The Difference Between Stock OEM And Aftermarket Shafts
28 March 2024
When it comes to choosing the right golf shaft for your golf club, the quality and specification of the shaft is crucial. The shaft is often referred to as the ‘engine of the golf club’ and during our custom golf club fitting, SGGT aims to fine tune the right engine to provide optimum performance for your golf club.
However, all shafts are not created equal and that is noticeable when you compare a shaft that comes as a stock shaft from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) with a shaft of the same name that is offered as an aftermarket shaft from a custom fitter such as SGGT.
Aftermarket shafts may cost from couple of hundred pounds upwards, so when you see the same shaft in a club that costs about the same as an aftermarket shaft, you may think you are getting a bargain.
However OEMs could not be able to afford the aftermarket version of the shaft in a stock club at that price. Sometimes they work with the shaft manufacturers to create a stock OEM version that may have the same name. As they are buying in bulk they may get a discount, but really the cheaper price also comes with a cost as they may use cheaper materials.
Graphite shafts are made from carbon and the quality of the carbon and how it is manufactured is the big difference between OEM shafts and aftermarket shafts. Not all carbon is the same and aftermarket shafts will contain the best quality carbon and other materials to deliver the best performance.
Aftermarket shafts are also built to tighter tolerances in terms of weight, roundness, bend profile and flex. The feel of the aftermarket version of the shaft is usually better than that of the stock shaft equivalent and this is reflected in the performance.
That is not to say that all stock shafts are bad. For the majority of players they may be good enough. However, if you want to use the optimum clubs for your game then it is best to come to an experienced custom fitter such as SGGT where we can test any shaft in any head from our wide range of aftermarket shafts.
In addition to offering the best aftermarket shafts, SGGT also SST Pure shafts in our workshop to ensure they are fitted in the optimum orientation.
Because when it comes to shafts and how they are fitted, you will get what you pay for.
How Shafts Are Made
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