The golf equipment industry eclipses the combined value of the basketball, baseball, and football equipment industries. That makes for a lot of golf club and ball sales each year and in turn a lot of materials.
Whether you’re hitting the shops for your next set of clubs or sourcing materials for custom-fit golf clubs, you should give prepreg carbon fiber a look. This unique material offers advantages others can’t in swing speed and shaft quality.
If you want a little convincing, you’re welcome to it. Keep reading for an explanation of the role pre-impregnated composite materials can play in club construction.
What Is Prepreg Carbon Fiber?
Prepreg carbon fiber refers to carbon fiber combined with a resin and curing agent ahead of time. This type of carbon fiber avoids problems often seen with hand-laminated carbon fiber products, such as inconsistent resin application. Prepregs guarantee specific ratios of resin to fiber.
This consistency of performance has made prepregs popular for carbon fiber sports equipment. While carbon fiber will often weigh less than alternatives, low weight isn’t the only thing making players turn to carbon fiber.
What’s That Got to Do with Golf Clubs?
The swing speed a golfer can pull off determines how flexible that golfer’s clubs should be. If you (or your customer) swing faster, you’ll want stiffer club shafts.
For those who can generate a clubhead speed above 100 miles per hour, an extra-stiff shaft provides better control. No golfer wants golf shaft flexibility to send a ball flying off course. Such a quick, powerful swing won’t help if it doesn’t land on target.
On the other end of the spectrum, those who can’t break the 70-mile-per-hour mark should look into amateur, senior, or ladies’ golf club shafts. The flexibility these shafts bring to the table allows a slower swing speed to generate more distance.
What Else Does Carbon Fiber Offer?
Control over the amount of flex isn’t the only advantage carbon fiber offers. Carbon fiber sporting equipment also brings low weight for its strength and great chemical resistance. Many pieces of sporting equipment, including snowboards, put these properties to good use.
For those who like to golf in wet weather, carbon fiber clubs avoid corrosion or warping problems common to wood or metal shafts. While you wouldn’t want to dunk them in salt water, they won’t rust from a little rain.
Putting It Together – That’s What Counts
Prepreg carbon fiber allows you to control the ratio of resin to fiber. This makes it easier to get consistent properties in your carbon fiber golf club. More consistent properties make it easier to ensure that the club provides no more and no less than the flex you want.
Consistent Results With Prepregs
Prepreg carbon fiber makes for a reliable, consistent material to ensure your steel-core golf clubs have exactly the flexibility you desire. Whether you need a flexible ladies’ club or an extra-stiff driver, carbon fiber will get you what you need.
Whether you’re looking for carbon fiber for sports equipment manufacturing or automotive parts, look no further than SMI Composites. We specialize in the production of autoclave-cured components and have an unbeatable depth of knowledge.
