The best way to get the right shaft flex for your swing is to work with a professional club fitter. This is the way to go because there are so many variables within this process to consider. Yes, you can make a basic judgement on the shaft flex you should used based solely on your swing speed, but this is a pretty rudimentary method at best.
How to choose the right shaft for your golf club?
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 measure the length of a golf club shaft?
What is a golf shaft and why is it important?
When it comes to performance the golf shaft has been referred to as the transmission of the golf club. The flex, length, and weight can all effect how you are hitting a golf ball. In fact, the correct shaft can help any golfer hit the ball straighter and farther.
How do I determine the length of my golf club?
In order to determine the length of your club, stand tall and get someone to measure from the crease where your wrist and hand meet to the floor. Do this with both hands and take an average of the two measurements.
How do I know what golf shaft is right for me?
Put simply, the higher the rating, the more the shaft is prone to twisting. It is the torque that also determines how the shaft feels to every player, which means that the higher the rating, the softer the shaft will feel. A shaft with a 3-degree torque will feel much stiffer than a 5-degree torque, for example.
What golf shaft should I use in my driver?
Shafts can range anywhere from 40 to 85 grams. Typically, the rule of thumb is that a golfer with a slow swing might use lighter shaft, and he/she would add weight as swing speed increases. The simple fact is that the lighter shafts provide the opportunity to increase swing speed.
What shaft is right for my swing speed?
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).
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 ...
What happens if shaft is too flexible?
Having a shaft that is too flexible can also cause the ball to hook uncontrollably, because the shaft bends incorrectly, it will come through with a closed clubface causing the ball to go left, this is because the shaft can't handle your swing speed, and the head is rotating too much.
How far should you hit a 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distances are following: Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women)
What shafts do you need for a slow swing?
Slow swing speeds will generally require softer-flex shafts, while high swing speeds need stiffer shafts; due to variations in swing patterns, however, swing speed is only one portion of finding the right shaft. Briand’s recommendation is to use your current driver shaft as a baseline.
What happens if you have a longer shaft?
As Briand says, a longer shaft will cause a less consistent strike on the face, and the golfer will tend to hit the ball closer to the heel. A shorter shaft, on the other hand, will cause a more consistent strike pattern, but impact location will tend to be on the toe. A golfer’s physical size, arm length, swing speed, consistency, ...
What does low torque mean on a shaft?
5. Torque. A low torque measurement means that a shaft has greater resistance to twisting, while a high torque measurement means it will twist more easily.
What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff?
Generally speaking, a driver shaft that’s too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that’s too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.
How tall is Rickie Fowler's shaft?
A look at Rickie Fowler's fairway wood shaft, which measures 42 inches with 0.5 inches of tipping. Fitting a golfer into the exact right shaft for them over the internet is a tall, if not impossible, task. All driver swings are different, and there are so many options on the current market. Shafts are made with different flexes, lengths, weights, ...
Does tipping a shaft change the bend point?
Remember, though, that tipping a shaft will change the bend point, and it’s also irreversible, so make sure you know the purpose behind tipping your shaft. 2. Weight. The weight of a shaft has a similar correlation to performance as flex.
Does a high bend point lower or raise the ball?
According to Briand, a high bend point will lower ball flight and a low bend point will raise ball flight. So, if you tend to have a ball flight that’s too high, look for shafts that have a high kick point, and vice versa. It’s important to note that variations in length and shaft tipping will impact the designed bend point of a shaft.
What is a golf shaft?
When it comes to performance the golf shaft has been referred to as the transmission of the golf club. The flex, length, and weight can all effect how you are hitting a golf ball. In fact, the correct shaft can help any golfer hit the ball straighter and farther. Take a closer look at the different types of shafts usually offered, and find the one that’s best for your swing.
What shafts are best for a senior golfer?
With greater swing speeds and flex you will lose some accuracy with the club. Graphite shafts are best suited for senior golfers and lady golfers who cannot produce a lot of swing speed.
Why is flex important in golf?
Flex. The most important factor when buying a shaft is the flex because it affects your distance and direction. In essence flex is the ability of a golf shaft to bend during the golf swing.
1. Establish a baseline
Before even venturing into the abyss of the shaft market, you should first take inventory of your performance with your current set. This means hitting every single club in your bag on a launch monitor to gather data, preferably under the supervision of a local fitter or teaching professional.
2. Do your research
This step may be the most painful for some, but I promise it will be valuable in the long run.
3. Conduct testing (with minimal variables)
OK, so the painful research part is out of the way. Now for the fun stuff: it’s time to try out new shafts!
4. Find a professional builder you trust
Purchasing the perfect shaft is great, but unfortunately that’s only half the battle. The shaft has to be physically attached to your club head, equipped with a grip, and the assembly needs to be done with precision.
5. Monitor your performance
After following the first four steps, you should now have a shaft setup that matches your golf swing.
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 flex when I swing down?
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. If you have a shaft that is the wrong flex for your swing, ...
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 many yards can you add with a golf club shaft?
To set the record straight, with the right shafts, you could add an additional 20 to 25 yards to your game as well as improve your accuracy.
What does flex mean in golf?
