It is said that not all golf club heads are equal in technological
quality, nor are golf club shafts.  What is it about the head
material, the metal, that makes one club head better than another. 
Likewise, what is the difference in the shaft material.  I need an
answer I can use to guide my choice in club purchases, a practical
answer. Thank you.

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Clarification of Question by miltonii-ga on 20 Jul 2005 17:44 PDT

I know that some shafts are made of steel and some of graphite. But
within those two catagories there are varying degrees of quality, so I
am told.

The quality of the club has more to do with design and construction
than the materials used.  That said, materials like titanium allow for
a larger head / sweet spot for a given weight.  The rules of golf have
now been changed to limit the maximum size because of this.  Choice of
shaft depends on your swing - the faster it is the more rigid the
shaft needs to be, so you'd be looking at steel rather than graphite. 
Any practical advice is going to be very personal to you, so your best
bet is to talk to your local pro.

Ian G.

Thank you for your comment.  I am aware of the steel versus graphite
dynamic and that design is somewhat determined by my personal swing
characteristics.  But what I am hoping to understand is the
justification of cost differential based on "design and construction".
 What specifically is the difference, for example, between a $400 or
$500 driver and a $150 driver?  Thank you.

There is no justification for that difference - it's just what the
market's prepared to pay for this year's range from a name supplier. 
The first peripheraly weighted irons, oversized woods etc. were
genuine improvements over their predecessors, but even the cheapest
manufacturers catch up very quickly.

Ian G.