True Temper

Founded 1902 · Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Tech & Training Aids

#88

Global Rank

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True Temper stands as golf's most influential shaft manufacturer, with a history dating to 1902 when the company began producing steel shafts that would eventually replace hickory as golf's standard material. The Memphis-based operation, now owned by True Sports Inc., has maintained dominance in steel shafts for over a century through continuous innovation and deep integration with club manufacturers who spec True Temper offerings as original equipment. The brand's Dynamic Gold steel shaft, introduced in 1979, became the most-played shaft on professional tours and has maintained that position for decades despite numerous competitive challenges. Dynamic Gold's precise weight tolerances, consistent feel, and proven performance created industry-standard expectations that all premium steel shafts are measured against. Beyond Dynamic Gold, True Temper manufactures extensive steel and graphite shaft lineups including the Project X series for aggressive swingers, Elevate and Catalyst graphite for lighter-weight performance, and various game-improvement options for recreational players. The company's manufacturing expertise allows extremely tight tolerancing, weight variations measured in single grams and frequency consistency that enable reliable club building and fitting. True Temper supplies shafts to virtually every major club manufacturer while also serving the aftermarket fitting and custom building segments, making the company an essential but largely invisible infrastructure provider that enables the broader equipment industry. True Temper's market positioning emphasizes reliability, consistency, and proven tour performance rather than revolutionary innovation or aggressive marketing. The brand's tour presence exceeds all competitors combined in steel shaft adoption, providing validation that serious players choose True Temper when performance matters most. Recent years have brought challenges from graphite shaft adoption in irons and competition from brands like Nippon and KBS that have captured market share in certain segments, but True Temper's manufacturing scale and OEM relationships maintain structural advantages. Industry analysts view True Temper as representative of golf's component supplier ecosystem, companies whose products are essential to equipment performance but remain largely unknown to casual golfers who focus on club head branding rather than internal components that significantly influence actual playability.