However, recently independent tests were carried out in the USA by a company called Golf Laboratories, Inc in which testing was carried out on PUREd and unPUREd shafts using a robot hitting system using exactly the same swing for each shot. Launch data and down range data was recorded using a Trackman radar unit.
PUREing is the process that locates and aligns the shaft in its most stable position, reducing off-line bending and twisting. In other words, finding the "sweet spot of the shaft". This process is necessary as no golf shaft is uniformly straight, round or has consistent bending properties through 360 degrees. Depending on how the shaft is installed will determine how the shaft will react during the swing. PURE stands for Plane of Uniform Repeatability and is not my bad typing!
Dick Weiss patented the process over 10 years ago. He certainly had a great theory and plenty of conviction but I for one was still a bit sceptical. When we did start PUREing over here it became immediately apparent Dick Weiss was on to something, but the problem remained that despite physically seeing the difference PUREing made visually to the oscillations of the shaft, there was still no concrete proof that the actual performance was improved.
Another issue is that neither the shaft manufacturers nor the OEM companies acknowledge PUREing. The shaft manufacturers CANNOT recognise the process or they would be admitting their shafts are not perfect! Equally the OEM companies don't want to have to PURE their shafts due to the expense and labour involved. I'm not saying the top shafts don't perform, just that they will play even better with a bit of fine tuning.
But these tests, and their staggering results, have cleared up a lot of the mystery.
The first test carried out featured a 60º Lob Wedge, with a famous brand steel shaft and Titleist NXT Tour balls:
The second test used identical drivers with a well-known top grade shaft.
Okay, so there really is something in this shaft alignment business, but why not use one of the other methods available? After all there is a charge for PUREing and it's not something you can do in your own workshop unless you have access to a patented SST machine. Why not use Spining? The method that finds the Spine or hardest point of the shaft then aligns the NBP (neutral bend point) or FLOing, which uses Flat Line Orientation. Surely both methods, if not quite as accurate as PUREing, are still better than nothing? I certainly thought so until I saw the following test results comparing three identically-shafted drivers again, using another well known top grade shaft:
So in conclusion, yes I am a PUREing convert. I can't argue with solid facts and figures and strongly urge all golf professionals to offer this proven game improvement service for the benefit of their customers. If they're paying good money for a shaft it's the least we can do to make sure it performs how it was designed to do.
