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how can you tell if your golf shaft is too soft

by Henderson Kautzer Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A simple way to tell if your iron shaft is too soft is to check if there’s a noticeable “kick” sensation throughout the impact when you hit your golf ball. This is because the shaft isn’t steady enough because it’s weak and shakes throughout your shot as well as when your club hits your golf ball.

When To Move To A Stiffer Shaft?
  1. Feels 'whippy' in your hands.
  2. Feels too light.
  3. Your ball is ballooning in the air.
  4. Your ball is behind your pitch mark when you hit your driver.
  5. You ball spins to much on the greens when you approach with your irons.
  6. Your accuracy has dropped.
  7. You start hitting hooks.

Full Answer

How do you know if your golf shaft is too stiff?

One of the biggest indicators that your golf shaft is too stiff is that you are having trouble hitting the ball high. If you have a low swing speed and the shaft is too stiff, any well-struck ball will have a limit on the shot trajectory and the carry distance. This can result in slices or weak fades.

What happens when your shafts are too soft?

Golfing Youtube legend, Rick Shiels suggests that when your shafts are too soft it kicks the clubhead up at impact and angles it left, for right-handers. That results in unwanted hooks.

Are your golf shafts too flexy?

If you swing your club fast, most normal shafts will probably be a bit too flexible for you. Having a shaft with too much flex means your club face will be open which will make most of your shots lean to the right (assuming you’re right handed).

Does iron shaft softness affect the flight of a golf ball?

Using an iron shaft that’s too soft for you will also affect the flight of your golf ball. Your golf ball will consistently fly much higher than you intended if you use an iron shaft that’s too soft for you. This is because of the extra amount of flex caused by using an iron shaft that’s too weak.

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What happens if shaft flex is too weak?

Swinging with a weak shaft flex can hurt you in both windy and wet conditions. Because the spin is so high when you hit it with a weaker flex, the wind will magnify the spin and decrease your distance and accuracy.

What happens if your iron shafts are too soft?

It also will be hard to square the clubhead at impact, meaning you will have a tendency to hit your shots to the right. "Play the most flexible shaft you can control," said Scott Hennessey, president of True Temper shafts. "If it's too soft, you'll spray the ball all over the place."

How do I know if I need an extra stiff shaft?

Head to a local golf shop and have your swing speed tested. What is this? If your driver swings are clocking in at more than 105 miles per hour, you are going to need an extra stiff shaft. If, however, you are closer to 95 mph, the stiff should be the right fit.

Can too much flex cause a slice?

If your club shafts are too stiff, you'll have trouble loading them properly during your downswing. When the clubhead gets to the ball, the shaft won't unload properly and the face will remain slightly open, causing a slice.

Do all tour players use extra stiff shafts?

Do all pros use extra stiff shafts? Most PGA Tour pros will use stiff or extra stiff in their shafts. It is rare to find someone swinging a regular shaft with the amount of swing speed those guys have.

What happens if shaft is too stiff?

There are a few tell tale signs that your shafts are too stiff, firstly you will lose the ball to the right, because the shaft is to stiff it will be hard to square up at impact, causing the face to be open when you hit the ball, this is going to produce a fade or slice shot, generally ending up on the right side of ...

Do pros use stiff or extra stiff?

90% of the top 100 PGA Tour pros use extra stiff or Tour extra stiff flex shafts in their driver. As a whole pro players of woods, hybrids and utility irons again use extra stiff or Tour extra stiff shafts with stiff and stiff+ flex shafts only being more used in irons and wedges.

What happens if your golf shaft is too soft?

Golfing Youtube legend, Rick Shiels suggests that when your shafts are too soft it kicks the clubhead up at impact and angles it left, for right-handers. That results in unwanted hooks. Furthermore, if a shaft is too soft it can cause faster-swinging players to sky tee shots, and prompt excessive spin. YouTube.

How to tell if driver shaft is too light?

What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Light? Golf Digest coach Liam Mucklow has found that when a shaft is too light “it causes an unhinging of the wrists, which impacts your swing path. ”. That leads to duck hooks and excessive draw.

Why do golfers use lighter shafts?

It will cause the shaft to veer off its swing path, resulting in hooks and slices. Lighter shafts help slower swinging players increase their swing speed, and get the ball up in the air.

Why is my driver shaft so heavy?

If you are struggling to swing through the ball, and are pushing your shots, it is likely the driver shaft is too heavy for your swing. A heavy driver shaft will further reduce your clubhead speed, which will limit your ability to generate sufficient ball speed.

Why is my golf shaft so light?

