Frequently Asked Questions

The Mandrel

The next part of the equation is the mandrel. Mandrels can be thought of as mold for the inside of the blank. The mandrel determines the inside diameter (and conversely the inside taper of the blank). Flex of the blank is determined by three factors, material used (the higher the modulus the less material you have to use to get a certain stiffness), outside diameter of the blank and wall thickness. A designer will balance these in designing his/her blank for lightness and sensitivity as well as durability. Of course a number of other issues such as dampening come into the equation.

All manufacturers design their mandrels and have them ground to their unique specifications. 5 to 6 taper changes in a tip mandrel are not uncommon. Usually the butt mandrel is a straight taper.

Weight Considerations ---->