50g vs 60g vs 70g Driver Shafts – How Much Difference Does Driver Shaft Weight Make?

50g vs 60g vs 70g Driver Shafts – How Much Difference Does Driver Shaft Weight Make?

If you are in the market for a new driver there are many things you need to take into consideration. Beyond what club you like the look of most, you need to consider what flex of shaft you need and what torque, but have you ever considered what weight of shaft suits you best?

While most focus more on shaft flex, shaft weight is equally important. 10 grams may not sound like a big deal, but during the golf swing, it can make a big difference. This weight can make a big difference to feel, clubhead speed and dispersion (the accuracy of your drives).

Let’s learn more about this subject, maybe you could benefit from a change.

“Try This, It’s Not Off The Shelf”

I used to play a lot of golf with a former tour golfer from Poland. He always had a new club, usually a driver and knew more about golf gear than anyone I have ever met.

One day he handed me a driver and told me it had an exotic shaft, extra-stiff and extra-heavy, he wanted me to try it.

He let me use it for the whole round, we shared it, the club was just incredible. The shaft from that driver, it was 83g, has made its way from that driver to my current one and is still in play to this day.

A heavier or lighter shaft really can revolutionize your game from the tee.

50 Gram Shafts – Who Are They For?

50 gram shafts are among the lightest you will see on the market. They tend to be favoured by golfers who struggle to generate clubhead speed.

These shafts are often favored by junior and senior golfers, they can give a nice boost to the driving distance of these groups.

60 Gram Shafts – Who Are They For?

The shafts in the drivers of most golfers are probably in the 60 gram bracket.

These shafts are light enough to help with speed yet heavy enough to give that feeling of more stability during the swing.

This shaft weight will be beneficial to most golfers out there.

70 Gram Shafts – Who Are They For?

Now we are getting into the heavier bracket of shafts and many golfers would say this helps with shot dispersion.

This may not be the case, entirely, but the extra weight can help with control during faster swings. Stronger golfer may benefit from a heavier shaft.

Pros And Cons Of Heavier Driver Shafts

Let’s start with some basic physics, heavier objects take more force to move, you can thank Isaac Newton for figuring that one out.

Heavier shafts can feel stiffer which can be a pro for golfers with a high swing speed. This extra weight can also help control that speed.

The drawbacks of a heavier shaft include that it can be harder to generate the swing speed required to make the club work optimally.

The extra weight can reduce distance in a point related to the swing speed point. It can also be harder to get height on the ball.

How Does Swing Speed Effect Your Driver Shaft Weight Choice?

The easiest way to think about it is that, in general, the faster you swing it, the heavier the shaft you should use.

However, things like how you load the shaft during the transition can make change what weight works best for you. It’s always best to get properly fitted by a pro.

What Other Factors Are Important In Shaft Weight?

Steep swings work better with lighter shafts. If you release early then a heavier shaft may help and those struggling to load the shaft may want to go lighter.

There is also the issue that some people just really prefer the feel of a heavier or lighter shaft. Proper fitting is vital here.

Shaft Flex Vs Weight In Drivers

Whilst everyone focuses on flex when choosing a driver shaft, weight can help to fine tune a shaft to your swing.

Many shaft manufacturers say that weight and torque are actually more important factors in shaft selection than flex is.

Maybe we have been conditioned to over simplify it.

Driver Head Weight – Light Vs Heavy

Altering the weight of your driver head will change the swing weight of your club.

This is defined as the difference in weight between he grip end and the head end and both can be altered.

A heavier head usually results in a faster swing speed with the same club.

How To Know What Shaft You Should Be Using

There really is only one way to get it right, book an appointment with a trained fitting technician.

The choices on the market are just so vast that it is best to have an expert help you navigate.

My Driver Feels Too Light, What Should I Do?

If your driver feels too light and you don’t want to buy a new one, you can add weight to the head.

This can be done with lead tape, it will make your driver feel heavier and make you look like an absolute pro all in one!

How Can I Measure My Swing Speed?

The best way to do it is to get onto a launch monitor, these aren’t available to everyone though.

If you don’t have access to one, The ShotVision app for iPhone is a fantastic tool for measuring swing speed, better yet, it’s free!

What Other Shaft Weights Are There And Who Should Use Them?

There are some specialist shafts on the market and one which is currently taking the world of golf by storm.

The AutoFlex driver shaft can weigh as little at 39g and is baffling even the most experienced fitters with astounding performance, you need never struggle for speed again.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are shafts out there that can get into 90g and above.

These are for people who swing it hard but also release early and so the extra weight can keep everything in check.

65g vs 75g Driver Shaft

When you get up toward 70g and above, you are erring on the heavier side.

For some this change will make the club too stiff but for golfers who need a little more resistance from the club it could be a great move.

You should try both options and see which feels and works best for you.

80g Driver Shaft

The shaft in my driver is a low launch/low spin Oban Devotion 7 and it is just under 80g.

I love the extra-weight as it seems to help me slow everything down and get my body more into the shot.

I have the issue of firing my hands at the ball and this added weight helps me out a lot.

Our Favourite 50g Driver Shaft

Ready for a catchy name? The TrueTemper EvenFlow Riptide CB 50 is a masterpiece.

It’s lightweight but counterbalanced to give you more weight in the butt section which provides stability during the swing.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Our Favourite 60g Driver Shaft

The Aldila NVS Orange 55 NXT has dominated the custom shaft market for over a decade and for good reason.

However, the Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver TiNi 60 has to take the win here. This is a shaft favoured by some of the best in the game and it feels incredible to play.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Our Favourite 70g Driver Shaft

The shaft company Matrix went out of business recently but you can find some great bargains out there on their products.

The Matrix Ozik MFS HX4 White Tie is an exceptional shaft, at 70g it produces a high launch with low spin for a beautiful penetrating flight.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Best Driver Shaft For 90mph Swing Speed

At 90mph you could benefits from a lightweight shaft in regular flex.

The UST Mamiya Helium is light but designed with stability in mind.

This makes it perfect for you 90mph-ers.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Best Driver Shaft For 95mph Swing Speed

ProjectX EvenFlow Blue 55 is a shaft that feels so silky smooth that it inspires confidence. A swing of 95mph will see great results from this shaft in stiff flex.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Best Driver Shaft For 100mph SwingSpeed

At 100mph you will be looking for a stiff shaft and probably mid-weight (65g or so).

The Mitsubishi Diamana DF-Series 60 will give you mid-launch and low spin to maximize distance.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Best Driver Shaft For 105mph Swing Speed

It is hard to see past the ProjectX HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 in 6.5 flex here.

This is a low launch and low spin driver made for hard hitters!

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Conclusion

The moral of the story is that there is a huge array of options out there and the best way to find the right shaft for your driver is to try as many as you can.

Try to get shaft flex out of your head as this isn’t as important a factor for performance as you think it is.

Book yourself a custom fitting session, you can even do this if you don’t want a new club but do want a new shaft.

Have an expert look at your swing and help you narrow down your options. From there you can just choose what feels best and watch the benefit to your game unfold.