how to determine golf club shaft flex

How much flex should your golf shaft have?

Determining which golf shaft flex your need (stiff, regular, senior, etc.) requires club fitting and testing. Start by using a launch monitor to analyze your golf swing speed. If your swing ranges between 85 mph and 95 mph then you should start with a regular flex. If your swing speed is faster than 95 mph, then you should try a stiff shaft.

What happens if golf shaft is too flexible?

Aug 10, 2021 · How to Determine the Right Flex for Your Iron? For a 9 iron, use extra stiff flex. For an 8 iron, use stiff flex. For a 7 iron, use regular flex. For a 6 iron, use soft regular flex. For a 5 iron, use senior flex. For a 4 or 5 iron, use ladies flex.

How to tell if your golf shafts are too stiff?

Jun 12, 2020 · If you’re swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set. Stiff – This range is still considered fast, …

Should golf beginners play with a stiff shaft?

Sep 21, 2018 · Those forces are generated by the type of swing that you have: fast or slow, smooth or jerky. There are five generally used ratings for shaft flex: Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior and Ladies, usually denoted by the letters X, S, R, A and L ("A" is used for Senior because this flex was originally called "amateur").

What golf shaft flex is right for me irons?

Determine the Proper Shaft Flex for Your SwingIf You Can Hit 150 Yards with a...Then Your Optimal Shaft Flex Is...6- or 7-IronRegular Flex (R)5-Iron/Hybrid or 4-Iron/Hybrid(Male or Female)Senior Flex (A/M)Any Iron/Hybrid lower than 4 or any Fairway Wood (Females or Juniors)Ladies Flex (L)1 more row•Feb 6, 2020

How do I know if my golf shaft is too flexible?

If the shaft is too flexible, you will have a 'whippy' feeling in your hands, and you won't be able to feel the clubhead on the downswing. When the golf ball is struck it will generally have too much spin if the shaft is too flexible, this will cause a 'ballooning' effect on the shot and it will tend to go quite high.

What does a shaft flex of 5.0 mean?

RegularRegular – 5.0. Regular Plus – 5.5. Stiff – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus – 7.0.

What is a 5.5 shaft flex?

Regular – 5.0. Regular Plus – 5.5. Stiff – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus – 7.0.Feb 2, 2018

How do I know if I need a stiffer shaft?

If you're swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set. Stiff – This range is still considered fast, but you most likely won't be out on Tour anytime soon. If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex.Jun 12, 2020

What happens if my iron shaft is too flexible?

A golfer using a shaft that is too flexible may experience a ball flight that is too high, a ball that spins too much, or a shot pattern that has inconsistent dispersion.Oct 15, 2018

What do the numbers on Hzrdus shaft mean?

The Project X flex system uses numbers to denote flex. A scale of 5.0 to 7.0 is used to mark flexes between regular and Tour-extra-stiff. The HZRDUS Black comes in 60- and 70-gram weights with 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 flexes, regular+, stiff, and extra-stiff respectively.

What do the numbers on a graphite golf shaft mean?

These numbers are the weight of the shaft in grams. Shaft weights typically range between 50 grams and 85 grams with the 50-60 numbers being pretty common as seen in the example shafts above.

Are steel shafts better than graphite?

Typically, steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterparts. They are more often than not made from stainless steel and they tend to weigh in between around 90g-120g. Torque or lateral twisting found in all graphite shafts is lower in steel irons.Dec 18, 2019

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

172 - 215 ydsThe average distance golfers hit each club varies widely. A PGA Tour player hits a 7-iron between 172-215 yards....Average Distances for PGA Tour Players.ClubAverage Distance7 Iron172 - 215 yds8 Iron160 - 200 yds9 Iron148 - 185 ydsPitching Wedge136 - 170 yds7 more rows

Whats the difference between stiff flex and regular flex?

What's the difference between regular and stiff shafts? A stiff shaft is firmer and harder to bend than a regular shaft, and so more often than not, they're also heavier in weight. As a rough rule of thumb, the more speed you generate, the stiffer your shafts should be.Mar 1, 2021

What Is Shaft Flex?

Shaft flex is the degree to which the shaft will bend or flex during the swing. A more flexible shaft bends easily during the swing and has the potential to produce a longer-ranged shot.

