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0 If you’ve played golf long enough then you are probably familiar with the fact that there are some specialty golf clubs in the game, and we don’t mean irons, wedges, hybrids and drivers.
We’re talking about the shafts. There are amateur shafts as well as shafts for lady players and seniors. But what’s the reason for this variation?
Well, this short post will take a closer look at the nature of senior shaft golf clubs, and why they tend to offer slightly higher launch and spin profiles.
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, as in all things in golf, this all comes down to player performance. As golfers age, they lose some of their strength and flexibility.
This is true across the board, and though two senior players might vary considerably in terms of their swing speeds, it goes without saying that they’ll lose some of it as they progress into their golden years.
This loss of strength and flexibility, and the ensuing degradation of swing speed, is the reason for senior shaft golf clubs, and why they offer slightly higher launch and spin profiles.
Flex and Its Relationship to Launch and Spin
Before we get to launch and spin, the main characteristics of senior shaft golf clubs is that they are outfitted with more flexible shafts. As a basic rule, this is the only main difference between them.
It’s important to note that a “senior” club likely has nothing to do with the club at all, and only to do with the shaft itself that’s paired with the club, since this is the component responsible (mostly) for launch and spin profiles.
So now that we’ve closed that circle, how do higher launch and spin benefit aging players who are losing some of their strength and swing speed?
Why Higher Launch and Spin Can Be Good
First, we’ll look at launch, since the benefits conferred here are the more obvious of the two.
Senior shaft golf clubs tend to produce mid-high to high launch profiles. The higher the ball flies, the farther it will travel – assuming an appropriate launch angle.
Think of senior shaft golf clubs as though they “aim higher” because in a way, they do. That extra launch gives the ball greater height needed to stretch carry distance out as far as possible, especially with a slightly slower speed off the tee.
Spin is the other half of this paradigm. Launch angle is not the only aspect of a shaft that can engender greater carry distance, although spin is slightly more controversial.
When you put backspin on a golf ball, you’re creating lift. This can help the ball float a little longer (literally) affording slightly greater carry distance.
The tradeoff, for some players, is that spin doesn’t just increase carry distance, it also can potentially result in greater shot dispersion. If backspin isn’t perfect, it can also result in forces that skew the ball off to the right or left – which most players consider undesirable.
However, with good form and clean backspin, along with a higher launch angle, senior shaft golf clubs can help many players with slower swing speeds add a few yards to their shots.
Where to Shop Senior Shaft Golf Clubs
Want to learn more about senior shaft golf clubs and combos? Take a look at what’s available online at Dallas Golf Company (or if you can visit them at their retail shop in Dallas).
They offer a wide range of senior shaft golf clubs, but you can also work directly with their fitters to create shaft and club pairings that will work with you. Either visit their website or call them at 800-955-9550 to get started.
For more information about Autoflex Golf Shaft and Iron Shafts For Sale Please visit: Dallas Golf Company Inc.
