Technical FAQ

What is GD Flex?

The GD Flex measures the bending stiffness of the entire shaft, which includes the tip and butt stiffness. Frequency measures stiffness in the first 20-25" of the butt section of the shaft. Take, for example, two shafts that have identical frequencies, but have a wide variation in tip stiffness. These shafts may appear to be the same in an assembled golf club, but the difference in tip stiffness will have a huge impact on the trajectory of the golf ball. Typically, a weak tip shaft will produce a higher trajectory versus a stiff tip shaft in the same loft club head. With today's larger heads, tip stiffness translates into increased stability on off center hits. By designing the tip structure of the shaft specifically for a particular shaft type, the golfer will receive the maximum benefit of accuracy and distance.

What is MSI?

Material Stiffness Integration, or MSI, is the design concept by which Graphite Design develops shafts. We believe that by combining materials of different stiffness and fiber volume, we are able to reduce unwanted vibrations while promoting enhanced feel.

Composite materials consist of two components: fiber and resin. The stiffness of each fiber type has an impact on how much vibration, or feel, is transmitted up the shaft. The resin acts more like a sponge, absorbing vibrations. By integrating materials of different stiffness and fiber/resin percentages, we can promote better feel. Using low resin content materials equates to more fiber, which means higher strength shafts with better feel and distance. Graphite Design is one of the largest consumers of low resin content composite materials.

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