If you are constantly hooking your shots or achieving excessive draw, your shaft may be too light and flexible. If you can relate to this problem, I recommend getting fitted to find the right shaft for your swing. It is advisable to test shafts with stiffer flex than you are currently using.

How fast should a golf driver be?

They will analyze your swing and determine the best flex for your driver. However, as a rule of thumb, golfers with swing speeds above 100 mph should test a stiff shaft, while swing speeds above 110 mph are better suited to extra stiff shafts. Those of us with moderate swing speeds may consider a regular flex.

What happens if the shaft weight is not in sync with the driver head?

Furthermore, if the weight of your shaft is not in sync with that of your driver head, you may have a club that is too heavy or light. Therefore the shaft weight of a driver is important to consider, but cannot deliver the desired results on its own. This is the stance taken by Golf Digest’s Liam Mucklow, who says “it takes more than ...

What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?

One of the biggest indicators that your golf shaft is too stiff is that you are having trouble hitting the ball high. If you have a low swing speed and the shaft is too stiff, any well-struck ball will have a limit on the shot trajectory and the carry distance.

What happens if you play with a golf shaft that has too much flex?

If you play with a golf shaft that has too much flex, you can find yourself hitting draws with a lot of spin on them. Any golf shaft that has too much flex for your style will flex too much from the start to the finish of the swing, and this allows for inconsistent release points.

How does a club shaft flex affect your swing?

During your swing, your club’s shaft will flex, changing the club head’s position. When you pick the right flex for your swing speed, the clubface lands squarely on the ball, helping to improve your accuracy and maximize your distance. A shaft flex that is too stiff will result in less lag throughout the swing and at impact, ...

Why does my golf ball fade?

A leaking ball flight or fade because you won’t be able to flex the golf shaft enough when you swing to create a square impact position on the ball. A low ball flight, resulting in less distance. Inconsistent contact – your swing won’t feel solid, even when you get center hits.

What is the shaft of a golf club?

The golf shaft is the part of the club that provides the power that is transferred to the head of the club and eventually the ball every time you swing. The flex of your golf club’s shaft is the thing that will directly dictate how your club transfers power, so getting a shaft with too much or not enough flex can significantly affect your ...

How to feel when swinging a golf club?

If you prefer a “springy” feel, consider opting for a more flexible shaft. If you don’t like to feel the clubhead moving during your swing, a stiffer shaft will likely feel more comfortable for you.

Why does my golf ball fly so high?

If the course is wet, your ball will fly too high, the distance will be shorter, or it can limit roll out because it can plug when it lands. You can experience: A ball that tends to misses or pulls mostly to the left on each swing for right-handed golfers and to the right for left-handed golfers. A draw flight.

How to tell if your golf club shaft is too stiff?

There are a few telltale signs that might give you an indication that your club shafts are too stiff. If you have a good swing, but your distance is lacking it may be the shaft is too stiff. It may also be that you tend to either slice the ball or fade towards the rough on the right of the fairway, for the same reason.

What is the shaft of a golf club?

The golf shaft is known as the ENGINE of the golf club. On the downswing, as the hips rotate, the weight transfer takes place and the body uncoils, the shaft of the club bends. This bend is also known as flex, and as this flex straightens out, power is transferred from the shaft to the club head and through to the ball.

What to use to reduce fade off tee?

Mix and Match. There is nothing wrong with the idea of mix and match and is becoming more common. Using graphite shafts on your driver, woods and long irons will help reduce the fade off the tee, increase the distance and soften the feel if you are to slightly miss-hit.

What is stiffness in golf?

The stiffness or flex of the shaft is a much-neglected aspect of your golfing equipment as most golfers are more interested in the brand, or technical features, or looks of their clubs. What most golfers fail to appreciate is the effect that ‘swing speed’ has on selecting the correct amount of flex of the shaft.

How fast can a pro swing?

Pros are top athletes and would have a swing speed of 110 mph on average, while amateurs would be swinging between 80 to 95 mph. There are various ways to determine your swing speed, from clip-on devices, iPhone Apps, range monitors, and at the pro shop.

Is graphite shaft stiff?

On the shorter, irons accuracy and control are more important thus the extra flexibility of the graphite shaft may be a disadvantage. Graphite shafts are also graded Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff, and Extra Stiff, but remember the actual flex will vary from one manufacture r to another.

HarryTilston

I play with regular shafts (Callaway 1996 irons and Taylormade SLDR Driver) and I feel like when I swing fully, the ball just balloons right. I have to swing slower to compensate. My ball flight is a slight fade. I am 6ft and 15 years old, and I drive the ball around 230-260 yards. What would any of you guys recommend?

