Ten of the Best: Iron shafts

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THE shaft on your irons is a component that is gravely undervalued. If you are going to spend a sizeable chunk of your wage on a new wrenches, then it’s worth getting a shaft fitting if you want to get the most out of it.

By getting the right shaft on your irons you will increase length and accuracy and this will allow you to knock shots off your handicap - and we could all do with that.

What to look for

There are five key areas when getting a shaft. This is a very brief guide so make sure you chat to your club fitter in order to get a better understanding.

It's also important to leave your ego at the door - you can't swing it as fast as Rory McIlroy, so don't get the same shaft as him!

Weight – Every swing is different so every player needs to play with a specific weight. Strong players who swing fast will benefit from a heavier shaft while slower swings will want to get something lighter.

Flex – Like weight, faster swing speeds will benefit from stiffer flexes while slower swing speeds will want to get something bendier.

Kick point – Known by a variety of names, the kickpoint relates to how the shaft hinges and it changes trajectory. Generally, a high kick point will promote a lower ball flight and a low kick point will promote a high ball flight.

Torque – This is the shaft’s resistance to twisting on the downswing. If you have a fast, aggressive swing you want a low torque and visa versa.

Balance point – This is where the shaft is perfectly balanced from the tip to the butt. If the balance point is closer to the club head it will feel heavier, so it comes down to preference and matching it up with the rest of the bag. 

Introduction

THE shaft on your irons is a component that is gravely undervalued. If you are going to spend a sizeable chunk of your wage on new wrenches, then it’s worth getting a shaft fitting if you want to get the most out of it.

By getting the right shaft on your irons you will increase length and accuracy and this will allow you to knock shots off your handicap - and we could all do with that.

What to look for

There are five key areas when getting a shaft. This is a very brief guide so make sure you chat to your club fitter in order to get a better understanding.

It's also important to leave your ego at the door - you can't swing it as fast as Rory McIlroy, so don't get the same shaft as him!

Weight – Every swing is different so every player needs to play with a specific weight. Strong players who swing fast will benefit from a heavier shaft while slower swings will want to get something lighter.

Flex – Like weight, faster swing speeds will benefit from stiffer flexes while slower swing speeds will want to get something bendier.

Kick point – Known by a variety of names, the kickpoint relates to how the shaft hinges and it changes trajectory. Generally, a high kick point will promote a lower ball flight and a low kick point will promote a high ball flight.

Torque – This is the shaft’s resistance to twisting on the downswing. If you have a fast, aggressive swing you want a low torque and visa versa.

Balance point – This is where the shaft is perfectly balanced from the tip to the butt. If the balance point is closer to the club head it will feel heavier, so it comes down to preference and matching it up with the rest of the bag. 

See the first shaft