Now that the USGA has limited the size, length, and COR (co-efficient of restitution) on today’s drivers, new avenues must be taken to enhance driver performance. The question arises on why Tiger hits a Diamana shaft, and why Adam Scott hits a UST V2. For the most part, shaft companies are not paying players to hit their shaft. So, why would one player choose one company’s shaft over another? The reason relates to the profile of individual shafts, and which profile best suits a player’s swing. We golfers do not all swing with the same tempo, release the club at the same point, and swing with the same swing speed. Therefore, we cannot all use the same profile of shaft. So how do we know which shaft will perform best for our swing? Fitting with the BMT Shaft Profiling Method is the Answer.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of men like Jerry Hoefling, Tom Wishon, and numerous other professionally certified clubfitters, the technology to properly fit golfers into the best shaft has been developed. These men and many others have undertaken the arduous task of profiling thousands of shafts. By determining stiffness at 5 inch intervals for the entire length of the shaft, professional clubfitters can use a mathematical calculation to determine which shaft profile will best suit any golfer.

The player’s swing speed will determine a flex value to be assigned to that player. For a player with a swing speed of 90 MPH, the Clubfitter can determine the flex value by dividing the swing speed by 10, and then subtracting 4.5 (90~10= 9, 9-4.5= 4.5). The players flex value based on swing speed is 4.5. This value is used to determine the Butt zone profile that best suits this player.

In determining tempo, the clubfitter will know the Mid zone profile for any given player. Tempo values are assigned for one of three types of tempo. Tempo 1 = 0.0-0.8, Tempo 2 = 0.9-1.2, and Tempo 3 = 1.2 and over. If a player’s tempo is 1.30, the clubfitter will subtract .3 from the Butt Zone profile. (B= 4.5, 4.5-.3= 4.2). The Mid Zone profile for this player is 4.2.

The player’s downswing release point determines the flex value for the Tip part of the shaft. By using the hours on a clock, the clubfitter can determine the release point of any golfer. Using high speed cameras, the clubfitter can determine the point where the player first releases his/her wrists. If a player begins the release at 8 o’clock, the clubfitter will know to add .3 the Mid Zone profile. (M=4.2 + .3= 4.5). The player’s Tip zone profile is 4.5.

Now with this information, B=4.5, M=4.2, and T= 4.5 the clubfitter can access the Shaft Profiling Software to determine which shaft or shafts best suit a player with these Flex Values. In this particular case, the shafts best suited to this player’s swing are the Fujikura Fit on 160 A-flex, Mitsubishi Bassara 63 R-flex, and the UST Competition A-flex.

Technology has shifted more to the Custom Clubfitting of Golf Clubs. Now the Custom Clubfitter has the best tools to make your game more enjoyable. Find your nearest AGCP Clubfitter, and experience the benefits of custom fitted technology.

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