Tempo of the Downswing/Beginning of the Downswing
The speed or tempo at the beginning of a golfers downswing has a great bearing on the shaft flex, total weight and most importantly swingweight a player should be using. It is this movement in the golf swing that establishes how much a golfer will "load" the shaft.
Put simply it is this motion in the golf swing that establishes whether the golfer is a "hitter"
or a "swinger." The faster the transition between the end of the backswing and beginning of the downswing, the more the golfer accelerates the club on the downswing the greater the amount of load that will be placed on the shaft.
For example, if two players have the same club head speed, but arrive at impact at different times, the golfer who gets to the ball first will have to accelerate the club more on the downswing and in the process, will have placed more force on the shaft. This faster tempo player will require a slightly stiffer shaft, usually with a higher swingweight (lower balance point in the finished club) compared to the player with the slower tempo.
In the past it was believed that a faster downswing tempo required an increase in total club weight. Since the introduction of ultra lightweight shafts, it has been found that even fast tempo players can use the much lighter total weight clubs as long as the swingweight is high enough to create a "head heavy" FEEL in the swing. For the faster tempo player, a "head heavy" FEEL in the club will create enough of a resistance feeling at the beginning of the downswing to prevent the golfer from swinging too fast and disrupting swing timing and rhythm.
If you have a smoother or slower transition between the end of the backswing and beginning of the downswing, it is an indication for you to use a slightly more flexible shaft than what your swing speed might otherwise indicate. This is because less force is applied to the shaft at the start of the downswing with the slower tempo, which in turn reduces the amount of loading or bending force on the shaft. In addition, the slower tempo and slower accelerating type of downswing also indicates the need for a lighter total club weight and with it more of a normal swingweight.
Another specification that can be indicated by the action of downswing tempo is the shaft bend point. While I don't think that shaft bend point is a big factor in shot trajectory, it certainly is a contributor to the "Feel" of the club. The lower the bend point of a shaft, the more flexible the tip of the shaft will feel. The higher the bend point, the more firm the tip will feel. So, for you players with a faster downswing tempo, a mid to high bend point shaft should be considered, while those with a slower downswing acceleration, a lower bend point shaft would probably be best.
Hope this is helpful and useful in getting equipment that will work for you.
Granville Quinton
GQ Golf
