What exactly is torque? Should I care?
The first one is straightforward. The second, however, can get a bit convoluted.
The exact language varies but, in the realm of golf shafts, torque is a number (measurement) that communicates how much a shaft twists under a prescribed amount of force. The lower the torque number, the greater the resistance. And vice versa. For example, a piece of rebar would have very little torque whereas braided rope would produce a much higher number.
TORQUE BASICS
The amount of torque a shaft has doesn’t matter. Or, more accurately, torque isn’t universally applicable. Lower torque isn’t better. And higher torque isn’t bad. It’s not like counting calories.
That aside, the conventional thinking that higher swing speed golfers who produce more force throughout a swing can benefit from shafts with less torque has merit. But it’s not exclusively true.
Just as the inverse—that slower swing speed golfers always require shafts with greater torque—isn’t entirely accurate either.
So what is the correct answer? As you likely expected, it depends.
Most every piece of golf equipment has measurable characteristics: loft, lie, face angle, weight, balance point, etc.
This creates equal parts clarity and confusion. Plenty of characteristics are subject to uniform measurement systems. For example, loft is measured in degrees. Weight is recorded in grams. And pretty much everyone abides by the same system.
But torque is different.
COMPLICATIONS
Somewhere along the line, you might have heard that lower torque shafts are more accurate. Or that they are better at resisting forces during the swing. That type of industry language can lead golfers to conclude that “less is more.” That is: less torque is preferable to more torque. And that simply isn’t true.
Ultimately, the goal should be to properly match the golfer to their ideal specifications.
Further complicating matters, manufacturers don’t use the same protocols for measuring shaft torque. There isn’t a single industry standard that determines which portions of the shaft should be measured and how much force should be applied. Most companies measure torque based on the tip section of the shaft. But without consistent norms, consumers can’t make any meaningful comparisons between brands or even shafts within the same brand. Moreover, terms like “low torque” or “mid torque” are, at best, a generic guide.
As a result, companies can massage results to fit the narrative they want. For example, let’s say the goal is to produce a shaft with 3.5 degrees of torque. To achieve a predetermined outcome, the manufacturer applies the desired amount of force to the selected section of the tip. So torque can be a contrived metric rather than an actual measurement of a potentially meaningful specification. It would be like writing down your 18-hole score on the first tee and then playing the round of golf.
I’m not suggesting every shaft manufacturer is complicit or that every brand misrepresents torque values to deceive golfers. But it does happen. And it helps explain why the universal term might not be worth the weight some golfers assign to it.
APPLICATIONS
Arguably, the most interesting current application of torque in the shaft industry is Fujikura’s work around variable torque.
It stands to reason that before you can vary something, you first must measure it. To accomplish this, Fujikura utilizes a proprietary machine that determines two sets of torque values. The first is a composite total torque. Let’s say that number turns out to be 4.2 degrees. The same machine also helps engineers determine how each section of the shaft (butt, mid, tip) contributes to that total number. To clarify, shafts do not have uniform torque. Put differently, the torque measurement in the tip section is not the same as the butt or mid-section.
The application of this line of thinking is that Fujikura can alter the torque profile of each section of the shaft to accomplish specific performance goals. Speeder NX is the first Fujikura shaft to feature Variable Torque Core technology. With Speeder NX, Fujikura focused on stiffening torque in the tip and handle/butt sections. In player testing on Enso, Fujikura’s proprietary 3D-motion capture system, Speeder NX helped golfers better control dynamic loft and face closure rates.
In addition, the recently launched Ventus TR employs a similar, though more isolated, strategy. Specifically, Fujikura utilized a nearly weightless Spread Tow carbon fabric to increase the torsional stiffness in the handle section.
Fujikura isn’t claiming that the thinking is revolutionary. Torque and its role in shaft design aren’t anything new. That said, quantifying torque over the length of the shaft using modern technology is significant. Taking it a step further, Fujikura is applying this information to provide golfers with a more extensive library of shafts to better address the unique swing characteristics of a wider array of players.
If we agree that no two golfers swing the same, it seems reasonable that a greater variety of shaft profiles can only be a good thing. Right?
What questions do you have about torque? Or other shaft topics? Let us know.
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Jimmy Choo
10 months agoI think torque of a shaft affect greatly on those golfer that played a roll over swing (open club face on up swing and swing down to close face)? Can’t see much effect on those golfer that apply the straight down swing (Club face maintain square throughout the swing). But again, I am not sure.
James T
10 months agoChris, what do you suppose the torque of a hickory shaft would be? Has anyone ever measured that?
