60 Vs 70 Gram Driver Shaft | Breaking Down the Differences
If you ask a normal person what’s the most important part of a golf club, chances are the replies will be the handle, the grip, or the clubhead, the debate goes on. But ask any pro and you’ll undoubtedly hear them say that it’s the driver shaft.
The core difference between a 60 vs 70 gram driver shaft is whom it’s geared towards. A lower-weight shaft like the 60 gram is best suited for beginners and seniors who lacks the raw speed. Whereas the 70 gram is perfect for maintaining control with a high swing force.
With that said, here’s a comparative analysis to understand the difference between the two and find out the right one for you.
Overview of the 60 Gram Driver Shaft
When you ask what’s the most popular and common weight class of driver shafts, the obvious answer would be the 60 gram driver shaft. It combines the best lightweight and rigid swing feel for control and distance.
The obvious point for a 60 gram driver shaft is that it is geared for low swing speed. The effective extra flex combined with moderate swing helps to keep the shot under control while achieving a decent trajectory.
But if you’re already familiar with a heavier shaft, a shift to 60 gm might compromise the control as well run the chance of over spinning the swing.
Overview of the 70 Gram Driver Shaft
With the 70 gram driver shaft, we are moving into the pro territory. This is a widely used shaft by professionals albeit with some modifications in the flex point.
The 70-gram driver shaft produces superior trajectory and spin compared to the 60-gram driver shaft. Since the performance of this shaft is dependent on the high swing force, it also ensures better overall control of the shot.
As a golfer progresses from rookie to amateur to pro, the choice of 70 gram shaft becomes more apparent as it provides a high level of control over everything compared to a lower-weight class shaft.
60 vs 70 Gram Driver Shaft: Comparison Chart
Here’s us trying to compare the two shafts weights based on different trial results.
| Factor | 60 gram | 70 gram |
| Club | Low | High |
| Carry | High | Low |
| Total | High | Low |
| Ball control | Low | High |
| Launch control | Low | High |
| Backspin | High | Low |
| Line Deter/ Average Offline | High | Low |
What Are The Differences Between 60 and 70 Gram Driver Shaft?
The main difference between a 60 gram and 70 gram driver shaft lies in the different shaft components. The weight impacts each of these components to provide varying results.
Shaft Flex: 60 Vs 70 Gram Driver Shaft
Shaft flex is the primary aspect of a shaft that determines the direction and distance of any hit. There’s a common misconception that stiff shafts do not produce any flex.
But in reality, regardless of the component and weight class, all shafts produce flex more or less.
The flex level can be categorized from regular to extra still with a few more options in between. So what’s the ideal flex point for any shaft? Well, that completely depends on the swing speed.
If the swing is fast and hard, go for less flex. On the contrary, extra flex shafts are best for players with less force and a small swing radius. In both cases, the choice ensures optimum control, direction, and accuracy.
In principle, 60 gram drive shafts have more flex compared to 70 gram drive shafts.
Shaft Torque: 60 Vs 70 Gram Driver Shaft
You’ve seen those ball tracking after a hit right? Where the ball travels a curvature path in the first shot. This is called the trajectory of a shot. And shaft torque determines the size and length of this trajectory.
Shaft torques are basically the angular movement of the shaft during a hit. The lesser the torque, the more stiff the shaft is and vice versa.
So how does it impact the trajectory? A low torque degree will produce a smaller trajectory resulting in less distance traveled.
70-gram driver shafts tend to have lesser torque compared to the 60 gram rendering them to be stiffer at the shot.
Shaft Kick-Point: 60 Vs 70 Gram Driver Shaft
This is the part of the shaft that stays connected with the clubhead. Just like the torque, the shaft kick-point influences the overall trajectory of the swing.
A low shaft kick-point will reduce the overall flex of the shaft and create a rigid swing. It comes at the cost of trajectory and the ball fails to fly high enough.
On the other hand, a high shaft kick-point ensures a smoother flex at the clubhead. While the precision is compromised, max distance is achieved with a high kick-point.
The effect of the Kick-point is exactly the opposite of the torque. 70 gram driver shafts tend to have a higher kick-point compared to a 60 gram one.
Shaft Alignment: 60 Vs 70 Gram Driver Shaft
Shaft alignment is a persistent problem with golf clubs. It is mainly caused due to manufacturing or fitting defect.
While the misalignment might not be visible to the naked eye, it ultimately ends up greatly impacting the speed and direction of the swing.
We suggest getting a separate “Spine Alignment” for each of the clubs for optimum performance.
Shaft alignment issues may persist on both 60 gram as well as 70 gram drivers. So it’s better to get them sorted either way.
To summarize the differences, here’s a difference chart –
| Factors | 60 gram | 70 gram |
| Shaft Flex | More flex | Lesser flex |
| Shaft Torque | Higher torque | Lesser torque |
| Shaft Kick-Point | Lower Kick-point | Higher Kick-point |
| Shaft Alignment | Requires Spine Alignment | Requires Spine Alignment |
60 or 70 gram driver shaft: Which One Should You Choose?
The game of golf is a fascinating one. Even more fascinating are how small changes make a large impact on the overall game of a player.
The bottom line is if you’re an amateur or a beginner who’s just getting started with golf and doesn’t have great control or speed, undoubtedly go for the 60 gram driver shaft.
And if you’re someone professional with years of experience in the bag, the 70 gram driver shaft is the easy choice.
None of these aspects might apply to you as these are generally accepted standards between 60 vs 70 gram driver shafts.
What we suggest is to go ahead and try your hand with different driver shafts to see what works the best for you.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
These are some of the common queries with driver shafts and overall game performance.
Is 60 Gram Driver Shaft Faster Than 70 Gram Driver Shaft?
Yes. Due to the impact speed and flex, the 60 gram travels more distance compared to the 70 gram driver. The speed is achieved mainly because of the high flex as it catapults the ball in a low trajectory. Since the vertical travel is low, the horizontal travel becomes exponent.
Which One Is Easier To Hit Straight, The 60 Gram Driver Shaft Or 70 Gram Driver Shaft?
Since the 70 gram driver shaft offers more trajectory and spin control, it provides a better straight-line shot.
The 70 gram driver shaft has always been slated for control and precision. So the travel on the straight line is easily better on the 70 gram shaft.
How To Gain More Distance From Each Swing?
Go for a lower-weight driver shaft and customize it to make it an “extra flex” class. That will get you the most distance.
As we already mentioned above, the lesser vertical distance exponents the horizontal travel.
How Do Gain A Long Trajectory?
Use heavier shafts. It will increase the trajectory but will require hard swings. So be prepared for that.
The problem with a long trajectory is that it drastically reduces the travel distance. And depending on the course, it might be a deciding factor.
How Do I Spin The Ball More?
Use heavier shafts with a lower loft on the club head. Also, make the flex extra stiff so the spinning can be attained at the onset.
The spin directly depends on how the club hits the ball. As long as the ball hits the club in a stiff contact, the desired spins can be achieved.
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