If the shaft of your golf club is too stiff for you, you will have a tough time hitting the ball straight. Your swing speed will not be able to release the club to turn it over enough and square up the clubface at impact. Almost always, if a shaft is too stiff for you, then you will hit the ball to the right.
What is stiffness in golf clubs?
When the shaft is too stiff, you won’t be able to get enough spin on the ball, causing it to come out very low, and look like it’s falling out of the sky. If it’s too stiff, your shot shape will be from left to right (slice), the clubhead won’t be able to return to square because the shaft is too stiff.
Should I use stiff or regular shafts for MY clubs?
A stiff shaft is heavier, firmer, and harder to bend than a regular shaft with a different kick point, the position where the club shaft bends most. If a club has a high kick point, it means it has a stiff shaft that provides players with a shot that fizzes through the air at a lower trajectory.
What is the difference between a stiff and a regular shaft?
Aug 22, 2020 · 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. This can result in …
How do you know if your golf shaft is too stiff?
Aug 10, 2021 · Stiff Flex. Stiff flex is for golfers who produce consistent shots in the 250 yards range and reach a swing speed of 95 mph or more. It is a popular choice for mid-low handicappers. 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 ...
What does it mean if a golf club is stiff?
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
Are stiff clubs better?
Are stiff irons good?
How fast should you swing a 7 iron?
What happens if golf shaft is too stiff?
Do pro golfers use stiff or regular shafts?
Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?
Does Tiger Woods use a regular or stiff shaft?
What is the benefit of a stiff golf shaft?
Are stiff shafts more accurate?
A stiffer-shafted iron, matched to your swing speed, should let you hit more balls on the sweet spot. You'll also hit the ball more accurately, which is particularly important when you hit approach shots with your irons.
Is Stiff flex good for beginners?
What is stiffness in golf?
The stiffness or flex of the shaft is a much-neglected aspect of your golfing equipment as most golfers are more interested in the brand, or technical features, or looks of their clubs. What most golfers fail to appreciate is the effect that ‘swing speed’ has on selecting the correct amount of flex of the shaft.
How to tell if your golf club shaft is 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.
Why are graphite shafts better than steel?
Graphite being a much lighter material than steel makes it easier to swing faster and see an increase in distance off the tee. For this reason, they were considered the correct shafts for beginners and intermediate golfers.
What to look for in short irons?
With the shorter irons, approaching the green, around the green, or from the bunkers control is critical. Here you would be looking for a stiffer shaft with less flex as the swing speed is not as great a factor in the short game.
What happens if you change your shaft too much?
Now you will find the club face will close before impact resulting in a right to left fade if not a slice. The trajectory will also be increased as will the spin and should this be combined with a windy day your golf round will become a grind.
What is the shaft of a golf club?
The golf shaft is known as the ENGINE of the golf club. On the downswing, as the hips rotate, the weight transfer takes place and the body uncoils, the shaft of the club bends. This bend is also known as flex, and as this flex straightens out, power is transferred from the shaft to the club head and through to the ball.
Why does my golf club face close at impact?
In this case, the club head is unloading too soon causing the club face to close slightly at impact.
What happens if your golf club shaft is too stiff?
If the shaft of your golf club is too stiff for you, you will have a tough time hitting the ball straight. Your swing speed will not be able to release the club to turn it over enough and square up the clubface at impact. Almost always, if a shaft is too stiff for you, then you will hit the ball to the right.
Why do golf shafts get stiffer?
You will notice that as shafts get stiffer, they also get heavier. This is because there is usually a correlation between ball flight and player swing speed. The faster the swing speed, the easier it is to launch the ball.
How to choose between stiff and regular shafts?
As we mentioned several times, make sure to take plenty of swings as you want to see how you perform when you are tired as well. If you are looking to go to a stiff shaft, play your friends clubs on the 18th hole, this is a much better indication of the shaft you need than a hitting booth inside a store when you make five swings.
How to lose distance with stiff shaft?
The only time a player will lose distance with a stiff shaft is if it is not the correct shaft for them, just as you will lose distance with a regular shaft if it is not the right shaft for you. Making sure that your swing speed can flex the shaft you are using correctly is what will give you the distance you need. If you are hitting a regular shaft and you lose a few yards, and it starts tailing to the right when you switch to stiff, then you are just not producing the swing speed necessary to hit a stiff shaft consistently. All regular swing speed players make a few fast swings in their round, but you want something that continually delivers.
How fast can you swing a golf club?
If you are continually swinging the club over 105 mph, then an extra stiff shaft is for you. Now, if you can go to the range and launch one and get a number of 125, that’s great news, but that is not your typical swing speed. When switching to an extra stiff shaft, you must be sure you can swing at this high speed for 18 holes, not two holes.
What is extra stiff shaft?
Extra stiff shafts are typically considered to be for better players, lower handicaps. This means that the majority of the models are blades or tour preferred irons.
What is flex in golf?
A golf club’s flex is the strength of the actual shaft. A golf shaft will also have a flex or a kick point that will affect the stiffness as well as the ball flight. If you are swinging a golf club that is not the correct flex for you, there will be effects on the golf shots you can hit. The five most common shaft flex options are Ladies, Senior, ...
