Golf Equipment Myths
Hosel Depth vs. Shaft Flex-Urban Legend?
I have read a lot of interesting stuff on golf discussion forums regarding the effect of a deep bore hosel of shaft flex. Most assume that the shaft plays much stiffer on a head with a deep bore design and do some crazy things to compensate for the effects of this design feature. I have read and heard where clubmakers will cut off a 1" piece of an old shaft tip and stick it down the hosel before shafting the clubhead. I have heard folks that use a small wad of cotton and stuff that down the hosel so as to not add any unnecessary weight. Wooden dowels, steel wool, wood shavings, paper towel and even tightly rolled masking tape.
All I can tell you is that during the design phase of these heads, I tried and tested many different hosel depths and lengths and measured their effects on both spin profile and launch angle and how it related to the rest of the SMT line of heads. I can tell you, without a doubt, that if the club were to play better with a different shafting depth, I would have made them that way!
Shaft flex is NOT determined, as so many believe, by how much of it is inside the hosel, but by the measurement of the bottom of the hosel bore to the back of the heel dimension. If we were to say that the "average" driver on the market has a measurement from the bottom of the bore to the back of the heel of one inch, the 455 Deep Bore comes out to about 3/4 " of an inch, which is the same as tipping your shaft 1/4"! I personally doubt that many if not most could ever tell the difference in a blind test situation.
Technically speaking, the SMT Spectrum has the smallest measurement in this area and thusly the shaft will actually tend to play stiffer but arguably only marginally at best.
So, trust me when I tell you, as I am the guy that designed them, Shaft them all the way to the bottom, keep the toilet paper out of the hosel and swing away. You and your customers will be glad you did.
Mike Tait
Owner and clubhead designer
SMT Golf
"The Winningest Component Heads In Golf History"
Thanks to Mike Tait at SMT for this article. If you're interested in SMT Components or would like me to build you a SMT driver, please email me and reference this article to receive 10% off on SMT components or assembled clubs. Tell me a bit about your game and swing and I'd be happy to help you choose the right combination for your game.
John Muir
clubmaker-online
Click here for our favorite driver, the SMT 455 Deep Bore with Patriot Golf shaft