Shaft Fitting is one the most confusing aspects of fitting to many clubmakers. If you take the time to read the information on this page, the selection process for a suitable shaft to match each golfer’s swing, performance and feel requirements will not be difficult. Remember, the primary function of the shaft is to control the total weight of the club to modify or enhance the launch angle of the shot, and to match as close as possible to the golfer’s preferred feel for the bending of the shaft. It is critical in accurate shaft fitting for all clubmakers to take the time to analyze a few significant shaft fitting movements in the golfer’s swing and compare these swing moves to the references listed in each shaft data table as well as in the Shaft Fitting Table.
Step 1
Measure the golfer’s swing speed with the driver (wood shaft fitting) and
5-iron (iron shaft fitting).
Step 2
Note the golfer’s typical force and speed in starting the downswing. Try
to note as a general observation whether the golfer’s transtition move
is:
SmoothTransition(#1)
The golfer either has a distinct “pause”between the end of the backswing and beginning of the downswing, or makes a transition move that does not appear to put very much initial bending on the shaft.Smooth Transition(#2)
An average transition move will not have a distinct pause between the end of the backswing and beginning of the downswing. On the other hand, it will not look as if the golfer really couldn’t wait to “pour on the coal”to start the club down.Forceful Transition(#3)
The forceful transition will exert a visible bend on the shaft as the club begins down and will give the clubmaker the distinct impression that the golfer is trying to “hit”the ball hard right from the beginning of the downswing.
Step 3
Note the golfer’s typical swing for the overall swing
tempo. This is another critical swing characteristic that is essential
in making decisions about the golfer’s swing speed rating of a
suitable shaft as well as the length, total weight and swing weight of
the club. Try to note as a general observation whether the golfer’s
swing tempo is:
Smooth Tempo(#1)
A smooth tempo swing will appear to be that of a “swinger”, who swings the club rhythmically and with either no sense of, of a very subtle sense of accelerating the club to impact. Swing tempo timing of over 1.2 seconds.Smooth Tempo(#2)
An average swing tempo will display a sense that the golfer is definitely trying to accelerate the club to impact, with some sense of control, but without a real sense of aggression in the downswing. Swing tempo timing of 0.9 to 1.2 seconds.Fast Tempo(#3)
A fast swing tempo should definitely convey a sense of aggression in the downswing and that the golfer is really trying to accelerate the club and “hit”the ball. Swing tempo timing of less than .9 seconds.
Step 4
Note the golfer’s typical swing with the driver or 5-iron for their release
move –the point in the downswing when they unhinge the wrist-cock. This
is another critical swing characteristic when making decisions about the bend
profile of the shaft and whether a flight control type of shaft will or will
not display its trajectory design when the golfer hits shots. Try to note as
a general observation whether the golfer’s release of the wrist-cock
is:
Early Wrist-Cock Release(#1)
In an early release, the golfer almost immediately begins to unhinge the wrist-cock right when the club starts down from the transition. An early release is characterized by the clubhead immediately moving away from the golfer at the beginning of the downswing, or with the club extended straight out from the arms before the arms reach waist high on the downswing.Midway Wrist-Cock Release(#2)
A “midway”release is when the golfer holds a major portion of the wrist-cock intact at the start of the downswing, but begins to unhinge the wrists just before the arms reach waist high on the downswing.Late Wrist-Cock Release(#3)
A golfer with a late release is definitely able to retain the angle between the shaft and the arms until the arms are at or below the waist on the downswing.
