ClubTimes Digital-July 2021

GOLF

When the shaft bends in a lead/lag direction it is known as “shaft deflection”. Shaft deflection causes the club head to lag behind the centerline of the shaft, which transforms kinetic energy into potential energy. Believe it or not, shaft deflection can exceed 3 inches in a stiff shaft during the downswing. Just before impact, there is a part of the swing known as the “release”. The release happens as the club head approaches the ball and the club head goes from lagging behind the center line of the shaft to actually leading the centerline of the shaft just before impact.

This part of the swing is known as the release because it literally releases the potential energy from the shaft into the ball. The amount of flexing that occurs in the shaft (based on its stiffness) will affect the dynamic loft angle of the club at impact as well as the initial ball speed. Dynamic loft directly affects the launch angle of the ball. Both the kinetic energy that is created by the player’s ability to generate club head speed during the downswing, and the potential energy from the shaft deflection are imparted to the golf ball during impact.

Shaft deflection is only one small part of why it is so important to work with an experienced club fitter to identify the correct shaft flex to play. Equipment manufacturers have invested significant resources into developing a variety of golf shafts each designed to match different golfer’s individual release patterns. Getting a shaft that is not properly fitted for your swing can make a difficult game even more difficult and prevent you from playing your best. In next month’s edition we will discuss shaft droop and how it affects the direction of a golf shot.