HarryTilston

Best thing to do is test a stiffer shaft and see what the results and feel is like for you. That's the best starting point

TCMuc

Best thing to do is test a stiffer shaft and see what the results and feel is like for you. That's the best starting point

dbleag

Can't believe no one said it yet, but the constant need for Viagra may indicate that your shaft is too soft.

Socrates

Can't believe no one said it yet, but the constant need for Viagra may indicate that your shaft is too soft.

HarryTilston

Can't believe no one said it yet, but the constant need for Viagra may indicate that your shaft is too soft.

Socrates

I play with regular shafts (Callaway 1996 irons and Taylormade SLDR Driver) and I feel like when I swing fully, the ball just balloons right. I have to swing slower to compensate. My ball flight is a slight fade. I am 6ft and 15 years old, and I drive the ball around 230-260 yards. What would any of you guys recommend?

What Happens If Your Driver Shaft Is Too Stiff?

Playing with the correct shaft in your driver is incredibly important. With the correct shaft flex you will be able to deliver the club at optimum speeds, and produce the correct numbers in terms of launch and spin on the golf ball.

What is Shaft Flex, And Why Is It Important In Drivers

Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends while you swing the club, if you swing it slowly you will need a more flexible shaft, while if you swing it fast you will need a stiffer shaft.

What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Stiff

There are a few tell tale signs that your shafts are too stiff, firstly you will lose the ball to the right, because the shaft is to stiff it will be hard to square up at impact, causing the face to be open when you hit the ball, this is going to produce a fade or slice shot, generally ending up on the right side of the course.

Will You Adapt Your Swing To The Incorrect Shaft Flex

Yes you will, if your shaft is too stiff you will adapt your swing in more ways than one.

How Does Weight, Kick Point And Torque Affect Shaft Flex

90% of the time shaft flex is impacted by weight, the heavier the shaft is the stiffer it is, and the lighter the shaft is the more flexible it is.

How Does Swing Speed Affect What Shaft Flex You Should Use?

Swing speed is the main influencer in what shaft you should use. The faster you swing the more the shaft will bend, so the more you need to control it.

How To Discover Your Swing Speed?

By using a very fancy piece of machinery called a launch monitor, you are able to track how fast your swing speed is. The most popular companies are Trackman, Flightscope and GC Quad.

What happens if a golf shaft is too flexible?

If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results: 1. The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from ...

How to make sure your shaft flex is well matched to your swing?

The best thing to do is make sure your shaft flex is well-matched to your swing (by meeting with a clubfitter or at least a teaching pro in a hitting bay when buying new clubs). But when in doubt, always err on the side of more flexibility in the shaft.

Why does a golf shot feel more solid?

3. The shot will feel more solid because impact vibrations transmitted up to the hands along a shaft which is both more flexible and more bent will feel more solid .

Why does my golf ball flies lower?

1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2. The ball may tend to "leak" to the fade side of the target because the golfer cannot cause the desired forward bending of the shaft at impact, which helps bring ...

Can a golfer's loft decrease?

If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from the golfer's maximum potential distance. On the other hand, if the golfer is using too little loft, which is the case with a very high percentage of players today with the driver and 3-wood, the more flexible shaft could bring his launch ...

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Stiffness Or Flex

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The golf shaft is known as the ENGINE of the golf club. On the downswing, as the hips rotate, the weight transfer takes place and the body uncoils, the shaft of the club bends. This bend is also known as flex, and as this flex straightens out, power is transferred from the shaft to the club head and through to the ball. Rick Shiels …
See more on golfspan.com

Graphite Or Steel?

  • The introduction of graphite shafts has opened up a whole new dimension to golf club technology and performance. Graphite shafts offer the following benefits: 1. They are lighter than steel shafts. 2. Increase swing speeds and distance. 3. Better dispersion from the tee. 4. Assist golfers with slower swing tempos. BUT 1. They are usually more expensive. Graphite being a much light…
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Summary

  • As a right-handed player, do you tend to come off the tee with a left to right fade or even an occasional slice? Do you also have the feeling that you are striking the ball solidly, but it should be traveling further? Chances are your club shaft is too stiff for your swing speed.
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Final Thoughts

  • We all want to get the most enjoyment from our game as well as the best possible results. Before getting hung up on which brand of club to buy or what brand your favorite pro is using, first, admit that you are human and unique. Your clubs have to suit you, not your hero. Determine what your swing speed is and how much flex or stiffness your clubs are going to need to provide you with …
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