The majority of shafts that PING recommends for its clubs are actually not of its own making. These they recommend based on their features and compatibility with the club heads in question.
However, a small subset of them are actually true PING golf shafts – like the PING Alta CB, which is ideal for larger, heavier club heads – much like many popular PING clubs such as the G425 and G430 MAX.
But what’s behind the buzz associated with this PING golf shaft? Get the details here.
A Counterbalanced Profile
First things first, the “CB” in PING Alta CB stands for counterbalanced. This is probably the most impactful feature of design, especially insomuch as it affects performance.
Some of the mass in the shaft is shifted towards the grip, resulting in the aforementioned counterbalanced profile that helps to offset the weight of larger, heavier club heads.
The interesting thing is that these are actually quite lightweight PING golf shafts; the counterbalanced design doesn’t objectively add weight; it just shifts where the weight is.
This creates the sensory illusion that the club you’re swinging is lighter than it actually is, giving you greater control over the swing sequence while simultaneously helping to counteract straining.
Another great thing about the counterbalanced design is that it encourages power generation under control; players can swing harder and faster and still maintain precise control of the swing, increasing range while not complicating dispersion.
Lightweight Design
The lightweight graphite construction of the PING Alta CB is one of the secrets to performance, as the lighter, more facile shafts handle more readily, for players of all swing speeds.
Heavier shafts might be more stable as a general observation, but lighter shafts are better for players with slower swing speeds and tempos as the weight savings (however minimal) give them a boost to their swings.
This enables players of slower swing speeds and tempos to swing just a little bit harder and faster, giving their range a slight boost.
Smooth Feel and Feedback
Feedback and sensitivity are also critical to performance, as even explosive power coupled with unpredictability can result in shot dispersion.
The graphite construction of the PING Alta CB is designed to offer excellent sensitivity and feedback through all aspects of the swing sequence, so you can fine tune your form and performance.
Rest assured the PING Alta CB offers the sensitivity and feedback you need to refine your game, even when playing with club heads that are so large they’re nearly unwieldy.
Consistent, Mid-Mid Launch and Spin Characteristics
Lastly, the PING Alta CB generates mid launch and mid spin characteristics, middle of the road enough that most players can probably find a place for it in their arsenal.
Running the middle of the road in terms of launch and spin enables this PING golf shaft to generate enough carry distance (and little enough dispersion) for most players swinging most large, heavy drivers.
And, of course, consistency is key. Except for players with very slow or very fast swing speeds, the Alta CB is going to perform just as you’d expect, effectively every time.
Only players with the fastest swing speeds and most aggressive tempos will be better served by alternatives.
Who Should Look into It?
These PING golf shafts are (generally) a good match for players with medium-fast swing speeds and tempos, particularly those who are swinging larger, heavier club heads, as the counterbalanced weight profile of the Alta CB helps increase handling, power generation and overall performance.
With that said, players with very high or low swing speeds might want to look elsewhere. If you’re considering a PING Alta CB, make sure you work with a fitter in your area before you get one – the Alta CB might be the ticket, but you won’t know till you get fitted.
