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 Stiffer shafts are “anti-left” and softer shafts are “hook machines”
What are Heavier shafts for golf?
Heavier shafts provide low ball flight and spin off the tee. This makes it difficult for players with slower clubhead speeds to deliver sufficient ball speed to get the ball airborne.
How do golf shafts affect swing speed?
Golfers with faster swing speeds may lose control of a light shaft, giving the tempo of their swing. It will cause the shaft to veer off its swing path, resulting in hooks and slices. Lighter shafts help slower swinging players increase their swing speed, and get the ball up in the air.
Can you hit a golf ball up in the air?
After you see the divot come up, watch as the ball flies beautifully through the air and toward the target. There can be no debate that the professional golfer on the screen managed to get the ball up in the air by hitting down. And, if he or she can do it, you can, too.
Are your golf clubs fit with the right shaft flex?
And if you include further fine tuning (which you should) to the in between flexes…well over 80% of golfers are not fit with the right flex. Whether you go to a high end fitter or your local big box, one of the most important decisions you will ever make about your new clubs is picking the proper shaft flex.
Does 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).
What golf club shaft flex should I use?
Which flex rating you use will depend on the type of swing you have. For example, beginners and those with less powerful swings tend to use a shaft with greater flexibility to propel the ball more. On the other hand, if a player has a high and powerful swing speed, they will require a stiffer shaft with less flex.
Is a stiff shaft easier to control?
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.
Will a heavier shaft lower ball flight?
Shafts that are heavier tend to do the opposite, lowering ball flight and spin rates. When considering the length of the club, improper length can, many times, lead to shots that are not struck in the center of the clubface.
How do I know what shaft flex is right for me?
Some General Guidelines About Shaft FlexTake a look at the distance you hit your driver. ... If you have a very smooth swing, you might benefit from a softer flex even if you swing fast. ... 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 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.
Is regular flex good for most golfers?
The regular shaft is perfect for the golfer with around 90mph of swing speed. Most average golfers and beginners enjoy the regular flex shaft.
Do I need a stiff or regular flex shaft?
If you have a slower swing speed, you are probably going to want to choose regular shafted clubs because the additional flex will provide a little more power and accuracy. When you swing harder, the stiff flex will be more controlled and give you the punch you need to hit better shots.
What is better stiff or regular shaft?
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.
How do I know if I need a heavier golf shaft?
Furthermore, your strength, swing speed, swing tempo, and club length play an enormous role in determining shaft weight. Faster swing speeds and tempo will require a heavier shaft while lower swing speed and tempo require lighter shafts. Another concept to consider is progressive weighting through the set.
Who should use a senior flex shaft?
Senior flex shafts are appropriate for golfers who swing between 75 and 90 mph and carry a driver about 180 to 200 yards. Regular flex shafts are designed for golfers who swing 90 to 100 mph and carry a driver about 200 to 240 yards.
How do I know if my golf shaft is too stiff?
If your driver's shaft is too stiff, the clubhead may not square with the ball at the point of impact, causing slices and fades. If you can't feel the weight of the clubhead loading through the shaft, it's probably too stiff, and can cause errors and issues associated with accuracy such as these.
What is the best shaft for tee shots?
Titanium Shafts . This shaft is much lighter than steel. Moreover, it provides the same solid protection that steel does as compared to graphite. Titanium is half the weight of steel and helps to get the ball airborne faster, making it ideal for tee shots.
Why is the shaft of a golf club important?
Why is the golf club shaft important? The golf club shaft is the driving force of the golf club. Power is transferred from the golf shaft to the clubhead and, eventually, to the golf ball. Interestingly, the shaft flex directly controls this power transfer. Furthermore, your shaft choice will greatly affect your performance.
How fast should a 7 iron swing go?
A regular Flex shaft would be recommended if you reached a 7-iron around 150 yards. Choose a graphite or steel shaft with a Swing Speed Rating of 70 to 80 mph. If you’re hitting a 5-iron from 150 yards, a shaft with a Swing Speed Rating of 60 to 70 mph is recommended.
What is shaft flex?
The golf shaft flex regulates the transfer of power from the golf shaft to the clubhead and ultimately the golf club. According to FoyGolfAcademy.com, the golf shaft flex influences your golf game in the following ways: It controls the height of the golf shot. It controls the speed of the clubhead.
How to achieve the best golf swing?
The golf swing path and the curvature. To achieve the best performance, you must choose the right golf shaft flex that’s suitable for you. A shaft that is too rigid will slice the ball to the right, lowering ball flight and resulting in distance loss.
What is a graphite shaft?
Typically, a steel shaft with a graphite tip is used for the shaft. The steel shaft allows the player to exert more control over the ball’s trajectory. Furthermore, the graphite tip ensures that the golf ball travels the distance without causing any unnecessary vibrations.
