The FOUR functions of the golf shaft

The Clubmakers Forum

by Kirby Huestis

When you ask a professional clubmaker what is the most difficult task in clubfitting, most will say finding the best shaft for the golfer. One of the primary reasons precise shaft fitting is so difficult is the relationship between a shafts specifications and a golfers performance needs are very diverse, much more so than with clubheads, grips, or the assembled specifications of club length and balance. So what are the four functions of a golf shaft?

1. The shaft contributes to the shot's launch and angle....depending on the kick-point of the shaft and the strength of the golfers swing.

2. The shaft contributes to the face position at impact....The shafts resistance to torque, (MOI), has an affect on the position of the clubface relative to the swing path at impact. The higher the MOI, the higher the golfers swing speed, the later the release is in the downswing, the higher the torque rating of the shaft, the more the shaft twist before impact.

3. The shaft contributes to the clubs total weight and to the swing speed....weight affects the amount of swing speed a golfer can generate.

4. The shaft contributes to the shot's feel..........If the shaft feels to whippy or stiff it causes the impact to feel dead or uncontrollable.

What is MOI? The moment of inertia or a measurement of the shafts resistance to twisting.

What is Torque? The amount of rotational twist that occurs in a shaft during the swing. 

TEE 2 GREEN CUSTOM GOLF
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.
518-584-6322
KIRBY HUESTIS- OWNER

Kirby has been doing golf club repair and assembly as a hobby for nearly 20 years. In 2001, with mentor Master Clubmaker Dick Bogdan, a decision was made to get credentialed by getting state -of-the-art training from the technical experts. The school of choice was the GolfWorks in Newark, Ohio started by Ralph Maltby in 1976. Mr. Maltby wrote the book on golf club fitting, assembly, repair, and dynamic playability-literally. His schools qualify for the PGA of America Continuing Education credits and are approved by the Professional Clubmakers Society.

Kirby attended The Fitting, Assembly And Repair School in January 2002. This is the most comprehensive training program available in clubmaking today.

In July 2002 Kirby qualified and was invited to attend the Masters Program, an elite program exclusively for those who wish to be challenged at the highest level of golf equipment expertise.

In April of this year He will attend the Professional Clubfitting school for advanced training in the art of Custom Clubfitting.

Kirby also achieved the title of Certified "Class A" Clubmaker by completing the Professional Clubmakers' Society Certification Exam. This consists of a detailed written examination and a demanding skills test. The PCS is an authority in custom clubmaking so the rank of Certified "Class A" Clubmaker is viewed as the standard for clubmaking excellence in the golf industry.

We all want to improve at golf. So how do you improve? There are 6 P's...Think about it and you will probably come up with two of them.Practice & Play. The rest are Professional swing instruction, a Positive attitude, and very importantly...being Properly fit and Playing quality equipment. As a professional club maker I can assure you a proper fit with quality equipment that is second to none.

The Twenty Laws Of Golf
1 of 20

"No matter how bad your last shot was the worst is yet to come. The law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has a supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a season, or perhaps even a lifetime."