Mark, I think we actually agree on a lot of points when it comes to shafts. I know people will throw our name in the ring in terms of proving the value of shaft fitting, but we have also tried to inform people not to overvalue them or consider them the most influential part of a club. We literally did a video called 'clubhead or shaft, which matters more?' where we concluded that the head affects ball flight much more 😆. Would be fun to do a video together one day Mark! All the best, and you have our respect for working hard to give golfers access to more knowledge of the golf swing and equipment.
Maybe the message is find the shaft that provides the best numbers for you regardless of brand. Leave your perceptions at the door.! A good fitter can certainly narrow it down nicely to what is working. If it is the stock shaft, so be it. I have personally seen what a correctly fit shaft can do for a decent player off of a 3 handicap. I love the TXG videos and the fitting process but I also can appreciate what Mark is trying to say in an effort to help consumers wade through the marketing. Keep up the good work guys, both channels are great.
Hello Mark, let me just tell you this: this was probably the best content and the best golf video I have ever seen. You say things that others are afroid and that is what makes you the best. Congrats brah, I wish this video was 1 hour long.
Spoiler Alert: The reason shafts are even relevant is because the tour players are under contract to play heads but they can do what they want with shafts. When something isn't right with their game they can't change heads, but they can change shafts. Different look, different feel different set up. It gives them something tangible that they can do differently. Then the golf blog websites run with it... Latest and greatest blah blah blah. I've done custom fitting for years. I fit shafts for length, weight, and feel. I stopped mucking about with launch and spin years ago when the data showed exactly what this video shows. Well done, Mark.
i dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost my login password. I would love any tricks you can give me.
@Jerome Tomas thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I remember when you did this with Buzza a couple years back - and the results being the same - it has to do with feel and confidence. I hit a senior shaft same as a regular shaft- same make & model - spin, distance etc. etc. etc. I use the regular right now, but at 66 years old I know that the senior shaft AND all that entails with my mental baggage, will give me just as good when I get 'ready' to use it. Since you did this with Buzza I have changed my driver 5 times. Every time I tested the 'next' driver I didn't even look to see what the shaft was while testing - just swung and checked the results. Thus I have had 3 stiff and 1 regular and 1 senior, which I later switched to an identical shaft regular (swapped it so no cost to me) simply because of FEEL/MENTAL aspects. Didn't get any more distance but just felt I could swing more 'normally' with the regular instead of 'adjusting' with the senior - ALL mental baggage. THAT IS why I continue to watch your 'info' videos - they just prove out true in the 'real world' of golf which has more to do with mental confidence/feel/mood/adjustments/practice/lessons than equipment. I AM A BELIEVER! :) thanks Mark
I love this video. For me a 92-94 swing speed guy, I have less control and consistency with the HZRDUS 55g regular flex shaft in my epic. After some lessons to try and figure it out, my pro put an Aldila tour green ATX-65 in my hands. After another lesson and range time, it felt more comfortable in my hand, I felt I had more knowledge of where the head was in my swing, and I stopped losing the ball right and started hitting a straight/baby draw with 10-15 yards more distance. My dispersion was much tighter, and I hit double the fairways. Internet knowledge tells me the opposite should have happened for my swing speed. Thanks for the Videos Mark. I love watching you and Dan give unbiased information that makes sense to me.
Great video Mark, this is what the golf community needs to hear 👏🏾 On a side note why doesn't anybody talk as much in depth about iron, 3-5 woods or hybrid shafts? It seems to be all talk about driver shafts but nothing about the other potential 12 shafts in your bag (excluding putter)
Great video Mark. I went for a fit 3 months ago. Went from Hzrdus Yellow 6.5 76g shaft CB version to a Speeder IV X Stiff 58g. The difference was night and day. I’m very active with my hands (blaming badminton and tennis in my early years) the lighter shaft and the 3.5 layers of tape really did the job. No longer so many left misses now 👍. Went with a completely open mind, went with what worked best for me rather than follow any trend
As someone with physics and experimental design background, it is great to hear content like this that turns so many preconcieved concepts on their heads. So many times in golf, people will throw out numbers or concepts without true backing, either in proper initial data analysis or meta analysis.
A long long time ago, in the 90"s, when I worked in an on course pro shop, I would demonstrate this for men by hitting a "ladies" shafted driver & a ball designed for "ladies" & hitting it as far as their ideas of what shaft did what. I had no way of showing them numbers of course. Only results. It astonished them. But, It didn't change their minds then, & It won't change their minds now. Shaftoids have been around forever. Great work. Love these videos. Ps. No I didn't/don't use "ladies" shafts in my clubs. I used feel & practiced a LOT.
Superb video Mark, I have had two driver fittings within the last 4 months (one with PXG) and was at the time gaming a Wilson D7 with the reg flex 46g Helium shaft which I hit pretty good to be fair but, along with a lot of other golfers I'm sure, I wanted more of a 'big name' in the bag. At both fittings I was told that my club head speed (around 94mph) was way too fast for the Wilson as the shaft was way too light and way too whippy so was promptly fitted into a stiff around the 60-65g mark. Even though on the day although the PXG gave me 30+ yards more carry (on one shot I hasten to add) and overall I didn't particularly like the feel, sound or swing weight I still foolishly purchased it (pretty much because it was a PXG). After the driver came I hated it, felt incredibly 'boardy' and I couldn't get the ball above 6 or 7 degrees, sometimes as low as 2 degrees launch angle so it was promptly sold and I purchased another Wilson D7 at a fraction of the cost. Since then a friend of mine who is a massive hitter (180mph ball speed with driver) went for a fitting, he was gaming a Ping G with a reg flex, he was also told he needed stiff or extra stiff but hit neither as good as his reg flex. My point is that what you're divulging in this video along with other Golf TH-camrs about shaft preconceptions is absolutely spot on and that regardless of what the 'swing science' says, the proof is in the pudding.
Paul Rowley.I regularly break 110 and I would recommend the steel shaft in my putter. I very rarely end up in the trees with it, probably less than once a round
It’s not the shaft. Or anything to do with clubs or equipment. It’s the hamadryads. I don’t know for sure, but ... it might have something to do with people relieving themselves in the woods. And I don’t know if the hamadryads can be appeased. 😏
I learned my own lesson when I was driving it poorly a couple years ago. I bought an aftermarket shaft for 400€ ! Afterwards my driver felt different and I got a bit more confidence but in the end I wasn't any longer or straighter. Nowadays I went back to the original shaft and it's absolutely fine as I improved my swing... playing of 1 right now. My local club fitter sells you every heavy and X-stiff tour issue shaft available on the market. Nowadays even Miuras and PXG with fancy and expensive shaft options. He understood that golf is a sport where everyone's ego plays a part! You are so right go by what feels right and practice that swing !
I like and appreciate your work. That being said, if these shafts were tested on a larger scale you have to admit a shaft that is too weak is going to result in more spin and less accuracy generally speaking. I will agree there is sometimes too much value placed on the shaft rather than the skill of the player. Although, being a fitter myself I have seen first hand some substantial differences between a properly fit shaft to a mis-fit shaft.
This is exactly the video I needed to see. When I was growing up and really getting into and progressing in golf in the early 2000's it seemed like it was all about the shafts. The group of guys I grew up with, it was alway a so and so got this new shaft and if I got this shaft it might do this....flash forward to today I'm now in my mid-late 30's and I'm starting to think my shafts are wrong and too stiff from my 20yr old days. This just proves to me in my mind its honestly about feel and how correct your swing is not the "magic" shaft. thanks for putting this video out there
SO true and honest. I got fitted for irons 3 years ago. Steel and graphite shafts performed for me exactly the same but the steel ones just felt like what I was used to so went with them. Trust built with fitter that he wasn't up selling me and I've been back loads of times now for lesson. Better golf for me and more money for him. That's got to be a win!
Love it.. Had a custom fit and after i decided on irons he wanted to start with shafts and what was available and at what Price.. He was not happy that he keep trying to get me to upgrade and i really didn't care because it did not change my numbers at all. More shots more shots is what he wanted me to do until the numbers changed to what he was trying to sell me..