How Does Shaft Flex Impact Your Golf Game?

The shaft flex of your golf club has an immense effect on the game’s outcome as a whole. From high irons to wedges and drivers, you have to make sure they have the correct flex for trajectory, accuracy, and distance.

How to Choose the Shaft Flex for You?

You can know the correct flex for your shaft by evaluating your swing at a golf equipment store. They’ll check all kinds of things like ball speed, distance, clubhead speed, spin, and many other factors. They also try several shafts in the same driver head to give the most accurate results.

What Shaft Flex Should You Use for The Driver?

It would be best if you choose the stiffest shaft flex for your driver because it is often the club that has the maximum swing speed. Since it carries the maximum swing speed, you may consider choosing the most accurate shaft flex.

How to Determine the Right Flex for Your Iron?

Choosing the right flex for the iron depends on the club you use for hitting a 150-yard shot. If you’re about to take a 150-yard shot, consider using these flex for your irons.

Final Thoughts

When selecting a flex for the shaft in your clubs, the tradeoff is between accuracy and distance. Choosing a senior flex helps you to achieve greater distance due to its flexibility but at the cost of lower accuracy.

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What is the best mph for senior flex?

Between 72 and 83 mph signifies you need to be hitting senior flex. Ladies – By no means do all women’s golfers will fall in this category, but this is where many of the recreational women’s players find themselves.

Can you extrapolate your swing speed to driver?

You should consider that your swing speed for your irons might not extrapolate perfectly to driver (and vice versa), so while a certain flex might be right in some clubs, that might not be the case in others.

What are the ratings for shaft flex?

There are five generally used ratings for shaft flex: Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior and Ladies, usually denoted by the letters X, S, R, A and L ("A" is used for Senior because this flex was originally called "amateur").

What does flex mean in golf?

"Flex" refers to the ability of a golf shaft to bend as forces are applied to it during the golf swing. Those forces are generated by the type of swing that you have: fast or slow, smooth or jerky.

Why is softer flex better for macho men?

Choosing a softer flex often has the effect of forcing macho men to slow down their swings. And slowing down the swing often makes those macho men into better golfers. And the fact is, the harm in hitting a shaft that is too flexible is much less than the harm in hitting a shaft that is too stiff.

What is the key to a club fitting?

The key, short of a club fitting, is hitting lots of different clubs and watching the effect that changing shaft flex has on your shots. If you find a flex that feels good and produces a good ball flight, there's a good chance that's the right flex for you.

What shaft do you need for a jerky swing?

A swing that gets jerky at the top—when transitioning into the downswing—will probably need a stiffer shaft. If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.

What is a club fitting demo day?

At demo days, you'll be able to hit many different types of clubs with different types of shafts. Or find a good pro shop with swing bays where you can try before you buy. The key, short of a club fitting, is hitting lots of different clubs and watching the effect ...

What is a shaft flex?

The flex simply refers to how flexible the shaft of the golf club is. This effects the distance, trajectory, and accuracy. As you bring the golf club down to hit the ball, the shaft flexes to allow a more devastating contact with the ball. This can offer you much better shots for less effort, which is often great for beginners.

Different types of shaft flex available

There is a chart that will help you to determine the correct flex for you, which we will include below. However, the best way to find the ideal flex for you is to attend a professional fitting. If you don’t want to do this, though, don’t forget to refer to this chart to help you make your decision.

How to find the best golf shaft flex?

If you don’t want to get a professional fitting for the flex of your golf clubs, there are some alternative methods to ensure that you choose the right option.

Final Say

We hope that this article has given you some insight into the right golf shaft flex for you. There are various options out there for you to try, and there are multiple options for how you can go about finding the best flex for you.

What is a golf shaft flex point?

Identify the golf shaft flex point, which is where the shaft primarily bends when hitting the golf ball. Low flex points will result in higher ball trajectories with less difference observed across steel shaft flex options than with graphite shafts.

What is the shaft of a golf club?

By Jackson Lewis. With the improvement in golf club technology since 200, the golf club shaft has become one of the most important components of any club. The shaft is the primary instrument by which the swing energy is transferred to the club head when striking a golf ball.

