Geoff

I'm considering new irons this year and although I like the soft forgiving feel of the composite/graphite shafts when striking the golf ball, I have always been informed that the steel shafts are more accurate and have stayed with them for that reason. For many years I have had minor lower back spasms and for the last few years have been working on strengthening the abs and back muscles to help alleviate my problem and also stretch more prior to a round than ever before. While checking out some irons recently, I was informed that the composite shafts are much more forgiving and better for one that does have back problems so I am considering going to composite shafts. It makes sense that the composite shafts would be more forgiving for one with minor back problems, but the golf swing and muscles involved seem to be about the same with both shafts.
This may not be a good comparison between steel shafts and composite shafts when striking a golf ball and may be a bit of a stretch, but what comes to mind is that when one strikes the golf ball with a steel shafted club, would be like hitting a baseball down on the handle of a bat (causing vibration through the hands and wrists) and conversely, striking the golf ball with a composite shaft would be like hitting the baseball on the sweet spot of the bat!
I certainly won't make a decision on my selection of irons until I hear from you!

Your Amigo,
Larry Stanley

The Putting Edge
Elk Grove, CA USA
OnePuttLarry@aol.com
http://www.ThePuttingEdge.com

Dear Larry,

Shafts are way out of my league! That said, here goes:

Shafts have flex, kick points, and vibrational frequency. The main effect is on A) timing, and B) feeling by way of post-impact feedback (shock and vibration).

The flex of the shaft mostly affects timing in relation to your swing speed. or more properly, your pattern of "loading" the shaft. Some people "load" the shaft with torque at the top of the swing, and some load near the bottom. Different shafts react differently depnding upon your pattern. This also affects the kick point of the shaft, where the shaft under load then flips forward. So, not only does your swingspeed affect what shaft you should use; but also the pattern of "loading" in your swing.

This being the case, the question about your back is whether it constrains you to use a lower-than-normal speed or a different loading pattern. It is entirely possible that this is the case. The only way to know is to try different shafts, probably under the watchful eye of a trained club fitter.

As far as "feedback" is concerned, there is no difference until the impact is communicated up the shaft into your hands and arms. This comes as a vibrational frequency and a shock. That why a bad grip wears a hole in the glove in odd places and pros look at your old gloves to fdiagnose some of your flaws. Also, frequency matching is the process of tuning the physics of various clubs so they all feel like the same club (usually something in the middle like a 7 iron). This is said to promote consistency. Some shafts have inserts to dampen the shock, like Sensicore, and rifle shafts (I think that's correct).

This being the case, the issue for your back problem would seem to be whether one shaft causes discomfort from the impact. In communicating into your hands and arms, you learn to prepare for the coming "feedback" in an anticipatory tightening of the back muscles and the upper thigh and buttock and abdominal muscles. The combination basically surrounds your lower back with tightness, and so one shaft is probably different to your back than another one.

If the shaft is causing problems in your timing or in your feeling from impact, then something needs to be adjusted.

That's about as far as I can go on this issue. perhaps someone else will weigh in for you. Also, there is a very nice website called http://www.swingweight.com, where these issues are probably discussed.

Cheers!

Geoff Mangum
The PuttingZone
http://puttingzone.com
The Future of Putting Now