While it’s impossible to paint accurately with broad strokes in a sport like golfing, we can still make some generalizations that usually hold true – at least more or less.
So, with that said, what should you be looking for if you’re entering the market for golf shafts for seniors?
Or, more accurately, what are some traits that are commonly used to define golf shafts for seniors?
We break down three of the most common among them in this short post.
Shaft Flex
As you age, your body naturally loses strength and flexibility. There are things you can do to slow down this process, but nothing you can do to entirely prevent or reverse it. Aging is aging.
As you lose strength and flexibility, your swing speed and range of motion will start to decline. Your swing tempo might be impacted, too.
Now, with that said, golf shafts for seniors are engineered to play into that. Namely, by being more flexible.
Think of a golf shaft like a spring. When you swing it, you’re compressing it, loading it with potential energy that must be released, and transferred to the golf ball through the point of impact.
Therefore, more flexible shafts generally allow players with slower speeds to hit the ball farther, all without straining or swinging harder or faster.
This is the most important, defining attribute of most golf shafts for seniors.
Kick Point
Kick point refers to the location at which a given shaft appears to bend, and is closely linked to the bend profile.
A shaft with a higher kick point feels almost as though it does not bend at all. Higher kick points are associated with shafts that have a low flex rating and therefore are rare in senior shafts.
As for lower kick points, these bend farther down towards the club, and usually, you can actually feel the flex as you swing.
For golfers with higher swing speeds, they can feel a bit whippy, but for those with slower swing speeds they allow a more consistent, predictable load and release.
Generally, if the kick point is lower, however, it’s going to be more suitable for players with slower swing speeds for the same reasons that a shaft with a higher flex rating would be.
Torque
Lastly we have torque, which gives an indication of how many degrees a shaft will twist around an axis line that runs through its center.
Usually, the lower the torque, the lower the shaft flex rating, and the higher the torque the more flexible the shaft is.
A high torque usually results in a club face that struggles to square with the ball at impact, resulting in either open or closed club faces.
Lower torque shafts are more consistent (usually), but the only real way to match a shaft’s torque to your abilities is to work with a professional club fitter.
Where to Investigate Golf Shafts for Seniors?
Want to work with a fitter to find golf shafts for seniors that actually work for you? Start your search online at Dallas Golf Company. Check out their collection and get in touch with their team at 800-955-9550 if you have questions before buying.
You can also give them a call to work with their golf club fitters. If you’re in their area, visiting their shop and working with a fitter who will observe your swing and make personalized recommendations can help ensure you end up with a shaft and club combo that works for you instead of against you.
