Are Shaft Upgrades Worth It?

[SamShutes]

I have never been fit for irons/wedges, but I plan to make that happen within a year or so. As I do my research and budget this out, it seems like the cost of a fitting itself is almost negligible compared to the cost of the clubs, but the shaft upgrades / shaft selections not offered by the club manufacturer are the biggest cost variable.

Is that cost worth it?

Background for my game specifically. In college and right after college when I played golf 2-3 times per week my handicap was somewhere between 6-9. 10 years and 2 kids later, I have played a lot less but started to get back into the swing of things. Current handicap is 12-14. I have always played "standard" clubs without any modifications. I'm not as fast as I was in college, but I still have high swing speed swinging driver around 100 mph. My goal with the club fitting and my golf future in general is to get back to single digit handicap and have a set of clubs that fits my game.

Thoughts? Was your shaft update worth it? Noticeable difference in the upgrade, if so in what way? Conversely, any fittings without shaft upgrades that still lead to great improvement? I'm not too familiar on how custom length/loft/lie will impact my game vs. "standard" (for reference, I'm 6'03"). 

[BallsLeon]

Worth it if it fits you 

[Rob Person]

I have been asking myself this alot recently too with my drivers and woods.

They are considerably past their DUE Date in terms of tech. (Titleist 910 set) but they work well for me as far as I can tell. 

I want to get a shaft fitting only (is that a thing)? But how much better will it improve my distance,  dispersion,  overall game?

Is it the same cost?

I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to know what profile shaft I should be using, but as is mentioned repeatedly,  what one manufacturer offers in a profile, can be quite different from  other manufacturers.

I'm not a tech/data driven person,  so I would have to rely on the experts knowledge.

Is there some crossover index between each manufacturer to reference?

Then comes costs. Pay for the fitting,  pay for shafts, pay for the tip swaps, etc

 

Do I believe that you can take an older set of woods/irons and improve the club performance by just using a more suitable shaft? I hope so! 

But how much weight offset is needed to maximize those gains? 

It's a rabbit hole for me, and not one I feel im ready to dive into head first yet.  But I will keep reading here and learning!

[cnosil]

5 hours ago, SamShutes said:

Thoughts? Was your shaft update worth it? Noticeable difference in the upgrade, if so in what way? Conversely, any fittings without shaft upgrades that still lead to great improvement? I'm not too familiar on how custom length/loft/lie will impact my game vs. "standard" (for reference, I'm 6'03"). 

 

First:  I recommend getting fit to determine what shafts and heads work best for your.  Fitting can be many thing ranging from personally understanding the data and fitting yourself to going to a store like Club Champion that will most likely fit you into upgraded non stock shafts.    

Getting the right club setup; even if it is stock offerings, will potentially help you play better golf but it will not replace the improvement that can be obtained via lessons and practice.  The correct clubs head, shaft, lofts, lies, etc will help you hit straighter more consistent shots.   For example if you have the wrong lie angle you may hit lots of balls left or right and by adjusting the lie you can make the ball go straighter.   Loft adjustments help ensure that there is proper gapping between your clubs.  Shafts and heads help you optimize delivery to control things like launch and spin.  Basically the correct configuration helps you hit the ball better.    Clubs are not magic bullets and great improvement probably won't happen unless your current clubs are a terrible fit for your swing. 

[KC Golf]

36 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 

First:  I recommend getting fit to determine what shafts and heads work best for your.  Fitting can be many thing ranging from personally understanding the data and fitting yourself to going to a store like Club Champion that will most likely fit you into upgraded non stock shafts.    

Getting the right club setup; even if it is stock offerings, will potentially help you play better golf but it will not replace the improvement that can be obtained via lessons and practice.  The correct clubs head, shaft, lofts, lies, etc will help you hit straighter more consistent shots.   For example if you have the wrong lie angle you may hit lots of balls left or right and by adjusting the lie you can make the ball go straighter.   Loft adjustments help ensure that there is proper gapping between your clubs.  Shafts and heads help you optimize delivery to control things like launch and spin.  Basically the correct configuration helps you hit the ball better.    Clubs are not magic bullets and great improvement probably won't happen unless your current clubs are a terrible fit for your swing. 

So true. Just getting fit and seeing what is possible with stock shafts is a good starting point. 

Great detailed answers here @cnosil!

[RetiredBoomer]

Are Shaft Upgrades Worth It?

Definitely to some.

Definitely not to some.

For many, we just have to find out, I guess.

I have custom chosen shafts, none of them a price upgrade, fortunately.
My grips are all a price upgrade, however.

 

 

 

[josh.Scott]

I found that getting fit for iron shafts gave me a surprisingly better feeling with my irons, and while the numbers didn't change all that much I just found a feel I preferred, When it comes to driver, Getting fit I found improved both the numbers and the feel. 

But at the end of the day it is all about what worth you place on it and how much value you place on it, worst case scenario, you get fit and find something which you love, and you can buy it secondhand or something similar for cheaper!