Simply, flex refers to the amount a shaft will bend while you swing. If you choose the wrong flex, the club head will not hit the ball squarely which will have an impact on your distance and the trajectory of the golf ball. Although there are no standards established, there are 5 different levels of flex: Ladies, Senior, Regular, ...
How many levels of flex are there?
Although there are no standards established, there are 5 different levels of flex: Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and Extra Stiff. If your drives carry less than 200 yards, you should probably have Ladies shafts, and if your ball carries between 200 and 225 yards, you should buy clubs with Senior shafts.
Can you swing a golf club with a lighter shaft?
The weight of a club is a matter of preference. Generally, you can swing a club with a lighter shaft faster, thereby increasing your distance. But you most likely will sacrifice some accuracy. Length is also a personal matter, and clubs with longer shafts generally hit the ball further. But clubs with shorter shafts are easier to hit ...
How long does it take to find the perfect shaft profile?
It is difficult to give basic recommendations and the perfect shaft profile can only be found in a fitting and usually over longer playing periods. It can take years for a player to find the perfect profile. Therefore a player usually stays with it and remains consistent throughout the set.
What is the softest point of a shaft?
Then there are shafts with a stiff tip and a soft grip area. Basically the tip is the softest point of the shaft. These shafts are nevertheless stiffer at this point than, for example, in the middle of the shaft.
What is graphite shaft?
Theoretically, they can combine the best of both worlds. A graphite shaft is basically lighter and able to dampen vibrations better. Shaft weight: The weight of a shaft influences both the total weight and the swing weight of the club.
What does the stiffness of a shaft mean?
The stiffness indicates the stiffness of the entire shaft, but not whether the shaft is stiff in the tip, middle or butt section.
Is a carbon shaft flexible?
A carbon shaft therefore does not mean being flexible at the same time. You can find the respective shaft weight in the charts above. It is important to know that a number like 80 always represents a "lower limit" and the actual weight is always slightly above this number, e.g. 83g.
Is a carbon shaft stiffer than steel?
Basically, carbon shafts tend to be lighter than steel, but can be built just as stiff - sometimes even stiffer. A carbon shaft therefore does not mean being flexible at the same time.
Is the 105 a stiff shaft?
The Modus 105 in Regular is basically just as stiff as the Modus 120 in Stiff. One thing that is striking about the Fujikura Pro shaft, for example, is that the stiffness is very constant across the weight classes. That is why, for example, the Pro 75 is just as stiff as the Pro 85 in Stiff.
Why is my golf ball inconsistent in all directions?
Improperly fit shafts can cause inconsistency in flight direction, due to the mismatched flex characteristics of the shaft to the player, and the players perception and compensation for the mismatched flex. Generally, too flexible a shaft can cause inconsistent directional ball flight in all directions. Too stiff a shaft can lead ...
Can club fitters analyze data?
Yes, we as club fitters can analyze data we acquire on many of the wonderful launch monitors that are available, and narrow down choices based on the data. This does take some of the guess work out of the decision and gives us performance data to base a decision on.
Do shafts always equal performance?
A broad range of prices exist in the shaft category. Price does not always equal performance. From a performance standpoint, shafts should be chosen based on their specifications and how those specifications fit the players swing characteristics, providing the desired trajectory, feel and consistency.
What happens if a golf shaft is too stiff?
Selecting a shaft too stiff will cause lower ball flight and a loss of distance, whereas a shaft too soft can result in ballooning and, again, loss in distance.
How to tell if a golf club has a high loft?
You can judge the loft by how much of the face of a club is angled upward or how much the top of the face is angled away from the shaft.
What is the best bounce for golf?
As a general rule, most golfers are best with a bounce between 10 to 14 degrees. High Bounce Wedges – Those with a high space between the ground and the leading edge, the biggest bounce is around 18 degrees. Best for play out of soft turf and sand, they are good for golfers with steep attack angles.
What is loft angle?
Loft. A vital measurement, the loft, or loft angle, refers to the angle formed by a line running down the centre of the shaft and the face of the club. Measured in degrees, a golf club with a relatively low loft, such as 3 iron sitting at 21–23 degrees, will make the ball go further than one with a higher loft.
How does a thick grip affect golf swing?
The thickness of the grip can have a massive effect on your swing. A grip that is too thin can lead to golfers having large hand actions leading into the swing. However, too thick a grip will restrict your hands and have an equally devastating impact.
How many yards difference between 7 irons?
Other irons such as the 7-iron sit between these two extremes, with around 12-15 yards difference between each club. Essentially, the lower the golf club number is, the lower the flight, the further it will travel but the harder it is to control.
What are drivers made of?
Most drivers are made of titanium and/or carbon composite because they are much lighter than steel, letting manufacturers increase the size of the head. If you are buying used drivers or those manufactured prior to January 2008, ensure that they are still legal for club competitions.
What are the characteristics of a golf shaft?
Golfers often want to know about the three main characteristics of a golf shaft: weight, kick point, and torque. In this video, you will learn how these three specs are actually connected and how they affect each other.
What does the shaft do in golf?
Having the right shaft in your golf clubs makes a world of difference to your game. The shaft affects club performance on everything from spin, launch, and speed. The wrong shaft could cause the ball to launch too high or too low as well as spin too much and cause you to lose distance.
