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how to determine if you should hard step golf shaft

by Tina Kemmer MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Part of a video titled What is Hard Stepping or Soft Stepping a Golf Shaft? - YouTube
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Say you have a player that should you know maybe be playing an x flex. But isn't quite there you canMoreSay you have a player that should you know maybe be playing an x flex. But isn't quite there you can hard step that s flex for them. So if they want to go at one they can really keep up with them.

Full Answer

What is hard stepping in golf clubs?

Hard stepping a set of irons. This is the process of making a clubs shaft a little stiffer. The PW shaft would be fitted into the 9 iron head, the 9 iron shaft would fit into the 8 iron and so on. The PW would require a new shaft and the 3 iron shaft would be left over.

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

One indicator of a too stiff golf shaft would be that you struggle to hit the ball high. Should your swing speed be on the low side combined with a too stiff shaft, any well-struck ball will be limited on the shot trajectory and the overall carrying distance. 1 How Do I Know That My Golf Shaft Is Too Stiff? 2 What Happens If My Shaft Is Too Stiff?

Should you change your golf clubs to a stiffer shaft?

If you are using a regular golf club and having inaccurate long hits, you may want to change to a stiffer shaft. With such a shaft, you will achieve more control. You won’t need much energy when taking swings and hitting the ball. All in all, distance without accuracy is not what a golfer wants. First, let’s define swing speed.

Should you soft step your golf clubs?

If you soft step once for one club, you will do so on all the irons and wedges to have a uniform progression of flex throughout the set. The downside to soft stepping is two-fold. First, since you are cutting less off the tip, that means you are cutting more from the butt end.

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What does hard stepping a golf shaft do?

Stepping shafts is a method of reshafting that focuses on a flex between the specific designations, say, between a regular and a stiff flex. "Hard stepping" would make a shaft stiffer, "soft stepping," more flexible.

How do you know if you need a stiffer shaft?

To check your swing speed a shot tracking device will be the most accurate method. Based on your swing speeds here are our recommendations: 80-95 mph swing speeds should use regular shafts. 90-105 mph swing speeds should use stiff shafts.

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

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

What does soft stepping a golf shaft do?

Soft stepping would enable the flex of the club shafts to be softer and more flexible. If you soft step a stiff flex shaft it would feel between a regular and stiff flex.

What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?

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.

Can a high handicapper use stiff shafts?

Stiff shafts are appropriate for men with single-digit handicaps as well as some with handicaps 10 to 15 who have high clubhead speed. Stiff flex is available in graphite or steel.

What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?

If your golf shaft is too stiff and your swing speed is too slow, your well-struck shot will be limited on both carry distance and shot trajectory; a too-stiff golf shaft will most often lead to weak fades or slices.

Do you lose distance with stiffer shafts?

If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low. If you are struggling with a slice, it is highly likely you are using stiff club shafts. By figuring out the most common type of shot you are playing, it becomes easier to know whether you need a softer shaft.

Will too stiff a shaft 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.

Does hard stepping lower ball flight?

Hard stepping a set of irons The effect on each club would be that each clubs shaft would be a little bit stiffer than they originally were and produce a slightly lower ball flight. Remember, when you hard step, the club lengths will decrease.

Should I hard step my iron shafts?

1:062:10What is Hard Stepping or Soft Stepping a Golf Shaft? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if they want to go at one they can really keep up with them. And they have confidence over theMoreSo if they want to go at one they can really keep up with them. And they have confidence over the ball. It's a method used by some of the best fitters on tour some of the best fitters in the world.

Does soft stepping make a difference?

A soft stepping iron has a larger sweet spot and offer better control of the golf ball. What is this? Soft Stepping golf irons are easier to hit because they have a larger sweet spot. Soft Stepping golf irons produce more consistent shots and control the ball better.

What happens if your shafts are 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 ...

What shaft stiffness should I use?

In general, golfers with driver swing speeds over 95 mph should play stiff flex shafts, and those under 95 mph should play regular flex. Shafts also come in extra stiff (105+ mph) and senior flex (under 85 mph).

