Shaft
The shaft of a golf club is the long, tapered tube which connects the golfer's hands to the club head. While hundreds of different designs exist, the primary purpose of the golf shaft remains the same: to provide the player with a way to generate centrifugal force in order to effectively strike the ball. When properly gripped the player can hit the ball further and more accurately, whilst applying less force.
What happens if your club shaft is too flexible?
When you use a golf shaft that is too flexible, you’ll notice that you simply can’t hit the ball where you want it to go. What’s more, you’ll likely find that you lose distance. In this guide, we will be looking at why it is so important to use a golf club that isn’t too flexible ( or too stiff, for that matter) as well as talking about how you’ll know if there is too much flex.
What happens when shafts are not correct?
May 22, 2018 · What happens when a golf shaft is too flexible? The results may vary by swing profile, but in general, shots will be inconsistent in contact and direction, and there may be a wide variation in distance…sometimes really long, and other times quite short. See more about what happens when shafts are not correct in our previous post.
How do driver shafts affect a right-handed golfer?
Jul 02, 2021 · When a golf club shaft is too flexible, you will have very little control over your club. This will make it difficult for you to be able to hit the ball straight as you won’t be able to ensure that the clubface makes contact with the ball right in its middle. You also might see a reduction in the distance as well if the shaft is too flexible.
Should I change my golf shafts?
Nov 03, 2020 · Too flexible club shaft causes the ball to fly higher than required. While this may seem like a positive consequence, it causes the golfer to lose his control over the ball and ultimately decreases the distance. Therefore if you see that your golf ball is flying higher for faster swing speed, it’s most likely that your shaft is too flexible.
What happens if shaft flex is too soft?
If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results: 1. The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from the golfer's maximum potential distance.Oct 16, 2018
How does shaft flex affect golf swing?
Shaft flex affects your accuracy and determines the trajectory of the shot. The shaft will flex during a swing, which changes the position of the club head. When you select the right flex, the club face will be square on the ball improving accuracy.Dec 22, 2016
What happens if golf shaft is too weak?
Generally speaking, a driver shaft that's too stiff will cause shots to launch too low, with too little spin and low peak heights. A shaft that's too weak, on the other hand, may cause shots to spin too much, fly too high, and widen dispersion patterns.Jun 9, 2020
How do I know if I need a stiffer shaft?
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. If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex.Jun 12, 2020
Can a flexible shaft cause a slice?
When the clubhead gets to the ball, the shaft won't unload properly and the face will remain slightly open, causing a slice. Other swing problems also can cause a slice, of course, but shafts that are too stiff can make the problem worse.
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.Apr 20, 2022
Does shaft flex matter?
Shaft flex letters are 'essentially irrelevant,' according to an expert club fitter. The stiffness of a R shaft will differ by company. Most golfers in the world know that shaft flex makes a difference to performance and feel in golf.Nov 25, 2021
Can a weak shaft cause a slice?
If your golf shaft is too stiff and your swing speed is too slow, your well-struck shot will be limited on both carry distance and shot trajectory; a too-stiff golf shaft will most often lead to weak fades or slices.Feb 6, 2020
Do pro golfers use 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.
Do any pros use regular flex shafts?
Kramer's 2006 “Golf Magazine” article cites a survey showing that just 2 percent of PGA Tour players and 10 percent of PGA Champions Tour players used regular flex shafts in their irons. He also notes that PGA Tour swing speeds average 110 mph, so the players favor a stiffer shaft to better control the club.
What golf shaft flex is right for me?
– 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
Your downfall due to too-flexible shafts
When a golf club shaft is too flexible, you will have very little control over your club. This will make it difficult for you to be able to hit the ball straight as you won’t be able to ensure that the clubface makes contact with the ball right in its middle. You also might see a reduction in the distance as well if the shaft is too flexible.
Knowing which golf club flexibility is right for you
The best way to find how much flexibility you need in your golf clubs is to use a launch monitor. You can either pick one of these up online or you can hire one from a golf store. Some stores will even offer you the option to work with a professional to get the most accurate readings possible.
Options for club flexibility
Golf shafts will either come made from graphite or steel. The former is lighter than the latter, making some believe it is more effective and of higher quality. Both of these shafts can come in different levels of flexibility, however.
