Have you recently been tempted by one of these new, or relatively new, driver shafts on the market, perhaps an Autoflex shaft, or for players with higher swing speeds, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green or Fujikura Ventus shafts?
Or maybe you’re tempted by something a little higher-launching like the Fujikura Ventus Red, or you’re tempted by the fact that TPT shafts exhibit no spine.
Either way, you shouldn’t buy golf shafts online (unless you have literally already bought the shaft in question before) without working with a fitter first.
The Importance of Working with a Fitter
While you might buy into the hype of some new golf shaft or other, buying a new one for your favorite club – re-outfitting, essentially – is not a good idea if you don’t know what you’re getting.
Working with a club fitter will remove a large number of the question marks surrounding the process. For one, a fitter will take your measurements so you know the length to which the shaft should be cut.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, since, if you have your measurements, you can theoretically apply them to the purchase of any new clubs.
A fitter will also observe your swing and see where your natural strengths and abilities lie. But in this arena, it’s not just about swing speed. It’s also about swing tempo.
Think of swing tempo not as how fast you swing, but as how you swing fast. It’s more about the fluidity of the mechanics of your swing than it is about the speed.
Not all shafts, even those that are intended to meet the needs of golfers with fast, aggressive swings, will perform the same. Each is a bit different. Some perform better in the hands of players with faster swings and more metered swing tempos, some better in the hands of players with fast swing speeds and aggressive tempos.
But it’s not just about the fast swing speeds. Some shafts, such as Autoflex golf shafts, despite the fact that they promise to add yards to effectively any players’ swing without requiring any extra effort on the part of the player, don’t work well with all clubs because they have very thin walls.
These are the sorts of things a professional club fitter can help you sort out. Ultimately, it all comes down to this: a club fitter will watch your swing and then make personalized recommendations reflecting what you should be swinging.
If you don’t work with a fitter before you buy golf shafts online, there’s always a chance that what you settle on will not perform well with your current clubs, or worse, you won’t like the shaft.
Despite what the marketing materials say, not all shafts will perform well for all players. It’s much better to work with a fitter who can help you find shaft and club pairings that will work well for you, given your natural abilities.
Where You Can Work with a Fitter (and Buy Golf Clubs Online)
All in all, this is not to discourage you from buying golf shafts online. You can if you know what you are looking at. The only caveat is that you should work with a fitter before you do so you can buy confidently and not waste money or time.
Start your search online at Dallas Golf Company. Not only do they sell the industry’s best golf shafts and clubs, but they also employ professional golf club fitters that can help you get to the bottom of what will work best for you.
