Imagine the new Lamborghini Gallardo SE without a transmission. The automobile's capability to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in 3.95 seconds or hit its top speed of 315 kilometers per hour (193 mph) are meaningless without the mechanism that transmits the power from the engine to the driving axle. Without the transmission, the car would be nothing more than an artistic piece of metal and fiberglass.

The same is true of the golf club. No matter how much technology is packed into a 460cc driver clubhead, incredibly designed hybrid clubhead or forged ironhead, without the shaft there's little to talk about. Like a transmission, the shaft is the device that transfers the power generated by the engine (the golfer) to the driving axle (the clubhead).

Golfers who consider shaft technology and investigate which golf club "transmission" best fits their swing and physical capabilities can increase on-course performance.

Shaft technology continues to evolve at a frenetic pace. More focus by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on shaft design and providing consumers with custom shaft choices, the incorporation of nano technology into composite shafts, new alloys in the steel segment, shafts made specifically for hybrid clubs, and counter-balanced shafts for putters are all significant trends and recent innovations.

The potential of the shaft is most evident in the driver segment, where clubhead design continues to be limited by the United States Golf Association (USGA). For now, the limits have thrown club designers a curve ball. Engineering gurus are working hard to find ways to significantly enhance or alter clubhead playability while conforming to USGA parameters. Consequently, many hopes for driver playability improvement fall on the shaft.

This doesn't mean new iron shafts aren't better than ever or offering tremendous playability benefit. They are. The gap between steel and graphite shaft weights and performance continues to narrow. Steel alloys are allowing manufacturers to make lighter steel shafts for more graphite-like performance (distance increases), while composite iron shaft tolerances are much tighter, allowing for more steel-like accuracy and dependability.

"The evolution of shaft materials, designs, processes and technologies continues to allow us to provide golfers enhanced performance from their golf clubs," says Todd Cassidy, vice president of AccuFlex. "A better shaft can make a golf club work better, and different shafts offer different playability characteristics. When the exact same clubhead and grip combination are fit with five different shafts, different performance characteristics are produced by each club. That means there are more options for golfers of all skill levels, so every player can get what he needs."

Wide-ranging shaft performance capabilities have resulted in a much-needed offering from OEMs -- custom shaft upgrades. Only a few years ago, just a handful of OEMs offered shaft upgrades. Now, every major golf manufacturer offers upgrade/custom options.

"Golfers and OEMs are more focused on the shaft than ever before," explains Robb Schikner, vice president of research and development for Graphite Design International. "OEMs have upgraded the stock shafts they put into their product and are offering custom upgrade shafts that add both value and performance to their product. I think we will see an even wider selection of shaft offerings in the future. Golf swings are so varied in speed, tempo, release point, etc., that it's very difficult to fit every customer with the standard flex offerings of A, R, S and X."

With stock shafts, OEMs must hit a certain retail price point. That hampers the manufacturer's ability to use high-end shafts in their off-the-rack clubs. In shafts, price is generally indicative of quality. The higher a designer can go on shaft costs, the more materials and processes there are available to lower torque, bring shaft weight down and enhance other performance characteristics.

In addition, stock shafts must perform for wide player segments based on flex, while most high-end shafts fit specific categories or players. They simply are not appropriate in a stock club regardless of cost. This doesn't mean stock shafts don't perform. They perform well for a wide range of players, and they're better than ever.

"Upgrade shaft options simply allow golfers to fine tune their clubs to achieve peak performance from the shaft and the golf club by matching the shaft to swing characteristics and thus optimize launch conditions," explains Chad Hall, director of marketing for True Temper Sports, the world's largest shaft manufacturer.

"Without a properly fit shaft, it doesn't matter what clubhead you have," adds Chris Elson, vice president of business development and tour relations for Harrison Sports. "The club isn't going to work for you. The shaft must fit the clubhead design and the player to achieve optimum performance."

The only pitfall of all the shaft technology and design offerings is consumer confusion. Selecting the right shaft for a particular clubhead that also matches the player's swing characteristics isn't a simple task.

Hall acknowledges that many golfers are so overwhelmed by the shaft options available that they're actually reluctant to jump in and try to find the shaft that performs best for them with their woods and irons, and for good reason.

The odds of finding the right shaft by thumbing through the vast selection in the Golfsmith catalog are slim. Golfers have two viable options -- utilize upgrade offerings available from OEMs and/or work with a professional fitter to get the right shaft.

"Most consumer confusion comes from the lack of proper fitting," Schikner says. "Consumers may try a shaft based on an advertisement or what professional players use, but the best way to make sure their shaft fits their swing is to go to a reputable golf shop and try out different products."

Hitting and comparing the performance of different shafts are the keys to making the right selection. Today, this is easier than ever. In the past several years, OEMs have made clubs with the same clubhead and their different custom shafts available to consumers at the point of sale. At the shop or through demo-day participation, anyone can test one clubhead with different shafts. Comparing different shafts with similar flex properties allows the player to see which shaft provides optimum ball flight, distance and feel.

What the professional clubfitter or high-end golf retailer brings to the shaft-fitting mix that may not be available during a demo day is the chance to try various manufacturers' clubheads and shaft options and to analyze each by using a launch monitor.

"Launch monitors measure ball speed, launch angle and spin rate, among other things," Hall notes. "There's no standard combination of numbers in regard to these elements that results in optimum performance for all players. It varies from player to player. So what players need to do is find the combination of spin rate and launch angle that maximizes ball speed with the clubhead they choose to use. By reviewing the data measured by a launch monitor, clubfitters can make solid shaft recommendations."

Looking to the future, shaft manufacturers are optimistic about the potential to continue improving their products and bringing measurable playability benefit to golfers of all skill levels.