Golf Shafts

How to choose a shaft

Short on time? Our golf shaft quiz asks a few quick questions and finds the exact shaft and adapter for your club. Or read on.

The shaft is often called the engine of the golf club. It affects how high the ball launches, how much it spins, how the club feels through the swing and how consistently you return the clubface to the ball. Fitting a new shaft to a driver or fairway wood you already like is one of the most cost-effective upgrades in golf — but only if you choose the right flex and the right tip adapter.

1. Choose your flex

Flex describes how much the shaft bends during the swing. The faster you swing, the stiffer the shaft you usually need. As a rough guide, based on driver swing speed:

Swing speed is only part of the story. A quick, aggressive tempo or a sharp transition from backswing to downswing may suit a firmer flex than your speed alone suggests, while a smooth tempo may suit a softer one. If you are between two flexes, a launch monitor session or a fitting is the best way to decide. For a quick answer, try our shaft flex finder: enter your swing speed, driver distance or 7-iron carry and your tempo.

Read our golf shaft flex guide for more detail on flex, weight, kick point and torque, or shop by flex: ladies, senior, regular, stiff or X-stiff.

2. Choose your tip adapter

Most modern drivers and fairway woods have an adjustable hosel: a sleeve (the "tip adapter") is fitted to the end of the shaft and screws into the club head. Each manufacturer — and sometimes each generation of club — uses its own sleeve design, so the adapter must match your club head.

• Choose the adapter named after your club head's manufacturer. Where a manufacturer has more than one option, the difference is the generation or family of club the sleeve fits. Check your model before ordering.

You can also browse by brand: shafts for Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, Ping, Mizuno, Tour Edge, Cobra and PXG clubs, or raw shafts.

• "Raw" means no adapter fitted. Choose it if your club has a glued (non-adjustable) hosel or if a club builder will fit your own adapter. A raw shaft needs to be cut, fitted and gripped by someone with the right tools.
• Not sure? Look up your club model, ask your local club professional, or contact the retailer before ordering. A mismatched adapter will not fit.

3. Match your woods

If you replace the shaft in your driver, consider your fairway woods too. Playing the same shaft family and flex through your woods gives a more consistent feel and ball flight from club to club. That is why the shop offers driver, 3-wood and 5-wood versions of each shaft.

4. Check length, grip and installation

Before buying, check the retailer's listing for the shaft length, whether a grip is included and how the shaft is supplied. Your club's playing length, swing weight and grip all affect how the club feels. If you are unsure, a club fitter or golf professional can install the shaft and set the length for you. See custom golf club fitting.

Is a new shaft worth it?

A new shaft will not fix a swing fault, but the right shaft can:

• Improve consistency by matching your swing speed and tempo.
• Optimise launch and spin, which can add carry distance.
• Improve feel, giving you more confidence over the ball.
• Breathe new life into a club head you already love, for less than the cost of a new club.

If your current shaft is clearly the wrong flex — or you have changed your swing, gained or lost speed, or simply never been fitted — a shaft upgrade is often a sensible investment. For a complete approach to equipment, read how to choose golf clubs and how to hit a driver.

Buying shafts online

• Know your flex and adapter before you order.
• Check what is included — adapter, grip, length.
• Read the retailer's returns policy, especially for cut or installed shafts.
• Prices are shown in the retailer's currency; check delivery costs and any import duties for your country.

See buying golf equipment online for more advice on shopping safely.