What the ‘profile’ of a golf shaft means and why it matters

The golf shaft is probably one of the most important parts of a golf club, yet there are still players today who try to downplay its role in a club’s performance and tendencies.

I’m not saying it’s more important than the club head itself, but you need to understand the role of each club head and how the club head and shaft work together. Just like a high-performance car, you have the speed and power in the engine (the club head), but you won’t get anywhere without the right transmission (axle) to handle it.

When you look at the shaft, it is typically broken down into three separate areas: the tip, middle, and butt sections. Understanding the role of each of them and how that translates to the player is probably one of the most important tasks of your club fitter, like us here at True Spec Golf.

What are asflex profiles?

The reason this can be difficult for players to figure out on their own is that we all respond to these flex profiles differently. Three players with the same shaft can achieve three completely different results.

The great thing is that manufacturers openly display this information to consumers and some have even simplified it for the everyday golfer to understand. Each part of the shaft is labeled with a term that represents the feel, such as Soft, Stiff or Firm, and this gives the player insight into how that part of the shaft should feel during the swing. It also lets technicians understand how to respond.

Examples of different shaft profiles

Diamana WB: Butt = Firm / Center = Firm+ / Tip = Med+

Diamana BB: Ass = Med+ / Center = Med+ / Tip = Med

Diamana RB: Ass = Medium / Center = Medium / Tip = Soft

Some manufacturers have made it even simpler and given the shaft a launch and spin designation, such as ‘Low Launch/Low Spin’ or ‘Mid Launch/Mid-High Launch’. These can be useful in trying to understand what the shaft profiles want to do, but just trying to tie performance to these parameters can be daunting and expensive. As I said, three different players can get three different launch properties from the same shaft.

There are also more in-depth methods such as an EI profile chart, which shows the actual progress of the shaft from end to end. This is extremely useful for mechanics to better understand how the shaft matches your swing dynamics. It is also a useful tool for comparing different axes side by side.

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What do these different sections mean and what role do they play?

Here’s a simple overview of each and where you can “feel” it during the swing and its intended results.

BUTT SECTION: This section is often used to manipulate the initial feel of the shaft, especially in the transition at the top of the swing and at impact. Players who create a lot of power and speed may lean toward a stiffer stock section that feels more stable and provides more control. While smoother tempo players may want something softer so they can create more speed and a smoother feel through impact.

MIDDLE SECTION: The center section can help manipulate the overall feel of the shaft during the swing and works to promote or reduce launch. Some of your faster players may want to minimize that ‘loading’ feeling and have a more stable one-piece feel. Where players with a slower pace or lower speed want to ‘load’ the shaft more during the downswing and thus promote more speed. It also works as a starting point for how that shaft wants to launch and spin, because you can manipulate how the shaft “kicks” and in return how much loft is delivered at impact.

TIP SECTION: The last part of the shaft is also the most active part and plays an important role in overall launch and spin, as well as the clubhead’s tendency to impact. A “softer” tip can help promote more launch, but it can also allow the head to move through impact a little more easily. A stiffer tip would feel more stable at impact, but also works to reduce launch. This is why you will generally see this section of the shaft reinforced with various materials to perform as consistently as possible. This is where your aftermarket shafts stand up because they can give players a better feel but use exotic materials to stabilize the tip.

Even if you understand these and the role they play, it is still highly recommended that you visit an installer to help determine what is best for you. I have learned over the years that the labels given to each shaft tell us more about how it will feel during the swing, but not always how it will perform for every golfer because we all deliver the club differently.

Save yourself some time, money and headaches and visit your local True Spec today.

True Spec Golf Club Fitting

With over 70,000 club head and shaft combinations, True Spec Golf custom fits and builds a precise set of clubs.

Do you want to find the best shaft for your game in 2025? Find a club fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.