 ....but which shaft?
I'm a beginner just taking up the game in my late 40s and so far I've been fairly lucky in my choice of clubs.
I've only been playing for a couple of months and don't yet have a handicap but I usually go round my club course in the low 90s which would make me a low 20s handicapper.
I started off with just a set of irons, I went to my local ADC and they gave me 3 sets to try on the range in my £200-£250 price bracket and I chose the Letters T5 and have been happy with them. Last month I added a 3 & 5 fairway wood and went with Taylormade V Steel (steel shafts) and I'm really happy with them.
Problem with buying a driver is that they all seem to be graphite shafts and I've only ever played with steel shafts. Given the cost of drivers, I'd really rather buy 2nd hand off eBay or something to start with but as they will usually be older models, I can't really try them first.
Would I be right in thinking that a stiff graphite shaft would be closer to the steel shafts I'm used too? or does it vary between manufacturers?
I'm thinking of a loft between 10.5 and 11.5 for my first driver, does this sound about right to you?
Any advice really appreciated.
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Corona
You are right to think that the flex of shafts varies considerably between manufacturers. Most shafts fitted as standard to Taylor Made, Callaway and the like are not as stiff as the specialist shafts sometimes fitted after purchase. That said, there is such a range of flex, weight and other characteristics that there is almost certain to be a shaft suitable for you, and it may offer advantages, usually more distance, over steel, which tends to favour control. The best bet is to go to a pro who can help get you fitted right. That does not necessarily mean an expensive club. I think choosing plenty of loft is also a good idea. Most players would benefit from doing so.
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 I don't think that a stiff graphite is the same as a steel, you would probably need to speak to a pro about which shaft is best for you but most people at your level have regular. It all depends on what your swing speed is.
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 Yes go to decent pro shop or driving range and get the pro to let you hit a variety of drivers you will be amazed at the difference between them,that said the callaway 454 titanium is a great driver and very forgiving but only the pro will be able to offer you the correct shaft.
I play off 16 and hit the ball well off the tee but i still only use a regular flex shaft which works for me so its a case of trial and error.Good luck and keep out of the rough :-)
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 11.5 or above
As mentioned there is no industry standard in shaft flex or many other things with regards clubs.
Take all info in but not as a be and end all it is difficult
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Thanks for the comments everybody, it looks like I'll need to take pro advice.
A mate has an almost new Wilson Deep Red Maxx with 11.5 loft and a .428 regular grafalloy shaft that he doesn't want so he's offered to let me take it to the range a few times as a starting point.
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Trying it out first is a good option, I think graffaloys are slightly stiffer than standard shafts but I am not 100% sure, if it works for you then keep it, if not try something else.
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As per my local pro(who stated the the blue graffaloys are top shafts) and from first hand the graffaloy is slightly stiffer thus i could have a regular rather than a stiff shaft.With the callaway red shaft in regular it was a bit whippy.Hope this helps.
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had the same dilemma. Looked and tried various drivers including Mizuno, TM, Callaway, Cobra etc.
Then bought 10 degree Makser TW 400 on ebay. Fantastic club, inexpensive secondand with major distance and straight drives.
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 Shooting low 90's after playing for 2 months - I am green with envy, Corona!
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In spite of all the hype about graphite shafts, had Cleveland Hi-Bore reshafted with a Dynamic Gold S300 shaft: Before After Loft: 9.5 deg Shaft: 45" Length: 45", Fujikura grapite S Shaft: TT Dynamic Gold S300 Best distance as read on computers or Swing Mate-201 yds 302 yds at 130 mph This from a Super Senior whose club head speed is usually in the range for that category. Regards,
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 Hi Corona, When i was first looking for a new driver last year i looked on ebay first then the online golf stores and eventually came away with a driver with a regular shaft (which i thought i need) without ever hitting a ball or seeing the club. It turned out to be the wrong shaft for me and i found myself adjusting my swing to suit the driver. Last week I decided after about a year to go and try out a few drivers in different shafts and found i got on a lot better with a stiffer flex and came away after ordering a new driver for £60 after trading in my old one. (£100) new I don't know if this will help you but i came across this online shaft fitter - it may give you an idea of what is out there - but will be no substitute for hitting the clubs http://www.ustgolfshaft.com/swingfit/ The best advice i can give it to just try as many different drivers and shafts as possible. Drivers don't have to be expensive there are loads of new clubs from MD, Benross, Ram that come in under £100 or you could pick up a decent second hand one from ebay once you know what you need. - take a look at the driver test in today's golfer this month you will see that there is not a huge difference (although there is still one) between a value club and a premium club
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 Holy thread revival batman!  Dont quite understand the post though, are you saying that after reshafting your driver from steel to graphite you lost 100yds?
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oops - didnt notice the date
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 Forgive me for being a little sceptical of your data steenland, youre saying a computer told you a steel shaft gave you over a 100 yards over graphite.Just shows how good the software (or salesman)was then. And for all of these people claiming "I knock it 300 yards", well get yourself a GPS device, tour pro stats suggest their average is less than that, so as a senior you knock it past the tour pro's? Right you are then
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 Dandy Don, the distance argument is a heated one on most forums. but there will always be someone who hits a long ball off the 1 wood. rest of the game might be for shyte but that one long drive gives them hope. I've been that guy in the past. PS. also there this the great Carry vs total distance debate!
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I have also hit a 300 yard drive, it was links and it was baked ground and a nice sunny day,my point I probably badly made was that people who claim they hit 300 yard drives in my experiance are lucky if they knock it 250,a GPS device would confirm this.I certainly would not trust a computer simulator, get it out on the range and see what proper distance you hit it.
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All I'm giving is the readings that have gotten. Whther they are accurate or not is an entirely different question. Don't even listen to salesmen.
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 That Swingfit website wont give me a final reading. Is i just me. Maybe its pi**ed because i typed in grafalloy as my shaft make.
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 That Swingfit website wont give me a final reading. Is i just me. Maybe its pi**ed because i typed in grafalloy as my shaft make.
It does the same with me. It works until the last stage, but it doesn't recommend a shaft at the end. Rendering the whole thing pointless 
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