There’s a correct way to flex the club up. The secret is all in the (right) wrist. Our Top 100 Teacher Jon Tattersall explains. NO! This is your standard weekend-play hinge (below). Yes, the club is up, but only because you’ve hinged your left wrist toward your left forearm.
Full Answer
How to choose the right flex for your golf clubs?
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. On the other hand, the regular flex gives better accuracy and control, but it reduces distance.
How do flex and degree of flex affect a golf shaft?
Both the degree of flex a shaft contains and the location of its flex point will affect the distance a player is likely to achieve with that club. Golf shafts are typically grouped into five flexibility categories.
Should you opt for senior flex or regular flex for golf?
Instead, you can opt for either senior or regular flex. Regular flex is the most popular option because it offers just enough flexibility to give the golfer impressive forgiveness, but not enough flex to throw their shots off target.
Are You playing the right shaft flex for your game?
Playing the right shaft flex is key for improving your game. Finding clubs that are right for you can be a difficult if you’re not armed with the correct knowledge.
How do you determine your flex in golf?
"L" is the most flexible shaft and "X" is the stiffest shaft:"L" denotes "ladies flex""A" or "M" denotes "senior flex" (might also be designated "AM" or "A/M," or "Senior")"R" denotes "regular flex""S" denotes "stiff flex" (might also be designated "Firm")More items...•
Do any pro golfers use regular flex?
Common Mistakes. Kramer's 2006 “Golf Magazine” article cites a survey showing that just 2 percent of PGA Tour players and 10 percent of PGA Champions Tour players used regular flex shafts in their irons.
What is a flex 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. There are five generally used ratings for shaft flex: Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior and Ladies.
Is flex good in golf clubs?
When selecting golf club shafts, it is better to buy a softer flex than a stiffer one. Flex is related to ball trajectory, so if you choose a shaft that is too soft, you might have trouble getting air under the ball. If you slice, a softer shaft may help. If you hook, a stiffer shaft may help.
Can you hit a 300 yard drive with a regular flex shaft?
Let me put it bluntly – No You Can't! If some guys on the PGA Tour can't hit it 300 yards – you can't either. Understanding the 'true distance' you hit the golf ball is more important than the 'bragging distance' you can hit it.
What Flex is best for high handicapper?
Regular. The most common flex, regular, is designated as "R" on the flex chart and is recommended for golfers who regularly drive the ball 210 to 240 yards and have a swing speed between 75 and 84 mph. Steel and graphite shafts are available in regular flex, which is appropriate for men with mid to high handicaps.
What flex should a beginner golfer have?
But if a beginner player already has a decent swing motion and generates clubhead speed between the range of 95 to 110 mph or more, then a stiff shaft or extra stiff shaft could be justified to be used by a beginner golfer.
What flex should my driver be?
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).
How do I increase my swing speed?
5 Best Golf Swing Tips To Increase Your Swing Speed QuicklyPhysical fitness: Your overall strength and the range of motion will significantly affect your goal swing speed. ... Club fitting: ... Focus on rotation: ... Use your wrist as a Lever: ... Hit it free: ... Put some lag: ... Use speed training tools:
What flex do I need for my 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•Apr 6, 2022
Is regular or stiff flex better?
The regular flex golf shaft is more flexible and easier for slower swing speed golfers to swing than the stiff flex golf shaft. A stiff flex golf shaft creates more resistance in the swing of a golfer. Therefore when they attempt to hit the ball with a bit more speed, they can get the incredible distance.
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.
Do any PGA pros use regular shafts?
As a whole 90% of the top 100 golfers on the PGA Tour use either an extra stiff or Tour extra flex shaft in their driver. Only a very small number of this elite group, including Brian Harman and Jason Day, use a 'softer' stiff driver shaft while not one of the top 100 uses a regular or regular+ shaft in their driver.
Do pros use regular 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 shaft flex do Tour pros use?
What is this? Over 80% of the top 100 PGA Tour Players play an extra stiff or Tour extra stiff golf shaft in their driver. Only a select few players, including Brian Harman, Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day use only a stiff shaft. None of this elite group uses a regular flex driver shaft.
Does Tiger Woods use a regular or stiff shaft?
For example, Tiger Woods who consistently hits shots longer than 300 yards has a Regular shaft in his driver.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
How to determine golf shaft flex?
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.
Why do golf clubs have shafts?
During the golf swing the shaft causes deflection (bend) that causes the clubhead to be in a forward and toe downward position relative to the grip of the club.
What is the best shaft for golf?
Steel – A steel golf shaft is usually stronger and more durable (less likely to snap) than a graphite shaft. It’s also less expensive and sometimes stainless steel is used in the creation of the steel shaft. There is also two variations, stepped steel and rifle steel.
Why does my golf shaft have a slice?
When the golf shaft is too stiff, it doesn’t unload properly at impact. This can lead to the face staying open and result in a slice golf shot. Beware, a slice isn’t always an indication the shaft is too stiff so if you already have a slice, it could be caused by another fault in your golf swing.
What shafts do golfers use?
