Glossary - a work in progress

Release: a shaft fitting movement

 

Note the golfer’s typical swing with the driver or 5-iron for their release move – the point in the downswing when they unhinge the wrist-cock. This is another critical swing characteristic when making decisions about the bend profile of the shaft and whether a flight control type of shaft will or will not display its trajectory design when the golfer hits shots. Try to note as a general observation whether the golfer’s release of the wrist-cock is:

 

• Early (#1)

  In an early release, the golfer almost immediately begins to unhinge the wrist-cock right when the club starts down from the transition. An early release is characterized by the clubhead immediately moving away from the golfer at the beginning of the downswing, or with the club extended straight out from the arms before the arms reach waist high on the downswing.

• Midway (#2)

  A "midway" release is when the golfer holds a major portion of the wrist-cock intact at the start of the downswing, but begins to unhinge the wrists just before the arms reach waist high on the downswing.

• Late (#3)

  A golfer with a late release is definitely able to retain the angle between the shaft and the arms until the arms are at or below the waist on the downswing.

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Shaft Bend Profile

The design of the shaft's stiffness over the entire length of the shaft.

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Skiving

 

1. The act of paring or splitting leather or skins.

2. A piece made in paring or splitting leather; specifically, the part from the inner, or flesh, side.

 

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Tempo: a shaft fitting movement

 

Note the golfer's typical swing for the overall swing tempo. This is another critical swing characteristic that is essential in making decisions about the golfer's swing speed rating of a suitable shaft as well as the length, total weight and swing weight of the club. Try to note as a general observation whether the golfer’s swing tempo is:

 

• Smooth (#1)

  A smooth tempo swing will appear to be that of a "swinger", who swings the club rhythmically and with either no sense of, of a very subtle sense of accelerating the club to impact. Swing tempo timing of over 1.2 seconds.

• Average (#2)

  An average swing tempo will display a sense that the golfer is definitely trying to accelerate the club to impact, with some sense of control, but without a real sense of aggression in the downswing. Swing tempo timing of 0.9 to 1.2 seconds.

• Fast (#3)

  A fast swing tempo should definitely convey a sense of aggression in the downswing and that the golfer is really trying to accelerate the club and "hit" the ball.

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Transition: a shaft fitting movement

 

Back-to-downswing transition is an important point in the determination of the swing speed rating of a suitable shaft as well as length, total weight and swing weight of the club. Note as a general observation whether the golfer's transition move is:

 

• Smooth (#1)

  The golfer either has a distinct "pause" between the end of the backswing and beginning of the downswing, or makes a transition move tha does not appear to put very much initial bending on the shaft.

• Average (#2)

  An average transition move will not have a distinct pause between the end of the backswing and beginning of the downswing. On the other hand, it will not look as if the golfer really couldn't wait to "pour on the coal" to start the club down.

• Forceful (#3)

  The forceful transition will exert a visible bend on the shaft as the club begins down and will give the clubmaker the distinct impression that the golfer is trying to "hit" the ball hard.

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