring the putter back to near square, with the proper amount of force. And from 30+ feet a fancy shaft isn't going to control your distance enough better to make a difference.

[GolfSpy_APH]

8 hours ago, TylorJudd said:

This... The stroke Lab is so smooth. It's a completely different feel. It was a huge game changer for my putting personally

The next project I have is I do want to put the strokelab shaft on a different putter head. We will see if I manage to get it sorted in time, however I really do not want to go away from the putter shaft anytime soon. 

[mharr]

14 hours ago, JakeSmith2316 said:

It might just be my lack of knowledge in the shaft game, however in the putter area the only ones I currently knew of were the Stroke Lab for Odyssey. And in terms of specialty ones the LA Golf line and the KBS line. I might need to take a look into what the others like PXG and Accra offer. 

The Stability shaft from BreakThroughGolf was the first graphite/steel hybrid shaft, before Stroke Lab "borrowed" (licensed, I hope) the design.  BreakThroughGolf is the company that Barney Adams founded after he has sold his Adams Golf company.  I've used that shaft on 3 putters now.  Especially with the Cleveland Ti35, the stock shaft was so flexible, I would actually see the shaft flex on long putts!  Put it a Stability shaft and it felt lighter, I could feel the head better, and my putts (both shorter and longer) were better. 

[B_R_A_D_Y]

Didn’t MyGolfSpy do a test last year on Odessy putters between graphite & steel shafts, determining that steel was more accurate from 10’ in? It would be interesting to see putter shaft tests. 

[cradams10]

I use the KBS CT Tour Straight Shaft. I was skeptical on its benefits, but for the price I figured I would try it out. I use a Strokes Gained blade style and the feel of the putter changed dramatically for the better once installed. Who's to say there isn't a better one for me out there, but I know that my putting has benefited from an aftermarket shaft.

[crimea_river]

I doesn’t matter at all. But since some people think it does, then why not grab their money anyway?

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, mharr said:

The Stability shaft from BreakThroughGolf was the first graphite/steel hybrid shaft, before Stroke Lab "borrowed" (licensed, I hope) the design.  

Stability and stroke lab are two completely different shafts and concepts .  The Stability shaft is about making a shaft more “stable” to reduce twisting that has occurred as putter heads have gotten heavier.   The stroke lab shaft is more about weight distribution. They moved weight to the putter head and added more counterbalance which cam from shaft weight reduction.