WYBob
10 months agoChris: as you point out, there are no industry standards when it comes to shafts. This is an area where MGS could add some real value by creating a Shaft Lab similar the the MGS Ball Lab. Y’all could test and verify frequency numbers (flex), shaft torque, bend points, shaft quality, etc. If shafts for testing are difficult to come by, y’all should consider a collaboration with someone like TXG. They have entire walls of shafts, and could do in club testing for spin numbers, flight, etc. (they have previously done many shafts reviews on their YouTube Channel). Just a suggestion.
Chris Nickel
10 months agoI’ve always wanted to do something like this – need to look into the costs a bit more, but I think you’re 100% correct in that this could be quite valuable information for consumers.
KJC
10 months agoHow does torque effect dispersion?
Chris Nickel
10 months agoEntirely depends on the player and how they swing the club. Torque is one of many factors golfers should consider when getting fit for a shaft.
That said, you’ve possibly heard that “lower torque shafts are more accurate.” This line of thinking is anything but conventional.
Jon
10 months agoThe world can’t decide on a size 9 shoe consistency so not sure why we thing golf manufacturers would bother – just test everything and pick the one that suits your game. ie shoes, wow these are comfy
Trusty Rusty
10 months agoOh they have, it’s just that some manufacturers build their shoes to fit the masses to sell more shoes ( Nike for example & even some lower-end footjoy models) the fit suffers, the toe box is very open, width is wider. Performance brands take a more serious approach to an athletic fit, matching it to performance, rather than someone who wears their shoes untied and bought too big. For this reason, alone many manufacturers use different “lasts” of a size 9 when designing shoes. The two largest manufacturers that adhere to performance 1st is Adidas and higher-end FootJoy models. It comes to no surprise how well they do when reviewed here. Im sure golf shafts are the same way in instances of golf talent. .
mackdaddy9
10 months agoFor me torque and kick point are the most important parts of the shaft. I play an Accra Tour Z TZ6 55 M3 The torque is 2.7 and the kick point launches the ball a bit higher. Accra don’t mark a flex on their shafts, M3 is basically a regular flex shaft. My friend who plays and x flex shaft with 3.9 torque wanted to try it because I was out driving him and he is 15 years younger than me. I didn’t say anything to him about the shaft and he hit it great. because his toe mis didn’t hook as much. I love the shaft because my miss is I pull my arms in tight and then hit it off the toe. The torque keeps me in play on those shots.
David
10 months agoLike any industry, need standards
UL, USDA, OSHA, etc
Gerry T
10 months agoSadly the Golf club component industry had been seriously lagging there.
Hopp
10 months agoIsn’t torque just a mathematical equation. In theory the equation is the equation so it should be the same from manufacturer to manufacturer. I suppose where they are measuring the torque at on the shaft could influence the numbers, but it should be relatively consistent unless they are gaming the system.
Chris Nickel
10 months agoTheoretically, you’re correct. But there are no industry standards, so companies are free to measure how each sees fit.
It’s like saying that because the concept of addition is simple, then everyone should agree that 4 + 4 = 8. But, what if a company prefers the answer to be 6? Then, it’s just 4 + 2. Still addition…but moving the goalposts.
John Ball
10 months agoGeeked me out there, Chris.
Chris Nickel
10 months agoSorry….tried to keep it relatively simple….if you have questions, hmu.
GilB
10 months agoSince we have governing bodies like the R & A and the USGA setting limits in just about everything to have a “standard”, why don’t we have a governing body that standardizes all facets of the shafts, i.e. torque, flex, etc that requires all testing to be the same at the same locations to get these numbers. They have a standard for max length so why not the other measurements?
Gerry T
10 months agoI agree 💯! We need consistency between shafts and even lofts so that suppliers of shafts and club head components so we have industry standards. That way, instead of worrying about not playing the same lofts, we can be rest assured that the lofts in various brands are the same across the board as are the shaft swing weights and kick points. This is where we need consistency. We expect the same with grips so why not the rest of the components?
Chris Nickel
10 months agoToothpaste is out of the tube on that one, I’m afraid. But there’s still the opportunity for a central clearing house that tests, measures and assesses every shaft on the market and creates a database with all of this information.
Perhaps cost aversive to do so….but who knows?
David
10 months agoThose BGT putter shafts that are apparently zero torque, are they nonsense then? The company charge too much for their shafts but recon more putts easily made due to zero torque
WBN
10 months agoHow much torque can you apply to a putter shaft? Is it really a cause for concern or just a marketing ploy?
Terry
10 months agoThanks Chris, this is an article best read on a rainy day in south Texas, if we ever get one ! What % of golfers really think of torque, especially since going from company to company there are no set standards, or is it just really another gimmick, that is best applied to 2% of golfers out there, or are there more important things when looking for a club, but I understand that everyone wants to score like tiger, but then reality kick in,is good reading, Thanks!!