Types of Flex in Golf Shafts
- Extra Stiff. Extra stiff shafts should generally be reserved for really long hitters (about 300 off the tee) and this...
- Stiff Shaft. The stiff shaft is quite popular and should be chosen by those who consistently drive the ball 250 or more...
- Regular Flex. High-handicap male golfers should generally choose regular flex clubs. This flex is...
What does regular flex mean in a golf club?
Types of Flex in Golf Shafts
- Overview. The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot. ...
- Extra Stiff. Extra stiff shafts should generally be reserved for really long hitters (about 300 off the tee) and this flex can be difficult to find, as it is not ...
- Stiff Shaft. ...
- Regular Flex. ...
- Senior Flex
- Ladies Flex. ...
What is Flex on a golf club?
Nestled within a gently sloping site, the CS2 facility sits on a golf course in an undisclosed neighbourhood in ... its surrounding and immediate environment" while also offering a flexible interior space, the architects said. One of the project's two ...
Why use senior flex golf clubs?
- Speed Improvement
- Trajectory control
- Weight
- Loft
- Shaft
- Value for Money
What type of golf clubs should I use?
Type of Golf Clubs
- 4.1 Driver. Used off the tee on long holes, the purpose of using a driver is to hit the ball as far as you can. ...
- 4.2 Woods. When considering what woods to purchase, your first consideration should be what you want to use it for.
- 4.3 Irons. Making up the bulk of your set, irons are numbered like woods. ...
- 4.4 Wedge. ...
- 4.5 Putter. ...
- 4.6 Hybrid. ...
What Flex is best for golf clubs?
– 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
What kind of flex should my irons be?
Should You Use Regular or Stiff Flex Shafts?6-iron Carry Distance6-iron Swing SpeedShaft flex (all clubs)< 130 yards60 – 70 mphSenior Flex131 – 155 yards71 – 80 mphRegular Flex156 – 175 yards81 – 90 mphStiff Flex> 176 yards91 + mphX-Stiff FlexApr 13, 2021
How do you determine what shaft flex you need?
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.
Is lite flex the same as Senior Flex?
Is Light Flex The Same As Senior Flex? Yes, a light flex and a senior flex are the same things. Some golf companies will put an A on the golf club to indicate that it is the senior flex.
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.
How do I know if I need stiff or regular flex irons?
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 flex do I need for my driver?
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. If you're between 84 and 96 mph, regular is going to be best for you.
Is senior flex good for beginners?
Senior flex can be an excellent choice for beginners with slower swing speeds and can benefit from this type of technology.
Should a beginner golfer use a stiff shaft?
With the proper fit, the new golfer can learn without making compensations for clubs that are too stiff or too flexible. In general, the faster a golfer's swing speed the stiffer a golf shaft should be in order to provide more control over the ball's flight.
What's the difference between senior flex and ladies flex?
However, ladies flex is designed for the slowest swinging players and offers the most flex. Seniors flex is the second most flexible shaft suited to players who find that a regular shaft is too stiff, but a ladies shaft is too flexible.
What are the easiest irons to hit for seniors?
With combo sets, the longer clubs (4, 5, and 6) are more like hybrids than traditional irons. Then, the 7, 8, 9, and pitching wedge have a traditional iron look and feel of a standard iron. This makes long ones easier to hit (especially off the turf) and the shorter irons geared more toward performance.
Are graphite shafts better for seniors?
Generally speaking, graphite shafts are better for seniors than steel shafts unless the senior still maintains very high swing speeds. There are some seniors in incredible shape that can easily hit a regular steel shaft in their iron.
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.
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.
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 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 Is Shaft Flex?
Shaft flex is the degree to which the shaft will bend or flex during the swing. A more flexible shaft bends easily during the swing and has the potential to produce a longer-ranged shot.
How Does Shaft Flex Impact Your Golf Game?
The shaft flex of your golf club has an immense effect on the game’s outcome as a whole. From high irons to wedges and drivers, you have to make sure they have the correct flex for trajectory, accuracy, and distance.
How to Choose the Shaft Flex for You?
