How to choose a golf club shaft? We'll explain how to find the right product for you!

The shaft is the rod-shaped component that connects the head and grip of a golf club.
There are two types of shafts: steel shafts, which are made from metal, and carbon shafts, which are made from carbon fiber.
Driver often come with carbon shafts, while other clubs sometimes offer a choice between steel and carbon shafts.
The shaft's role is not only to help you hit the ball further by using its flex, but also to stabilize your swing and reduce directional inconsistencies through its weight, stiffness, and the point where it flexes the most (the kick point).

Five parameters—stiffness (flex), weight, kick point, length, and torque—will change. Some products also display these parameters on the shaft. As explained in detail below, these parameters affect swing ease and ball flight.

Shafts come in different stiffness levels, and you choose the one that best suits your swing speed and skill level. The stiffness levels are indicated from softest to stiffest as follows: "L (Ladies)", "A (Average)", "R (Regular)", "S (Stiff)", and "X (Extra)".
Typically, women's products often have L and A firmness settings, while men's products often have R, S, and intermediate settings like SR.

For most men, it's fine to start with "R," and for women, it's fine to start with "L."
Those who previously played baseball or tennis may find a "stiffer" shaft more suitable because they have stronger swing power.

*However, please note that there is no standard stiffness for golf shafts, and even within the same manufacturer, an R-flex shaft used by a professional may have a similar stiffness to an S-flex shaft from a different brand.

We carry several devices that can measure head speed at NIKI GOLF Online. For more accurate measurements, you can also visit your nearest NIKI GOLF store.

Driver shafts typically weigh around 50 grams on average, "lightweight" shafts weigh around 40 grams, and heavier shafts can range from 60 to 70 grams.
The weight of the shaft affects how easy it is to swing and how stable the club is. Generally, it is said that you should choose a heavier shaft that you can swing properly, but if it is too heavy, the club will become difficult to swing.
Conversely, combining a lightweight Driver with irons that have steel shafts can disrupt your swing rhythm and may lead to duffs or tops.
For example, if you have a favorite Driver, when choosing irons, you can select a shaft based on the weight of that Driver, allowing you to swing them with a similar rhythm.
Please refer to the table below to choose a club with a weight that suits you.

A shaft has a kick point (flex point) that indicates where it bends the most. Broadly speaking, shafts can be categorized into tip-flex (where the shaft bends more towards the head) and mid-flex (where the shaft bends more towards the grip).
A shaft with a tip that flexes, known as a "tip-weighted" shaft, results in a higher launch angle and makes it easier to hit the ball squarely.
Conversely, a shaft with a tip-heavy flex results in a lower launch angle and less ball contact.

A longer shaft can increase driving distance, but it may also make it harder to hit the ball cleanly.
Some people shorten the shafts of commercially available Driver and other clubs by cutting them, but this can result in a decrease in distance, poor balance, and an unstable swing.
Currently, most men's Driver on the market have shafts that are between 45 and 46 inches long, so it's a good idea to choose one that suits you within this range.

*1 inch = 2.54 cm

43.75-inch ladies' club (top) and 45.5-inch men's club (bottom)
Even a slight difference in length can make a big difference in how easy it is to hit.

Torque refers to the twisting of a shaft (you can imagine it like wringing out a rag), and the larger the value, the more it twists.
The twist in the shaft is similar to the play in a car's steering wheel; less twist results in a more sensitive response and better control, but it also makes the club more susceptible to mistakes. More torque makes the response slower, but it increases the forgiveness of mis-shots.

Details are provided in the "Basic Specifications" and "Specs & Shipping Time" sections in the middle of the product page.

Whether you're just starting out in golf or you're a seasoned golfer, if you're unsure about which clubs to choose, please feel free to consult your nearest NIKI GOLF.
We offer free head speed measurements and various fitting services. Please contact each store for more details.