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X-stiff driver shaft?
I am currently using a Callaway FT-iQ with a stiff UST ProForce HMOI graphite shaft. After going to Dick's I found out that I should be using an X-stiff shaft. My club head speed is between 125-130 consistently. My driver is a 9* since I tend to like a bit lower trajectory. I am really wondering what type of shaft would work best for me? I am not really familiar with the torque ratings or kick point stuff. I have been playing my whole life, but really don't know much about the clubs themselves.
A side question would also be what length should I look for? I am 6'1" and this driver feels shorter than my older one. If i stand the club straight up on the ground and measure it, it comes to about 46.5". I know this isn't the length of the shaft because it is including the club head.
Length isn't based on height, for the most part. Obviously, there might be a problem is Shaquille O'Neal tried to game a 42" driver, becuase he'd have difficulty keeping his posture intact throughout the swing. For the majority of us, it's based off ability. If you're fitted properly, the fitter will find your wrist-to-floor measurements, but only use this as a starting point. You'll hit balls with the first test club, which will have impact tape on the face. If you have an inconsistent striking pattern, a shorter club will be recommended. If you're consistent in the face center, you can either stay there or move to a longer club. Don't buy into anything having to do with length. It doesn't matter if it's what brand, or if the head's lighter, or what- if it's too long to swing so you can't make centered, solid face contact, it doesn't matter how heavy or light it is. Think about this: the best of the best, the professional golfers, average 44.5-45 inch drivers. These are the best ballstrikers, the top 1%. If they thought they could game a 45.5"+ driver to blend both distance and accuracy (especially with all the tight layouts on tour now), don't you think they would? If the top 1% of all golfers don't think they can handle those extra-length drivers, what makes the rest of us think WE can?
There's WAY more to the equation than just swing speed, though if you are in the 125ish range, looking at an "X" is where to start. You need to then look at your launch angle and backspin rate. You're going to want a 12* or so LA, and ~3,000rpms SR... give or take, because of your individual swing mechanics. To start off, what's your tempo like? If it's smooth, a higher-torqued shaft can work well (will probably feel good, to boot); conversely, if you're a hard-swinger, a low-torqued shaft may be the ticket.
As for bend point (AKA kick point), it can definitely effect the feel of a shaft... a low BP shaft may feel better to a smoother swinger, while a high-BP shaft may feel better for a hard swinger. BP should only be used as a tweak to your LA... there's only about 1* difference between a "high" BP and a "low" BP, so if you're goal is to tweak your LA by a degree, swapping BP's might do it. You could also switch to a heavier version of the same model to lower trajectory, but any other adjustment is going to have to come from the head by either raising its center of gravity (which would only happen by using a lot of lead tape... unsightly and impractical), switching to an open-faced version (50/50 on whether this would help or not... the fitting would take care of that), or a lower-lofted model (the most practical.
Don't believe the hype, either. There's been scientific evidence that proves shafts can perform the same, regardless of how much they cost. There's even software available (through Tom Wishon's website, for members) that can help you find out. Say you were fitted to Shaft A, but it costs $250, and your budget for a shaft upgrade is <$100... plug it into the software and boom- there'll be enough options. Some would argue the "feel" would be different, but what is "feel"? What "feels" good to you may not to me, and vice verse. Not only that, if you like a soft grip/light swingweight/untipped setup, that shaft is going to "feel" totally different if you went to a firm grip/heavy swingweight/hard-stepped setup... so there's really no point in arguing about "feel".
So to make a long answer longer, I'm not giving you a true "answer", just the means to let you find one for yourself. Shafts are like putters... there are so many of each on the market at varying pricepoints that there's going to be something for everyone (they use the same hype machine models, as well). Do you REALLY think a $300 Scotty Cameron is "better" than a $90 Ping Karsten Classic Anser (the style the SC Newports are based off)? Or a $350 Zen putter against a $120 Odyssey? You can't- you go by what you like to look at, what sounds best to your ears, and what gives you the most confidence. Pricepoint plays no part in the equation of performance.
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