If You Like A Firm Feeling, One-Piece Shaft…

In the last year, I have seen a trend towards some shafts that have a very “flat” profile, meaning the stiffness of the shaft stays pretty similar from butt to tip.  I like to ask players when we fit them if they like the feel of a one-piece shaft that feels like an extension of their arm through impact, or if they like a two-piece feel with a little kick at impact.  Some players know exactly what I am talking about but others just kinda scratch their heads.  In our testing, the players that like the one-piece feel, and also get the best dispersion results, tend to have an aggressive transition from their back to forward swing.  Having a more stable mid section will help these golfers deliver the club head more consistently.  Sometimes the results are subtle, but other times it can be quite dramatic.  We tested one golfer with a very firm mid-section shaft in his 3 wood against his gamer that was quite a bit softer in the mid section and his shot dispersion went from +/- 75 ft. at 230 yards to +/- 10 ft at the same distance.  If you are looking for that kind of shaft, several that we like include the OBAN Kiyoshi White and Black, Fujikura FUEL, UST Mamiya Elements Earth and Fire, MATRIX Q and M series, Project X Black Tour Issue, and Aldila RIP NL.  All of these shafts will have slightly different tip sections so you should be sure to try them in a fitting before you decide.