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June 13, 2005
Alidila NV Shaft Suited Best for the Pro
Aldila's latest graphite shaft for the tour player and low handicap amateur golfer is the NV 75. The NV is fast becoming one of the most popular shafts on the PGA and other national tours. The shaft is designed with a low torque rating to reduce the amount of twist that naturally occurs when swinging a golf club. Most tour players have the swing to handle this shaft, and will see improvement in their performance and feel, but 99% of the golf community should probably consider another shaft with higher torque rating.
Although we often wish we had the swing of a pro, and try our best to emulate them, there are a limited number of players that should be using the Aldila NV 75. We strongly recommend the NV 75 for players who have an aggressive, controlled swing and are looking for a mid-weighted shaft that produces a mid to low ball trajectory. We don't recommend this shaft very often. However, if you are a 0-7 handicap and a have a very quick swing, this shaft is for you.
Verdict: The Aldila NV 75 is not for the average golfer. If you are a 0-7 handicap golfer and have a strong and controlled swing, give it a try!
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Posted by tom at 08:27 AM
June 08, 2005
What’s new!
1. Excel Mid Launch Plus Irons: 3-PW for $149 and SW for $18.95
2. Power Play System Q 455cc Driver: 12° and LH 10.5° for $99
3. Pinemeadow Hybrid and Putter Headcovers at $4.95
Back in stock:
The popular True Temper TX-90 steel shafts are back! Get the control of the steel shaft but it feels like you are swinging graphite.
Posted by tom at 08:38 AM
Don't Get Shafted! Learn more about golf shafts.
The technical aspects of golf can sometimes be difficult to understand. Many of us have spent a lot of time researching the club heads themselves, neglecting the shafts. Understanding the technical specifications of a shaft is nearly, if not equally important in choosing a club that will play in your favor. We have designed our standard Pinemeadow shafts to suit and play just right for the general golfing population, but in some cases a shaft with a different torque, weight or flex point is ideal. We make these shafts available in the form of 'shaft upgrades' on our site.
Here are a few pointers and definitions to help you understand different shaft specifications:
1. Weight
2. Torque
3. Flex point
The raw weight of each shaft is measured in grams. Graphite shafts vary from 62-85 grams, which may not seem like much. The difference is indistinguishable to some golfers when holding two clubs with differently weighted shafts. However, this difference is enough to largely affect your swing.
The purpose of a lighter shaft is to allow you to increase your swing speed, resulting in longer drives. Though, with a lighter shaft and a quicker swing speed, any golfer runs the risk of losing control of his or her swing, thereby affecting accuracy. It is important to remember this dynamic when trying to find a shaft that suits your game.
A golf shaft's torque rating is a measurement in degrees of its propensity to twist during your swing. The higher the torque rating on a graphite shaft, the more twist or torsion the shaft will exhibit during a swing. The term torque is only referenced on graphite shafts which are meant to bend and twist. The torque rating is meant to give you an idea of how much torsion you can expect from a given shaft.
The majority of players don’t need to worry about torque because we can’t (or shouldn’t) swing hard enough for it to really have an impact on our shots. If you have an aggressive yet controlled swing, it would make sense to look into clubs with a lower torque rating because the shaft will be less prone to twist, resulting in greater consistency.
If you are like most of the golfing population, a shaft with higher torque rating is great. It gives you a softer feel and absorbs much of the vibration of the impact.
Flex point, kick point, or bend point is the fulcrum at which the greatest amount of bend is perceived when the shaft is pulled down from the back swing.
Flex point plays the biggest roll in ball flight. The higher the flex point on a shaft, the lower the ball trajectory on most shots, and inversely, the lower the flex point, the higher the trajectory. This is a good general rule for flex point, but it is important to keep in mind that every golfer's swing is unique, and flex point may affect your shot trajectory differently.
The best way to see how shaft weight, torque rating, and flex point statistics will apply to your game, is to try out different shafts with the above in mind. Click here to check out all available shafts on PinemeadowGolf.com, and good luck!
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Posted by tom at 08:08 AM
June 02, 2005
Golf Drivers: Titanium vs. Stainless Steel
Titanium is lighter than stainless steel given a specific volume. What does this mean? The biggest we can make a stainless steel driver is about 260 cubic centimeters (cc) in volume. To go bigger than that, we have to use titanium. Currently we can take a titanium driver up to a whopping 500 cc's in size.
Most players are using a titanium driver because it allows for a bigger sweet spot and hitting surface, resulting in a much more forgiving club face. With titanium, oversized heads still remain lightweight. Larger titanium drivers weigh the same, and in some cases are even lighter, than stainless steel drivers of a smaller size.
Will a larger driver will allow you to hit the ball further? The simple answer is no! A larger hitting surface will be more forgiving, however it will not generally translate to longer drives. It is also common to over-swing with titanium drivers because they are so light. It is important to maintain fluidity in your swing. Just because the head is bigger doesn’t mean you can take an enormous hack at the ball and expect it to go straight; it is better to let the club do the work!
Stainless steel drivers are still available, but they are becoming less and less popular. Some prefer a smaller club head when looking down on the ball at address. We have seen golfers who initially thought that titanium club heads were too big eventually make the transition to a larger 330cc to 400cc head. In this game, it takes time to get used to the new products that result from advances in technology and design.
The next time you are deciding whether to go titanium or stainless steel, think about the above mentioned advantages, and what is going to feel most comfortable in your hands and for your game.
Posted by tom at 01:54 PM