What does the Flex mean on a golf shaft?
FLEX: The strength of a shaft as it bends during the swing. Because extra stiff, stiff, regular, seniors and ladies flexes are measured in so many ways, these designations have become broad in nature.
What does L and X mean in shafts?
"L" is the most flexible shaft and "X" is the stiffest shaft: "L" denotes "ladies flex" "A" or "M" denotes "senior flex" (might also be designated "AM" or "A/M," or "Senior") "R" denotes "regular flex"
How do I know if my shafts are X or s Flex?
If your driver swing speed is approximately 110 mph or higher, and your carry distance around 270 yards, go with X flex shafts. If your speed is 95 to 110 mph and your carry distance 240-270 yards, go with S flex.
What does TS stand for in golf shafts?
So the TS are short for Tour Stiff. This is a flex that is stiffer than traditional S flex but softer than X flex within the same family of shafts. TS may be equivalent or a cross-over to the SX designation. Ditto here, it indicates Tour extra stiff and is stiffer than a traditional X flex.
What is a S flex shaft?
Firm Shaft More commonly known as the stiff shaft (S), this flex is favored by golfers who have a fairly fast swing and drive the ball 250 yards on a consistent basis. Golfers who play a firm or stiff shaft have club speeds between 90-105 mph.
What does X shaft mean?
stiffX-stiff – This is the range where most high-level players fall. If you're swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set. Stiff – This range is still considered fast, but you most likely won't be out on Tour anytime soon.
What is an X Flex golf shaft?
Designated as "X" on the flex scale, extra stiff shafts are recommended for golfers who routinely drive the ball 260 yards or more and have a swing speed of 93 mph or higher, according to LearnAboutGolf.com's flex chart.
What do the letters mean on a golf shaft?
The typical range of shaft flexes available on the market range as follows: TX (most stiff), X (extra stiff), S (stiff), R (regular), A (senior) and L (ladies, least stiff). Some companies use different denominations such as numbers or colors to denote flex, but golfers are most familiar with the letters listed above.
Is s senior or stiff flex?
The Different Types of Club Flex Available A or M = Senior— slightly firmer than ladies. R = Regular— middle of the road shaft and most used. U = Uniflex— for golfers that swing the club at the high end of R and low end of S. S = Stiff— for use by golfers with high swing speed.
Is Project X 6.0 a stiff shaft?
Performance. Lower spin and lower trajectory is exactly what you can expect from these new shafts from Project X. Due to the nature of the shaft, the flexes only come in stiff (6.0), stiff+ (6.5), and extra stiff (7.0).
What does N and S mean on Callaway driver?
"N" is neutral v. Draw or Slice. "S" means "stated" for loft that is on the club.
What shaft is best for my swing speed?
– 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 does S stand for on a golf club?
Wedges typically don't have numbers. Instead that have letters such as P or PW for pitching wedge and S for sand wedge. The sand wedge, gap wedge and lob wedge might also be identified by the degrees of loft.
What flex do I need for my irons?
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 I know what flex golf shaft I need?
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 shaft flex is best for senior golfers?
When it comes to senior flex drivers, the Mitsubishi Rayon are some of the lightest and most forgiving. This is a 57gram shaft, which is a perfect weight for a senior golfer. Anything under 60 grams is going to help golfers get more clubhead and ball speed.
What does W mean on a golf club?
The term "pitching wedge" is now used by virtually all manufacturers and players to describe this club; Karsten Manufacturing (maker of the PING brand) simply labels their pitching wedges "W" for "wedge".
What does E stand for on a golf club?
That "E" stood for Equalizer, which was the name of Ben Hogan's famous wedge that turn some of his errant misses into par saves and mind-blowing birdies.
How do I know 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.
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.
How far should a senior hit 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distance By AgeAge RangeAverage 7 Iron Distance40-50146 yards50-60139 yards60+128 yardsAll Golfers145 yards2 more rows
What does Callaway shaft flex 5.0 mean?
RegularRegular – 5.0. Regular Plus – 5.5. Stiff – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus – 7.0.
Do all tour players use extra stiff shafts?
Do all pros use extra stiff shafts? Most PGA Tour pros will use stiff or extra stiff in their shafts. It is rare to find someone swinging a regular shaft with the amount of swing speed those guys have.
What are the best golf shafts for drivers?
5 Best Golf Driver Shafts (and Fairway Wood Shafts)Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Series (Best Driver Shafts Overall) First up on our list of best driver shafts is the Mitsubishi Tensei shafts. ... Fujikura Ventus Black. ... Project X HZRDUS Smoke Shaft. ... Project X EvenFlow. ... KBS TD Graphite.
