TBAR™ Part 6 of 6
TBAR™ with Zone Flex™ (‘Z’) Characterization
By Carter Penley
In TBAR Part 5, we discussed that one of the major problems in the golf shaft industry is that the standard flex range is dynamically much larger and in many cases overlaps corresponding flexes. This is why some players who may need to build a backup club, or a replacement shaft for their club ends up finding out that the backup or or replacement shaft doesn’t feel or play the same as the first shaft model. This brings us to our 6th and final TBAR article- TBAR™ and the introduction to Zone Flex™ (‘Z’) characterization.
Descriptive Analysis:
‘FEEL’ is the design driver for all Penley designed golf shafts and is the prime attribute a player desires in his clubs.
‘FEEL’ is the comfort zone a player needs to be in to play his best game and Penley golf shafts specifically exhibits this most important attribute for players at all levels of play.
This article describes how the application of Penley’s TBAR™ method of golf shaft design with Zone Flex™ characterization accomplishes the ‘Feel’ attribute.
Zone Flex™ (‘Z’) is a defined flex zone within a specific golf shaft flex range.
Flex range and Zone flexes are determined by Penley’s TBAR™ (Tip to Butt Aspect Ratio) algorithm and are somewhat infinite vs. the long time excepted flex terminology.
To quantify Zone Flex Characterization Penley has selected eight specific zone flexes outside of a predetermined flex range denoted numerically as ‘1’ (Penley’s Std. Range ‘1’) of each defined flex range i.e. ‘L1’, ‘A1’, ‘R1’, ‘S1’ and ‘X1’ and so on as defined by the following four rules.
Rule # 1 – The 60% Rule
By analysis Penley determined that 60% of most golfers fall within flex range ‘1’ of the each and separate specific golf shaft flex ranges. ‘1’ is the center (1/3) of the full flex range (yellow dotted lines, 3-7). Penley tolerances are typically held to ~30%-40% of industry standards.
Rule #2: The 20% Rule
By analysis Penley determined that 20% of most golfers fall within the following flex zone characterizations (‘Z1’ – ‘Z4’) which originate from within flex range ‘1’:
Zone ‘1’ flex characterization = Flex range ‘1’ at the butt, to a stiffer tip section. (Z1)
Zone ‘2’ flex characterization = Flex range ‘1’ at the butt, to a softer tip section. (Z2)
Zone ‘3’ flex characterization = flex range ‘1’ at the tip, to a stiffer butt section. (Z3)
Zone ‘4’ flex characterization = Flex range ‘1’ at the tip, to a softer butt section. (Z4)
Rule #3: The 15% Rule
By analysis Penley determined that 15% of most golfers fall within the following characterized flex zones ‘5’ and ‘6’ which extend outside of flex range ‘1’ at the tip and at the butt.
Zone ‘5’ flex characterization = ‘Z3’ stiffer butt section to ‘Z1’ stiffer tip section. (Z5)
Zone ‘6’ flex characterization = ‘Z4’ softer butt section to ‘Z2’ softer tip section. (Z6)
Rule #4: The 5% Rule
By analysis Penley determined that 5% of most golfers fall within the following characterized flex zones ‘7’ and ‘8’ to incorporate the most extreme zone flexes outside of flex range ‘1’ at the tip and at the butt.
Zone ‘7’ flex characterization = ‘Z4’ softer butt section to ‘Z1’ stiffer tip section. (Z7)
Zone ‘8’ flex characterization = ‘Z3’ stiffer butt section to ‘Z2’ softer tip section. (Z8)
Flex ranges developed through the TBAR algorithm yields generally a slightly higher flex range than the industry standard.
The new ET2 golf shaft design is primarily designed for the better player to include the Touring Pro to yield maximum control accuracy. This is achieved through design, materials and Penley’s TBAR™ matching, an internally developed algorithm to determine range ‘1’ and subsequent zone flex characterizations to perfect the optimum club.
Copyright © 2010,2016 Carter Penley. All Rights Reserved.
