Best Driver Shafts For 2023
Not too long ago your choice of driver shafts was steel or graphite and two or three different flexes. Today there are tons of options to help you find the optimal launch conditions for your unique golf swing.
Would your swing benefit from a heavier shaft or a lighter shaft? Do you need something with very low torque? Do you need to increase or decrease your launch angle? Could you improve your ball speed? These are just some of the questions you should be asking and with the help of a fitter you can usually find a shaft that will improve distance, ball flight, speed, dispersion, spin rate or a combination of all of them.
Let’s take a look at some of the best driver shafts for 2023 and how you can decide on the right one for your game. Don’t forget that like most aspects of golf equipment these days shafts can be expensive so it’s best to get custom fit to try and avoid making an expensive stake.
What Is Shaft Flex?
The flex of a shaft is just a measure of how easy or hard it is to bend the shaft during your swing. The forces applied to the shaft will cause it to bend and you will need to find an appropriate matching flex to suit your particular swing.
There are five commonly used “flexes”:
- Ladies
- Senior
- Regular
- Stiff
- Extra Stiff
Generally speaking the strongest players with the fastest swings will be in the stiff and extra stiff category while weaker players with slower swings will probably be fitted into regular or even senior or ladies. It’s important not to assume that just because you have a high swing speed you will be playing an extra stiff shaft.
If you tend to miss a lot of shots low and to the right then there’s a good chance that the shaft you’re currently playing is too stiff. On the other hand, you’re probably playing a shaft that’s two flexible if you tend to hit a lot of drives high and left.
What Is Kick Point?
This is the part of the shaft that bends most during your swing. If a shaft is described as having a low kick point that it means it will bend most nearer to the club head. A shaft with a high point bends most nearer to the grip and a shaft with a mid kick point and most near the center of the shaft.
Choosing a shaft with a particular kick point can help you adjust your ball flight. A higher kick point will tend to cause a low launch while a low kick point will tend to generate a higher launch.
What Is Torque?
In terms of golf shafts, torque is a measure of how much the shaft twists during the swing. If the shaft has too much torque then you will probably struggle to get the face square at impact consistently ruining your dispersion pattern.
However, it really depends on your release pattern so getting fit for the right combination of driver head and shaft is important if you’re going to maximize your potential out on the golf course.
What Is The Best Shaft For My Driver?
If you find your shots are tending to balloon with your driver then you will probably need to look at a stiffer shaft. On the other hand, if your drives tend to be low and lack spin then you will probably need to look at a softer flex shaft.
It’s really only with the help of a good custom fitter that you can find the best shaft to suit your swing. Although it’s quite possible that there are several alternatives that will work quite well for you there is just such a wide range of options it’s best to check out your results on a launch monitor with someone who can interpret the results correctly.
A lower torque shaft might help to tighten your dispersion for example.
Do Professionals Still Use Steel Shafted Drivers?
According to Golf Magazine, there has only been a handful of occasions in the past 15 years or so where a player has had a steel shafted driver in a competitive round on the PGA Tour. So if your driver is so old that you’ve still got a steel shaft in it then you might want to think about trading up to a newer model with a graphite shaft. You might be surprised by the distance you can gain and the improved forgiveness.
If you would like to avoid spending a fortune then you could look for a sub $200 driver.
Why Do Drivers Have Graphite Shafts?
The main reason is that graphite shafts tend to weigh less than steel shafts and that reduced weight usually equates to an increase in club head speed and therefore distance.
Best Driver Shafts
Fujikura Ventus Black
Specifications
| Flex | S-TX |
| Weight | 58g-85g |
| Length | 46in |
| Kick Point | N/A |
| Torque | 3.4-2.8° |
The shaft maximizes smash factor since it is extremely strong and stable through impact. It uses a straight taper design and a multi-material construction.
This particular shaft should suit many different swing types. It features Fujikura’s brand-new VeloCore technology in an ultra-stiff tip version.
If you are looking to improve your dispersion then this shaft is designed with that in mind.
You can find this shaft as an option on the TaylorMade Stealth driver.
KBS TD Driver
Specifications
| Flex | R-TX |
| Weight | 46g-81g |
| Length | 45-46in |
| Kick Point | Low-High |
| Torque | 5.2-2.9° |
KBS (Kim Braly Signature) has become quite popular with its iron shafts in recent years. This driver shaft has a similar feel to the shafts they produce for irons. It is a low spinning, mid launch shaft so should enable a wide-ranging of players to optimize their distance from the tee.
It should also help you to improve your dispersion as it is a pretty stable shaft.
Aldila Rogue Black
Specifications
| Flex | R-TX |
| Weight | 56g-86g |
| Length | 46in |
| Kick Point | Mid |
| Torque | 5.2-2.7° |
The Rogue Black’s mid kick point produces a medium launch with medium spin and so should fit a wide-ranging of golf swings. It also has a higher balance point the most giving the potential to produce a driver with a lighter swing weight which should help improve your distance.
Weight
56g-86g
Length
46in
Kick Point
Mid
Torque
5.2-2.7°
The rogue black’s mid kick point produces a medium launch with medium spin and so should fit a wide-ranging of golf swings. It also has a higher balance point the most giving the potential to produce a driver with a lighter swing weight which should help improve your distance.
Project X HAZRDUS Smoke Green
Specifications
| Flex | R-TX |
| Weight | 61g-74g |
| Length | 46in |
| Kick Point | N/A |
| Torque | 3.2-2.8° |
If you are a fast swinger looking to reduce the amount of spin you generate with your driver then the Smoke Green is probably worth testing. It is the stiffest HAZRDUS shaft and has been designed to deliver maximum stability.
R-TX
Weight
61g-74g
Length
46in
Kick Point
N/A
Torque
3.2-2.8°
If you are a fast swinger looking to reduce the amount to spend you generate with your driver then the smoke Green is probably worth testing. It is the stiffest HAZRDUS shaft and is being designed to deliver maximum stability.
As well as the understated smoke grey finish there is also a gamma PVD green which should garner some attention.
You can find this in the current Callaway driver lineup.
Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange
Specifications
| Flex | R-TX |
| Weight | 54g-95g |
| Length | 46in |
| Kick Point | High |
| Torque | 5-2.5° |
The high kick point would probably suit someone looking to lower their ball flight. It’s a slightly heavier shaft that would also tend to suit the stronger player.
Best Golf Driver Shafts For 2023: Conclusion
So there you have five of the best driver shafts on the market for 2023. Even if one of those doesn’t suit your particular swing then a good custom fitter should still be able to find the right shaft that will improve your driving.