[jaskanski]

'My goal with the club fitting and my golf future in general is to get back to single digit handicap and have a set of clubs that fits my game'.

There's your answer right there. 'Upgrade' refers to any improvement over the existing by definition, so to fall into the category of 'upgrade' it must be better than what you already have. That could mean the shaft or shafts, but it could also mean the loft, lie, length, weight etc. It could aslo mean yourself - but the ethic to do something about it is the main issue which you already have by the sound of it. That counts for a lot, rather than those who want to throw money at equipment and see an immediate improvement - therein lies the percieved issue of 'worth'. Stick to your plan  and it's worth it for sure.

Edited August 27 by jaskanski

[RyanGi]

For me, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of my swing and which shaft profiles could help reduce those weaknesses was huge. I was swinging heavy, stock iron shafts. Simply dropping 30g in what weight and going to graphite made a huge difference. I also wasn’t getting as much height at apex as I should be, so a shaft with a lower kick point helped that. If you work with the fitter to understand specifically why they chose the shaft for you, you can then use those attributes to find something similar (if the fitted shaft is too much $$$). Getting fitted will definitely change your game, how much is more up to you. 

Edited September 8 by RyanGi

[Shankopotomous]

I am assuming you mean paying an adder for a shaft rather than between stock selections.  It depends on what is important to you and if you can spend the $$ on the upgrade.  If you had a dispersion difference like the one in the pic below would you pay extra and how much?

The good news is you may not need to pay extra.  Actually the tighter dispersion circle above was a stock shaft offering while the much larger circle was a price adder shaft!  It pays to spend a few $ to find out what works before doing a trial and error test via buying clubs.

Have fun at the fitting and do the trial & error of the configurations there!

[KevB_44]

Hard to define value to say if it is worth it.... but I consider the shaft a critical component.   Nevertheless, an upgraded shaft costs $$$ and everyone has a budget, limit, and has to do a cost/benefit analysis.   

I have played some strong "black shafts" HZRDUS, Tensei 1K, etc, but I love my Ventus TR Black.  While some say it is boardy, I think the feel is great, I have confidence in it, and it outperforms the others---by how much I will have a hard time quantifying, but my personal analysis in this case says it is worth it, but different costs and different marginal improvements are personal matters.

I recently ordered a Ventus TR Red for my 3 wood---not that I thought the PING Chrome was inferior, but I saw some marginal improvement out of the box and I believe that the value is there despite the cost of the upgrade.

[RookieBlue7]

The biggest thing I’d say in relation to fitting is to find a reputable fitter in your area that is going to fit you into what’s best for you and not what’s best for their margins. Call around and interview (so to speak) fitters you’re considering and see who you click with. If you go in and get a fitter you don’t get along with or trust, you could be tight or have an off day and then end up in the wrong shafts. As far as if they make a difference? Yes, imo, they do. Anything to make it easier to be more consistent is something worth spending a little more time and cash on

[GolfSpy_APH]

True answer is that it depends, but for many. Yes!

[Josh Parker]

On 8/24/2024 at 7:09 AM, SamShutes said:

Thoughts? Was your shaft update worth it? Noticeable difference in the upgrade, if so in what way? Conversely, any fittings without shaft upgrades that still lead to great improvement? I'm not too familiar on how custom length/loft/lie will impact my game vs. "standard" (for reference, I'm 6'03"). 

A fitting is 110% worth it.  If you are open to shaft upgrades or just stock shafts, the fitting is the place to speak up and talk to the fitter. These days, the stock shafts have some great options that can perform.  If you are open to all options, an upgraded shaft may work.  A good fitter will find the one that performs the best for you and your swing. 

[Erin B]

There are so many variables and types of shafts, counter balanced, tip stiff, butt stiff, ect. And @funkyjudge is really smart on all this. For me fittings are worth every penny. If I’m going to spend lots of money on clubs I want them to be the right fit for my swing. I believe shafts are the most important part of the club. Just my two cents.

[funkyjudge]

2 hours ago, Erin B said:

There are so many variables and types of shafts, counter balanced, tip stiff, butt stiff, ect. And @funkyjudge is really smart on all this. For me fittings are worth every penny. If I’m going to spend lots of money on clubs I want them to be the right fit for my swing. I believe shafts are the most important part of the club. Just my two cents.

Thanks, Erin!

[William P]

Can only concur with what others have stated but the priority should be to get fitted for your individual swing and weigh the options provided by a qualified fitter.

[Awtatman]

My personal opinion is that getting the right length, weight, flex, profile, loft, and lie for your swing makes a difference but that doesn’t mean you have to upgrade shafts. I’m very budget conscious (my wife would say “cheap”), so I’ve built my set out of stock shaft options. Maybe if I was a tournament golfer, it would be worth it, but I can’t justify the extra expense currently. 

