What Is SST PURE? Golf Shaft Alignment Explained
SST PURE® is a patented golf shaft alignment process that analyzes an individual shaft to identify its most stable orientation. The SST PURE Shaft Alignment System uses proprietary computer software and data-acquisition sensors to locate the shaft’s neutral plane so the club can be assembled to minimize off-line bending and twisting.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
SST PURE at a glance
- What PURE stands for: Plane of Uniform REpeatability, the dominant, stable plane on which an individual golf shaft flexes.
- What it does: finds each shaft’s most stable orientation (the Neutral-Axis™) and marks it so the club is built in that position.
- Who invented it: Dick Weiss.
- Who uses it: hundreds of PGA TOUR players have had shafts SST PURE aligned. See the Pro Players list and SST PURE on Tour.
- Proof: independent robot testing by Golf Laboratories found PUREd drivers finished 13.2 yards closer to the center line on average.
- Cost: about $45 per shaft on average across the SST PURE licensee network.
- Where: authorized SST PURE licensees in the U.S. and around the world. Find a fitter.
Why golf shaft orientation matters
Golf shafts aren’t perfectly straight or perfectly round. Manufacturing produces unavoidable variations in straightness, roundness and stiffness. Those variations do not automatically make a shaft defective, but because they vary around the shaft, the way the shaft bends can change depending on how it is installed in the clubhead.
Irregularities in a shaft’s structure cause off-line bending and twisting during the golf swing. That shows up as more shot dispersion or, in irons, inconsistent performance from club to club. Most clubs are assembled with the shaft’s logo facing up (the “Logo Up” position), which is chosen for appearance, not performance, and is rarely the shaft’s most stable orientation.
How SST PURE works
The SST PURE process has four basic steps:
- Analyze the individual shaft with the SST PURE Shaft Alignment System’s sensors and software.
- Identify its most stable orientation, the neutral plane or Neutral-Axis™, where off-line bending and twisting are minimized when the shaft flexes.
- Mark that orientation on the shaft for assembly.
- Install the shaft in the clubhead in the SST PURE position.
Each shaft gets an SST PURE Shaft Analysis Report. The top section shows a structural analysis of the shaft (the Load Symmetry Index, scored from 1 to 100), and the bottom compares how the shaft performs in the Logo Up position versus the SST PURE position. Learn how to read your report.
PUREing does not add material to the shaft or change its manufactured flex. It identifies how the shaft should be oriented in the club. More SST PURE facts.
What independent testing shows
Golf Laboratories, Inc. tested SST PURE at its facility in San Diego, California, using a swing robot so that shaft orientation was the only difference between two sets of test shots: one with each shaft in its SST PURE orientation and one with the same shaft in a suboptimal orientation. The same head, grip model and new golf balls were used throughout.
Driver results
Seven stiff-flex shaft models in the same 10.5° driver head, with the robot swinging at 102 mph.
| Measure | SST PURE orientation vs. suboptimal orientation |
|---|---|
| Carry distance | 5.1 yards farther on average (up to 12.1 yards) |
| Total distance | 7.6 yards farther on average (up to 24.5 yards) |
| Accuracy | 2.9 yards from the center line vs. 16.1 yards: 13.2 yards closer on average |
| Ball speed | 141.6 mph vs. 139.9 mph: 1.7 mph faster |
Full driver test results and method
6-iron results
Three shafts: a 65-gram regular-flex graphite shaft and 105-gram and 120-gram stiff-flex steel shafts, in 6-iron heads.
| Measure | SST PURE orientation vs. suboptimal orientation |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | 17.9 feet closer to the center line on average (13.4 feet from the line) |
| Total distance | 2.5 yards farther on average |
| Maximum height | About 2 feet higher on average (113.8 feet) |
Full iron test results and method · Does SST PURE work? The full testing breakdown
These are results from controlled robot testing, not a guarantee of individual golfer results. The size of any benefit can vary by shaft, club and swing.
Independent Testing: Plugged In Golf
Plugged In Golf independently tested SST PURE with real golfers on Trackman. In their original 6-iron test, the PUREd iron went over 7 yards farther and finished 2.2 yards closer to the center line. They also publish an independent guide to SST PURE.
See the independent testing · Read Plugged In Golf’s SST PURE guide →
SST PURE vs. spine alignment and FLO
SST PURE is a specific patented, computerized shaft-analysis process. “Spining” is a broad term used for several manual methods of identifying shaft characteristics, and FLO (Flat Line Oscillation) is a manual technique some club builders use to observe shaft oscillation. SST PURE uses sensors, proprietary software and a standardized analysis rather than relying on visual observation or individual judgment.
SST PURE can only be performed with an authorized SST PURE Shaft Alignment System. Other shaft-alignment methods should not be represented as SST PURE. See the full SST PURE vs. spine alignment comparison.
Who should get their shafts PUREd?
SST PURE is used on professional tours, but it is not limited by handicap. The process addresses the golf shaft, not the player, and SST PURE’s player testing has shown improved impact repeatability across skill levels. Any golfer who wants to remove shaft orientation as a variable in their clubs can benefit. Who should get SST PURE?
Nearly every shaft can be PUREd: graphite and steel, stock and aftermarket, cut or uncut, in drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and wedges. The main exception is some bent-neck putter shafts (see every shaft and club type). If you play an adjustable driver or fairway wood, choose the adapter setting you plan to use, because some settings rotate the shaft. Learn more about SST PURE and adjustable drivers.
How much does SST PURE cost?
The average cost to SST PURE a shaft across the SST licensee network is about $45, and it is sometimes included in the price of a new club. PUREing an existing club (RetroPURE) costs more, up to about $100, because the club has to be disassembled, analyzed and rebuilt. Pricing varies by licensee. More on SST PURE cost and RetroPURE.
Where to get SST PURE
SST PURE is available through a network of authorized licensees, including Club Champion, True Spec Golf, Cool Clubs and independent fitters, across the U.S. and internationally. You can also send clubs directly to SST PURE for RetroPURE.
Find an SST PURE fitter near you · RetroPURE your existing clubs
What PUREing is not
PUREing is not a club fitting by itself. A fitting determines the head, shaft model, weight, flex and specifications that suit the golfer. PUREing sets the orientation of the selected shaft during assembly. The two are complementary but different jobs.
The simplest way to think about it
If you have taken the time to choose the right shaft, SST PURE answers one final question before assembly: in what orientation does this individual shaft behave most stably? Why golf shafts are not perfectly uniform.
Can a cut shaft be PUREd?
Yes. Cut or uncut shafts can be analyzed, marked and installed, and the process works on both steel and graphite shafts.