Awesome video!! Just went through this with fitter here in California. I finally felt my skills were up to par and It was my first time being fit. Being on a budget, I also made it clear that I didn’t want a new set of irons but wanted to do what I could with the irons I had. We went though several of the highest end shafts and a few older ones. Amazingly, I ended up reshafting my irons with a set of DG S300s. They were moderately priced, and did everything I wanted them to do. Referring back to your ego comment, I think it is incredibly important to set your parameters with a fitter right off the bat so that they don’t think sky’s the limit and back you into a $1000 set of irons. At my skill level and income, I’d rather play more golf and get more lessons.
Feel is everything, I agree. Years ago my younger brother picked up a Bobby Jones driver ( kind of a greenish color as I remember ) and he said it was the first time he could actually feel the shaft ( I think Matrix ) load and unload during the swing, and could he ever hit it far, wow. He picked up twenty yards easy, no kidding, it was fantastic, for him. I on the other hand hated the feel of the club and could not hit it, hated the feel of the shaft and would never ever use it. Feel is individual and feel is confidence. My opinion, good video Mark, thanks.
Enjoyed this video!! Very interesting to hear Dan says he likes to get the feel of the shaft. I got custom fitted for irons in Feb this year and the pro who fitted me told me not to look at the shaft but to tell him how it felt. After trying a good amount of shafts he choose the three best for distance,spin dispersion etc and only one felt good to me which was the AMT tour white s300. Never looked back playing the best golf I have for years ! Handicap down from 12.2 to 9.8. Keep the good content coming 👍
I totally agree with this video! I just had a driver fitting with ts3 and (with my 106mph swing speed and low launch) was told the even flow shaft was even lower spinning and lower launching and I didn’t have enough head speed for it.. I pushed to try it and it gave me the right feel and I got my best numbers.. the fitter scratched his head and said well I think we’ve found a winner.. you just have to try them all despite what crap is written on them! Top video mark
I’ve been too all sorts of fittings over the last couple of years, from Titliest and Mizuno vans to manufacture open days and even high end custom shops. They all go straight for the shafts. They absolutely love it, the last one was even trying to say they could bring my miss hits (mostly heal area) back to centre with the kick point!! That must be one hell of an intelligent shaft! Who needs a lesson when you have that technology. 😂😂 Great vid man 👍👍👍
This is just what I was hoping to find I am looking into getting a new driver and everyone I have been talking to about it has asked what type of shaft is in it, I'm a high handicap golfer being pretty new to the sport was thinking that's really the end all be all of things. This video has helped a lot.
Wow. I always has a suspicion that shaft flex/weight wasn't that important but to see you confirm it just feels surreal. Great vid bruh! This is why your the best on TH-cam
It's incredibly important. Go try playing 18 holes with 130g shafts and see how you feel after 9. Crossfield just tries to trivialize everything. Why do you think he says to go get custom fit all the time? If shaft didn't matter, then club fitting would take 5 minutes. Check length and lie and you're done.
Feel is the key word here if a 130g shaft felt right for you then fair enough. I've got the same shaft in my last 4 titleist drivers because I'm used to the feel of it and I trust it
I had a custom fit at a demo day with a major retailer and was told the upgraded shaft( £50 extra) was performing way better than the standard alta shaft and it was the engine of the club! , i went to a different store and was fit again trying both shafts and the sales assistant said the standard alta shaft was same distances but better overall characteristics for my swing, he didn't sell me the upgrade because it wasn't right for my game and that's how golf sales should be
Loved your comment that Dan reacted to the shaft. Whereas, mere mortals like me struggling to play off 12 handicap, will accept what a pro tells me when he says a different shaft will suit me better (this was without any electronic measuring wizardy that you use only his say so as a Titleist expert after a round of golf with him, which was just a bounce game not a lesson). I think I am swinging the same, but without being measured how can I be sure. Although I am hitting the ball more consistently and slightly longer I am now wondering how much is down to me trying to prove the pro right by trying harder to stop my blocks to the right.
Brilliant video Mark!! Not afraid to tell the truth and challenge the validity of all these shaft theories. Although I’m not in the market for new clubs / shafts, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and learning about it all!!
I got fitted with regular Diamana shafts. A stock option. The Titleist fitter at St Ives said the really expensive shafts only gave me an extra three yards, so he couldn’t recommend them. He said I could go stiff shaft, but they were no extra help. No extra distance. A great experience, totally happy with my non sexy shafts.
Recently was custom fit (thanks for consistently telling us to). It was well worth it. But what really shocked me was that all my preconceived notions of what I needed in a club, were the exact opposite of what I really needed. Just shows how much advertising has effected what consumers buy.
Hey Mark. Went for a fitting back in Denmark, Since i thought it was time to pension my old MP60`s with regular shafts straigh from Mizuno factory, That i have had for about 12-13 years. Went in very open minded, have nooo idea what the different shafts are doing and not doing for me and my swing. But the pro doing the fitting, wasn`t telling me anything, just wanted me to swing with different shafts, and tell him what i liked and not, when it came to feels of it. Then we narrowed it down to about 3 different ones, and again i had to say what i liked when it came to the feel of it.. with out knowing what i was using as a shaft, i endeed up with a KBS 90 Tour Stiff. and after the whole thing, he showed me the numbers on the computer, the shaft that i choose purely on feel, was also the shaft that all the way had given me the best strikes when it came to average length and gathering.. so your so right, when u say it comes so much down to your personal feel.. Now i`m just waiting for my new clubs, after testing different brands and types, i endeed up with the 919 forged.
I think this is the best video you've done , Mark for two reasons... 1: It's blown my mind too (even though I actually play with what my playing partners describe as "old man's shafts - miyazaki 43g regular whippy things on my Cleveland launchers... because they FEEL good to me). 2: You didn't say "...subject to...." in this video. I think. And that's a first I think for you?! 😉
Great video Mark, always looking out for the consumer. We can only ask for honesty people will always make their own decisions. I’m a new golfer, struggling with my driver to the point where I don’t like getting it out of my bag. Been thinking about shortening the shaft because it simply doesn’t feel comfortable for me like my 3 wood and every other club for example. You haven’t given me an answer, but you’ve given me ideas and the confidence to question.
Well that has blown my head clean off. I’ve argued for a while the whole “shaft is the engine of the club” stuff, and this has cemented it for me. One of a kind, superb videos time after time Mark. Thanks for helping us all out bruh 👍
Very timely video since I have been going thru a fitting recently. Tried several different shafts during the fitting. Fitter never told me the flex of any of the shafts I hit. Was just looking at numbers. Ended up with a Kuro Kage X-flex 65g but after several rounds went back because I couldn't control the right to left ball flight. He put me in the Hzrdus stiff heavier weight 76g. It feels great, and goes a lot straighter. Why? no idea, don't care. Now on to what I think Mark is trying to say in this video. From my understanding there is no standards for shaft flex, one brand stiff could match another's X. So you really shouldn't care what the shaft says. What really matters is how it feels to you and if it produces the results you want.
Just watched a TXG livestream, and Mark and that team across the pond have been chatting. Ridiculously keen for a collab between you two, 2 best golf channels on youtube hands down
I had a custom fitting here in Australia at cool clubs, when they tested my driver shaft from my M2 driver they found what was meant to be a stiff shaft, tested as a extra extra stiff shaft. Never seen before but would explain why it felt so stiff and hard to hit. Now have a stiff 60g mitsubishi tensei and hit my driver very well. Just feels right for me.
Watching your posts Mark over the years just keeps bringing me back all the time to its all up to and down to the individual and his skill set great information 🏌️⛳️
Aged 59, I've been using Senior flex shafts on my irons for 5 years, for FEEL and COMFORT. All my money goes on playing and lessons to improve myself. I use Wilson light drivers again for FEEL and LIGHTNESS of the shaft (regular). Easy to swing, being light. Shaft was not a consideration, so long as it's not stiff.
THIS is why I love your vids. Take no prisoners. No sugar coating just facts and not fudges facts either. Unless your driver is broken spend that £500 on lessons instead of the latest tech.
