Maybe you’ve heard the buzz about Autoflex golf shafts, how they can add yards to your swing, no matter how fast or slow it is.
Or perhaps, you’re looking for a low-low shaft like a Fujikura Ventus Black or a Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green “Hulk,” either of which promises to deliver low, sharp, straight, penetrating drives.
And maybe you’re just going to buy either of these golf shafts online and have a pro fit it to your club because it can help you – right?
Maybe. You won’t know unless you work with a fitter.
Before You Buy Golf Shafts Online: What a Fitter Can Show You
Before you run and buy golf shafts online, work with a golf club fitter. There’s good reason for this, which will be explained here.
When you work with a fitter, first and foremost he or she will take your measurements. This alone is worth its weight in gold so you know what size of shaft to play with.
Playing with a shaft that’s too long or too short will (read, will, not can) cause shot errors and issues with dispersion and shot shape.
So that alone makes working with a fitter an exercise in value. But still, a fitter will go much further.
A club fitter will also interview you about your game, and what your goals and strengths are. Then, to corroborate this, a fitter will observe your swing so he or she can take note of your mechanics.
There is a lot more that goes into a golf swing than speed and tempo. There are nuances of mechanics that occur through the backswing and at transition that are different for each golfer.
Fitters know what to look for when observing a golfer’s swing from many angles in order to determine what combination of attributes, with respect to flex, kick point, torque, and even construction, to look for.
The truth is working with a fitter isn’t just about getting a single recommendation for “what you should use.” It’s about gaining some professional, third-party insight into how you swing so you can apply that information into purchasing decisions down the line.
For instance, what shafts and clubs should you be pairing, and when should you play with each of them?
All in all, working with a golf club fitter can be an invaluable investment in your overall game and will give you indispensable information that you can use to make informed decisions about building golf club and shaft outfits.
Unless You Already Know What You’re Looking for
Of course, if you’ve already experienced the performance of one of these shafts, you should have no reservations about buying a golf shaft online.
The advice contained herein is simply for buyers that either don’t actually know what they’re buying, or haven’t ever worked with a fitter before.
So do yourself a favor. If you have never worked with a fitter before, make that a priority.