Basically you put it in a vice, and then you pull down on the end of it and let it rebound back. You have found the spine when the club goes straight down and comes straight back up, perfectly vertically. If it loops round or not straight you have not found it. Once you have found the spine, you need to mark it so you can put the shaft onto the club properly.
There are two types of golf shaft- Steel and Graphite. Generally steel is used on irons, wedges and putters, whereas graphite is mainly used for drivers and fairway woods. A new type of shaft has recently evolved it is the bi-matrix shaft which is steel and graphite.
Currently Fujikura Blur shaft for 2011 is a mere 47g for their R2 flex model.
Most golf shops
epoxy
Torgue refers to the twisting that happens to the shaft of a club as it is swung. Not only does the shaft of a golf club flex or bend as it is swung but it twists also. A graphite shaft manufacurer that markets a shaft as having low torque for examle, is saying that the shaft is designed to resist twisting as it is swung. The theory being less torque creates a more stable clubhead at impact.
The companies that make shafts for golf clubs will have a specification listed on the shaft itself such as "Stiff" of "Juniors". We call it "Flex". The flex standard may be the same on a graphite or steel shaft made by one company and nearly the same as made by another company. It is kind of like sizes for cloths. Both graphite and steel shafts come in "Stiff" flex. Companies may use the word "Mens" in place of "Stiff" or "Juniors" in place of a "not so stiff" shaft. Consult with your local Golf Coach or Golf Professional and they can explain more about the flex in a shaft or other things like "kick points" in a shaft.
If you are looking to fit a new graphite shaft to your club, I would say it doesn't matter which graphite shaft is the best but it is which one is best for you. Either a Grafalloy or Mitsubishi shaft, but they can be quite expensive.
Shaft is the handle of the golf club.
Personal preference really. If you are a high or low handicapper say 28- 3 you would hardly be able to tell the difference. Generally, the heavier the shaft, the stiffer it plays. The 60 gram would be whippier, so better suited to a player with a slower swing speed.
I don't know if they make fiberglass golf shafts but fiberglass does not conduct electricity that is why people who work around electricity use fiberglass ladders. Graphite shafts do conduct electricity.
I graphite shaft compared to a steel shaft on any club will give you more distance. For every club there will be roughly a five yard distance difference. You will hit the graphite further.
Yes, graphite shafts are far superior to steel shafts in terms of distance.