As someone pretty new to golf, when I get fitted this year, I will ask to try several shafts with the drivers we have narrowed it down to. I won’t ask about price or what they are supposed to do. Instead, I will see the results to make a decision. Same with the irons. I am not one who needs to look cool when golfing. My scoring will be what does the talking.
After years of using “fitted” stock shafts on my new Drivers. I finally booked for a Driver Shaft fitting by a fitting Professional at his studio. I did this as I’ve bought the new Taylormade Sim Max and was “supposedly fitted” with a Fujikura Ventos 6S stock shaft. I Drive the ball pretty well and quite far considering I’m 58 years old. I average around 140mph + ball speed with a nice high draw, as I do hit up on the ball between 3-5 degrees. but I felt that the ball was stalling as it went through the air. After about an hour of swinging with different shafts with the fitting pro, he showed me the shaft that was best suited to me. Yes my jaw nearly hit the floor and my eyes nearly popped out of my head when he told me that the shaft cost £300! But my launch was lower, my spin came down a lot, my accuracy and dispersion got better and my yardages improved. Needless to say that I purchased it. Here were my results beforehand. Fujikura Ventos 6S Blue. Swing Speed. 98mph. Spin Avg 3350 Total distance. 233yds. Afterwards. Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7X. Swing Speed. 102mph. Spin Avg 2450 Total distance 258yds. As you can see, there was a big difference. Stock shafts are watered down, with lesser quality materials in them. The advice you should be saying to everyone is to try a Driver fitting out. It costs between £50-£75. Plus You’re under no obligation to buy. In my experience it did open my eyes up as to how much distance you are losing by playing with the wrong poor quality shaft that doesn’t suit your swing.
I experienced this recently. I was fitted for a new driver and, due to my swing speed, was given a heavy, super stiff, shaft. The numbers were good in the fitting but when I practiced and played with it and couldn’t get it airborne and struggled generally. I went back to the fitter and we tried some lighter shafts. The feel was so much better and I could just comfortably swing. I had no preconceived idea of the shaft I wanted, I simply wanted the best performing shaft for me.
Good Video Mark, I agree with you in nearly everything you say, a few things im not experienced enough to agree. Ive been playing golf properly about a year now, lessons etc messed about for years growing up etc but nothing regular so started with some 2nd hand R7 XD irons, steel shafts. Im 6ft 4, not long turned 40. Always been very sporty and reasonable fit, football motorcross etc. Just bought my 1st set of custom fitted irons, ap1 718 , graphite stiff shafts. Ive tried all different brands irons for months, steel - graphite. I wasnt interested in numbers as they were all pretty much the same i thought, distance, trajectory wise. I had no probs in getting graphite instead of steel in fear of not looking macho. I was producing the same shots effortlessly 7 iron 160 yards. I choose stiff graphite in the kuro kage tini 85 but all these were purely for feel. I choose jumbo grips aswell as i have hands like Basketball players hands. We did do the numbers once id choosen my brand and model but there wasnt much in it. I agree with you especially as being a newbie in buying new fitted clubs, Alot of Marketing and selling . Its the same with carp fishing stuff
Just got a shaftfitting for free at JumboGolf in The Netherlands. Went from regular shaft with 145 max ballspeed to xstiff 158 ballspeed and 10-15m bonusdistance without any swingchange. I wasn't expected that because I came there to reduce spin and better my miss dispersion on the left and right. The data made me buy this one, it was a nobrainer although the stiff and regular Fubuki that I had felt better in powertransfer and loading up. Only afterwards I found out that I had bought the real macho Hazardus Smoke Black. You tell me but I feel Alphamale all the way now :D
Totally agree! I use a 70g black tie shaft X flex but tipped so it plays a bit stiffer but that is on feel alone... My favourite shaft is the fubuki 50g stiff... Just as iv sped my swing up it feels to bendy and I don't feel as confident with it... I now use it as my warm up shaft on the range....
Great point about grip effect. As fitter, frustrated that manufacturers only supply shafts with standard size grips. Also blew pro's head off that senior player did markedly better with X flex because he felt he could finally go at his drives (length, dispersion, consistency of strike all improved
Great vid ... I have given up my quest for the holy grail of shafts. I am gaming one that just feels great, looks great, and makes me feel confident -- and when paired with a great low spin head (a Ping G400 LST), seems to just work. Thanks!
Excellent video and information, Mark. I think the best would be if, at the fitter, all shafts were just black and blanked out, not showing names, brands, specs... NOTHING... the fitter would simply screw on all sorts of shafts and never give any hint on what it is, so the player could be totally unbiased as to what "should" work for him and what actually does. I fully believe that the emphasis placed on equipment is generally overdone nowadays. My "proof" is that if it were equipment that really mattered, champions of the past like Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player... would never have been able to hit just one round below 80. And we know what they did. Love your channel, Mark.
This is the best video in years. If I could like this 5000 times I would. Thanks for being brave enough to put something out there outside of the norm!!
I remember going on the taylormade tour truck at wentworth a couple of years ago, speaking to the fitters, shaft weights can vary massively from what’s written on the label. 65g could be anywhere from 40g to 80g. It’s such a feel element. People who say it’s all in the shaft seem to live in a box! Good video mark 👍
I agree with Dan...it's all about feel. I haven't had much luck with my last 2 iron fittings, specs were good but never did like the feel. Now my driver fitting was spot on, I did it with the Ping rep and he work off more of my feel along with my numbers!
Great messege Mark. It's hard not to see the new shaft and want to try it, but to think it will be the answer to problem is bogus. It's not popular, but honesty is what we need.
Anyone who was unaware that up selling to an aftermarket shaft makes the seller more money is probably ignorant to a whole lot more than that. Golf is a major money game, and the people who spend money on those things are often just tossing there play money around anyway. These places need to survive, and these people are very business savvy, and sometimes you need to provide more roads for the person with the fat wallet to travel down so you can dip a little deeper. It only becomes a shame when someone who probably shouldn't spend that money on a shaft do. Or maybe they just don't have the skill level to take advantage of the higher tolerances provided by a top shelf shaft. Either way, i'm very happy you are willing to put stuff like this out there, i promote transparency in any industry and am always very relieved to see it from someone with an opinion I respect. Bottom line, use what feels good and gives you confidence in providing that middle strike. Keep it coming, so refreshing to see people peel back some blinders from others.
These are the sort of videos we want to see. Yes very slim margins in golf retail. Around 5%. Most make their money from cheaper package sets. The good money is in charging big $$$ for "custom" fits. I had one particular experience where the fitter kept going back to a particular shaft (iron), no matter what the data said. Found out they had the distribution rights to the brand !!! The shaft that felt the best, and i repeatedly told him so .... he said was no good !!! Hmmmmm Yes Very good video Mark, taking the myth and BS out of golf . Thankyou.
I didn't comment on the guesses, but I was wrong on both of them. Very cool video, and I'm now questioning my own recent fitting regarding the grip. I wasn't too fussed about the shaft as the fitter just tried me with four or five different ones based on a Mizuno device and put the shaft in that gave me the better 'average' results according to what I was presenting with my old clubs. I wasn't even asked about the grips, nor did I question it, and now I'm wondering whether or not I should have, or should be considering it. Really cool video!
Been fit recently for irons and driver, have project x 6.5 in both irons and driver, but I chose them on how the club felt when swinging/hitting the ball, plus also on what the numbers came back with off trackman. Didn't even know which was which shaft during fitting!
We would find that if a golfer is using a shaft that is too light, their hands do get ahead and in some cases they will top the ball so it's not unusual to see a result where it comes out lower. Only recently, a client tested a driver brand which had mid 50 and mid 60 gram shaft options, because he was travelling faster with the lighter shaft, it came out lower. Whereas the mid 60 gram had enough weight and momentum to bottom out more quickly so the golfer achieved 14 degrees of launch versus the 11 from the mid 50. Both REGULAR SHAFTS. So do you think there might be too much weight difference between the shafts you are testing Mark? Mid 70 vs mid 40? Shaft weight does make a difference but in some cases it can be a very small amount that helps.
