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what happens if one plays with golf clubs that are too stiff

by Allan Kreiger Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

When golf shafts are too stiff, it could result in the clubhead not being square at the point of impact resulting in loss of loft and ball control. A very low flight trajectory, resulting in a lack of carry ing distance, is also a sign of the wrong shaft being used.

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.Apr 6, 2022

Full Answer

Are my golf club shafts 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 do my golf clubs feel too firm?

This “too firm” feeling is caused by your shaft being too stiff for you. Your club feels too heavy. If you have to put more force than what seems to be appropriate into your shots, your club might feel too heavy for you because your shaft is too stiff.

Should you play with two stiff golf clubs?

Playing with two stiff golf clubs will result in less wrist-snap when you swing, a decreased swing speed, the speed of the golf ball is also reduced, and your shot dispersion will be to the left or right of your intended target.

How do you know if your golf clubs are too heavy?

Your club feels too heavy. If you have to put more force than what seems to be appropriate into your shots, your club might feel too heavy for you because your shaft is too stiff. This sign is a bit hard to gauge and notice unless you really have a good grasp on your swing as well as technique.

What happens if my golf club 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 ...

What happens if your driver shaft is too stiff for your swing speed?

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.

Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?

If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low.

Can too stiff of golf shaft cause a slice?

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.

When should I switch from stiff to regular?

To check your swing speed a shot tracking device will be the most accurate method. Based on your swing speeds here are our recommendations: 80-95 mph swing speeds should use regular shafts. 90-105 mph swing speeds should use stiff shafts.

Can a high handicapper use stiff shafts?

Stiff shafts are appropriate for men with single-digit handicaps as well as some with handicaps 10 to 15 who have high clubhead speed. Stiff flex is available in graphite or steel.

Does Tiger Woods use a regular or stiff shaft?

For example, Tiger Woods who consistently hits shots longer than 300 yards has a Regular shaft in his driver.

Do pros 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.

How do I know if my shaft is too weak?

If you try to play with a shaft that is too light or the shaft flex is too weak, you will struggle to control your shots. A light shaft will feel bad in your hands whilst a weak shaft will have you struggling to keep the ball going where you want it.

What happens if shaft is too soft?

When a golf shaft is too flexible, you will not be able to hit the ball straight. You will also end up losing a bit of distance. When a golf shaft is too flexible, it isn't easy to control the clubface and get it to square up at impact.

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.

Who should use stiff shaft irons?

Who should use stiff flex irons? The starting point for this is swing speed, if you swing your driver between 90-105 mph then you will probably need a stiff shaft. This will benefit you by delivering great control of your club during your swing and stop you spraying it everywhere.

What happens if my driver shaft has too much flex?

A golfer using a shaft that is too flexible may experience a ball flight that is too high, a ball that spins too much, or a shot pattern that has inconsistent dispersion.

What happens when golf shaft is too soft?

When a golf shaft is too flexible, you will not be able to hit the ball straight. You will also end up losing a bit of distance. When a golf shaft is too flexible, it isn't easy to control the clubface and get it to square up at impact.

What does a stiffer driver shaft do?

Having a club that suits your swing means you will be more relaxed and consistent hitting the ball, that's a huge advantage in terms of accuracy. Also, a stiffer shaft tends to help reduce dispersion as the club can move less through impact and so be more consistent.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two Main Effects of a Too-Stiff Golf Shaft

The distance will be shorter. Stiff shafts tend to impact distance, resulting in shorter distance. This is because the typical swing speed and the stiffness of the shaft have a contradictory effect on one another.

Fairway Jockey: Custom-Made Shaft Superstore

To determine which shaft is right for you and your swing, peruse our thousands of custom shaft options online. On the left hand navigation bar, filter by type of shaft (wood, hybrid, iron, or putter) and other preferences such as launch and spin rate.

Why is my golf shaft weak?

