Golf club shaft

A golf club shaft comprising:

• a shaft, wherein the shaft includes braided yarns of reinforcing fibers that form layers, the layers being hardened with resin, wherein the layers include:
• a first layer, wherein the first layer has yarns which are positioned substantially symmetrically relative to the shaft axis;
• a second layer laminated on the first layer, wherein the second layer has inclined yarns, which are positioned substantially symmetrically at predetermined orientation angles relative to the shaft axis, and linear yarns, which are parallel to the shaft axis along the entire length of the second layer, wherein the orientation angles of the inclined yarns vary along the shaft axis;
• a third layer laminated on the second layer, wherein the third layer has yarns that are positioned substantially symmetrically relative to the shaft axis;
• wherein the shaft extends between a tip portion and a butt portion, wherein the orientation angles of the inclined yarns of the second layer are maximum at a predetermined location and decrease from the predetermined location towards the tip portion and the butt portion;
• and
• wherein flexural rigidity EI of the shaft gradually increases from the tip portion to the butt portion.

A method of manufacturing a golf club shaft comprising:

• providing a fist layer, the first layer including yarns positioned substantially symmetrically relative to the shaft axis;
• providing a second layer on the first layer, wherein the second layer has inclined yarns, which are positioned substantially symmetrically at predetermined orientation angles relative to the shaft axis, and linear yarns, which extend parallel to the shaft axis along the entire length of the second layer, wherein the orientation angles of the inclined yarns vary along the shaft axis;
• providing a third layer on the second layer, wherein the third layer has yarns positioned substantially symmetrically relative to the shaft axis;
• wherein the shaft extends between a tip portion and a butt portion, wherein the method includes maximizing the orientation angles of the inclined yarns of the second layer at a predetermined location such that the angles decrease from the predetermined location towards the tip portion and the butt portion;
• and
• arranging the inclined yarns and the linear yarns such that flexural rigidity EI of the shaft gradually increases from the tip portion to the butt portion.