The Importance of Shaft Alignment

Symmetrically, shafts are a lot like finger prints in that no two golf shafts are exactly the same, even when manufactured to very strictest tolerances.  It doesn't matter if  a shaft is manufactured from steel, graphite or thermoplastic, there will always be slight symmetrical differences from one shaft to another. 

Because all shafts are asymmetrical to some degree, one section, or side, will be stiffer, or more resistant to bending, than all other sides of the shaft.  The area of the shaft most resistant  to bending is referred to as the Spine.   It should be noted that no shaft actually has a physical spine in the strictest definition of the word. The word spine as it relates to golf shafts is simply a term used to describe the section most resistant to bending. 

Interestingly, there is also an area of the shaft which is least resistant to bending, referred to as the Natural Bend Point (NBP). Without getting too technical, there are a couple of methods available for a clubmaker to measure and determine the location of the Spine and the NBP.  I use Flat Line Oscillation (FLO) to determine where the imperfections of the shafts are located.  There is a direct relationship between spine and NBP  The NBP is located approximately 90 degrees from the spine  There are some shafts that have more than one Spine and those shafts also have more than one NBP.  Shafts with one prominent spine and one prominent NBP are referred to as Type 1 and those with more than one are termed as Type 2.  It doesn't matter if a shaft is Type 1 or Type 2.  Type 2 shafts will always have a prominent spine and NBP which will be the basis for the alignment of the shaft into the head. 

Shaft Droop: Shaft alignment has been shown to stabilize the shaft through the hitting zone for players who have a late release and are able to produce Shaft Droop during contact with the ball.  The goal is to align the shaft so that the spine is in the 12 o'clock/6 o'clock position during impact.  This alignment helps to counter act the adverse effects of Shaft Droop.  When shaft droop is produced, the shaft flexes slightly forward and downward at the same time. 

The spine alignment helps to counter act the downward droop.  The NBP is towards the target, 9 o'clock/3 o'clock alignment, which will enhance the forward  flexing of the shaft.  The forward flexing produced by shaft droop is a positive function.  Shaft alignment definitely benefits players who have a late release and enhance the feel of the shaft for all players..

The Flat Line Oscillation procedure is illustrated below:

This oscillation pattern is not stable		The shaft is rotated and oscillated until a flat line is achieved		The spine is placed in the 12-6 O'Clock position which places the NBP in the 9-3 O'Clock postion