There was a time where pretty much all golf shafts, not just putter and iron shafts, but driver shafts, were made of steel. That is no longer the case, and steel driver shafts are pretty much a thing of the past.
But the industry and sport have collectively also shifted such that many high-end iron and putter shafts are also made from graphite. Let’s take a closer look at the consequences of this.
How Steel and Graphite Golf Shafts Are Made
Steel golf shafts are typically made from welding sheets of steel; they are coiled into tubes and welded, then drawn over mandrels to reduce them to the proper diameter, before they are shaped and heat-treated.
As for graphite golf shafts, they are made by wrapping sheets of carbon fiber, which is made of bundles of carbon fiber pre-preg with epoxy, around a steel mandrel (not entirely unlike how steel shafts are made).
These are then pressure-rolled and cured using heat. Some are actually rolled by hand to ensure a high-degree of consistency.
In short, steel golf shafts are made from steel alloys and carbon (or composite) golf shafts are made from bundles of carbon fiber which are lighter in weight and more flexible than steel.
How They Compare
There are significant differences between steel and graphite golf shafts, regardless of whether we are considering steel and graphite driver shafts, or even steel or graphite putter shafts.
Steel is heavy, stiff, stable, and consistent. Steel shafts are generally also more affordable than graphite golf shafts.
Graphite shafts are cutting edge; there is a lot of flexibility that can be exercised with respect to weight and flexibility, as well as torque, bend profile and bend point. They can be manufactured to be considerably more flexible and lighter than steel shafts.
So let’s take a closer look at driver shafts. Steel driver shafts (which are pretty much no longer used) delivered a low launch and high consistency. They were better for golfers that had stronger, faster swing speeds, just like the super-stiff graphite driver shafts of today.
Graphite driver shafts offer much more versatility. They can be either super-stiff (and heavier) like steel, but they can also be manufactured to deliver a softer feel, a higher launch angle and greater spin (as well as low weight), giving golfers with slower swing speeds an edge to carry the ball further without complicating shot dispersion.
Now let’s shift to putter shafts. Modern putter shafts are still often made from steel, which is heavy, stiff, and consistent. However, some modern putter shafts are made from graphite, which can be manufactured to produce very low torque and very high stiffness, as well as swing-balanced profiles.
As a result, composite putter shafts can offer similar performance to steel with respect to stiffness and consistency, while remaining lighter and more sensitive than steel.
In a nutshell, graphite golf shafts can be lighter, reduce fatigue, and offer greater sensitivity and feel. They can also produce a wider range of launch and spin profiles, which means there are graphite shafts suitable for players with both higher and lower swing speeds. With an appropriate flex rating and bend profile, a graphite golf shaft can help golfers hit the ball farther.
Explore Cutting Edge Golf Shafts at Breakthrough Golf Technologies
Whether you’re interested in learning more about graphite golf shafts for putters, woods, or wedges, visit Breakthrough Golf Technologies. Known for putter shafts like the Stability ONE and wood shafts like the Forta, BGT produces high-end graphite shafts that deliver lightweight performance, sensitivity, feel and feedback, and uncompromising consistency.
To learn more about what they offer, visit their website or get in touch with them directly.
For more information about Wedge Shafts and Zero Torque Putters Please visit: Breakthrough Golf Technology.