Summary
Overall, the wrong flexibility of your golf clubs can be detrimental to your game. When a shaft is too flexible it can impact your distance and accuracy adversely, leading to off-target shots landing much too early. This can lead you to wrongly presume that your handicap is higher than it is or that your swing is not as impressive as it should be.
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What happens when a golf shaft is too flexible?
When the golfer’s golf shaft is excessively flexible, the possibility of abrupt change in estimated distance increases a lot. If you’re aiming for a proper loft angle of fewer than 10 degrees, then a flexible shaft may give you a distance lower than your potential distance. If you’re an amateur, its all the more so.
Why is a golf shaft flexible?
Having a flexible shaft gives a golfer more power over his/her shot. Upon impact, the vibrations transmitted through the shaft and the bend gives a more solid feel and increases the ball’s potential distance. A little increase in launch angle combined with a low spin allows more room for a longer golf drive.
Why is my golf ball flying higher?
Too flexible club shaft causes the ball to fly higher than required. While this may seem like a positive consequence, it causes the golfer to lose his control over the ball and ultimately decreases the distance. Therefore if you see that your golf ball is flying higher for faster swing speed, it’s most likely that your shaft is too flexible. ...
What causes a golf ball to be misdirected?
At the impact on the golf ball, the shaft which is too flexible bends forward. This causes the flight path of the ball or draws, to be misdirected. For a right-handed golfer, the draw tends to curve to the left. For a left-handed golfer, it’s the reverse.
Why is the flexible shaft so problematic?
One of the most problematic issues with the flexible shaft is that it aggravates the face to shut quickly which leaves little for controlling the trajectory. The reason this happens is due to the downswing concerning the path.
What happens if your golf club shaft is stiff?
On the other hand, if your club shaft is stiff, the maximum average distance will be lower. You’ll feel like you’re having a good swing, but the distance will be short. You’ll also face trouble while slicing as the stiff club shafts don’t allow you to do so easily. Over recent years, dramatic development has occurred regarding golf clubs.
Is club flex good for a driver?
The crux of the matter is that you must make sure that the club flex is just about well-matched for your swing. Getting help from a pro can prove to be beneficial as they’ll find you the right shaft for your driver or wood. Having more flexibility in your shaft is always a safe choice instead of having a shaft with too much stiffness.
What happens if your golf shaft is too soft?
Golfing Youtube legend, Rick Shiels suggests that when your shafts are too soft it kicks the clubhead up at impact and angles it left, for right-handers. That results in unwanted hooks. Furthermore, if a shaft is too soft it can cause faster-swinging players to sky tee shots, and prompt excessive spin. YouTube.
Why is my driver shaft so heavy?
If you are struggling to swing through the ball, and are pushing your shots, it is likely the driver shaft is too heavy for your swing. A heavy driver shaft will further reduce your clubhead speed, which will limit your ability to generate sufficient ball speed.
Why do golfers use lighter shafts?
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.
How to tell if driver shaft is too light?
What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Light? Golf Digest coach Liam Mucklow has found that when a shaft is too light “it causes an unhinging of the wrists, which impacts your swing path. ”. That leads to duck hooks and excessive draw.
Why is my golf shaft so light?
If you are constantly hooking your shots or achieving excessive draw, your shaft may be too light and flexible. If you can relate to this problem, I recommend getting fitted to find the right shaft for your swing. It is advisable to test shafts with stiffer flex than you are currently using.
How fast should a golf driver be?
They will analyze your swing and determine the best flex for your driver. However, as a rule of thumb, golfers with swing speeds above 100 mph should test a stiff shaft, while swing speeds above 110 mph are better suited to extra stiff shafts. Those of us with moderate swing speeds may consider a regular flex.
What happens if the shaft weight is not in sync with the driver head?
Furthermore, if the weight of your shaft is not in sync with that of your driver head, you may have a club that is too heavy or light. Therefore the shaft weight of a driver is important to consider, but cannot deliver the desired results on its own. This is the stance taken by Golf Digest’s Liam Mucklow, who says “it takes more than ...
What happens if a golf shaft is too flexible?
If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results: 1. The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from ...
How to make sure your shaft flex is well matched to your swing?
