Can graphite shafts weaken?

[BogeyHunter]

Can graphite shafts weaken over time and use?.I have a prolaunch in my driver that does not give me the distance ,accuracy and ball flight that it used to 4months ago.Or is it all in my head and a problem with my swing? My irons and 3wood are all performing as they always have which makes me think it is the driver itself. Can GT or other shops test for this?
thanx.:confused:

[Tintin]

i remember reading a post from Tom Wishon and his reply was no it does not weaken over time. Unless it is cracked of course.

[Weirfan]

a shaft that is not damaged in any way will NOT wear out or weaken over time.

That said shafts can be affected by various things that can cause them to gradually weaken and eventually break.

this is most often one of the following..

a hairline crack that was there that gradually worsens...often a result of a dropped shaft, or a club that was crushed or put in a vise to hard ...even can be damaged by a spine finder

shear points at or above the hosel top.....resulting from improperly coned inner hosel as well as too much epoxy being used ( ie: epoxy has gone up the middle of the shaft above the top of the hosel)

water...I have seen graphite shafts that were exposed to alot of wet weather and not properly drained eventually break at the deteriorate above the hosel as there was water inside the shaft

improper shaft tip prep can wekaen a shaft but bag rash wont do much unless the fibers are seriously compromised

sound like there could be a crack in the head or shaft...try water submersion test and see what happens???

[TourIQ]

a shaft that is not damaged in any way will NOT wear out or weaken over time.
sound like there could be a crack in the head or shaft...try water submersion test and see what happens???You are on a roll Weirfan, always giving great solid advise :D

[BogeyHunter]

Weirfan, Thanx for the info . What is a water test and how do you do it?

[Weirfan]

Weirfan, Thanx for the info . What is a water test and how do you do it?

quite simple. just submerse the head in water and look for air escaping...wont always happend with tiny cracks but worth a try

clean the head forst and closely examine it ....cracks will most frequebtky occur along weld lines so look along all the edges....this is where they are going to be. sometimes along the score lines in the face.

also look at the face for deformation....not uncommon for the face of a driver to flatten or become indented slightly

with the shaft examine it as well.....sometimes if you hold it upside down by the head and bang the grip on a solid surface ( concrete) the sound of the vibrations will let you know that there is a crack in it

you can also do the water test with the shaft but if a crack is that big you will see it ( keep the grip end out of the water so water does not go in the shaft)

you may find nothing........other than that I would have someone else hit the club and see if they feel it is dead???

[kimo62]

I don't get it. My softball bats which are composite, wear down.They basically reach 2 points of "wearing down". 1. the break in period, after which the bat has seemingly more "POP" and 2. the finished period where it's just good for base hits.
Wouldn't shafts go through the same thing since you load and unload it constantly.?

I guess the it's not quite the same since I actually hit the ball with my bat but I figure it's still stress, and stress should cause fatigue.

I'm not qualified......just my observation

[danscustomgolfshop]

Ralph Maltby has had a graphite shaft in a deflection board on his shop wall for near 10 years with a 7 pound load on it.
It has not moved in 10 years and is no more deflected today than 10 years ago.

[Weirfan]

I don't get it. My softball bats which are composite, wear down.They basically reach 2 points of "wearing down". 1. the break in period, after which the bat has seemingly more "POP" and 2. the finished period where it's just good for base hits.
Wouldn't shafts go through the same thing since you load and unload it constantly.?

I guess the it's not quite the same since I actually hit the ball with my bat but I figure it's still stress, and stress should cause fatigue.

I'm not qualified......just my observation

Bats are made differently than shafts ...the sterngth in a shaft is to withstand the tortional and longitudinal forces in it.....in bats the material is laid differently so as to withstand significant impact forces.

and as you say the collision between the ball and the bat are many. Graphite fiber as far as I know is nit used much in bats....more fiberglass and resin compounds.

I play well over 100 slo pitch games a season and have for over 20 years now...in the past several years I have used the composite bats ( Easton Synergy and Miken Freak 100)

with my use and that of others my bats get 500+ hits a year, I have not personally broken any but have witnessed them crack and break.....weirdest one was last nite where a Synergy 2 snapped right at the ned of the handle:eek:

[kimo62]

Bats are made differently than shafts ...the sterngth in a shaft is to withstand the tortional and longitudinal forces in it.....in bats the material is laid differently so as to withstand significant impact forces.

and as you say the collision between the ball and the bat are many. Graphite fiber as far as I know is nit used much in bats....more fiberglass and resin compounds.

I play well over 100 slo pitch games a season and have for over 20 years now...in the past several years I have used the composite bats ( Easton Synergy and Miken Freak 100)

with my use and that of others my bats get 500+ hits a year, I have not personally broken any but have witnessed them crack and break.....weirdest one was last nite where a Synergy 2 snapped right at the ned of the handle:eek:

That sounds believable to me.:D I don't know much aboout the make up of these things so I'll take your word for it.
BTW

Both( Easton Synergy and Miken Freak 100) will be illegal next year.
and......
I've only seen bats break if the insides were honed to get a thinner (illegal)wall.:hush:

The freak 100 is an awesome bat too.