An investment of thousands of euros
As a golfer, you often invest thousands of euros in your equipment. Modern graphite shafts, in particular, are technological masterpieces, but they have one weakness: wear and tear at the point where the shaft touches the golf bag. The constant friction against the golf bag’s dividers causes irreparable damage to the shaft and can even cause the club to break.
With the ShaftSaverPro, a logical and sustainable solution has been found in the form of a 1.5 mm thick sacrificial layer that absorbs the damage. However, after extensive correspondence with the R&A (the keepers of the Rules of Golf) at St Andrews, we have encountered a bureaucratic wall.
The core of the problem: The 12-inch rule
The R&A is clear. A shaft must be “smooth.” Anything attached to a shaft within 12 inches (approx. 30 cm) of the clubhead officially makes the club non-conforming. It does not matter to the regulators that the ShaftSaverPro:
- Does not noticeably affect ball flight.
- Provides no assistance with alignment.
- Is purely intended to prevent damage to expensive equipment.
Tape is allowed, durability is not
A remarkable paradox emerged during the communication. According to the technical specifications, applying tape to the shaft is permitted for protection. Why? Because tape follows the shape of the shaft and has been accepted for decades. In doing so, they acknowledge the wear and tear problem.
However, as soon as a solution becomes more durable, effective, or thicker than a simple piece of tape, it is classified as an “External Attachment.” According to the letter of the law, this must be removed before making a stroke. The choice was made to adhere the ShaftSaverPro to the shaft because the extra action of removing an item is disruptive to the golfing process.
Who actually checks this?
While the rules are strict, this raises questions in practice. The ShaftSaverPro has no noticeable influence on your game or ball flight. One might wonder who, during a match, would check for a protective element that serves purely to preserve your equipment. We play golf for enjoyment while maintaining our equipment.
In the meantime, there are golfers who choose to play matches with the ShaftSaverPro on their clubs. They prioritize the preservation of their valuable shafts over a theoretical rule. Please note: this is always at your own risk. If a strict stickler for the rules makes an issue of it, the official rules are not on your side and you could be disqualified.
If you have the most important match of the year and a chance to win the club championships, you can easily remove the ShaftSaverPro within 1 minute. Reinstalling it takes about 2 minutes, but you will need new double-sided tape, which can be ordered in the webshop.
Conclusion
The regulators indicate that they will not adjust the rules because “shaft protection” is allegedly not a generally recognized problem. That is an interesting position in an era where golfers spend more than ever on fragile, high-end equipment.
We continue to fight for a more logical policy. Until then, the choice is yours: do you choose the letter of the law, or the lifespan of your clubs?