How does flex affect golf?
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.
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.
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 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.
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 is stiff shaft?
Stiff Shaft. The stiff shaft is quite popular and should be chosen by those who consistently drive the ball 250 or more yards off the tee. This shaft generally appropriate for mid-low handicaps, but be sure to have your clubhead speed measured before choosing between a stiff and regular flex.
What are the different shaft flexes?
Shaftology 101 states there are 5 basic shaft flexes (L, A, R, S and X). For those new to golf, here is what the letters stand for in the order from the most flexible to the stiffest. The L stands for ladies, A for amateur or senior flex today, R is regular, S is stiff and finally X is extra stiff. These have pretty much stood the test of time since shafts first received flex designations, but that is not the case anymore. Here is a primer to get you up to speed with all the new designations you may encounter.
What does SR stand for in a flex shaft?
The SR actually stands for strong regular. Another way to put it, it is in-between a traditional R and S flex as a single or discrete flex. Unless you see characters like / or & in-between the S and X, then it is not a combination flex shaft like some of the FST steel iron shafts.
What is the R3 in golf?
The R3 nomenclature was also derived from the Japanese manufactures and would be the modern day equivalent of L or ladies flex. The name R3 takes out the sex of the individual in the fitting equation and instead relates it the player’s swing speed much the same way that ladies grips are now referred to as undersized.
Is a double X stiff enough?
XX. The double X – yes, there is such a category for those with very high swing speeds in which standard X is just not stiff enough. XX may be equivalent or a cross-over to the TX designation.
What shafts help with ball flight?
A golf shaft with a high kick point will help golfers to keep the ball flight down. A golf shaft with a low kick point is going to have a much higher ball flight. Sometimes the X Stiff shafts knock the ball flight down so much that a golfer should go with a lower kick point shaft.
How to know if you need a stiff golf shaft?
How To Know If You Need Stiff Or X Stiff Flex. To know what golf shaft you need, you will need to know your swing speed. The faster your swing, the more stiff of a golf shaft you are going to need. When you swing the club fast, the club needs more resistance and a stiffer shaft.
What is flex in golf?
Flex is one of the most essential features of a golf driver shaft. If you swing a club that is the wrong flex, it will have significant impacts on the distance and the direction that you can hit the ball. It’s important to have a golf shaft that is both stiff enough, yet not too stiff.
Why are driver shafts graphite?
Most driver shafts are going to be graphite for increase swing speed but the flex of the shaft is most important when a golfer makes their final decision on a new club. Stiff shafts are for golfers that swing fast; the extra stiff are for those that swing exceptionally fast. In years past, the extra stiff shafts were a bit hard to find ...
How does flex affect golf?
How Does Flex Effect Performance Exactly. When you don’t have the proper shaft in your golf clubs, the ball will not travel with the proper flight or trajectory. The performance of the shot is going to be very much impacted by the shaft being incorrect.
What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?
If your golf shaft is too stiff you are going to spend a lot of time on the right side of the golf course. The ball is very hard to release and hit straight when your golf shaft is too stiff. If your golf shaft is too stiff, you may also lose a bit of distance.
How fast should a driver swing be?
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.
What is the shaft of a golf club?
Many consider the golf shaft the "engine of the club". Golf shafts are either made from graphite or steel. Both types have its benefits and disadvantages. Either way, the golf shaft is where power is stored and released at impact. Sitting in between the golf grip and club head, a solid connection is what allows the golf shaft to do its job.
What is shaft flex?
Shaft flex is a description of how much a shaft will bend under the force of a golf swing with a head attached at the tip end. The speed and frequency of your swing will determine what flex you need. There are generally 5 different flex notations (from most bendable to least bendable): A-flex (Senior), L-flex (Ladies), R-flex (Regular), ...
How long is a 0.370" iron shaft?
decreasing in length from #3-PW). 0.370" parallel iron shafts arrive in uncut lengths, usually 41" or 42" for irons or 46" or more for woods.
What happens if you swing too heavy?
If the overall club is too heavy, you can lose swing speed which can result in a loss of yardage. Too light of a club will be hard to guide and control which can lead to mishits. Players with faster swing speeds or more accelerated tempos can benefit from heavier shafts.
Why are shafts important in golf?