For most golfers, a graphite shaft works great. Most iron sets are made with graphite shafts as well so you get that material type by default usually unless you specifically seek out steel shafted irons. With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control.
What is the most common shaft material used in golf clubs?
Graphite Shafts. Graphite – this type of shaft is usually lighter weight compared to a steel shaft but it’s less durable and more expensive to make. Graphite is one of the most common shaft types used in golf clubs and can arguably be considered the main shaft material used, beating out steel.
What to know about golf shafts?
In today’s guide we will review everything you need to know about golf shafts. Picking out the proper golf shaft is very important as it will impact several components of your golf swing. For example, picking the wrong golf shaft flex can cause you to hook or slice the golf ball. It also can hinder the total distance the ball flies by having too much spin or too low of launch. But don’t worry, at the end of reading today’s guide you’ll be much more educated on the buying process and how to pick out the right golf shaft. Lets Get Started!
What are the different flex categories for golf clubs?
Shafts come in five flex categories: extra stiff (X), stiff (S), regular (R), senior (A) and ladies (L). Generally, the faster your swing the speed, the stiffer the shaft you will need.
What is the best distance to drive a golf ball?
Regular flex may be used by golfers who consistently drive the ball between 225-250 yards and is also a very popular selection. This stiffness is appropriate for mid-high handicappers.
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 is the FLEX Program?
The FLEX Program provides Professional Golf Instruction with the ease of a simple work out membership. The model formula for golf of frequency with support is the best way to get desired results. FLEX allows each member to learn at their own pace, set their own schedule and take the classes that they need most.
Who is the FLEX Program for?
Whether you are a just getting into golf or you have been playing for years, the FLEX Program is for you. The Classes are for adults 18 and over. Children 12 years of age and above may join the program with their parents or guardian. Parents / guardian and child must take classes together.
What is flex point in golf?
He notes that a shaft’s flex point, also known as the kick point, is the spot where the shaft will bend the most.
What happens if your golf shaft is flexed?
If the energy isn’t released quickly enough -- in other words, if the shaft is still flexed on impact -- you’ve wasted potential energy. If the shaft straightens prior to impact, the potential energy you have built is gone and, again, you’ll lose distance on your shot.
How does the shaft work in golf?
A golf shaft stores energy when it flexes during the backswing and the start of the downswing. The energy is released at impact when the shaft whips forward. As the Leaderboard website notes, if you put the grip end of a club into a vise, then pull back on the clubhead, you’ll feel tension in the club. This tension is the stored energy, which will spring the club head forward if you release the club. To achieve maximum distance, Leaderboard.com explains, the stored energy must be released at the moment of impact during a golf swing. If the energy isn’t released quickly enough -- in other words, if the shaft is still flexed on impact -- you’ve wasted potential energy. If the shaft straightens prior to impact, the potential energy you have built is gone and, again, you’ll lose distance on your shot.
What is the difference between a higher flex point and a lower flex point?
All else being equal, Thomas explains, a higher flex point produces lower ball flight, while a lower flex point results in a higher launch angle.
How fast should a golfer swing?
Longtime USGA technical director Frank Thomas advises golfers with swing speeds of 80 to 95 mph to start ...
Is there a flex standard for golf shafts?
Unfortunately, as “Golf Magazine” editor Scott Kramer notes, there is no industry standard regarding flex. In other words, two S shafts manufactured by two different companies may have different amounts of flex.
Is the golf club up or down?
Yes, the club is up, but only because you’ve hinged your left wrist toward your left forearm. It’s a one-way hinge, so even though you’ve created a nice 90-degree angle between the shaft and your forearms, the clubface is open. It looks good, but shots hit with this type of backswing are likely to miss short and right.
Do you have to bend your wrist to hit a golf club?
YES! In addition to hinging your left wrist up (below), you need to bend your right wrist back and rotate your forearms, so the face is at the same angle as your left arm. Now the club is on plane and loaded for a powerful strike. See you on the green, player!
1. Understand Your Grip Size
No two clubs are alike in their design. Understanding the grip size of those clubs is crucial. It allows you to learn the best way to grip a golf club.
2. Position the Club in Front of You
Start by taking the club in your hands. Don't think about technique right now. Simply take it up and hold it as comfortably as possible.
3. Find the Best Grip for You
Now we develop the way you naturally hold a golf club into the swinging style that you'll use for every round.
4. Assess Pressure
Assess how much force you're applying to your golf grip by using your hands and your eyes. You should be able to feel whether you're choking the club too much or whether it's too wobbly between your fingers.
5. Check Your Trail Hand
A trail hand in golf is the hand that you place on the lower side of the club. If you're right-handed, that'll be your right hand, and if you're left-handed, it'll be your left hand.
6. Troubleshoot
Now that you've gotten the perfect golf grip, test it. Check the “V,” make sure you position your trail hand correctly, and swing.
FAQs
As mentioned earlier, the instructions for proper golf grip reverse for left and right-handers. Thankfully, all the good golf grip tips remain as crucial for lefties as they do for righties. They just require some adjustment.