Paused video at 9:50 as directed! These shafts will probably launch about the same, but I think there's a chance the lighter shaft will actually launch lower. That happened to me when I was handed a SR flex shaft recently in a demo because the young shop keeper misread it as "S" flex (hey, I ain't no senior, mate!). Funny enough, the SR launched about 0.5° lower (not much) than the "S" flex shaft when the mistake was realised. I thought the SR shaft felt a little light, but otherwise it didn't feel unstable. I ended up getting the best results with a Regular flex shaft in the end even though I play S-flex in everything else and my swing speed is not "appropriate" for a Reg flex driver shaft. But, the results were very good and I preferred the feel of the Reg flex shaft in this case with this particular shaft and driver (Ping Alta CB 55 in G400). I find it easier to swing when I'm a bit tired as well.
Feel, to your point, is a huge deal for me. I mess with shafts all the time and when something had a weight and bend profile that feels good through my swing, I’m normally striking it better and that is what impacts numbers as much as anything else. When a shaft feels too loose or too heavy, I’m consciously moving it differently to what I think the shaft needs and strike gets inconsistent leading to spin, launch, and dispersion numbers getting crazy. Really enjoy your stuff lately, especially the course testing. Applying it to my own club choices, I’m getting a top few I like the feel of in the sim and let the course performance dictate the winner. Surprising how everything is near a wash at the end of the day
I have a stiff and a reg , the stiff was from an older driver. And it's heavier than the reg, but I'm going to test both and go with feel, as you both said. Very good and interesting vlog. Thanks guys
As you said regarding all the shafts on the tour bus -- its so individual that collecting data on it almost doesn't matter. I feel that because I am bad -- I cannot react to it! I just won't even try to hit a driver with a light/flexy shaft (I travel and play with rented clubs several times a year). I don't feel that I have any control, and the shots that I hit with them exemplify that. My good shot is a small draw with an in-to-out path. My miss is a closed-face with out-to-in path (when I don't get enough side-bend). Light and flexy shafts I can hit massive slices in addition, and I don't feel that I have any control over strike. I am not good enough to adjust.
I don't care about the fancy paint of boutique shafts (ok, maybe a little) but I will say that *I* react differently to the weight and flex point of various shafts. They don't have to be expensive, just different. Mark is spot on. It's all about ME. My buddy plays a Matrix Black Tie 70-X with one of my favorite heads on it. I play the SAME head, but mine has a Diamana Blueboard 60-X. I cannot get on with his setup. I hit it all over the place because I'm try to compensate for what I feel is a stiff heavy tip, so I hand flip it trying to square it up. Mine loads right where I expect it to, there for it's a walk in the park. I believe what is being said in this video.
you should soooo much do a collab with the TXG guys ! would be sooo interesting to watch a back and forth between you guys, especially Ian Fraiser and your self !
Great video Mark, I have seen the ones you did in the past regarding shafts. It is eye opening and you are right, sales people always talk about how important shaft is, and make it a major part of the fitting process.
Feel is everthing.!!!! I gamed ap2 710 px 7.0 since they were brought out and got fitted for ap2 718 s in October. I'm 46 and wanted to get away from the heavier harder shafts and thought I would like to play lighter softer shafts. I tried lots of different weights and flex shafts but ended up with kbs c taper x130 shafts in them .The numbers weren't too dissimilar to px 7.0 the kbs just had different feel about them which i liked but still have the same weight and stiffness as before . I guess I'm just used to that type of shaft and it's what I'm comfortable with, it really is all about feel and especially if they perform well for you also.
Great video, Mark. After being custom fit just recently and watching this video, a lot shaftoid thoughts in my head have disappeared. This is really interesting and keep up the good work 👍🏻
I’m Jim so since you explicitly told me to comment: in my experience I found that the whippier shaft launched my shots lower. I think that was because my upper body was faster so the club head lagged behind. That being said, when I went for a shot that had the slightest wind into, the ball just ballooned straight up.
I believe feel and the numbers created by the shaft and club head “combination” is important to tweak your performance but I agree that improving your swing mechanics is the best way to improve your distance and direction. I have seen a senior with 75 mph swing speed do better with a stiff flex than a senior flex. You just can’t tell until you test them out. The shaft must “feel” good to you IMPO. I agree that weight and feel are more important than if it has an A, R, or S on it. What works for your swing is important.
Did participate in an experiment, less than a year of golfing experience: 7 shafts painted in blue. All same lenght. All same grip and same 6 iron head. Random letter for test management purposes. 5 balls each, rotating shots. After all shots I ordered them correctly for weight and flex. Then shot dispersion and distance ? best two shafts were the lightest weight and flex : lady shaft and the heavier stiffer shaft. Lady shaft felt a lot better though. Heavier shaft was easier to get the right swing tempo. Find yourself a good fitter and a good pro. Find the shaft that works for you with data, on course testing and feel.
No, local sports hardware store, the fitter was running an experiment maybe because he heard about something similar. I admitt I can be influenced a bit with marketing bells and whistles. But then there's trackman/gcquad (or equivalent), a good fitter and feel. But in the end improving the golfer's skills is the only sure way for said golfer to get better score cards.
I literally get giddy when crossfield throw some truth out. I like a robin hood figure. Take lies away from the rich and tell the truth to the poor. Educational metaphor not money.
Great video bruh! All my friends at my club go on about what shaft they have got/had/want. It drives me nuts as I'm like dan and couldn't care less as long as it feels right for me. Will recommend this video for them to watch and see them have their brains blown out!! Great video,keep up the great vlogs bruh😀
Excellent video. I’d like to suggest that swing tempo has a great deal of influence that you haven’t mentioned. If one has an aggressive “fast” tempo then the shaft flex may have a greater influence. Dan has a very nice less aggressive tempo. Coach has a more aggressive tempo to his swing. I would like to see the same shaft comparisons completed for Coach Lockey versus Dan. I like Dan’s comment that “feel” is the real differential here. Lastly, I came from the old school several years back when drivers were 43 inches long. Last week I bought a driver that is 45.74 inches long. No extra yardage, more dispersion and a pretty bronze colored shaft. Go figure! Love to see more reveals like this. PS Can you help poor Raymondo’s game with a good shafting?
Great message, Mark! It makes me feel better that I spend my time playing golf and not searching for the perfect equipment. Thx! Perhaps in a future vlog you could discuss "swingweight," because I'm trying to understand how it affects one's swing and why without adding lead tape to my woods I have little feel for where the clubhead is in my swing.
Mark, I think we actually agree on a lot of points when it comes to shafts. I know people will throw our name in the ring in terms of proving the value of shaft fitting, but we have also tried to inform people not to overvalue them or consider them the most influential part of a club. We literally did a video called 'clubhead or shaft, which matters more?' where we concluded that the head affects ball flight much more 😆. Would be fun to do a video together one day Mark! All the best, and you have our respect for working hard to give golfers access to more knowledge of the golf swing and equipment.
Thanks guys. 👍👍 sometimes people see what they want to see and ignore the message. Defo let’s do some work together.
Awesome 👍, appreciate the reply! We will absolutely reach out in the near future.
👍
Maybe the message is find the shaft that provides the best numbers for you regardless of brand. Leave your perceptions at the door.! A good fitter can certainly narrow it down nicely to what is working. If it is the stock shaft, so be it. I have personally seen what a correctly fit shaft can do for a decent player off of a 3 handicap. I love the TXG videos and the fitting process but I also can appreciate what Mark is trying to say in an effort to help consumers wade through the marketing. Keep up the good work guys, both channels are great.
Please join forces and produce some content.
Hello Mark, let me just tell you this: this was probably the best content and the best golf video I have ever seen. You say things that others are afroid and that is what makes you the best. Congrats brah, I wish this video was 1 hour long.
Spoiler Alert: The reason shafts are even relevant is because the tour players are under contract to play heads but they can do what they want with shafts. When something isn't right with their game they can't change heads, but they can change shafts. Different look, different feel different set up. It gives them something tangible that they can do differently.
Then the golf blog websites run with it... Latest and greatest blah blah blah. I've done custom fitting for years. I fit shafts for length, weight, and feel. I stopped mucking about with launch and spin years ago when the data showed exactly what this video shows. Well done, Mark.
i dont mean to be offtopic but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb lost my login password. I would love any tricks you can give me.