How to maximize energy transfer during club head impact with the golf ball?

To maximize the energy transfer during club head impact with the golf ball, the shaft flex must be matched to the golfer's overall swing speed.

What clubs hit the golf ball from 150 yards?

If there is not a facility convenient to your location, the rule of thumb measures to use for clubs that are used to hit the golf ball from 150 yards are: Ladies Flex for a 3 iron or wood; Senior Flex for a 4 iron; Regular Flex for a 5 or 6 iron; Stiff Flex for a 6 or 7 iron and X-Stiff Flex for a 8 or 9 iron.

What happens when you swing down a golf club?

The shaft can be thought of as the engine of the golf club. When you swing down, the shaft will flex as a way of storing up energy. When that energy is released into the back of the ball, you will be able to launch the ball into the air as a result of what the shaft is doing. Of course, that will only happen when you have the right shaft.

Why is my golf club face closed down?

Without enough swing speed to properly bend the shaft on the way down, the club face will usually be closed down at impact – leading to that low and left pattern. In this case you will also have trouble generating backspin, meaning that you may not be able to hold greens easily when hitting iron shots.

Why does my golf ball fly high?

When you are using a club shaft that is too soft for your swing speed , the ball will consistently fly high and will often be pushed to the right. Rather than a powerful high shot that travels a great distance, shots hit with a shaft that is too soft will just float up into the air as a result of a high spin rate.

What are the two categories of golfers?

Leave a Comment. Golfers can generally be divided up into two categories – those who obsess over equipment, and those who completely ignore it. It seems that the average golfer is either concerned with every last detail of the clubs they use, or totally disinterested in even learning about the basics. In other words, some golfers feel that ...

Does shaft flex make you a good golfer?

Good equipment isn’t going to make you a great golfer – but it can help you become the best version of yourself on the course. Specifically, finding the right shaft flex for your clubs can help you to create a nice trajectory with a reasonable spin rate from your driver on down through your wedges. Take the time to figure out which shaft flex works ...

Can a stiff shaft cause a bad swing?

Just as a shaft that is too soft can cause trouble, a shaft that is too stiff can lead to disappointing results as well. However, the ball flight patterns that you notice are going to be completely opposite when the shaft is too stiff for your swing. Most likely, you will find yourself hitting low shots that are frequently pulled to ...

Do you need to monitor your golf swing?

Instead, you are going to need to monitor the status of your equipment on an ongoing basis for as long as you are a golfer. Your swing is going to change over time, so you need to make sure your equipment adapts to those changes.

How important is shaft length in golf clubs?

The length of the shaft in your driver is extremely important, as it plays a big role in determining how fast you can swing the club, the club’s path and angle of attack and, ultimately, how well you’re able to make center-face contact.

Why are golf clubs not fitting?

Having golf clubs that are not properly fitted for length can be a major contributor to inconsistent performance. For the same reasons that someone who is 6’ 5” wouldn’t walk into a men’s clothing store and buy a suit off the rack, golfers need to make sure that the golf clubs that they buy are suited to their body type and size.

What does a professional club fitter do?

Professional club fitters take a number of factors into consideration as they assess the club specification requirements of each golfer. Specifically as it pertains to club length, they will look at a couple of static measurements, and they will also conduct a “dynamic” fitting assessment:

Why is wrist to floor measurement important?

The reason it is so pervasive in club fitting is because it adds an additional layer to the measurement, which improves its accuracy.

Why is playing with clubs too short bad?

Playing with clubs that are either too short or too long can cause a golfer to change their stance or swing in ways that could negatively affect the outcome. It can lead to subconscious swing compensations that can result in inconsistent ball striking.

What happens if a golfer has a short club?

If a player has clubs that are too short, they will usually bend over too much from the waist in their address position. Conversely, clubs that are too long will require the player to stand too erect. Both of these subconscious adjustments could potentially make their swing motion less effective than it should be.

What is the most important factor in creating distance with the driver?

However, studies have shown that the single most important factor in creating distance with the driver is not the length of the shaft, but rather the golfer’s ability to hit the ball on the sweet spot of the club face. So, while shaft length is important in generating distance, there is a point of “diminishing returns.”.