Abstract: A method of making a golf shaft, and a shaft made thereby, for connection to a golf club head including a first upper section having a first diameter and an upper butt end; a second lower section having a second lesser diameter than said first diameter and a having a lower tip end for connection to the golf club head; and, a gradually tapering intermediate section connected between the first upper section and the second section that reduces the outside diameter of the shaft from the diameter at the upper section to the diameter of the lower section. The location of the intermediate section relative to the upper butt end of the shaft is determined by a weight value of the shaft such that as the weight of the shaft becomes lighter, the tapered intermediate section is located closer to the upper butt end of the shaft and the tapered intermediate section is located further from the upper butt end of the shaft as the shaft becomes heavier.

Abstract: A method of filament winding a golf shaft to form an upper section, an intermediate, rapid tapered section and a lower section.

Abstract: A method of filament winding a golf shaft to form an upper section, an intermediate, rapid tapered section and a lower section.

Abstract: A composite golf club shaft is constructed having a reduced butt diameter of 0.400 to 0.560 inches in diameter. The shaft tapers without intentional discontinuities from the reduced-diameter butt section to a cylindrical tip portion having a standard tip diameter adapted to be attached to the hosel of a club head. By reducing the diameter of the butt portion of the shaft while maintaining the shaft free of substantial discontinuities, lead-lag flexure is increased uniformly, thereby improving the controllability of the shaft, and without inducing the artificial bending modes found in bubble shafts and other shaft configurations having intentional discontinuities.