@Theodore Alex instablaster ;)
@Jerome Tomas thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Jerome Tomas It worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my account :D
@Theodore Alex Glad I could help :D
One of the more honest, truthful and best videos out there! Great Job Mark!
I remember when you did this with Buzza a couple years back - and the results being the same - it has to do with feel and confidence. I hit a senior shaft same as a regular shaft- same make & model - spin, distance etc. etc. etc. I use the regular right now, but at 66 years old I know that the senior shaft AND all that entails with my mental baggage, will give me just as good when I get 'ready' to use it. Since you did this with Buzza I have changed my driver 5 times. Every time I tested the 'next' driver I didn't even look to see what the shaft was while testing - just swung and checked the results. Thus I have had 3 stiff and 1 regular and 1 senior, which I later switched to an identical shaft regular (swapped it so no cost to me) simply because of FEEL/MENTAL aspects. Didn't get any more distance but just felt I could swing more 'normally' with the regular instead of 'adjusting' with the senior - ALL mental baggage.
THAT IS why I continue to watch your 'info' videos - they just prove out true in the 'real world' of golf which has more to do with mental confidence/feel/mood/adjustments/practice/lessons than equipment. I AM A BELIEVER! :) thanks Mark
I love this video. For me a 92-94 swing speed guy, I have less control and consistency with the HZRDUS 55g regular flex shaft in my epic. After some lessons to try and figure it out, my pro put an Aldila tour green ATX-65 in my hands. After another lesson and range time, it felt more comfortable in my hand, I felt I had more knowledge of where the head was in my swing, and I stopped losing the ball right and started hitting a straight/baby draw with 10-15 yards more distance. My dispersion was much tighter, and I hit double the fairways. Internet knowledge tells me the opposite should have happened for my swing speed. Thanks for the Videos Mark. I love watching you and Dan give unbiased information that makes sense to me.
Great video Mark, this is what the golf community needs to hear 👏🏾
On a side note why doesn't anybody talk as much in depth about iron, 3-5 woods or hybrid shafts?
It seems to be all talk about driver shafts but nothing about the other potential 12 shafts in your bag (excluding putter)
Great video Mark. I went for a fit 3 months ago. Went from Hzrdus Yellow 6.5 76g shaft CB version to a Speeder IV X Stiff 58g. The difference was night and day. I’m very active with my hands (blaming badminton and tennis in my early years) the lighter shaft and the 3.5 layers of tape really did the job. No longer so many left misses now 👍. Went with a completely open mind, went with what worked best for me rather than follow any trend
Loved the look on Dan’s face when told he had changed delivery without realizing it. Priceless
This video is much more game changing and revolutionary than Taylor Made’s Twist Face! Great video and enjoying it. Love it.
As someone with physics and experimental design background, it is great to hear content like this that turns so many preconcieved concepts on their heads. So many times in golf, people will throw out numbers or concepts without true backing, either in proper initial data analysis or meta analysis.
A long long time ago, in the 90"s, when I worked in an on course pro shop, I would demonstrate this for men by hitting a "ladies" shafted driver & a ball designed for "ladies" & hitting it as far as their ideas of what shaft did what.
I had no way of showing them numbers of course. Only results.
It astonished them. But, It didn't change their minds then, & It won't change their minds now.
Shaftoids have been around forever.
Great work.
Love these videos.
Ps. No I didn't/don't use "ladies" shafts in my clubs. I used feel & practiced a LOT.
Superb video Mark, I have had two driver fittings within the last 4 months (one with PXG) and was at the time gaming a Wilson D7 with the reg flex 46g Helium shaft which I hit pretty good to be fair but, along with a lot of other golfers I'm sure, I wanted more of a 'big name' in the bag. At both fittings I was told that my club head speed (around 94mph) was way too fast for the Wilson as the shaft was way too light and way too whippy so was promptly fitted into a stiff around the 60-65g mark. Even though on the day although the PXG gave me 30+ yards more carry (on one shot I hasten to add) and overall I didn't particularly like the feel, sound or swing weight I still foolishly purchased it (pretty much because it was a PXG). After the driver came I hated it, felt incredibly 'boardy' and I couldn't get the ball above 6 or 7 degrees, sometimes as low as 2 degrees launch angle so it was promptly sold and I purchased another Wilson D7 at a fraction of the cost.
Since then a friend of mine who is a massive hitter (180mph ball speed with driver) went for a fitting, he was gaming a Ping G with a reg flex, he was also told he needed stiff or extra stiff but hit neither as good as his reg flex.
My point is that what you're divulging in this video along with other Golf TH-camrs about shaft preconceptions is absolutely spot on and that regardless of what the 'swing science' says, the proof is in the pudding.
Your honesty is why you are the King! Keep it real Mark...never change.
Can anyone recommend a shaft that keeps the ball out of the trees? Asking for a friend.
Paul Rowley.I regularly break 110 and I would recommend the steel shaft in my putter. I very rarely end up in the trees with it, probably less than once a round
Haha! Asking for a friend....I have a friend like that too!
The axe handle
It’s not the shaft. Or anything to do with clubs or equipment.
It’s the hamadryads. I don’t know for sure, but ...
it might have something to do with people relieving themselves in the woods.
And I don’t know if the hamadryads can be appeased. 😏
Chainsaw
Headphones in for this video lads. My girlfriend was slightly worried about why I was so interested in shafts and how they feel in my hand.🤣🤣
Dave Rooney, nice one.
Especially the ladies shaft...
@@davesnothereman81 don't let her test too many either...
I learned my own lesson when I was driving it poorly a couple years ago. I bought an aftermarket shaft for 400€ ! Afterwards my driver felt different and I got a bit more confidence but in the end I wasn't any longer or straighter. Nowadays I went back to the original shaft and it's absolutely fine as I improved my swing... playing of 1 right now.
My local club fitter sells you every heavy and X-stiff tour issue shaft available on the market. Nowadays even Miuras and PXG with fancy and expensive shaft options. He understood that golf is a sport where everyone's ego plays a part!
You are so right go by what feels right and practice that swing !
I like and appreciate your work. That being said, if these shafts were tested on a larger scale you have to admit a shaft that is too weak is going to result in more spin and less accuracy generally speaking.
I will agree there is sometimes too much value placed on the shaft rather than the skill of the player. Although, being a fitter myself I have seen first hand some substantial differences between a properly fit shaft to a mis-fit shaft.
This is exactly the video I needed to see. When I was growing up and really getting into and progressing in golf in the early 2000's it seemed like it was all about the shafts. The group of guys I grew up with, it was alway a so and so got this new shaft and if I got this shaft it might do this....flash forward to today I'm now in my mid-late 30's and I'm starting to think my shafts are wrong and too stiff from my 20yr old days. This just proves to me in my mind its honestly about feel and how correct your swing is not the "magic" shaft. thanks for putting this video out there
SO true and honest. I got fitted for irons 3 years ago. Steel and graphite shafts performed for me exactly the same but the steel ones just felt like what I was used to so went with them. Trust built with fitter that he wasn't up selling me and I've been back loads of times now for lesson. Better golf for me and more money for him. That's got to be a win!
Love it.. Had a custom fit and after i decided on irons he wanted to start with shafts and what was available and at what Price.. He was not happy that he keep trying to get me to upgrade and i really didn't care because it did not change my numbers at all. More shots more shots is what he wanted me to do until the numbers changed to what he was trying to sell me..
Awesome video!! Just went through this with fitter here in California. I finally felt my skills were up to par and It was my first time being fit. Being on a budget, I also made it clear that I didn’t want a new set of irons but wanted to do what I could with the irons I had. We went though several of the highest end shafts and a few older ones. Amazingly, I ended up reshafting my irons with a set of DG S300s. They were moderately priced, and did everything I wanted them to do. Referring back to your ego comment, I think it is incredibly important to set your parameters with a fitter right off the bat so that they don’t think sky’s the limit and back you into a $1000 set of irons. At my skill level and income, I’d rather play more golf and get more lessons.