Does shaft stiffness really matter?

A softer flex gives you more “kick” and ballspeed. A stronger flex makes the ball fly straighter. whippy shafts make you slice the ball. You should play the softest shaft you can control OR You should play the stiffest shaft you can get airborne.

Why do golf clubs have soft stepping?

"The main reason for soft stepping or hard stepping is to change the feel of the shaft for golfers who really want their shafts to feel just right.

What are the two ends of a golf shaft?

There are two ends of the shaft to consider. The butt end (the end to which the grip is fitted) and the tip which fits into the club-head. There are two different types of tip, parallel and taper-tip. The parallel-tip shaft is a constant diameter from the last step down to the tip of the shaft. The idea of this is that one shaft can be manufactured ...

What is a taper tip shaft?

The taper-tip shaft, as the name indicates, tapers down from the last step in the shaft. Taper-tip shafts are manufactured to the correct length and flex for each club so it is important that the correct shaft is fitted to the corresponding club. A 3 iron shaft would fit into an 8 iron, for example, but it would play far too soft in flex ...

How to get flex on a parallel tipped shaft?

To obtain the correct flex with a parallel-tipped shaft, the shaft is cut from the tip end at the appropriate point to achieve the correct flex. Then the shaft is cut from the butt end to achieve the desired length. The taper-tip shaft, as the name indicates, tapers down from the last step in the shaft. Taper-tip shafts are manufactured ...

What is hard stepping?

Hard stepping and soft stepping is a way changing the flex of a shaft in a club to obtain an in-between flex which will also produce a slightly different ball flight. It works the same way regardless if the shafts are taper or parallel tipped. Depending on which way you go, a regular shaft can be made to feel a little firmer ...

What shaft would fit a 9 iron?

The PW s haft would be fitted into the 9 iron head, the 9 iron shaft would fit into the 8 iron and so on. The PW would require a new shaft and the 3 iron shaft would be left over. The effect on each club would be that each clubs shaft would be a little bit stiffer than they originally were and produce a slightly lower ball flight.

What is the size of a Wilson over fit shaft?

There are others such as the Wilson over fit shaft (fat shaft) manufactured by True Temper and Apollo which measures in at .500 but most the common are .335, .350, .355 and .370. The smaller sizes,.355, .350 and .355 are what a wood would usually require and. .355 and .370 for irons but this is not a steadfast rule as club manufacturers are ...

What Happens If Your Shaft Isn’t Stiff Enough?

When the shaft is too stiff, it’s going to feel hard to swing, it’s going to feel heavy, and make you tired after a few swings.

How to determine shaft flex?

Your shaft flex will be determined mainly by your swing speed, and then by your ability, age and personal preference. Within each shaft flex there are different weights and kick points (bend points).

What Happens If Your Shaft Flex 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.

How Can You Measure Your Swing Speed To See What Shaft You Should Use?

These are called launch monitors , they track your swing speed, loads of other parameters.

When To Move To A Stiffer Shaft?

You should move to a stiff shaft once your swing speed moves into the next bracket, if you can’t track your swing speed here are some signs you need to go stiffer

What is shaft flex?

Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends throughout the swing, someone that swings it slow will need a more flexible shaft, while someone that swings it fast will need a stiffer shaft. You get Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff shafts in Woods and Irons, generally your Woods and Irons will be the same flex.

Why is my golf club slice?

Try a more flexible shaft, when a shaft is too stiff the clubface struggles to turn back to square, which will present the clubface open at impact, causing the ball to slice. The more flexible the shaft is the easier it is to turn the clubhead over at impact.

How to tell if your golf shaft is too stiff?

One indicator of a too stiff golf shaft would be that you struggle to hit the ball high. Should your swing speed be on the low side combined with a too stiff shaft, any well-struck ball will be limited on the shot trajectory and the overall carrying distance.

What Happens If My Shaft Is Too Stiff?

