Shaft type tip needed

I have a chance to try out a Taylor Made driver. It has a stiff shaft. However, I usually use a regular shaft. If I grip down the club a few inches, will I get some idea if I like the club or not please?
Bri

First, how did you hit it?

Second, gripping down (aka choking up) will effectively shorten and stiffen the club. You'd have to palm the club to get it to play longer (and softer).

Well, I have not hit with it yet. My theory was that if it is a stiff shaft that you could not get the head back on line in time. So I thought that if I shortened the club that I might have a chance to square the head in time.
Bri

I have got this club now. It is a Grafalloy shaft and it states X on it. Does that mean it is extra stiff? I have taken it down the range. The shot shape and direction was no different to my old driver. It was a bit longer and a bit more forgiving . Does that mean that all these different shafts may not make that much difference??
Bri

Bri,

My understanding (and not professional) is that the faster you swing the stiffer the shaft you need. The shaft flexes in the downswing and to square the face you need a shaft to complement your swing speed.

An extra stiff shaft would be suitable for someone that has a very fast swing speed, a Regular would suit an average speed. A slower swing speed would suit a senior or ladies shaft. I guess it is best to get a professional fit.

I long for the good old days where you bought a shaft simply due to the letter designation...

There seems to be some success out there with 'longer, stiffer, lighter' shaft options, while tradition tells us 'shorter, softer' is the way to go.

Personally, I like short and stiff. Let's take all dynamic bending out of the equation. However, there are golfers out there with a sense of feel, and you start to run into 'too harsh' when you go too much stiffer.

Folks used to say that if the shaft was too weak, the head would recover too early and you'd snap hook it. If it was too stiff, you'd never get the head squared up again and lose it to the push side. But, I've also seen it where too soft is actually overpowered and the face lags open, and too stiff still gets shut down and snap hooks occur. Generally what I see time and again is stiffer shafts have lower ball flights than softer shafts, and that the further you get away from a shaft that suits your swing, the more your swing flaws are exaggerated.

Longer and forgiving may be due to the head, not necessarily the shaft.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Thanks folks. That is the bit I cannot come to terms with really. I do not have a very fast swing speed, but I was hitting it basically the same as my reg shaft. Just a bit longer and a bit lower.
Bri