Feel is everything, I agree. Years ago my younger brother picked up a Bobby Jones driver ( kind of a greenish color as I remember ) and he said it was the first time he could actually feel the shaft ( I think Matrix ) load and unload during the swing, and could he ever hit it far, wow. He picked up twenty yards easy, no kidding, it was fantastic, for him. I on the other hand hated the feel of the club and could not hit it, hated the feel of the shaft and would never ever use it. Feel is individual and feel is confidence. My opinion, good video Mark, thanks.
Enjoyed this video!! Very interesting to hear Dan says he likes to get the feel of the shaft. I got custom fitted for irons in Feb this year and the pro who fitted me told me not to look at the shaft but to tell him how it felt. After trying a good amount of shafts he choose the three best for distance,spin dispersion etc and only one felt good to me which was the AMT tour white s300. Never looked back playing the best golf I have for years ! Handicap down from 12.2 to 9.8. Keep the good content coming 👍
I totally agree with this video! I just had a driver fitting with ts3 and (with my 106mph swing speed and low launch) was told the even flow shaft was even lower spinning and lower launching and I didn’t have enough head speed for it.. I pushed to try it and it gave me the right feel and I got my best numbers.. the fitter scratched his head and said well I think we’ve found a winner.. you just have to try them all despite what crap is written on them! Top video mark
I’ve been too all sorts of fittings over the last couple of years, from Titliest and Mizuno vans to manufacture open days and even high end custom shops. They all go straight for the shafts. They absolutely love it, the last one was even trying to say they could bring my miss hits (mostly heal area) back to centre with the kick point!! That must be one hell of an intelligent shaft! Who needs a lesson when you have that technology. 😂😂 Great vid man 👍👍👍
This is just what I was hoping to find I am looking into getting a new driver and everyone I have been talking to about it has asked what type of shaft is in it, I'm a high handicap golfer being pretty new to the sport was thinking that's really the end all be all of things. This video has helped a lot.
Wow. I always has a suspicion that shaft flex/weight wasn't that important but to see you confirm it just feels surreal. Great vid bruh! This is why your the best on TH-cam
It's incredibly important. Go try playing 18 holes with 130g shafts and see how you feel after 9. Crossfield just tries to trivialize everything. Why do you think he says to go get custom fit all the time? If shaft didn't matter, then club fitting would take 5 minutes. Check length and lie and you're done.
I play 130g shafts
This is definitely click bait, view counter must have dipped below his acceptable threshold.
Feel is the key word here if a 130g shaft felt right for you then fair enough. I've got the same shaft in my last 4 titleist drivers because I'm used to the feel of it and I trust it
As a recovering shaftoid, I appreciate this video. I love that you are challenging the status quo and getting people to THINK. Keep them coming!
I do love this type of video, it really gets my golf brain working. So fun
I had a custom fit at a demo day with a major retailer and was told the upgraded shaft( £50 extra) was performing way better than the standard alta shaft and it was the engine of the club! , i went to a different store and was fit again trying both shafts and the sales assistant said the standard alta shaft was same distances but better overall characteristics for my swing, he didn't sell me the upgrade because it wasn't right for my game and that's how golf sales should be
one of the best, most informative vids i've seen in a long time. Thank you Mark!
Loved your comment that Dan reacted to the shaft. Whereas, mere mortals like me struggling to play off 12 handicap, will accept what a pro tells me when he says a different shaft will suit me better (this was without any electronic measuring wizardy that you use only his say so as a Titleist expert after a round of golf with him, which was just a bounce game not a lesson). I think I am swinging the same, but without being measured how can I be sure. Although I am hitting the ball more consistently and slightly longer I am now wondering how much is down to me trying to prove the pro right by trying harder to stop my blocks to the right.
Brilliant video Mark!! Not afraid to tell the truth and challenge the validity of all these shaft theories.
Although I’m not in the market for new clubs / shafts, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and learning about it all!!
I got fitted with regular Diamana shafts. A stock option. The Titleist fitter at St Ives said the really expensive shafts only gave me an extra three yards, so he couldn’t recommend them. He said I could go stiff shaft, but they were no extra help. No extra distance. A great experience, totally happy with my non sexy shafts.
The St Ives Titleist fitters are some of the best in the country.
Dan really is a top bloke, exact type of guy you would want a lesson from.#DansArmy #GetUpDan
Steve Watson 100%
One of your best. Bought rogue sub zero 2 weeks ago. Just popped in the shaft i had in my xr pro16. Like the feel of it. Simples.
Recently was custom fit (thanks for consistently telling us to). It was well worth it. But what really shocked me was that all my preconceived notions of what I needed in a club, were the exact opposite of what I really needed. Just shows how much advertising has effected what
consumers buy.
What a fantastic video. No one else is doing anything like this. Great to see as well how Dan's preconceptions changed the way he delivered the club.
Hey Mark. Went for a fitting back in Denmark, Since i thought it was time to pension my old MP60`s with regular shafts straigh from Mizuno factory, That i have had for about 12-13 years. Went in very open minded, have nooo idea what the different shafts are doing and not doing for me and my swing. But the pro doing the fitting, wasn`t telling me anything, just wanted me to swing with different shafts, and tell him what i liked and not, when it came to feels of it. Then we narrowed it down to about 3 different ones, and again i had to say what i liked when it came to the feel of it.. with out knowing what i was using as a shaft, i endeed up with a KBS 90 Tour Stiff. and after the whole thing, he showed me the numbers on the computer, the shaft that i choose purely on feel, was also the shaft that all the way had given me the best strikes when it came to average length and gathering.. so your so right, when u say it comes so much down to your personal feel..
Now i`m just waiting for my new clubs, after testing different brands and types, i endeed up with the 919 forged.
I think this is the best video you've done , Mark for two reasons...
1: It's blown my mind too (even though I actually play with what my playing partners describe as "old man's shafts - miyazaki 43g regular whippy things on my Cleveland launchers... because they FEEL good to me).
2: You didn't say "...subject to...." in this video. I think. And that's a first I think for you?! 😉
Great video Mark, always looking out for the consumer. We can only ask for honesty people will always make their own decisions.
I’m a new golfer, struggling with my driver to the point where I don’t like getting it out of my bag. Been thinking about shortening the shaft because it simply doesn’t feel comfortable for me like my 3 wood and every other club for example. You haven’t given me an answer, but you’ve given me ideas and the confidence to question.
Well that has blown my head clean off. I’ve argued for a while the whole “shaft is the engine of the club” stuff, and this has cemented it for me. One of a kind, superb videos time after time Mark. Thanks for helping us all out bruh 👍
Very timely video since I have been going thru a fitting recently. Tried several different shafts during the fitting. Fitter never told me the flex of any of the shafts I hit. Was just looking at numbers. Ended up with a Kuro Kage X-flex 65g but after several rounds went back because I couldn't control the right to left ball flight. He put me in the Hzrdus stiff heavier weight 76g. It feels great, and goes a lot straighter. Why? no idea, don't care.
Now on to what I think Mark is trying to say in this video. From my understanding there is no standards for shaft flex, one brand stiff could match another's X. So you really shouldn't care what the shaft says. What really matters is how it feels to you and if it produces the results you want.
Just watched a TXG livestream, and Mark and that team across the pond have been chatting. Ridiculously keen for a collab between you two, 2 best golf channels on youtube hands down
WARNING WARNING WARNING
Don't watch with small kids...
Mark let's it slip that Santa's not real.
WARNING WARNING WARNING
I had a custom fitting here in Australia at cool clubs, when they tested my driver shaft from my M2 driver they found what was meant to be a stiff shaft, tested as a extra extra stiff shaft. Never seen before but would explain why it felt so stiff and hard to hit. Now have a stiff 60g mitsubishi tensei and hit my driver very well. Just feels right for me.
Watching your posts Mark over the years just keeps bringing me back all the time to its all up to and down to the individual and his skill set great information 🏌️⛳️
Aged 59, I've been using Senior flex shafts on my irons for 5 years, for FEEL and COMFORT. All my money goes on playing and lessons to improve myself. I use Wilson light drivers again for FEEL and LIGHTNESS of the shaft (regular). Easy to swing, being light. Shaft was not a consideration, so long as it's not stiff.