You can know the correct flex for your shaft by evaluating your swing at a golf equipment store. They’ll check all kinds of things like ball speed, distance, clubhead speed, spin, and many other factors. They also try several shafts in the same driver head to give the most accurate results.
What Shaft Flex Should You Use for The Driver?
It would be best if you choose the stiffest shaft flex for your driver because it is often the club that has the maximum swing speed. Since it carries the maximum swing speed, you may consider choosing the most accurate shaft flex.
How to Determine the Right Flex for Your Iron?
Choosing the right flex for the iron depends on the club you use for hitting a 150-yard shot. If you’re about to take a 150-yard shot, consider using these flex for your irons.
Final Thoughts
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.
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What does Flex mean in golf clubs?
Golf club shaft flex refers to the bend in a club when a player swings and makes an impact with the golf ball. The shaft flex can have a significant impact on a player’s swing and should be selected based on a few different factors identified by a proper club fitting session.
Swing Speed vs. Swing Tempo
Swing speed is measured in miles per hour. It is very easy to measure this, as most golf courses have speed sticks available to members and customers. But speed isn’t everything. The tempo of the swing is very important. For instance, look at the swing of 2021 Masters Champion Hideki Matsuyama compared to the 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson.
Different Club Flex Options
It is important to use the correct flex option that suits your swing. If the shaft is too soft, it will typically flex more through impact and cause the clubhead to close and start the ball to the left with added spin.
Club Shaft Kick Point
The kick point is mistakenly thought of as being a wide variance; the high kick point being up by the grip and the low kick point being down by the clubhead. But this isn’t true. The kick point is actually a small 6” section in the middle of the shaft.
How to Choose the Correct Club Flex
So, let’s take what we have learned from above and apply it to selecting a new driver.
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 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.
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 ...
Golf Club Shaft Flex Guide
Golf technology has progressed exponentially over the past two decades or so. We have moved well away from the wooden heads and shafts that dominated the game up until the 1970s. In fact, there were still wooden clubs being used on the PGA Tour as recently as 1997!
What is shaft flex?
So what exactly is shaft flex? Quite simply it is the stiffness of the shaft and its ability to bend in response to the forces exerted by your swing. A very stiff shaft will only bend if high levels of force (fast swing) are exerted on it whereas a very flexible shaft will bend even if low levels of force (slow swing) are exerted on it.
Is it all about speed, speed and more speed?
Definitely not although swing speed plays a massive role. Just as no two golfers are the same, neither are any two golf swings. Tempo is also hugely important when deciding a shaft and someone who overswings may require a different flex to someone with a short, jerky swing.
Why is shaft flex important?
The flex is the most important part of any shaft. Yes, there are other elements that go into the shaft such as kick point, torque and length, but chief amongst all shaft attributes is the flex. Having the right flex will help to control trajectory, maximise distance and improve accuracy.
What if I have too soft a flex?
If you have too soft a flex, then the ball will launch too high which will result in lost distance. You are also more likely to see the ball tending towards a hook (going to the left for a right hander and the right for a left hander).
What if I have too stiff a flex?
The scenario for swinging with a shaft too stiff has the opposite effect yet the same result. Your ball will launch too low if the shaft is too stiff and thus you will lose distance as a result. You will also see the ball tending towards a slice (going to the right for a right hander and the left for a left hander).
What if I am in between flexes?
If you are between flexes, then the advice would be to go for the softer flex as this will be more forgiving.
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.
Who is Zephyr Melton?
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF.com, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour.
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.
Step 1
Determine the speed of your swing as measured by a golf club fitter or at a golf shop with those capabilities. This will help a professional determine what type of shaft is most appropriate for your swing speed.
Step 3
Use an extra stiff shaft for a swing similar to a professional. These shafts are generally reserved for very low handicappers, experienced golfers who are extremely physically fit, those with very quick and accurate swings or adult males with fast swings.
Step 5
Use a regular flex shaft for slower swings typical of high handicappers with slower swings or for female mid-handicappers and senior players with faster swings. Also use regular flex for children and early-teens with slower swings.
