40g vs 50g vs 60g Driver Shafts – How Much Difference Does Driver Shaft Weight Make?

If you are looking to upgrade your driver this year you will have a lot of options to consider. Make, model, loft, grip thickness, and shaft flex.

However, have you considered the importance of the shaft weight of your driver? Modern technology has dialled in the marginal gains so much that throughout a golfing season the shaft weight, whether it is 40 grams, 50 grams, or 60 grams, could have a big influence on your driving performance.

In this article, we will answer every question you need to know about how much difference driver shaft weight makes.

Driver Shafts And Their Weights: An Introduction

Golf driver shaft weights do have an impact on how well golfers hit their drivers. Several factors need to be considered when changing your driver.

The weight of the shaft can affect how easily the club swings through the ball, how far it travels, and how accurately it hits the ball.

If you are looking to make minor adjustments to your golf swing, you may want to experiment with different driver weights without substantially changing your game.

However, if you are looking to make significant changes to your game or are struggling with consistency, changing the shaft weight of your golf driver shaft may be the answer.

40 Gram Driver Shafts: Who They Are For?

A 40-gram golf driver shaft is the weight recommended by PGA Professionals and many professional golfers use a 40-gram or slightly heavier golf driver shaft.

Players with a slower release action or who do not hit high drive shots with much power may desire a lighter golf driver shaft. 40 grams shafts are ideal for high trajectories.

This shaft weight is perfect for slow swing speed and the experts at TPT agree that a lighter shaft weight can produce a faster swing speed.

50 Gram Driver Shafts: Who They Are For?

A 50 grams golf driver shaft is a relatively standard golf driver shaft and is designed to provide more forgiveness.

This shaft weight is perfect for players who have difficulty hitting the ball long off the tee or who need better control of their shots. They are also perfect for players who want a more forgiving club with a mid-high trajectory

If you are a beginner or an intermediate player, we suggest you stick with a 50 grams golf driver shaft. 50 grams shaft weight will help you build muscle memory and improve your accuracy. This is ideal for moderate swing speed.

60 Gram Driver Shafts: Who They Are For?

A 60 grams golf driver shaft is good for many golfers. It offers moderate forgiveness, good control, and a decent launch.

A 60 grams shaft provides the feeling of stability during the swing while being light enough to help with speed. This weight is ideal for high swing speed and a stronger golfer.

For experienced players who want a low mid-high trajectory, a 60 grams shaft weight is perfect. However, this will also be good for most golfers out there with this shaft weight.

Are Lighter Shafts Any Good?

A real positive of using a lighter driver shaft is that it can help you hit the ball accurately and at a longer distance.

This is since lighter driver shafts generate more swing speed than heavier driver shafts. This will help you hit the ball straighter and with more power.

However, there are also some downsides to using light driver shafts. One of these is that they can be less forgiving. If you miss your target, they may not travel as far as a heavier driver shaft would have done.

Lighter shafts are great for better golfers who have more consistent ball striking. This was validated in a test completed by Golf WRX.

Ultimately, it is up to each golfer to decide what weight driver shaft they want to use. The pros and cons of different weights will vary from player to player.

This excellent video from James Robinson Golf will give you a good idea of how he got on trying out a lighter shaft.

How Does Swing Speed Affect Your Driver Shaft Weight Choice?

A heavier driver shaft will force you to use more power to hit the ball, resulting in a higher swing speed. This increase in swing speed can help you achieve better shots by increasing your clubhead speed and torque.

However, if you are looking for an easier game and don’t care about hitting the ball as hard as possible, a lighter shaft should be your go-to choice.

Swing Speed Vs Shaft Weight Table

Driver Shaft Weigh	Average Swing Speed
40 Grams	Less than 70 mph
50 Grams	76-84 mph
60 Grams	90-105 mph

What Reasons Should I Change My Driver Shaft Weight?

Apart from swing speed, there are a few factors that play an essential role. Power exertion is important. The heavier the driver shaft weight, and if you have a fast-swing speed, you can hit the ball a long way.

The grip is also an essential factor. A lighter driver shaft will give you a better grip on the club as you’ll be using less energy to swing the club. It can be tough to hold on to a heavy club when you’re trying to hit bombs from the tee.

Shaft Flex Vs Weight In Drivers

There is some evidence that the shaft flex can have an impact on driver shaft weight. For some golfers, it might make a difference.

It is worth noting, however, that this impact is relatively small. In addition, it is possible that other factors, such as swing style, could also have an impact on driver weight. Unless you are a top golfer it is unlikely you will notice any difference.

Does Driver Head Weight Make A Difference? (Light vs Heavy)

There is some correlation between the driver clubhead weight and driver shaft weight, but there is no perfect correlation.

This is because a given driver shaft weight will provide a different feel and performance depending on the clubhead weight. The differences in the weight of driver heads are much smaller than the weight of the club shaft.

In this useful forum discussion on Hackers Paradise, they discuss how golfers would be better to change the weight of the shaft before the clubhead.