Getting your game analyzed on a launch monitor by a professional would be the ideal way to rectify any grem lins concerning your golfing form. Unfortunately, not all of us have that luxury and have to make do with self-analysis most of the time.

Why does my golf club close at the point of impact?

When your shaft is too flexible, it may result in a draw and hook shots, as the clubface may be unloading too quickly, causing the clubhead to close slightly at the point of impact .

Why is my golf ball leaking?

Not being able to flex the golf shaft enough when you swing won’t allow you to create a square impact position on your ball, leading to a leaking ball flight or fade. Should you tend to either slice the ball or fade towards the rough on the right of the fairway may indicate that your shaft is too stiff.

What is swing speed analyzer?

Swing speed analyzers are typically sensors that you attach to your golf clubs. The sensors will relay data to your cellphone via an app. Some of these analyzers work without you physically hitting a ball on the course.

How does low trajectory affect golf?

Not being able to hit a standard ball; instead, a low trajectory ball will result in less spin on your golf ball. The lack of spin will directly affect your game negatively, as you will have less control of the ball when it comes to greens and fairway play.

Why use granite shafts?

Using granite shafts, especially with regards to distance clubs, assists golfers with a slower swing speed. Sacrificing a bit of accuracy for distance is what you will get when using granite shafts. On the shorter irons, control and precision are more important, and you might want to mix and match with some steel shafts here.

What is the first thing to decide on golf shafts?

The first thing is to decide is what type of golf shafts you would prefer, followed by shaft flex, kick-point, torque rating and length. Each of these different aspects of golf club shafts that can influence the performance of your club, and each must be carefully considered before you put in an order. Read on to find out all about how ...

How to know if you have picked the wrong shaft?

If you have picked the wrong shaft, you will immediately know. When you go to swing the club, you will find that the ball won’t go as far as it should, and you may hit the ball off-centre. You may also find that the club may feel “dead” if the shaft is too heavy or stiff, or alternatively it can feel too soft and weak – both can significantly impact your game. Therefore, if you don’t know what to do, don’t guess, because you may end up with the wrong shaft for you and it can be costly to rectify if you have to buy more shafts or new golf equipment.

What is a multi-material shaft?

A recent addition to the market are multi-material shafts which are used on both irons and drivers. This type of shaft incorporates steel and graphite into one shaft to get the best of both worlds for each player, to suit all playing types. Generally, the shaft is made using a steel shaft that has a graphite tip.

How long should a 5-iron shaft be?

The following lists what length of shafts you should consider for certain heights. If the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor is: 29 to 32 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 inches. 33 to 34 inches = irons should be based on a 5-iron of 37 1/2 inches.

How much does graphite shaft weigh?

Graphite shafts are much lighter, less durable and more expensive in comparison to steel shafts, and weigh between 50 and 85 grams – around half the weight of a steel shaft! These light-weight shafts help to provide a greater swing speed for more power, however, it sacrifices control due to the flex generated in the swing.

What is the difference between steel shafts and graphite shafts?

Steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterpart s. They are often made from carbon steel, but stainless steel is sometimes used, and start at 120 grams.

How important is shaft length?

Once the shaft is installed onto your golf club, you must determine the right length for you. But how important is shaft length, we hear you say? Well, the importance of length, according to research, is extreme. For instance, ball impact that is 0.5 inches off-centre equates to a 7% loss of carry distance, and an impact that is 1 inch off-centre equates to a 14% loss of carry distance. So, the key to choosing the right shaft is finding the correct length that provides a repeating, solid hit each time.

How to tell if you need a stiffer shaft?

There are several ways you can use to tell if you need a stiffer shaft. One and the most common is distance and direction. If you tend to hit long balls, but with high inaccuracies, you likely need to have a stiffer shaft.

Why is my golf club shaft so flexible?

Expect misdirected flight paths of the ball. This happens because when a golf club impacts with the ball, the shaft tends to move forward. A right-handed golfer with a flexible shaft will notice that the ball moves towards the left.

What factors affect the flexibility of a golf club?