A more flexible shaft can help increase your swing speed. There's a lot of homework a golfer should do before buying a set of clubs, and one of those is learning the options as to which shafts the clubs should have. If chosen correctly, shafts can help you get the most out of your swing, regardless of your abilities.
What are the shafts made of?
Composition. There are two shafts on the market, ones made of graphite and the others made of steel . Graphite shafts cost more, but they are lighter and easier to hit. And because graphite shafts will contribute to a faster swing speed, you will get more distance on your shots.
How many grades of flex shafts are there?
There are five grades of flex from which to choose, and the easiest way to select the right one is to find out how long your drives fly, an indication of your swing speed. The five grades of shafts are ladies, seniors, regular, stiff and extra-stiff. If you hit the ball relatively short, say 175 yards or less, you should probably pick ladies shafts.
Do you need longer shafts for golf clubs?
You might be tall, but you might also have long arms, so you would not need longer shafts. If you have a professional club fitter available, he will measure you correctly and make recommendations as to the correct length of the shafts.
Can a club fitter measure shaft length?
If you have a professional club fitter available, he will measure you correctly and make recommendations as to the correct length of the shafts. Because you would like to get the most distance from your driver, you could decide to add length to the shaft, but you would give up a degree of accuracy, so it's smart to find the common ground.
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 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.
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.
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 is shaft flex?
Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends throughout the swing, someone that swings it slow will need a more flexible shaft, while someone that swings it fast will need a stiffer shaft. You get Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff shafts in Woods and Irons, generally your Woods and Irons will be the same flex.
How is shaft flex determined?
Your shaft flex will be determined mainly by your swing speed, and then by your ability, age and personal preference. Within each shaft flex there are different weights and kick points (bend points). Shaft flex is very important as it will help with your distance and accuracy.
How to know if you need to go stiffer?
You should move to a stiff shaft once your swing speed moves into the next bracket, if you can’t track your swing speed here are some signs you need to go stiffer. Feels ‘whippy’ in your hands. Feels too light. Your ball is ballooning in the air. Your ball is behind your pitch mark when you hit your driver.
What monitors your swing speed?
These are called launch monitors, they track your swing speed, loads of other parameters. Unfortunately they do cost quite a bit of money, which makes it hard to get your hands on one.
Why does my golf ball go high?
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. You might have an inconsistent shot shape if the shaft is too flexible.Having a shaft that is too flexible can also cause the ball to hook uncontrollably, ...
How to know if you need to go more flexible?
You should move to a more flexible shaft once your swing speed drops into the next bracket, if you can’t track your swing speed here are some signs you need to go more flexible. Feels to heavy. Feels like a ‘broomstick’ in your hands. You struggle to get the ball up in the air with your driver.
What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?
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 ...
How much does a true temper iron shaft weigh?
True Temper’s Dynamic Gold, the most popular steel iron shaft on the PGA Tour, weighs abourt 130 grams. At the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi Rayon has a Bassara graphite driver shaft that weighs about 35 grams. RAW: A raw shaft is an uncut shaft that has not been installed in a clubhead.
What is a raw shaft?
RAW: A raw shaft is an uncut shaft that has not been installed in a clubhead. BLANK: This is another word for a raw shaft. When clubmakers refer to a blank, they mean a raw shaft. SPINE ALIGNMENT: Golf shafts, because they are round and hollow, have a spine that is a result of the manufacturing process.
What does low torque mean on a golf swing?
Normal measurements are in the 2- to 6-degree range. A low torque number means less twisting of the shaft but also can mean a harsher feel . A high torque number is associated with a soft-feeling shaft, although there may be a sacrifice in accuracy. FLEX: The strength of a shaft as it bends during the swing.
What is torque in swing?
TORQUE: A measurement of the circular rotation of the shaft during the swing.
What is the kick point of a golf shaft?
KICK POINT: Modern shafts, particularly graphite shafts, can produce kick in different sections of the shaft — high kick, mid kick and low kick being three obvious points of reference. Fitters often spend considerable time matching a golfer’s swing with a particular kick.
What is balance point?
BALANCE POINT: Closely related to counter-balancing, balance point is sometimes cited as an important element of feel and performance. The more weight in the butt, the higher the balance point. Although it is not a widespread practice, some fitters use balance point as one of the variables in prescribing a shaft.
What is the tip of a golf club called?
TIPPING: The tip end of the shaft, which is inserted into the clubhead, sometimes is cut or trimmed to provide more stiffness in the shaft. This is called tipping. While the practice is common on professional tours, it is not widely used among amateur golfers.
