“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.
Full Answer
What do the letters on golf shafts mean?
Those letters tell golfers flex—the relative stiffness—of that shaft. "L" is the most flexible shaft and "X" is the stiffest shaft: "A" or "M" denotes "senior flex" (might also be designated "AM" or "A/M," or "Senior")
How does a soft shaft affect my golf ball flight?
Golfers are surprised to learn that the softer shaft will consistently improve the distance by increasing the carry of the ball in the air. How Does It Affect My Ball Flight? The launch angle will be greater and the high ball flight overcomes the tendency to try and lift the ball off the ground.
Why do some golf shafts bend more than others?
Some golf shafts bend more than others, depending on how much stiffness is built into the shaft when it is manufactured. Shaft makers vary the amount of stiffness because golfers have different types of swings—different swing speeds, different tempos—and different amounts of stiffness in a shaft better match up to those different swings.
What is shaft flex and why does it matter in golf?
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. This can help generate launch on the golf ball to hit it high, straight, and far. According to GolfScienceLab here are the major things shaft flex can impact:
What is an A flex shaft?
Senior. Designated as "A" on the flex chart, shafts with senior flex are recommended for golfers who regularly drive the ball between 180 and 210 yards, and have a swing speed of between 60 and 75 mph.
What does the letter a mean on a golf shaft?
senior 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") "X" denotes "extra stiff flex" (might also be designated "Tour")
What type of shaft flex should I use?
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 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.
What is Al wedge?
A lob wedge, also known as a lofted wedge or an L-Wedge, is a wedge used in the sport of golf, known for being one of the shortest-hitting clubs and providing the most loft on a shot. Lob wedges are used to produce shots with a very high arc, and are most often used for shots over hazards and other obstructions.
What flex shaft do I need for 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
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.
What happens if a 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 ...
Do any pros use regular flex 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.
How can I tell my swing speed?
Divide the average yardage by 2.3. This number represents your average club head speed in miles per hour, according to the book "Science and Golf III." If 195 is your average drive distance yardage, 84.7 mph is your approximate swing speed.
How do you pick a golf shaft?
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).
Is 9.5 or 10.5 driver better?
The ideal driver loft depends on your swing speed and the attack angle. Average players that swing the club less than 95 MPH will likely find that a 10.5-degree driver performs the best. Better players who can control their drives and want the most distance will lean more towards a 9-degree driver.
What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?
It is important to note that if you select a shaft that is too stiff, you will lose loft and control on your shots.
What does flex mean in golf?
The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot.
Why is it important to use a more flexible shaft?
The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot. Because the shaft flexes during a swing, the position of the clubhead changes and it is important to select the proper flex in a club so that the clubface will be square on the ball when it makes contact.
What is the softest flex for golf?
Women generally have the lowest club speed of all golfers and should select a ladies flex. This is the softest of all the flex ratings. If you consistently hit the ball less than 200 yards off the tee , this is an appropriate flex. Women who hit further may want to consider either senior or regular flex clubs.
How many yards off the tee for stiff shaft golf?
The stiff shaft is quite popular and should be chosen by those who consistently drive the ball 250 or more yards off the tee.
How many flex ratings are there for golf clubs?
There are five flex ratings for golf clubs--extra stiff (X), stiff (S), regular (R), senior (A) and ladies (L). Generally, the faster your club speed, the stiffer the shaft, but use care when selecting a flex. If you are not certain or in between flexes, it is better to select a softer flex than a stiffer one.
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!
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.
How much does a graphite shaft weigh?
Graphite shafts are also much lighter weight (50-85 grams) while steel shafts can start at 120 grams in most cases.
What happens when a golf shaft is too stiff?
A too flexible shaft causes a nasty hook or a pop-up, whereas an extra stiff shaft pushes the golf ball onto the next fairway.
How to know flex for shaft?
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.
Why is my golf ball too low?
Golfers using a too stiff shaft and having a lower swing speed tend to abrupt the clubface angle at the point of impact, which pushes the ball too early. It results in hitting the golf ball too low.
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 many different shaft flex categories are there?
These are the five different shaft flex categories. You can select the right shaft flex as per your requirements.
Why is it important to have the right golf equipment?
Every golfer knows that having the right set of golf equipment is essential to unleash the best performance on the course. Players often underestimate the shaft flex and use the golf shafts that were not suitable for them.
What is extra stiff flex?
Extra stiff flex is for players with a swing speed over 100 mph, and their shots cover the 300-yard range. This flex is the right choice for professionals.
What is the benefit of playing the right shaft flex?
All the manufacturers concur. Fujikura said the benefit of playing the right flex is, “Consistency!” Mitsubishi told us it will “optimize a player’s performance.” And Nippon said, “The correct shaft flex will optimize distance, spin, and dispersion control.”
How to measure shaft flex?
The most common way is to clamp the butt end of the shaft, attach a weight to the tip, displace it, and measure the CPM (cycles per minute) or frequency that the shaft oscillates . This can also be done in reverse – clamp the tip and weight and displace the butt.
What is shaft flex?
Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) and Fujikura told us about how shaft flex is a guideline for connecting swing speed to a particular shaft.
Is flex only one part of the equation?
While they didn’t agree on much, every shaft manufacturer that we spoke to said that flex is only one part of the equation . MRC noted that torque values will vary widely from model to model, and that has a big impact on performance.
Does shaft flex matter?
With all this disagreement about definitions, measurements, and rules of thumb, does shaft flex even matter? Yes, very much . The one thing that every manufacturer and fitter agreed on, besides the need to be fit in person, is that getting into the correct shaft flex is critical.
Is a shaft X stiff or flex?
Regardless of the semantics, we’re talking about the flexibility of the shaft . A shaft that’s X-Stiff will be very rigid and hard to bend. A shaft that’s Senior or A-Flex will be very loose and easy to bend.
Is shaft flex firmer in a Nippon?
Nippon: As swing speed increases, shaft flex should be firmer.
What is flex in golf shafts?
In simple terms, the definition of flex is the amount of bend in the shaft when under the load of the swing.
What does X mean in golf?
X = Extra Stiff— for the young, strong golfer with very high swing speed.
What are the benefits of graphite shafts?
The modern graphite shafts have many benefits: 1 They are lighter and the golfer will swing the clubhead faster through impact without trying to force the speed. 2 Speed equals distance. 3 They launch the ball into the air easily. They offer control, stability, and less vibration through impact. 4 Confidence in every swing.
What is a senior flex shaft?
Senior flex shafts allow the golfer to launch the golf ball easily into the air. The shaft also allows for the feel and control that golfers seek when striking the ball.
What is the kick point of a golf shaft?
Kick point is the part of the shaft that bends the most on the downswing. The kick point determines the trajectory of the shot. Senior golfers should select a low kick point shaft which enables a high trajectory and ball flight. The bend in the shaft is close to the clubhead. A medium trajectory is attained by a shaft with ...
What are the factors that determine the swing speed of a golf club?
The most important factors are the swing speed that is generated at the clubhead at Impact, and the tempo of the swing.
What does the repetition of a square club head through impact result in?
The repetition of a square club head through impact results in straighter shots.