Factors such as your swing speed and the shaft material affect the flexibility of your golf club. If you often lose your direction despite having an impressive distance, then the problem might be that you are using a highly flexible golf club.

What are the factors that affect shaft flexibility?

Before we dive into the signs and outcomes of using a highly flexible shaft, there are factors that affect shaft flexibility that you need to know. Distance and accuracy, swing speed and golf club material affect shaft flexibility. In this article we look at their impact on highly flexible shafts and their effect on the turf.

What is the difference between a stiff shaft and a regular shaft?

You may ask yourself, what is the difference between a regular shaft and a stiff shaft? The answer to this is simple and quite self-explanatory. A stiff shaft is harder to bend and tends to be more firm, while the regular shaft is the opposite. Both of these shafts have their advantages and disadvantages.

What to consider when buying a golf club?

When purchasing a golf club, always consider the type of material used to make the shaft. Different materials have different flexes. For instance, graphite shafts tend to be lighter than their steel counterparts. You are likely to have higher swing speeds when using shafts made from graphite than those made of steel.

Why does my golf club slice?

There is a high chance that your stiff golf club will cause a slice. This happens because the face remains slightly opened when it hits the ball. The shaft fails to unload appropriately, leading to a slice. When choosing a golf club, make a point of picking one that is neither too stiff nor too flexible.

RogerinNewZealand

Top Points re Players Face!! and Killit Look...under stress! Superb says i who dropped to DGR300 so i can kill it with a Smile

Pepperturbo

Hard stepping and soft stepping Taper Tip shafts increases or decreases about half-a-flex, least that is what I was told by an OEM. I recently tested hard and soft-stepping on some taper tip shafts and didn't like the feel or down-range result of either, so went to "S".

getitdaily

I like my irons to play about the same flex as my woods. Play my woods at 6.5. Use the shaft chart that I believe is still pinned to find out how to get the shaft to 6.5. I hard stepped ctaper 120s to get there. They play fine.

How to choose shafts for golf?

Choose shafts that simply “feel” good to you. While there are technical ways to match shafts with clubs based on how you play , at the end of the day, the correct choice is one that gives you confidence. If there are doubts about which shafts to buy, hit some shots with various types of shafts to see which feel the most comfortable to you.

Why don't professional golfers use stiff shafts?

Interestingly, many touring professional golfers do not use the stiffest shafts in their drivers because they allow the club to do more of the work. Read on for more information about the right shafts for you and your game.

What does stiffness mean in golf?

Stiffness of a shaft indicates how much it will bend during a shot; different types of golfers require shafts with different stiffnesses. If you swing the club with little speed and your ball travels a short distance, you probably need a shaft that will bend a lot when you hit the ball.

How far can you hit a senior golf ball?

If you hit the ball about 200 to 225 yards, Seniors shafts are probably right for you. If you routinely can hit it about 250 yards, pick Regular shafts. But if you hit it longer, choose Stiff ones. And unless you pound the ball 300 yards or more, stay away from shafts that are Extra-stiff.

How far can you hit a golf ball with a driver?

For example, if you strain to make the ball fly about 175 yards, you probably should have Ladies shafts. If you hit the ball about 200 to 225 yards, Seniors shafts are probably right for you.

Do you have to have the same shafts on every golf club?

Realize that you don't have to have the same shafts in every club. For example, you might benefit from a less rigid shaft in your driver and possibly your hybrid clubs for more distance, but you may pick a stiffer shaft for your mid-irons and wedges where you place a great premium on accuracy and less on distance.

What is the X stiff range?

X-stiff – This is the range where most high-level players fall. If you’re swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set.

What is the average speed of a senior swinger?

Senior – Slower swingers fall into this category. Between 72 and 83 mph signifies you need to be hitting senior flex.

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.

Is True Spec Golf affiliated with 8AM?

Our friends over at True Spec Golf shared some data with us that illustrates the shaft that’s right for you based on your swing speed throughout the bag. ( True Spec and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf ).

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