From: mzimmers@netcom.com (Michael Zimmers)
Subject: Re: Graphite Shafts
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 21:40:53 GMT

In article <1992Oct2.121026.7319@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> davet@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Dave Tutelman) writes:

>In article <1992Sep30.151820.9264@netcom.com> mzimmers@netcom.com (Michael Zimmers) writes:

>>There are several benefits from graphite shafts, most the result
>>of the fact that a shaftmaker can fabricate more properties into
>>a graphite (or boron) shaft than he can with steel. 

>That probably ought to be the case.  But let's look at your examples
>in practice.
>
>>In no particular order:
>>
>>- lighter weight

>	Here's the big practical advantage of graphite shafts.
>	Right on!

>>- greater range of stiffness

>	That's not clear, or at least not from what I've seen on the
>	market and used in clubs.  Seems to me that most graphite shaft
>	manufacturers build a softer shaft for any nominal stiffness.
>	(That is, a steel "S" is stiffer than a graphite "S".)
>	I haven't noticed that the total range of stiffness is different.

Actually, it's probably clinically true that graphite can be formed to
a wider range of stiffness than steel, but given that steel can span
the entire spectrum ever encountered in the RW, it's not an issue.

>>- reduced torque

>	Not from what I am told by the "experts" at GolfSmith or
>	GolfWorks.  Steel shafts are typically in the 1-2 degree range.
>	You've got to pay a lot to get graphite that low in torsion; your
>	low-price graphite shafts aren't even close.  In the GolfWorks
>	catalog, for instance, graphites with less than 3 degrees of torque
>	start about $50 and go up from there; under 2 degrees is closer to
>	(or over) $100.

How about "wider range of torque"?  I flipped through my GW catalog and
found torque ranges from 7.0 down to 1.6 (which is much lower than most
of us will ever need).

This is also a good time to expand on your point that the lower torque
ratings are found on only the most expensive shafts.  A lot of people
treat the buzzword "graphite" as some kind of generic term that tells
them all they need to know about the shaft.  Baloney!  There is a huge
variation in behavior and quality.  One needs to do one's homework.

>>- different kick points so shots tend to go higher

>	I hadn't noticed that.  What graphite shafts have a higher kick
>	point than Dynamics.  What graphite shafts have a lower kick
>	point than PowerKick?  (I really don't know; if there is an
>	answer, tell me and I'll shut up about kick point.)

I don't know what PowerKick is, but I believe the Aldila HM-30 is
deliberately designed to get the ball airborne easier.

>>- less vibration (big with a couple of senior players I know)

>	Definitely!  Vibration is better damped, which means it's both
>	lower level and lower frequency.

And hurts less when you blade a Rock-flite with a 2-iron (man that
smarts).

I guess the real answer is that graphite gives the clubmaker a bit more
choice in defining the club's behavior, but one needs to use that
liberty wisely or you'll end up with an expensive set of clubs that 
don't work for your game.

What's interesting is that for years, golf pros were fond of saying
that the shaft was 90% of the club.  I guess we're getting closer to
it being 90% of the price as well...

-- 
Michael Zimmers                                    |  Home:  408 996 1984
SoftHelp                                           |  Work:  408 996 1965
Software Solutions for Open Systems                |  Data:  408 996 1974
From: David.Moore@tdkt.kksys.com (David Moore)
Sender: FredGate@tdkt.kksys.com