Shaft suggestion

puttnfool

Need a shaft suggestion for a 13 year old. Driver swing speed is about 75mph, as read on the Trackman at Golf Galaxy and he's been hitting his driver around 160ish carry. Not sure of his 5i swing speed. He has a 6 hybrid that he hits about 110-120ish. Right now, I've got him playing the Apollo Standard Steel Golf Shafts in L flex.

Does anyone have a suggestion that would be better or should I just stick with those and use them in his next set again?

PA-PLAYA

I'd recommend sticking with the shafts he's currently using. At some point (and probably soon) he'll hit a growth/strength spurt that might require upgrading to a longer and more-stiff shaft, but I would personally wait it out until he reaches that point.

If you put him into too strong of a shaft at this point - he'll probably struggle with the heavier flex and try to swing harder than he needs to. So if he's swinging the club consistently and getting reasonable results, I'd be inclined to not change anything until it becomes obvious that (1) his interest continues (2) he needs a shaft that is a bit stronger than what he's swinging currently.

The biggest thing is trying to offset his growing spurt with the proper length of the club more than anything else. As he gets taller and stronger, then perhaps it's worth revisiting imo.

puttnfool

I should've said that. My main reason for asking is that it's time to make him longer clubs with standard size grips. I built his current clubs last year and he did hit one of those growth spurts. I'm sure he could use a bigger grip and standard length clubs.

PA-PLAYA

puttnfool

Then that certainly changes the situation. He probably needs shafts/grips that are proper length/thickness at the very least.

As to shaft flex... I still lean toward lighter versus stiffer, but you'd be the better judge of what he needs regarding current flex, how fast he swings, and how soon he might be creeping into the area of needing a firmer shaft flex.

At this stage there is quite a bit of guesstimating, as he could very well need different shafts in just another year or two, if not sooner. Kids hit their growth spurts at different stages, which makes it incredibly difficult to figure out.

puttnfool

PA-PLAYA Don't I know it.

We signed up for a "Player's Club" at Silverhorn Gold Club out here. Gets us reduced greens fees as well as four buckets of range balls each day FREE and twice weekly clinics with the golf pro. We've been to one clinic and it helped him greatly. He's excited about playing more than ever.

Par4QC

Might I ask why he is only hitting driver 160 with an 85 SS? On paper, it appears very poor contact; in reality, Trackman may be spitting out junk numbers.

If it is due to poor contact, I'd suggest building a driver with a much smaller head. Concentration.

puttnfool

Par4QC I stand corrected. The boy just told me that he was getting 75mph on the Trackman. That being said, he's swinging a little better now (not necessarily faster) than he was then. I've got him playing this 16° Wishon non-conforming driver that I picked up on here from someone... I can't remember who. I'm gonna build him another driver soon. It'll either be a 15° Alpha that I have from long ago or maybe a 12° Dynacraft Genesis driver that I have built up now as a DIY "Whippy" type training club.

I try not to be a "club ho" with him. It's really the height and handsize that's driving this change. Just wanted some input from others as to a good suggestion for a shaft.

Par4QC

puttnfool Given the loft is 16°, he's getting decent yardage even at 75 mph.

Started my grandson, when he was about 5, with a 12°. Never had to go any higher and now, at 19, plays a 9.5°. Booming, towering drives. Irons & FW clubs likewise. All super long.
I never even built him any irons 'til he was around 10-11. He loved going to the range and just hitting driver. Bucket after bucket. Kids! iirc, I just built the irons as standard and regular shafts, even though he was not all that tall or big, and he automatically choked down on them to where he could handle them.

puttnfool

I'm not sure you had many more options above 12° for a driver 14 years ago, did you? I will likely move him down to a 12° driver soon. Right now, we're in OK and we're waiting to close on a house at the end of the month. Our household goods won't be delivered until Oct 9th so I've got some time before I can do anything at all. He'll just have to play the clubs he has now for the time being.

I'm tossing around the idea now of putting him in SL irons. Since he's just starting out, it won't be a huge mental thing for him like it is with some people who've played for years and years with standard length clubs. I can't really think of a negative aspect of it for him. The price is a little higher, but they should be a simpler build since I will make them all 7 iron trimming.