Types of Shafts for Golf Drivers

The shaft of a golf club is the part between the head, which hits the ball, and the grip, which you hold onto while swinging. It comes in several different materials and types, each with a different purpose. Selecting the right club shaft can mean the difference between an enjoyable, successful round and one where you spend most of your time in the trees.

  1. Steel

    • Steel is one of the more common shaft types for amateur golfers because they tend to be cheaper and stiffer, which provides more length off the tee. Steel is the heaviest material used for club shafts, so if you plan to carry your clubs around the course this could make a difference. Because of the stiffness, these clubs tend to be less accurate. One key advantage is all of the clubs will have the same feel, which means the stiffness in the 9 iron will be the same as the driver.

    Graphite

    • Graphite shafts are lighter than steel and have some flexibility. There is also less vibration after hitting the ball, so people who do not like to feel a buzzing in their hands should consider a graphite driver. The price of graphite clubs tends to be higher than steel, and a driver with a graphite shaft is more likely to crack or break.

    Titanium

    • Titanium is another type of metal used in drivers. It is lighter than steel and also carries a higher price tag. These shafts offer the vibration dampening of a graphite shaft with the stiffness of a steel shaft. It is a very popular material for the heads of golf drivers but not as popular for the shafts.

    Multimaterial

    • The shaft of a multimaterial driver combines graphite and steel into one shaft in an effort of getting the best of both worlds. The usual combination is a shaft that is steel with a tip that is graphite. The steel section of the shaft offers a solid shaft that allows players to control the ball flight more. The graphite part allows the driver to have a little bit of whip into the ball, which can provide more distance off the tee, and helps prevent vibrations after hitting the ball.

    Nanofuse

    • Nanofuse is a very new material type for golf clubs. These shafts are made by fusing a carbon fiber composite polymer sublayer with a nanocrystalline alloy. Club manufacturers claim that this fusing creates a driver shaft that has the consistency of steel and the light weight, distance and feel of graphite. These shafts are the most expensive available.

    Flex

    • Each type of driver shaft is rated for flex. Flex is important because greater flex will generally allow you to hit the ball longer. Greater flex, however, also reduces your "feel" and control. When you are selecting a club, you need to balance one attribute against the other to determine what is right for you. Golf shafts come in five different types of flex, each with a corresponding letter. "L" stands for Ladies Flex, and these shafts are designed for people with the slowest swing. "A" is for Amateur. The type of shaft is the next most flexible and is often used by senior golfers. "R" stands for Regular Flex. Most average, amateur golfers use "R" shafts because they balance length with control. "S" stands for Stiff Flex, and shafts with this rating are used by very good golfers who have a fast swing speed and don't need the extra help from the club to hit it long. "X" stands for Extra Stiff, and professional golfer use drivers with this rating. Flex ratings are not the same across manufacturers, so one manufacturer's "A" shaft may have as much flex as an "L" shaft from a different manufacturer. Always test a driver before buying and don't base your purchase solely on its flex rating.