How To Know What Shaft You Should Be Using?

For many golfers, the decision of what driver shaft weight to use can be a daunting task. The heavier the driver shaft, the more torque it will generate on the ball.

This greater torque will cause the clubface to snap into contact more often, which in turn gives you more stability while hitting your shots.

Conversely, a lighter driver shaft will result in less torque and less stability. This means that your shots may not travel as far off the clubface due to reduced power.

The best way to know the answer to this question is to visit a professional club fitter and look at the stats on a golf simulator.

The driver feels too heavy – What Should I Do?

Golfers often complain that their golf driver feels too heavy. There are a few things that you can do to make the golf driver feel lighter.

First, you can also try using a lighter driver shaft. You can try to adjust your grip. Swing also matters. If you are swinging the club incorrectly, then your driver shaft will feel heavy regardless of its weight.

How Can You Measure Swing Speed?

To measure swing speed in golf, you need to use a launch monitor. The launch monitor measures how fast the clubhead moves through the air and provides this information to the device. There are models which can even relay this data to your phone or watch.

You can also use an indoor golf simulator to measure your swing speed. These simulators measure every element of your shot and provide you with an accurate measurement of your swing speed.

What Other Shaft Weights Are There?

Most drivers have shafts that weigh between 35 grams and 85 grams. Players who have slower swing speeds should use light shaft weight.

Players who have higher swing speeds should go for heavier shafts. Modern technology allows golfers to easily interchange their driver shafts with the turn of a screw. This means that you can easily switch between the lighter shafts to the heavier shafts.

40g vs 45g Driver Shaft

• 40 Grams Shaft

It is ideal for golfers who want a reduced spin on the ball. Due to low spin, the carry is less. Players who are more experienced but have a slower swing speed should go for the 40-gram shaft.

• 45 Grams Shaft

This shaft generates a medium spin on the ball, making it a viable option for golfers who want a better carry of the ball. It also produces a mid-high trajectory.

55g vs 65g Driver Shaft

• 55 Grams Shaft

This is a light shaft weight. It produces a decent amount of spin on the ball and the trajectory is medium. Ideal for slow-moderate swing speed.

• 65 Grams Shaft

This is a moderate shaft weight which is found as the standard weight in most drivers bought off the rack in golf shops. It generates a good amount of spin on the ball and the trajectory is medium. This shaft weight is ideal for golfers with a moderate swing speed.

40g Driver Shafts: Our Top Choice

KBS TD Shaft

The KBS TD 40-gram shaft is a lighter and stiffer driver shaft. This shaft is ideal for slow swing speed golfers who are looking for mid-high trajectories. Furthermore, it has higher torque stiffness.

50g Driver Shafts: Our Top Choice

Aldila XTORSION Copper Shaft

There are not many shafts that come in the bracket of lightweight. The XTORSION Copper shafts deliver straight, consistent shots with a solid, smooth feel. It generates a decent amount of spin on the ball. An ideal choice for slow-moderate swing speeds.

60g Driver Shafts: Our Top Choice

Fujikura Ventus Black Shaft

Using this shaft, shot dispersion is tightened and ball speed is maximized, regardless of where the ball is struck. Featuring Fujikura’s new VeloCore technology, the Ventus also features an ultra-stiff tip. Ideal for moderate swing speeds. It generates optimal spin on the ball.

The Best Driver Shaft For 70mph Swing Speed

The best driver shaft for golfers with a swing speed of 70 mph is the Grand Bassara 39. This is a lite flex driver shaft that has a mid-low trajectory and optimal spin.

The Best Driver Shaft For 75mph Swing Speed

The best driver shaft for golfers with a swing speed of 75mph is the KBS TD Shaft. This is a lighter and stiffer driver shaft. This shaft is ideal for golfers who have a swing speed of 75 mph.

The Best Driver Shaft For 80mph Swing Speed

CALLAWAY Hzrdus Smoke Green iM10 is a regular flex shaft that is a perfect choice for golfers who have 85 mph swing speed.

The Best Driver Shaft For 85mph Swing Speed

Aldila NXT GEN NVS 55 is a regular flex shaft designed with a softer tip section to promote a higher ball flight with a higher spin for increased carry distances. It is ideal for golfers who have a swing speed of 85mph and more.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article; we have tried to highlight the importance of shaft weights and how a difference of 5 grams in shaft weight can alter your game.

We also wanted to emphasize that there is a big difference between golf driver shaft weights, which is why it’s important to select the right weight for your style of play. In a study completed by My Golf Spy, they validated our summary that lighter shafts are perfect for slower swingers, and heavier shafts are ideal for faster swingers.

If you’re a high handicap player, you’ll likely need a lighter driver shaft because your swing will be slower. If you’re a low handicap player, you’ll likely need a heavier driver shaft because your swing will be faster.

It’s important to find the weight that is right for you so that you can improve your game without having to change clubs or shafts. Why not let us know in the comments below which shaft weight you use, or if you have changed why you made the switch?