One of the most informative video's I've seen, I know a few people who will be going crazy at this!
THIS is why I love your vids. Take no prisoners. No sugar coating just facts and not fudges facts either. Unless your driver is broken spend that £500 on lessons instead of the latest tech.
As someone pretty new to golf, when I get fitted this year, I will ask to try several shafts with the drivers we have narrowed it down to. I won’t ask about price or what they are supposed to do. Instead, I will see the results to make a decision. Same with the irons. I am not one who needs to look cool when golfing. My scoring will be what does the talking.
After years of using “fitted” stock shafts on my new Drivers. I finally booked for a Driver Shaft fitting by a fitting Professional at his studio. I did this as I’ve bought the new Taylormade Sim Max and was “supposedly fitted” with a Fujikura Ventos 6S stock shaft. I Drive the ball pretty well and quite far considering I’m 58 years old. I average around 140mph + ball speed with a nice high draw, as I do hit up on the ball between 3-5 degrees. but I felt that the ball was stalling as it went through the air.
After about an hour of swinging with different shafts with the fitting pro, he showed me the shaft that was best suited to me. Yes my jaw nearly hit the floor and my eyes nearly popped out of my head when he told me that the shaft cost £300! But my launch was lower, my spin came down a lot, my accuracy and dispersion got better and my yardages improved. Needless to say that I purchased it.
Here were my results
beforehand.
Fujikura Ventos 6S Blue. Swing Speed. 98mph. Spin Avg 3350 Total distance. 233yds.
Afterwards.
Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7X. Swing Speed. 102mph. Spin Avg 2450 Total distance 258yds.
As you can see, there was a big difference. Stock shafts are watered down, with lesser quality materials in them.
The advice you should be saying to everyone is to try a Driver fitting out. It costs between £50-£75. Plus You’re under no obligation to buy.
In my experience it did open my eyes up as to how much distance you are losing by playing with the wrong poor quality shaft that doesn’t suit your swing.
I experienced this recently. I was fitted for a new driver and, due to my swing speed, was given a heavy, super stiff, shaft. The numbers were good in the fitting but when I practiced and played with it and couldn’t get it airborne and struggled generally.
I went back to the fitter and we tried some lighter shafts. The feel was so much better and I could just comfortably swing.
I had no preconceived idea of the shaft I wanted, I simply wanted the best performing shaft for me.
Good Video Mark, I agree with you in nearly everything you say, a few things im not experienced enough to agree. Ive been playing golf properly about a year now, lessons etc messed about for years growing up etc but nothing regular so started with some 2nd hand R7 XD irons, steel shafts. Im 6ft 4, not long turned 40. Always been very sporty and reasonable fit, football motorcross etc. Just bought my 1st set of custom fitted irons, ap1 718 , graphite stiff shafts. Ive tried all different brands irons for months, steel - graphite. I wasnt interested in numbers as they were all pretty much the same i thought, distance, trajectory wise. I had no probs in getting graphite instead of steel in fear of not looking macho. I was producing the same shots effortlessly 7 iron 160 yards. I choose stiff graphite in the kuro kage tini 85 but all these were purely for feel. I choose jumbo grips aswell as i have hands like Basketball players hands. We did do the numbers once id choosen my brand and model but there wasnt much in it. I agree with you especially as being a newbie in buying new fitted clubs, Alot of Marketing and selling . Its the same with carp fishing stuff
Just got a shaftfitting for free at JumboGolf in The Netherlands. Went from regular shaft with 145 max ballspeed to xstiff 158 ballspeed and 10-15m bonusdistance without any swingchange. I wasn't expected that because I came there to reduce spin and better my miss dispersion on the left and right. The data made me buy this one, it was a nobrainer although the stiff and regular Fubuki that I had felt better in powertransfer and loading up. Only afterwards I found out that I had bought the real macho Hazardus Smoke Black. You tell me but I feel Alphamale all the way now :D
Totally agree! I use a 70g black tie shaft X flex but tipped so it plays a bit stiffer but that is on feel alone... My favourite shaft is the fubuki 50g stiff... Just as iv sped my swing up it feels to bendy and I don't feel as confident with it... I now use it as my warm up shaft on the range....
Great point about grip effect. As fitter, frustrated that manufacturers only supply shafts with standard size grips. Also blew pro's head off that senior player did markedly better with X flex because he felt he could finally go at his drives (length, dispersion, consistency of strike all improved
Great vid ... I have given up my quest for the holy grail of shafts. I am gaming one that just feels great, looks great, and makes me feel confident -- and when paired with a great low spin head (a Ping G400 LST), seems to just work. Thanks!
Would love to see you in a dialogue on this with txg channel Mark. The other best golfing TH-cam channel imo
👍👍👍
Excellent video and information, Mark. I think the best would be if, at the fitter, all shafts were just black and blanked out, not showing names, brands, specs... NOTHING... the fitter would simply screw on all sorts of shafts and never give any hint on what it is, so the player could be totally unbiased as to what "should" work for him and what actually does. I fully believe that the emphasis placed on equipment is generally overdone nowadays. My "proof" is that if it were equipment that really mattered, champions of the past like Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player... would never have been able to hit just one round below 80. And we know what they did. Love your channel, Mark.
This is the best video in years. If I could like this 5000 times I would. Thanks for being brave enough to put something out there outside of the norm!!
I remember going on the taylormade tour truck at wentworth a couple of years ago, speaking to the fitters, shaft weights can vary massively from what’s written on the label. 65g could be anywhere from 40g to 80g. It’s such a feel element. People who say it’s all in the shaft seem to live in a box! Good video mark 👍
I agree with Dan...it's all about feel. I haven't had much luck with my last 2 iron fittings, specs were good but never did like the feel. Now my driver fitting was spot on, I did it with the Ping rep and he work off more of my feel along with my numbers!
Great messege Mark. It's hard not to see the new shaft and want to try it, but to think it will be the answer to problem is bogus. It's not popular, but honesty is what we need.
Hi Mark , I have an issue with this video
My main issue is people still won’t get it. This will blow heads off , great content as always.
Anyone who was unaware that up selling to an aftermarket shaft makes the seller more money is probably ignorant to a whole lot more than that. Golf is a major money game, and the people who spend money on those things are often just tossing there play money around anyway. These places need to survive, and these people are very business savvy, and sometimes you need to provide more roads for the person with the fat wallet to travel down so you can dip a little deeper. It only becomes a shame when someone who probably shouldn't spend that money on a shaft do. Or maybe they just don't have the skill level to take advantage of the higher tolerances provided by a top shelf shaft. Either way, i'm very happy you are willing to put stuff like this out there, i promote transparency in any industry and am always very relieved to see it from someone with an opinion I respect. Bottom line, use what feels good and gives you confidence in providing that middle strike. Keep it coming, so refreshing to see people peel back some blinders from others.
These are the sort of videos we want to see. Yes very slim margins in golf retail. Around 5%. Most make their money from cheaper package sets. The good money is in charging big $$$ for "custom" fits. I had one particular experience where the fitter kept going back to a particular shaft (iron), no matter what the data said. Found out they had the distribution rights to the brand !!! The shaft that felt the best, and i repeatedly told him so .... he said was no good !!! Hmmmmm Yes Very good video Mark, taking the myth and BS out of golf . Thankyou.
Love this! Mark, best and most original content, TH-cam leader!
Thank you for being so open about shafts and the money-driven factor behind it!
Awesome video Mark. This is coming from a guy who spent the $400.00 on a shaft last summer. Well done, very informative.
I didn't comment on the guesses, but I was wrong on both of them. Very cool video, and I'm now questioning my own recent fitting regarding the grip. I wasn't too fussed about the shaft as the fitter just tried me with four or five different ones based on a Mizuno device and put the shaft in that gave me the better 'average' results according to what I was presenting with my old clubs.
I wasn't even asked about the grips, nor did I question it, and now I'm wondering whether or not I should have, or should be considering it. Really cool video!