The best thing to do is make sure your shaft flex is well-matched to your swing (by meeting with a clubfitter or at least a teaching pro in a hitting bay when buying new clubs). But when in doubt, always err on the side of more flexibility in the shaft.
Why does a golf shot feel more solid?
3. The shot will feel more solid because impact vibrations transmitted up to the hands along a shaft which is both more flexible and more bent will feel more solid .
Why does my golf ball flies lower?
1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2. The ball may tend to "leak" to the fade side of the target because the golfer cannot cause the desired forward bending of the shaft at impact, which helps bring ...
Can a golfer's loft decrease?
If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from the golfer's maximum potential distance. On the other hand, if the golfer is using too little loft, which is the case with a very high percentage of players today with the driver and 3-wood, the more flexible shaft could bring his launch ...
What does it feel like to have stiff shafts in golf?
If the shafts on an iron is too stiff, it can almost feel as if you are swinging a telephone pole.
What is the best shaft for a golfer?
Golfers with ultra-slow swing speeds are best suited for what is termed a flexible, or "L" shaft, which can help them reach the upper limits of their distance capabilities.
Is there a uniform shaft standard?
Thereafter, the degree of stiffness increases to regular shafts, stiff shafts -- and extra stiff shafts for those. These are general guidelines, as there are no uniform shaft standards among manufacturers.
Can iron shafts be too flexible?
The shafts of your irons definitely can be too flexible. So can the shafts of hybrids, fairway metals and drivers. Yet the very shafts that are too flexible for you might be too stiff for another player. The flexibility of the shafts you should be playing is linked to your swing speed.
Why is my golf club shaft so flexible?
Expect misdirected flight paths of the ball. This happens because when a golf club impacts with the ball, the shaft tends to move forward. A right-handed golfer with a flexible shaft will notice that the ball moves towards the left.
What factors affect the flexibility of a golf club?
Factors such as your swing speed and the shaft material affect the flexibility of your golf club. If you often lose your direction despite having an impressive distance, then the problem might be that you are using a highly flexible golf club.
What is swing speed?
Swing Speed. First, let’s define swing speed. It is the speed in miles per hour at which the clubhead travels through the hitting area. On that note, it would be great knowing that if you are a fast swinger, a highly flexible shaft is not for you. It makes it difficult for you to control the clubhead.
What to consider when buying a golf club?
When purchasing a golf club, always consider the type of material used to make the shaft. Different materials have different flexes. For instance, graphite shafts tend to be lighter than their steel counterparts. You are likely to have higher swing speeds when using shafts made from graphite than those made of steel.
Why does my golf club slice?
There is a high chance that your stiff golf club will cause a slice. This happens because the face remains slightly opened when it hits the ball. The shaft fails to unload appropriately, leading to a slice. When choosing a golf club, make a point of picking one that is neither too stiff nor too flexible.
How to tell if you need a stiffer shaft?
There are several ways you can use to tell if you need a stiffer shaft. One and the most common is distance and direction. If you tend to hit long balls, but with high inaccuracies, you likely need to have a stiffer shaft.
What does low smash factor mean?
Sometimes you will cover very long distances and other times relatively short distances. Low smash factors are relatively consistent with highly flexible shafts. This scenario means that your shaft and club head combination was not synchronous, hence you lose distance.
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.
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.
What to use to reduce fade off tee?
Mix and Match. There is nothing wrong with the idea of mix and match and is becoming more common. Using graphite shafts on your driver, woods and long irons will help reduce the fade off the tee, increase the distance and soften the feel if you are to slightly miss-hit.
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 many irons do you need to hit 150 yards?
If you can hit 150 yards with a wedge, 9, or 8 iron you probably need stiff shafts. Using a 6 or 7 iron on 150 yards, go for a Regular flex, and 5 iron or more than Senior or Ladies shaft flex would be the way to go.
How fast can a pro swing?
Pros are top athletes and would have a swing speed of 110 mph on average, while amateurs would be swinging between 80 to 95 mph. There are various ways to determine your swing speed, from clip-on devices, iPhone Apps, range monitors, and at the pro shop.
Who is the founder of GolfSpan?
Golf Shafts – The Ultimate Guide – All You Need To Know To Choose The Right Shaft. Nick Lomas. Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world.
