Are Expensive Golf Shafts Worth It?

I’ve normally always played the standard shaft my clubs came with but was pretty curious to see how much better I’d hit the ball if I upgraded to a high-performance option. In this post, I’m going to be talking about whether or not an expensive golf shaft is worth it or if it’s just a waste of money.

Long story short, I don’t think an expensive golf shaft would be worth getting. If you have money to blow then why not but the benefits weren’t worth it whatsoever for me. The expensive shaft gave me a slightly higher ball flight, a little bit more spin, and all that resulted in about 5 yards of extra distance.

Obviously, if you’re competing in tournaments you’ll need all the help you can get and it might be worth it for you. If you’re like me and the majority of people reading this then it’s probably not. Spend that money on improving your swing or getting the right driver for your game. Let’s jump into the full article. You can watch the video below or simply continue reading.

 

Did They Feel Different?

There are a number of different shafts out there so they’ll all be slightly different. I tried to find one that was almost exactly the same as my regular shaft so the test would be fair. It was the same length and the same flex.

When I was holding the two shafts side by side I couldn’t really feel much of a difference but the expensive shaft was actually a little bit heavier (which I do prefer). It’s probably not enough to even notice or impact your game for the majority of average players.

When I attached them to the driver’s head and took a couple of practice swings they essentially felt the same. I kind of expected that since they were the same flex and length. Overall, they both felt the same to me.

Was It Any More Forgiving?

My short answer to this question would be no. I didn’t find the expensive shaft to be any more forgiving or consistent than my standard shaft. I’m not saying that’ll be the case for you but it sure was for me.

Are Expensive Golf Shafts Worth It

I pretty much hit the same amount of fairways with both shafts and my mishits were very similar. I’ve read about other people saying the exact same thing so that’s why I feel pretty confident in saying an expensive shaft won’t make your driver any more forgiving.

How Much Extra Distance Was There?

Up until this point, the feel and forgiveness were essentially the same with both shafts. The distance was a little bit different though. On average, I got around 5 extra yards with the more expensive shaft. Nothing crazy but a yard is a yard.

The first reason I got a little bit more distance was because of the increased spin. I’m sure not all shafts will do this but it was somewhere around 500 rpm more with the expensive shaft.

The next reason I got a bit more distance was because of the launch angle. Since the expensive shaft gave me a bit more spin, it caused the ball to launch slightly higher and that’s what gave me a bit more distance.

The result was only about 5 yards on average longer. Nothing to brag about but it was pretty noticeable. You be the judge on whether or not the cost is worth it for you.

The Verdict

So taking into account all the similarities and differences, I’d have to say the cost is NOT worth it for me. Some of these upgraded shafts can run you $300+. If I’m going to spend that on a shaft it better do a whole lot more than 5 yards.

For pro players, it’ll be well worth it but for the average player like me (and probably you) I don’t think it’s necessary. I don’t think you’ll feel a difference and I don’t think you’ll hit more fairways. Spend the money on fixing your swing and you’ll be much better off. If you can hit the ball straighter then you’ll make up that couple of extra yards.

Like I said before, there might be other options on the market that would give me better results. Some might feel better, some might be more forgiving, and some might give me an extra 10 yards. I haven’t found that shaft and I’ve read a lot of comments about other people being in the same boat. The decision is up to you.

Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!

Looking to get some new golf gear? Click here to check out our recommended gear page to see the stuff we’re recommending and the cheapest place to get them.

About Jon Webber

Jon Webber is Out Of Bounds Golf's main product tester and editor. He's been in the golf world for 10+ years and has personally tested over 100 products, from balls to clubs to bags. He started this site for the average player, to make the game a little easier to understand.

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