Let’s do a quick recap from last week:

Bottom line – Use the Head to dial in optimal performance and to optimize directional control, use the shaft to optimize feel and fine tune directional control.

I got some questions on this, so I’ll simplify. You KNOW what the head is going to do. It’s predictable. Say you have a player who slices the ball – you have to fix this first. You KNOW if you start with a Max head and the ball slices, you need to move the slider to the maximum draw setting. You KNOW what this is going to do – it will move the weight to the heel, make the toe lighter and easier to close the face. Is this enough? If not, you KNOW the Max D will give more draw bias. You KNOW what a Triple Diamond will do. You KNOW going to less loft will reduce spin. These are laws that you KNOW what they will do for a player.

You DON’T KNOW what the shaft will do. Every player will respond differently to one shaft or another. What you DO KNOW is that the changes made by changing the shaft will be smaller, more minute. The shafts job is not insignificant. It’s purpose is to return the clubhead to the same neutral/ square position at impact that it was in at address. It also will provide a different feel from one player to the next, so trying a couple different ones will allow you to see what feels the player likes.

One thing you can do is predict what a club head will do, but what you can’t do is predict what a shaft will do – simply put, it will respond differently for every player. When it comes to head, there is a right answer if you are trying to launch it higher, stop the slice, or spin it less. When it comes to shaft, it is completely player dependent – what works for one may well not work for another.

Typically, if you gave a player four 60 gram stiff flex shafts, each will perform differently for a player. Typically, the softer feeling shafts will have the most torque, and the firmer feeling shafts have the least torque. High torque works well for players who have quiet hands (more subtle release), or who need help with club head speed (read: more whip). Lower torque shafts work better with faster swing speeds and players with active hands. Can you use a high torque X Stiff shaft or a low torque Regular flex shaft? OF COURSE. Think of Torque as a tool (spec) to help the head rotate with the hands. The head and hands rotate. The torque of the shaft helps them match. Typically, the feel a player seeks will happen when the head and the hands match.

Let’s ponder the golf swing/ club head/ shaft relationship world for a moment. Are they all different? OF COURSE. However, much of what you see in a player is his “Swing DNA” – you’re not going to change much of that. A low ball hitter needs more loft. What about a soft tip shaft? Yes, that will help, but by tenths of a degree in launch angle, or a few feet in the apex height. The head might get you the same amount. The players swing produces a low ball flight – period. Your best bet is to understand that it’s only going to go so high. You are wasting your time trying to chase the perfect trajectory – optimize what you have in front of you. Improve what you can while you optimize. You’ll find this will give the best results.

Consider that as you try to get this low ball hitter to hit it higher. You add loft. Good idea, but it adds spin, which will take away distance. Do we want to hit it higher and shorter? No. We use a softer tip shaft. Also a good idea, but this may also add spin and will be harder to control directionally. Do we want to hit it higher, more off line and shorter? Again, No.

Deal with what you have in front of you. Find what the player hits the straightest with the best spin. Sacrifice trajectory for distance and direction. The player is already used to a lower flight. Optimize that. IF you can improve the trajectory without sacrificing performance, go for it!! If you can’t, improve upon what you can.

I hope this helps. Happy Fitting. Adapt, Learn, and Grow.