A shaft flex that is too stiff will result in less lag throughout the swing and at impact, causing a low ball flight. A shaft that is too flexible will result in too much lag, usually causing a weak, high ball flight. How to Tell if Your Golf Shafts are Too Stiff (5 Key Tips)
Full Answer
Are my golf club shafts 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.
How does shaft flex affect your golf swing?
As the shaft flexes and releases, the golf club’s clubhead changes position; this directly affects whether the golf club’s clubface is open or closed and whether it adds or decreases loft. You want to optimize all these factors for your swing and your ball flight. Is Your Golf Shaft Too Stiff?
What happens if the shaft is too flexible on a ball?
However, if the shaft is too flexible and the kick point of the shaft too low then the ball could balloon upwards robbing the golfer of distance. The ballooning effect is caused by an excess of back spin created at impact, when caused by the shaft, this is a result of an increase of dynamic loft.
What is a golf shaft?
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.
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.
Do you hit the ball further with a stiff shaft?
Stiff shafts are more efficient if you give them enough power. They have higher kick points to assist the player to control the speed and landing distance of the ball efficiently.
What happens if your shaft flex is too stiff?
The shaft will flex during a swing, which changes the position of the club head. When you select the right flex, the club face will be square on the ball improving accuracy. If the shaft flex is too stiff, you lose loft and won't control your shots easily.
Should I swing a stiff or extra stiff shaft?
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.
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
between 97 and 104 mphStiff – 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. Regular – Now we are getting into the range where a majority of recreational golfers fall, and also where many LPGA pros fall.
Do any pros use regular flex shafts?
None of the top 100 uses regular shafts. When it comes to the flex of shafts the best pros use therefore it is clear that they don't use shafts that the vast majority of us regular amateurs play with and indeed will often vary the flex of their shafts depending on the type of club.
What golf shaft flex should I use?
– Golf Shaft Flex ChartCarry DistanceSwing SpeedFlexUnder 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra StiffOct 15, 2019
How shaft flex affect ball flight?
Generally, the more flexible a shaft, the higher the ball flight. The lower the bend point in the shaft, the higher the ball flight (minor affect). Generally, the stiffer the shaft, the lower the ball flight. The higher the bend point, the lower the ball flight (minor affect).
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 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.
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.
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 ...
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 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 is my golf shaft 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 is the shaft of a golf club?
Golf shafts are the engine of the golf club. But what does that mean? Since the very first golf clubs, club makers have considered how much or how little a golf shaft flexes; the golf shaft provides the power that is transferred to the clubhead and, ultimately, to the golf ball. Because the shaft flex directly facilitates this power transfer, your shaft choice can make or break your game.
What is a slice in golf?
Typical Miss: Slice (left to right for right-handed golfer) 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.
What is graphite shaft?
Graphite is typically the best material for amateur golfers, though some low-handicap players and professionals enjoy the vibrations they can feel in their hands after hitting a golf ball with a steel shaft.
Do golf clubs pair with shafts?
No matter what you play with, it is important to pair your golf clubs with the right golf shafts. Insider Tip: Swing Tempo Matters A person’s swing tempo will correlate with how he/she will “load” the golf shaft during the swing.
Do all golf shafts bend the same?
As golf shaft technology continues to advance, manufacturers are experimenting more with bend profiles within golf shaft flex segments; in other words, not all stiff golf shafts bend the same.
What is the shaft of a golf club?
The shaft of any of your golf clubs can be considered the engine, as it is really what it going to drive performance. Using the right shaft will optimize what you are able to achieve, while playing the wrong shaft is going to make the game even harder than it is to begin with.
What happens if you hit down on a golf ball?
If you start to hit down on the ball, for instance, your spin rate will go up and your drives will fall shorter. This is also an issue that is made worse by a soft shaft, as the club head will fall behind your hands and you will have no way of keeping the ball down effectively.
What causes back spin in golf clubs?
If the club head overtakes the shaft by too much, the dynamic loft increases and causes a huge increase in back spin. This can be caused by a too flexible shaft when compared to swing speed and a too low kick point. A kick point is the section of the shaft that the club head takes over. The lower the kick point, ...
Why is ballooning your driver a problem?
Ballooning your driver is a significant problem because you are going to wind up with long approach shots after your short drives. A flatter, penetrating ball flight is desired off the tee, and that is something you may be able to find by making a change in your driver shaft selection.
Why does my golf ball balloon in flight?
Another reason the ball may balloon in flight is if at impact the ball is placed too high upon the tee peg.
Why should the angle of attack be different than the angle of attack with the irons?
The angle of attack created in the swing should be different than with the irons to minimize the amount of spin being created. With a normal iron swing, the club should bottom out in its arc just after the ball, leading to a downward strike and back spin being created.
What questions do pro golfers ask?
They may ask how far you usually hit some of your clubs, what ball flights you are prone to hitting, and what scores you shoot on average.
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 ...
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 .
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 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 ...
How many yards difference in a stiff shaft driver?
By using a stiffer shaft driver they are getting more distance. Not huge amounts, but you can expect to see 5, 10, 15 yard s difference in your drive. The biggest benefit is usually in the shot dispersion.
Why is it important to get custom fitted golf clubs?
This is why getting custom fitted is so important for the individual golfer to get the best performance out a set of clubs. You need your clubs to work with your swing and not against it.
Can you use stiff shafts on golf clubs?
As a golfer, you have a choice of shafts. You can use regular shafts and you can use stiff shafts, there’s also some extra stiff shafts available too. You don’ t want to be finding yourself in the situation where the shafts on your clubs are either .
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 your golf shaft is too heavy?
If your shaft is too heavy, then you’ll probably experience these side effects: You get less wrist-snap when you swing. You have decreased swing speed. Your golf ball speed is decreased. You get less spin on your golf ball. You lose distance on the course.
Why does my golf club feel heavy?
If you have to put more force than what seems to be appropriate into your shots, your club might feel too heavy for you because your shaft is too stiff. This sign is a bit hard to gauge and notice unless you really have a good grasp on your swing as well as technique.
What is a firm flex shaft?
A firm flex golf shaft is just that, a golf shaft that’s firm. They’re also called stiff shafts and are the preferred shafts of golfers that have a fast swing speed that regularly hit their golf ball out 250 yards or more. These golfers that tend to use firm flex golf shafts usually have club speed of about 90mph to 105mph.
How fast should a swing shaft be?
You can either get your swing speed professionally evaluated or you can use DIY tools to help get a decent estimate on your swing speed. If your swing speed is between 90 to 105 miles per hour, go with a stiff flex shaft.
What is the difference between a heavier shaft and a heavier shaft?
The heavier shaft has a weighted feel which gives you better control over your golf club, Heavier shafts have lower torque which keeps your club face more stable . The heavier shaft has a lower launch angle which helps you from hitting your golf ball too high.
How far can you drive a golf ball?
A good rule of thumb is that if your swing speed is 80 to 95mph but you aren’t able to drive your golf golf ball 200 to 220 yards, you have a shaft that’s too stiff.
How fast should a golf swing be?
If your swing speed is between 90 to 105 miles per hour, go with a stiff flex shaft. If it’s between 80 to 95 miles per hour then go with a regular flex shaft. Know your driver distance. This refers to how far you usually hit your golf ball from the tee to where the ball lands while using a driver or woods.