Shaft Weight/ Total Weight

Shaft weight has a potentially dramatic effect on a golfer's game because it is the dominant factor in controlling the total weight of the finished club. Lighter weight shafts mean lighter total weight golf clubs, which permit greater distance. In addition, lighter total weight golf clubs can reduce swing fatigue, which represents the potential for other game improvement benefits- greater swing consistency, and in turn more solid impact through 18 holes.

Shafts are generally classified into weight categories, - Heavy, Medium, Light, Very light & Ultralight- whether made from metal or composites.

Effects on Golf Shotmaking Performance Factors

When the total weight of the club is too heavy for the golfer, poor shots or fatigue will arise later in the round. A loss of distance may come about even when the ball is struck 'sweet' and an overall cumbersome or just plain heavy feeling during the swing. This usually happens when a golfer has a chance to play continuously for few days. Resulting in higher scores day by day.

On the other hand, if the total weight of the club is too light, the golfer will first experience the sensation of a faster swing, a quicker tempo particularly at the beginning of the downswing. Eventually the rhythm and tempo of the swing with a club that is too light will be more difficult to control as if it had gone a little wild. In most cases, a club that is too light will develop difficulty for the golfer to hit consistently in the centre of the face.

Shaft weight can only improve the accuracy as the resulting change in total weight allows an improvement in swing timing which in turn changes the clubhead path or allows the golfer to hit on center with a higher percentage of the time.

What happens if the shaft weight is too heavy for the golfer?

• Could help control and slow down the tempo. This could help in bringing a fast tempo swing more under control.
  

• Could cause a golfer to become tired during a round and bring about poor swing, from fatigue.
  

• Could slow down swing speed thus decreasing distance.
  

• Could bring a very slight improvement in accuracy by slowing down the swing, or could cause the golfer to push the ball as a result of a lack of strength to square the clubface on the downswing.

What happens if the shaft weight is too light for the golfer?

• Could have a negative effect on accuracy by causing the swing to become more uncontrolled. The result is usually a pull but could be a low slice hit off the heel of the club.
  

• Could increase swing speed, thus increasing Distance (but only if the swingweight is standard to high).
  

• Could promote a quick swing tempo (but normally only if the swing weight is too low).

FAST FACT

Neither extreme for the golfer is acceptable. However a light weight shaft would be better than heavy as long as the swingweight is kept at standard to high levels (recommended by Golfsmith) to allow the golfer to feel the club during the swing and gain a sense of timing and rhythm.