ABSTRACT
This paper discusses the importance of various golf shaft characteristics and attempts to differentiate the technical facts from the marketing hype. It concludes that with the present understanding of the biomechanics of the golf swing and the linkage between the golfer and his equipment, the shaft designer should aim to provide the widest envelope of characteristics in his product range along with unambiguous data about these characteristics to allow the club maker to make informed choices. This leads on to a discussion of the significance of new materials in the future development of golf shafts.