Been fit recently for irons and driver, have project x 6.5 in both irons and driver, but I chose them on how the club felt when swinging/hitting the ball, plus also on what the numbers came back with off trackman. Didn't even know which was which shaft during fitting!
We would find that if a golfer is using a shaft that is too light, their hands do get ahead and in some cases they will top the ball so it's not unusual to see a result where it comes out lower. Only recently, a client tested a driver brand which had mid 50 and mid 60 gram shaft options, because he was travelling faster with the lighter shaft, it came out lower. Whereas the mid 60 gram had enough weight and momentum to bottom out more quickly so the golfer achieved 14 degrees of launch versus the 11 from the mid 50. Both REGULAR SHAFTS. So do you think there might be too much weight difference between the shafts you are testing Mark? Mid 70 vs mid 40? Shaft weight does make a difference but in some cases it can be a very small amount that helps.
Might have missed the point of the video I’d say ;)
Absolutely loved the honesty of this video..... well done MC
This would be awesome to do on course, they are your best vids and where it counts most. Your videos keep getting better and better, well done.
Paused video at 9:50 as directed! These shafts will probably launch about the same, but I think there's a chance the lighter shaft will actually launch lower. That happened to me when I was handed a SR flex shaft recently in a demo because the young shop keeper misread it as "S" flex (hey, I ain't no senior, mate!). Funny enough, the SR launched about 0.5° lower (not much) than the "S" flex shaft when the mistake was realised. I thought the SR shaft felt a little light, but otherwise it didn't feel unstable.
I ended up getting the best results with a Regular flex shaft in the end even though I play S-flex in everything else and my swing speed is not "appropriate" for a Reg flex driver shaft. But, the results were very good and I preferred the feel of the Reg flex shaft in this case with this particular shaft and driver (Ping Alta CB 55 in G400). I find it easier to swing when I'm a bit tired as well.
At end of the day all depends on how the individual feels with each an every club top video mark really opened my eyes
This is probably the best golf equipment analysis video I have ever seen.
Feel, to your point, is a huge deal for me. I mess with shafts all the time and when something had a weight and bend profile that feels good through my swing, I’m normally striking it better and that is what impacts numbers as much as anything else. When a shaft feels too loose or too heavy, I’m consciously moving it differently to what I think the shaft needs and strike gets inconsistent leading to spin, launch, and dispersion numbers getting crazy.
Really enjoy your stuff lately, especially the course testing. Applying it to my own club choices, I’m getting a top few I like the feel of in the sim and let the course performance dictate the winner. Surprising how everything is near a wash at the end of the day
I have a stiff and a reg , the stiff was from an older driver. And it's heavier than the reg, but I'm going to test both and go with feel, as you both said. Very good and interesting vlog. Thanks guys
As you said regarding all the shafts on the tour bus -- its so individual that collecting data on it almost doesn't matter.
I feel that because I am bad -- I cannot react to it! I just won't even try to hit a driver with a light/flexy shaft (I travel and play with rented clubs several times a year). I don't feel that I have any control, and the shots that I hit with them exemplify that. My good shot is a small draw with an in-to-out path. My miss is a closed-face with out-to-in path (when I don't get enough side-bend). Light and flexy shafts I can hit massive slices in addition, and I don't feel that I have any control over strike. I am not good enough to adjust.
Classic Crossfield....... Pure genius
I don't care about the fancy paint of boutique shafts (ok, maybe a little) but I will say that *I* react differently to the weight and flex point of various shafts. They don't have to be expensive, just different. Mark is spot on. It's all about ME. My buddy plays a Matrix Black Tie 70-X with one of my favorite heads on it. I play the SAME head, but mine has a Diamana Blueboard 60-X. I cannot get on with his setup. I hit it all over the place because I'm try to compensate for what I feel is a stiff heavy tip, so I hand flip it trying to square it up. Mine loads right where I expect it to, there for it's a walk in the park. I believe what is being said in this video.
Very good sending this message out Mark! Well done, great vlog as always!
Shaft is purely for load, feel and tempo. The head gives you the launch and spin characteristics.
you should soooo much do a collab with the TXG guys ! would be sooo interesting to watch a back and forth between you guys, especially Ian Fraiser and your self !
😍
Great video Mark, I have seen the ones you did in the past regarding shafts. It is eye opening and you are right, sales people always talk about how important shaft is, and make it a major part of the fitting process.
Brilliant, brilliant video Marc. Keep doing what your doing so well.
Feel is everthing.!!!! I gamed ap2 710 px 7.0 since they were brought out and got fitted for ap2 718 s in October. I'm 46 and wanted to get away from the heavier harder shafts and thought I would like to play lighter softer shafts. I tried lots of different weights and flex shafts but ended up with kbs c taper x130 shafts in them .The numbers weren't too dissimilar to px 7.0 the kbs just had different feel about them which i liked but still have the same weight and stiffness as before . I guess I'm just used to that type of shaft and it's what I'm comfortable with, it really is all about feel and especially if they perform well for you also.
Great video, Mark. After being custom fit just recently and watching this video, a lot shaftoid thoughts in my head have disappeared. This is really interesting and keep up the good work 👍🏻
I’m Jim so since you explicitly told me to comment: in my experience I found that the whippier shaft launched my shots lower. I think that was because my upper body was faster so the club head lagged behind. That being said, when I went for a shot that had the slightest wind into, the ball just ballooned straight up.
Golf Digest 2018 Blacklist #1 Mark Crossfield :P
Mark I got fitted by Ping with a Distanza 40 gram shaft standard length and gained 14 yards found it much easier to square up the club face at impact
I believe feel and the numbers created by the shaft and club head “combination” is important to tweak your performance but I agree that improving your swing mechanics is the best way to improve your distance and direction.
I have seen a senior with 75 mph swing speed do better with a stiff flex than a senior flex. You just can’t tell until you test them out. The shaft must “feel” good to you IMPO.
I agree that weight and feel are more important than if it has an A, R, or S on it. What works for your swing is important.
Did participate in an experiment, less than a year of golfing experience: 7 shafts painted in blue. All same lenght. All same grip and same 6 iron head. Random letter for test management purposes. 5 balls each, rotating shots. After all shots I ordered them correctly for weight and flex. Then shot dispersion and distance ? best two shafts were the lightest weight and flex : lady shaft and the heavier stiffer shaft. Lady shaft felt a lot better though. Heavier shaft was easier to get the right swing tempo. Find yourself a good fitter and a good pro. Find the shaft that works for you with data, on course testing and feel.
Was this with the RnA
No, local sports hardware store, the fitter was running an experiment maybe because he heard about something similar. I admitt I can be influenced a bit with marketing bells and whistles. But then there's trackman/gcquad (or equivalent), a good fitter and feel. But in the end improving the golfer's skills is the only sure way for said golfer to get better score cards.
I literally get giddy when crossfield throw some truth out. I like a robin hood figure. Take lies away from the rich and tell the truth to the poor. Educational metaphor not money.
Great video bruh! All my friends at my club go on about what shaft they have got/had/want. It drives me nuts as I'm like dan and couldn't care less as long as it feels right for me. Will recommend this video for them to watch and see them have their brains blown out!! Great video,keep up the great vlogs bruh😀
Excellent video. I’d like to suggest that swing tempo has a great deal of influence that you haven’t mentioned. If one has an aggressive “fast” tempo then the shaft flex may have a greater influence. Dan has a very nice less aggressive tempo. Coach has a more aggressive tempo to his swing. I would like to see the same shaft comparisons completed for Coach Lockey versus Dan. I like Dan’s comment that “feel” is the real differential here.
Lastly, I came from the old school several years back when drivers were 43 inches long. Last week I bought a driver that is 45.74 inches long. No extra yardage, more dispersion and a pretty bronze colored shaft. Go figure!
Love to see more reveals like this.
PS Can you help poor Raymondo’s game with a good shafting?
Great message, Mark! It makes me feel better that I spend my time playing golf and not searching for the perfect equipment. Thx! Perhaps in a future vlog you could discuss "swingweight," because I'm trying to understand how it affects one's swing and why without adding lead tape to my woods I have little feel for where the clubhead is in my swing.