With the development of Aerotech’s SteelFiber golf shaft, players now have a new option: Graphite, Steel or SteelFiber. It’s an entirely new category of golf shaft that delivers the power of graphite with the stability of steel.

 

At the core of the SteelFiber shaft is filament-wound carbon fiber. The filament winding process yields a seamless and incredibly uniform bending golf shaft. The high strength-to-weight ratio of carbon fiber delivers the desired stiffness and strength properties at lighter weights than steel, and the lightweight properties of graphite increase clubhead speed and promote greater distance. In addition, the vibration dampening properties of graphite reduce the risk of injury and player fatigue during the round.

 

The steel fiber material is produced using a bundle drawing process that utilizes multiple reductions in the diameter of stainless steel wire. Once the wire becomes thin enough, 1,000 individual wires are bundled together and placed inside an iron tube that is further reduced until each individual steel wire is 8 microns in diameter. Each 8 micron steel filament is approximately 1/10th the diameter of a human hair. Finally, 3,000 individual filaments are combined and spun onto spools.

 

More than 59 miles of steel fiber is then applied to the surface of each shaft with extreme precision using a computer-controlled wet winding technique. Steel fiber is applied in the Hoop (90 degree) orientation to eliminate distortion of the shaft during the swing and at impact for exceptional stability.

 

SteelFiber Hoop Strength vs Graphite:
When comparing the hoop strength of a SteelFiber shaft to a standard graphite shaft under the same load, it is easy to see the superiority of the Aerotech technology. The SteelFiber’s superior hoop strength prevents the shaft from deforming during the swing and at impact for unmatched stability during the golf swing.

 

SteelFiber Hoop Strength vs Steel:
Comparing the hoop strength of a SteelFiber shaft versus a steel shaft under the same load is equally impressive. The SteelFiber shaft has superior hoop strength to even the steel shaft giving it better stability than the benchmark of the industry.

 

Effect of SteelFiber on Wall Thickness:
Because the density (weight) of the steel fiber is 5x that of graphite, the shaft weight can be manipulated with 1/5th the amount of material which helps minimize wall thickness. This eliminates the “boardy” feel often associated with thicker walled composite shafts promoting a more solid feel through impact.

 

Perimeter Weighted Golf Shaft
As the world’s first perimeter weighted golf shaft, Aerotech’s SteelFiber adds more stability and forgiveness with every shot. The steel fiber around the perimeter creates a greater density (weight) on the shaft’s surface that moves the shaft wall’s center of gravity (CG) outward, thus increasing the shaft’s Moment of Inertia (MOI).