How much does a graphite shaft weigh?
In contrast to steel shafts, graphite shafts are much smaller, less durable, and more costly. Further, it weighs between 50 and 85 grams.
How to hit a golf shot?
A good drill for you to do is set up to hit a shot, then push a tee into the ground a inch in front of the ball. Make a swing trying to hit the tee out of the ground in front of the ball. Make sure you always hit the golf ball first (not the ground) with your hands leaning the club shaft forward.
Why do golfers top the ball?
Many golfers end up topping the ball because they are trying to help the ball get into the air. Don’t do this. Clubs are designed to get the ball in the air. In order for a golf ball to get airborne, the club head must contact the ball at the low point of the downswing. Golf tip: Keeping head down is a myth.
What does it mean to keep your head down in golf?
Golf tip: Keeping head down is a myth. The ball gets trapped between the club face and the ground. The ball then spins up the face of the club, and the loft determines just how high and far the ball goes. A good drill for you to do is set up to hit a shot, then push a tee into the ground a inch in front of the ball.
What does it mean when a golf club is topped?
A topped golf shot occurs when the golf club head makes contact with the top half of the ball (at or above the equator of the ball). If you’re lucky it still advances toward your intended target, but when you top a wedge shot the ball may go skipping across the green ruining your chances for a good score. Many golfers end up topping the ball ...
Why is shaft length important in golf?
An increased shaft length creates a greater swing-arc, which relates to more distance. Shorter stature golfers often increase the length of the shafts and stand further away from the ball. The longer the shaft the less control and this is where fitment assists.
What happens if you don't have a stiff shaft?
The result is a loss of distance. Added to this the direction control will be lost.
What is carbon fiber shaft?
Modern composite graphite shafts have 3 layers of fiber winding, adding substantial rigidity and performance. Carbon fiber offers increased flex, greater clubhead speed, but reduced accuracy, due to more torque. It also dissipates the stinging shock from a poorly struck shot and will protect the hands and wrist.
What is flex in golf?
Flex. Put very simply, flex is the amount of bend in the shaft. It affects launch angle, spin, ball flight, control, carries, and distance. Shafts are qualified in different ways but reference to flex is the most important. Powerful swings require stiffer shafts which put less load on the shaft.
What weight shafts are available for clubfitters?
Clubfitters now have the option to fit these shafts with weights from 95 to 110gm. This is a reduction from the 115 to 125gm range previously on offer. Steel generally has less flex, more stability, low torque, and provides more accuracy. Standard steel shafts are shorter.
When did steel shafts become legal?
Finally in 1924 steel shafts were legalized and Billy Burke was the 1st to win the US Open with steel. From 1960 to 1970 the aluminum shaft was introduced but besides expensive, it broke very easily. Then followed graphite shafts, displayed at the 1970 PGA merchandise show for the first time.
Is there a real standard for shafts in golf?
It is accepted within the golf industry that there are no real standards when it comes to shaft manufacture and the different properties they all claim to have.
How to hit a golf shot on grass?
Place a golf ball down on the grass in front of you and take your seven iron out of the bag to hit the shot. Before taking your stance, take an extra golf tee and press it into the turf an inch or so behind the ball. You should push the tee down far enough that the top of the tee is flush with the top of the turf.
How to get the ball off the ground?
When you hear that the best way to get the ball off the ground is to hit down through impact with your irons, you need to believe that is the case. If you are still thinking in the back of your mind that it makes more sense to lift up through impact to help the ball on its way, you’re never going to reach your goals.
What does a divot mean in golf?
For the vast majority of the iron shots you see the pros play, there will be a divot which comes up after the ball has been struck. That divot can only mean one thing – the player has hit down nicely through the ball. A divot is the result when the club tears into the turf at the bottom of the swing arc.
Why do people top the ball when they hit the equator?
For a lot of people actually topping the ball when they hit above the equator, when they try and correct it, they make it even worse because they actually end up trying to lift and scoop the ball up so it’s like a self perpetuating fault, they do it and they keep doing it.
How to practice short game golf?
As you practice the short game, work on leaning the shaft slightly toward the target and hitting down with confidence. Keep the club head moving through impact and don’t look up until you are sure the ball is on its way. You shouldn’t have to struggle your way around the course hitting one ground ball after the next.
What does it mean when a golf club is leaning to the left?
That means the club is going to wrap around the body at the top of the swing, and the body weight may be pulled toward the target prematurely. If you find yourself leaning to the left at the top, you’ll have no choice but to lean back a little to the right as you swing down (just to avoid falling over).
What does it mean when a golf club hits the equator?
Basically a shot where the club would hit above the equator of the golf ball causing a ball that scoops out very low across the floor or even nose dives into the floor. And if that’s the shot that you’re struggling with just consider why that might be happening.