What is the difference between a stiff shaft and a regular shaft?
The main difference is that a stiff shaft is harder to bend than a regular shaft . This is usually created by adding more material to make the shaft up which can often also make them slightly heavier. The more force you create in your golf swing (higher swing speed) the stiffer you will want your shaft.
What does the sticker on a golf grip mean?
There should be a sticker that indicates it near the grip and it should have a letter on it, R for regular, S for stiff etc. That’s the easiest way but if the sticker isn’t there then you can take it to a pro who can do some investigatory work for you. Another option is to find a friend with the same shafts and line them up beside each other, if they have steps in the same place then it is the same flex as theirs, if not you need to find another friend.
How fast can a golf driver swing?
Elite golfers can create swing speeds that far exceed what is on the chart above and so they require stiffer shafts. On top of stiff you also have extra-stiff which would be for swing speeds over 105mph. When some tour golfers swing the driver they can generate 115mph and more, some even exceed 120mph!
What do people brag about in golf?
In golf there are a few things that people like to brag about around the club. How far they hit a driver, how high their swing speed is and what their handicap is to name a few. However, another that people use as a bragging point is the flex of their shaft. This can get tiresome and it can mean that some golfers play a shaft ...
Why are wedges stiff?
Interestingly, most wedges on the market have a stiff shaft to maximise control of these more attacking shots. If you’ve ever seen that the shaft on your wedge states that it is “wedge flex” it is actually stiff and they just don’t want to spook you if you’re a regular flex golfer.
What is firm flex golf?
You used to see firm flex on more clubs, this is like a half step up from regular. It is hallway between regular and firm and will suit many golfers who can swing a driver at around 100mph. It is one of those niche flexes.
Why is it important to get the right shaft?
It is important that you get this right though because the shaft is like the engine room of your golf club and it can really help maximise your swing. As you can see, there are so many options for the flex of your shaft that there will be something out there for your swing. 80% of golfers fit into a regular or stiff shaft so you are probably going ...
What is PCS in golf?
Inspired by the research done by the Braly’s, a club makers organization, the PCS, endorsed and taught frequency based club making to its many, many members. it was a time when shaft design was not as complex as it currently is and when frequency instruments were one of the few tools available to club makers for measuring shaft stiffness.
Is shaft frequency used to measure stiffness?
Shaft frequency is not of much use in evaluating shaft stiffness. The problem for club makers and fitters who recognized the importance of shaft profiling was that there was not an affordable EI instrument until I designed and manufactured one. They used the frequency instruments they had.
Do golf shaft stiffness rates work across brands?
The systems we have to rate golf shaft stiffness do not work across brands or even across models within brands. Most experienced club fitters use their experience to understand golf shaft stiffness. Many use some systematic method, most often frequency, to rate the shafts they work with.
Should I Use Stiff Or Regular Flex?
As a whole, if you’re between 97-104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex that gives more control and the punch to hit better shots. If your clubhead speed is between 84-96 mph, the speed for most recreational golfers you need a regular flex provides a little more power and accuracy.
Is There A Big Difference Between Regular And Stiff Flex?
A stiff shaft is heavier, firmer, and harder to bend than a regular shaft with a different kick point, the position where the club shaft bends most. If a club has a high kick point, it means it has a stiff shaft that provides players with a shot that fizzes through the air at a lower trajectory.
What Happens If Shaft Flex Is Too Stiff?
If your club shafts too stiff, you will struggle to load properly and generate enough power in the downswing. Once the clubbed receives the ball, the shaft will not unload properly, and the face will remain open, creating a slice and giving a much lower flatter trajectory than desired.
How to tell 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.
Why use stiff shafts?
Generally, stiff shafts are used more by elite players because they have the technique and swing speed required to put them to good use.
How does shaft flex affect golf swing?
The amount of flex you need in your club’s shaft depends primarily on your swing speed. Once you find the right shaft flex, you’ll notice your distance and accuracy improving, and this can make the game so much more fun!
What does flex do on a golf swing?
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.
Why is my golf ball leaking?
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.
What happens if a golf shaft is too flexy?
On the other hand, a shaft with too much flex will create too much lag, making it difficult to control the clubface and achieve consistent contact.
What part of the golf club provides the power that is transferred to the head of the club and eventually the ball every time
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stiffness Or Flex
Graphite Or Steel?
- The introduction of graphite shafts has opened up a whole new dimension to golf club technology and performance. Graphite shafts offer the following benefits: 1. They are lighter than steel shafts. 2. Increase swing speeds and distance. 3. Better dispersion from the tee. 4. Assist golfers with slower swing tempos. BUT 1. They are usually more expensive. Graphite being a much light…
Summary
- As a right-handed player, do you tend to come off the tee with a left to right fade or even an occasional slice? Do you also have the feeling that you are striking the ball solidly, but it should be traveling further? Chances are your club shaft is too stiff for your swing speed.
Final Thoughts
- We all want to get the most enjoyment from our game as well as the best possible results. Before getting hung up on which brand of club to buy or what brand your favorite pro is using, first, admit that you are human and unique. Your clubs have to suit you, not your hero. Determine what your swing speed is and how much flex or stiffness your clubs are going to need to provide you with …
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