Shaft Comparison | Golf Monthly

preface all of this by saying the most important piece of the puzzle that affects the spin rate is 'strike location' on the face

then along with club speed & along with the overall launch conditions that produce a particular 'spin loft #' for a shot - the other main factors in this are the dynamic loft & the angle of attack at impact
Dynamic Loft – Angle of Attack = Spin Loft & the bigger the spin loft angle the higher the spin rate
as to why it's important that the AoA & dynamic loft #'s are closer together
so why an AoA of +4º with a dynamic loft of 14º is a whole bunch better than an AoA of -4º with a dynamic loft of 14º

1.only real ways you can compare different shafts is relative to your own swing & then the #'s each shaft produces on a launch monitor
folks swings & swing deliveries are different in how their own swing stresses the shaft to both have a 'different feel' in swinging plus different launch conditions

2. setting a moveable weight closer to the face - or swapping a heavier weight front lighter weight back has the potential to lower the spin rate given a good strike location
lowering the static loft has a potential to assist having less spin providing the dynamic loft at impact can be controlled

3. where the strike location on the face is + relationship of path to face angle + AoA + dynamic loft affects ball flight more - the head set-up has the potential to play into affecting ball flight
the shaft can affect flight through having a 'shaft profile' that works with the swing motion to help find a centered strike
generally with a reasonable strike shafts tend to affect spin rate to around 500/600 rpm's max difference - off center strike affects spin more

4. shaft weight will affect the outcome of a shot (of which club head speed/spin rate/ball speed/dispersion will be some of the things affected) but more through the efficiency of the shaft profile - how it bends & flexes - to work with the individual swing
shaft weight along with bend profile will affect the 'feel' folks will have with a swing
most folks are likely to be able to swing a lighter shaft a tad faster than a heavier one - then they also have to factor in can they control a lighter shaft