Swinging with a weak shaft flex can hurt you in both windy and wet conditions. Because the spin is so high when you hit it with a weaker flex, the wind will magnify the spin and decrease your distance and accuracy.

What is the shaft of a golf club?

Golf shafts are the engine of the golf club. But what does that mean? Since the very first golf clubs, club makers have considered how much or how little a golf shaft flexes; the golf shaft provides the power that is transferred to the clubhead and, ultimately, to the golf ball. Because the shaft flex directly facilitates this power transfer, your shaft choice can make or break your game.

What is a slice in golf?

Typical Miss: Slice (left to right for right-handed golfer) 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.

What is graphite shaft?

Graphite is typically the best material for amateur golfers, though some low-handicap players and professionals enjoy the vibrations they can feel in their hands after hitting a golf ball with a steel shaft.

Do golf clubs pair with shafts?

No matter what you play with, it is important to pair your golf clubs with the right golf shafts. Insider Tip: Swing Tempo Matters A person’s swing tempo will correlate with how he/she will “load” the golf shaft during the swing.

Do all golf shafts bend the same?

As golf shaft technology continues to advance, manufacturers are experimenting more with bend profiles within golf shaft flex segments; in other words, not all stiff golf shafts bend the same.

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 ...

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, ...

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.

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.

Can you change shafts in golf clubs?

Can I Change The Shafts In My Clubs. Absolutely yes. Changing shafts in a driver is a little easier than irons, as nowadays the shafts in Drivers can be screwed out, this makes it easy to chop and change different options. Iron shafts are a little different, firstly you have to buy 7 or 8 depending on your set make up, ...

Why does my golf club feel heavy?

If you have to put more force than what seems to be appropriate into your shots, your club might feel too heavy for you because your shaft is too stiff. This sign is a bit hard to gauge and notice unless you really have a good grasp on your swing as well as technique.

What happens if your golf shaft is too heavy?

If your shaft is too heavy, then you’ll probably experience these side effects: You get less wrist-snap when you swing. You have decreased swing speed. Your golf ball speed is decreased. You get less spin on your golf ball. You lose distance on the course.

What is a firm flex shaft?

A firm flex golf shaft is just that, a golf shaft that’s firm. They’re also called stiff shafts and are the preferred shafts of golfers that have a fast swing speed that regularly hit their golf ball out 250 yards or more. These golfers that tend to use firm flex golf shafts usually have club speed of about 90mph to 105mph.

How fast should a swing shaft be?

You can either get your swing speed professionally evaluated or you can use DIY tools to help get a decent estimate on your swing speed. If your swing speed is between 90 to 105 miles per hour, go with a stiff flex shaft.

What is the difference between a heavier shaft and a heavier shaft?

The heavier shaft has a weighted feel which gives you better control over your golf club, Heavier shafts have lower torque which keeps your club face more stable . The heavier shaft has a lower launch angle which helps you from hitting your golf ball too high.

How far can you drive a golf ball?

A good rule of thumb is that if your swing speed is 80 to 95mph but you aren’t able to drive your golf golf ball 200 to 220 yards, you have a shaft that’s too stiff.

How fast should a golf swing be?

If your swing speed is between 90 to 105 miles per hour, go with a stiff flex shaft. If it’s between 80 to 95 miles per hour then go with a regular flex shaft. Know your driver distance. This refers to how far you usually hit your golf ball from the tee to where the ball lands while using a driver or woods.

How Do I Know That My Golf Shaft Is Too Stiff?

A few indicators will help you decipher if, indeed, your golf shaft is too stiff for you. A too stiff golf shaft will rear its ugly head in various areas of your game, and changing to the right shaft will automatically improve your game from the get-go.

What Happens If My Shaft Is Too Stiff?

If any of the following is observable in your own game, it may be indicative that you are using too stiff shafts. Getting your game analyzed on a launch monitor by a professional would be the ideal way to rectify any gremlins concerning your golfing form.

Steel Or Graphite Golf Shafts?