Step 5
Compile the number rankings of the golfer’s Transition,Tempo and
Release and note as follows:
| Shaft | W/I | Transition 1 = Smooth 2 = Average Force 3 = Hard/Forceful | Tempo 1 = Smooth 2 = Average 3 = Fast/Quick | Release 1 = Early 2 = Midway 3 - Late | Strength 1 = Early
2 = Midway 3 - Late |
Swing Speeds Wood S/S = Driver or 3w Iron S/S = 5 or 6-iron |
| ZT Technology | W/I | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | A Wood = 60-75 / A Iron = 55-65 R Wood = 75-90 / R Iron = 65-75 S Wood = 90-105 / S Iron = 75 -85 |
| Comments: No Transition 3’s; Strength 3 is ok with Transition 1 or 2, Tempo 1 or 2; Release 3 is ok with Transition 1 or 2 & Tempo 1 or 2; use this if golfer has Release1 or 2 over InterFlexx High; Low End of Each Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| InterFlexx High | W/I | 1 or 2 | 1, 2, or 3 | 1, 2 or 3 | 1 or 2 | A Wood = 60-75 R Wood = 75-90 / R Iron = 65-75 S Wood = 90-105 / S Iron = 75 -85 |
| Comments: No Transition 3’s; Strength 3 is ok with Transition 1 or 2, Tempo 1 or 2; Release 3 is ok with Transition 1 or 2 & Tempo 1 or 2; use this if golfer has Release1 or 2 over InterFlexx High; Low End of Each Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| InterFlexx Mid/Low | W/I | 1 or 2 | 1, 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | R Wood = 75-90 / R Iron = 65-75 S Wood = 90-105 / S Iron = 75 -85 X Wood = 105-115 |
| Comments: No Transition 3’s; Strength 3 is OK with Transition 1 or 2 & Tempo 1 or 2; Release 3 is ok with Transition 1 or 2 & Tempo 1 or 2; Use this if golfer has Release 2 or 3 and wants lower flight; No Release 1’s either Low End of Each Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| Series 5-SL Light Weight | W | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 1 or 2 | R Wood = 85-100; S Wood = 95-110 |
| Comments: No Strength 3’s & Transition 3’s together; No Strength 2’s when Transition and Tempo are both 3; Strength 3 ok when Transition and Tempo are 2; Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| Series 5-SL Tour Weight | W | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | R Wood = 85-100; S Wood = 100-115 |
| Comments: No 1’s in any category; Definitely for Strength 3 with Transition 2, 3, Tempo 2,3 and Release 2,3; Also OK to use this shaft for Fwy woods if 5-SL Light is’ used in the driver. Low End of Swing Speed Range to ‘ have Transition/Tempo 3; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2. | ||||||
| 730CL | W/I/Wg | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | A Wood = 65-80; L Wood = 50-65 A Iron/Wg = 55-65; L Iron/Wg = 45-55 |
| Comments: Definitely more for 1’s than 2’s; OK to have a 2 in Release and Tempo with 1’s in Transition and Strength Additional tipping is ok for 2/2/2/2 golfer. Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| Series 5 Steel | W/I | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1, 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | R Wood = 75-90 / R Iron = 65-80 S Wood = 90-105 / S Iron = 75-90 |
| Comments: No 3’s in Transition or Tempo; Strength 3 is ok if Transition and Tempo are 1,2; Additional tip trim for Release 3’s should be done when Transition and Tempo are 2’s. No 2/2/2/3 and 2/2/3/3’s - find heavier steel design. Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 3; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2. | ||||||
| Series 7-FL-45 | W | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | AA Wood = 55-70; A Wood = 70-85 |
| Comments: No Strength 3’s; Strength 2 only when Transition and Tempo are 1; Release 3 is ok if Transition, Tempo are 1; Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| Series 7-SUL-55 | W | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1, 2 or 3 | 1 or 2 | R Wood = 80-95; S Wood = 90-105 |
| Comments: No Strength 3’s; 2/2/2/2 is ok; 2/2/3/2 is also ok; Release 3 ok with Transition/Tempo 2’s; No Transition/Tempo 3’s Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| Series 5-SL Flexible | W | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | 1 or 2 | Flexible Wood = 50-70 Flexible Iron = 40-60 |
| Comments: Tip additional for 2/2/2/2’s or 2/2/2/1’s; Anything else comprised of 1 or 2 use normal tip trim; comprised of 1 or 2 use normal tip trim; comprised of 1 or 2 use normal tip trim; Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| GI-335 Light Weight | I | 1 or 2 | 1, 2 or 3 | 1, 2 or 3 | 1 or 2 | AA Iron/Hybrid = 45-55 A Iron/Hybrid = 55-65 R Iron/Hybrid = 65-75 S Iron/Hybrid = 75-85 |
| Comments: Tip additional for 2/2/2/2’s or 2/2/2/1’s; Anything else comprised of 1 or 2 use normal tip trim; comprised of 1 or 2 use normal tip trim; comprised of 1 or 2 use normal tip trim; Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||
| GI-335 Tour Weight | I | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | R Iron/Hybrid = 70-80; S Iron/Hybrid = 80-90 |
| Comments: No 1’s in any category; Definitely for Strength 3 with Transition 2, 3, Tempo 2,3 and Release 2,3; Also OK to use this shaft for Fwy woods if 5-SL Light is’ used in the driver. Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 3; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2. | ||||||
| Series 7 B2P | D/F | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 2 or 3 | 1, 2 or 3 | R Driver/Fwy = 80-95; S Driver/Fwy = 90-105 |
| Comments: No 1’s in any category; Definitely for Strength 3 with Transition 2, 3, Tempo 2,3 and Release 2,3; Also OK to use this shaft for Fwy woods if 5-SL Light is’ used in the driver. Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/ Tempo 3; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2. | ||||||
| Series 9 TQC | W | 1 or 2 | 1, 2 or 3 | 1, 2 or 3 | 1 or 2 | R Driver = 80-95; S Driver 90-105 |
| Comments: No Strength 3’s & Transition 3’s together; No Strength 2’s when Transition and Tempo are both 3; Strength 3 ok when Transition and Tempo are 2; Low End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 2; High End of Swing Speed Range to have Transition/Tempo 1. | ||||||