Edited September 22 by Awtatman
Forgot word

[tony@CIC]

This question reminds me of a fitting experience I had at Club Champion back in 2021. I was looking to upgrade my 410 driver at the time and the preferred club ended up being a SIM 2 Max with an Oban shaft -  $900. The fittier (an honest guy) asked me; " do you really want to spend $900 for an extra 15 yds". Nope! I did end up buying a slightly used SIM 2 Max from Global Golf for $330. and spent a few more bucks on driver lessons. End result was I picked up more than the 15 yds with the new driver. 

FYI, I also tried a couple of Newton shafts recently and those definitely didn't work for me. 

Are custom shafts worth it? Maybe after you've got your swing perfected (if that ever happens with casual golfers). 

 

[Bob Jerabek]

Was just fitted to a new Titleist GT3. We tried the GT2 also.  The GT3 had a better dispersion pattern.  Tried several stock shafts and the best fit was the Tensei Blue 1k regular. So that was the set up. We then tried several premium shafts Ventus and Grafite Design.  The Ventus averaged 1-2 yards longer than The Tensei dispersion was still better with the Tensei.  No need to upgrade shafts.  

[Tincuptim]

In my opinion a single digit handicap with an unlimited golf budget could or should pursue this. I have a limited golf budget which includes monthly dues and some extra for City Amateur events in Phoenix and surrounding areas. For me to spend $500-$750 for a new shaft that might get me one more fairway is hard to justify. My fittings with some stock shafts get me close enough where I can be fairly successful. Putter fitting to assist in making a putt for a skin makes more sense. Better roi. Hit twice as many shots with a putter per round and I would wager most don't get fitted. Length and proper amount of toe hang for your stroke will free a lot of people up. Just my 2 cents.

[ElmMan]

For me, I learned what characteristics I needed from a shaft and did a little trial and error on my own. By knowing what I needed, I was able to fit myself into a great Fujikura graphite iron shaft that has improved my accuracy and ball flight immensely. For my driver, the search has been a little more difficult. I know that for the most part, I play better with higher launching shafts, but finding my exact fit changes when I buy a new driver. I just bought a new one this year and I am still looking for the perfect shaft. On my last driver, the stock shaft worked perfectly.

[Berg Ryman]

I guess something worth discussing here is what are we talking about as stock, because if you ask me we need to shift that conversation. So many companies have a great stable of non-upcharge options that I think considering those don't change the main cost should those also be considered 'stock' shafts for the purposes of this conversation?

Either way, I think because of the great amount of non-upcharge options I think it's becoming less and less for me to lean exotic, even though I have an upcharge shaft in the 3 wood which you need to pry out of my cold dead hands.

[cnosil]

13 minutes ago, Berg Ryman said:

I guess something worth discussing here is what are we talking about as stock, because if you ask me we need to shift that conversation. So many companies have a great stable of non-upcharge options that I think considering those don't change the main cost should those also be considered 'stock' shafts for the purposes of this conversation?

 

I consider the topic to be about paying for an upgrade versus selecting one of the various no cost options.  

[Louis_Posture]

Stock graphite shafts are junk because the club brand demands a low price from the shaft producer. So, is it worth it to pay an additional $250 + to get the real deal quality shafts either aftermarket or from the club brand's custom department? The shots produced from real deal shafts do sound-feel better, and shot dispersion may be a bit tighter, but whether those factors are worth the extra money is a personal decision. Either way 18 hole scoring averages I do not believe are affected.

[Josh Parker]

8 hours ago, Louis_Posture said:

Stock graphite shafts are junk because the club brand demands a low price from the shaft producer. So, is it worth it to pay an additional $250 + to get the real deal quality shafts either aftermarket or from the club brand's custom department? The shots produced from real deal shafts do sound-feel better, and shot dispersion may be a bit tighter, but whether those factors are worth the extra money is a personal decision. Either way 18 hole scoring averages I do not believe are affected.

I disagree. Plenty of "stock" shafts perform great for a lot of people. I have a tensei 1k blue on my GT3 and love it.  If the shaft works for you it works. Plenty of people have hit the ventus line without velocore just as well as the upgrade. 

[Shankopotomous]

On 9/23/2024 at 11:05 AM, cnosil said:

I consider the topic to be about paying for an upgrade versus selecting one of the various no cost options.  

Thats the way i looked at it also.  I think it depends on the stock options and your swing. 

When doing the TM fitting recently none of the stock options in graphite worked well for me.  Probably because there were no 100g and up to choose from. 

If i needed graphite due to arm pain or something I would have to get an upgrade graphite shaft to get that weight.  I dont mind playing a steel shaft and found a stock one that looks promising.  

[Erin B]

2 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

I disagree. Plenty of "stock" shafts perform great for a lot of people. I have a tensei 1k blue on my GT3 and love it.  If the shaft works for you it works. Plenty of people have hit the ventus line without velocore just as well as the upgrade. 

I agree. Ping’s stock shafts and I really get along well with each other. 

[RyanGi]

But, as with everything else in golf, everyone’s needs are going to vary. Best case is you get fitted into a combo including a shaft on the mfgs ‘free upgrade’ list…