Graphite golf shafts are much lighter than stee l. Choosing this material in golf shafts makes it easier to swing faster, and you will see an increase in driving distance from the tee. Graphite is considered to be the correct shafts for beginners and intermediate golfers.

What Happens When My Shaft Is Too Flexible?

After discussing the indicators of playing with golf shafts that are too stiff, let us look at some indicators that suggest that your golf shafts are too flexible.

Conclusion

Playing with too stiff or too flexible shafts will negatively affect your game. The best advice is to analyze your game thoroughly by seeing a professional, getting fitted when buying new golf clubs, analyzing your swing speed, and more by way of a launch monitor.

Kperkins

I've got a new set of irons, and I'm not sure if I ended up getting shafts too stiff for my swing. My driver is between 100-110 depending on how hard I try to bomb it. Will you tend to fade or draw if your shafts are too stiff?

DJYoshi

i'm pretty sure you'd cast the ball in a certain direction if they're too stiff... you should be swinging a stiff shaft and if you're consistently in the 110 area..then you could even go with x-stiff. if they're too stiff you'll more than likely just lose distance..but gain control.

Klean

I think having a shaft too stiff would cause you to have a lower ball flight as well. Making it harder to get the ball up in the air. I would also assume that slices will become more prevelant because you won't be able to squre the clubface on impact consistently.

seanYsean

This spring I got a new R5 with a tour stiff shaft. What I noticed was it would look like I bombed it like normal, but when I would pull up to my ball I would be shocked it was farther up. Only thing I noticed,,same height, ball flight,,everything. I traded it to the guy I sold my old driver, mp001 stiff, too and I am hitting it normal again.

Awsi Dooger

For me it's low and right with irons, if the shafts are too stiff. Not a slice as much as a dead feeling push line drive.

Crafty

There could be many things that an excessivley stiff shaft does to your shots depending on how you swing. A person with a lot of wrist action may notice more of a low shot to the right, but some of this can be accredited to the fact that torque numbers generally go down as flex stiffens.

keiyoz

i don't think i have any business playing my stiff shafts...but i bought the clubs used with very little club knowledge. the misses seem to be right, although they aren't exactly low... but definitely right.

What happens if you put the right weight on your golf clubs?

If your golf clubs are the correct weight for you your swing will feel good and let you hit good shots when you get things right . Also if your golf clubs are the right weight you will not even be thinking about how heavy or light they are! Final Thought.

What does it mean when a golf club feels too light?

If it ‘feels too light’ you might think that you have no control of the club head at all. And of course ‘feel’ is different for everyone. While some golfers are quite indifferent when it comes to swinging different weights of golf club others can feel the difference of even a couple of grams.

How much does a golf driver weigh?

With the average driver head weighing about 200 grams, a regular flex shaft typically 60 grams and a standard grip about 50 grams, the total weight of the average male golfer’s driver is approximately 310 grams. Ladies clubs by comparison are usually lighter because they have lighter shafts and on occasion lighter heads.

Why are ladies clubs lighter?

Ladies clubs are typically lighter because they have lighter shafts and often lighter heads. As with everything in golf there are some common generalisations which apply and in respect of golf club weight you will often hear the following: Golfers with slower swings and smooth tempos should play lighter clubs.

Why is it important to make sure you have the right equipment for golf?

Making sure you have got the right equipment is clearly an important thing in golf if you want to play well and improve. And given weight and its importance when it comes to the golf club and your golf swing it is something that needs consideration.

Can you have the wrong weight of golf club?

In short having the wrong weight of golf club can cause a multitude of issues for different players depending on how sensitive their swing is changes in weight. The bad news is that there is no such thing as a magic rule when it comes to deciding which club weights are best for different types of golfers.

Does lighter club weight increase head speed?

And it’s not as simple as saying a lighter club definitely increases club head speed. It is estimated for example that only 12% of golfers swing of golfers get their best club head speed with the lightest club. The good news though is there are rewards out there if your clubs are the right weight for your swing.

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