How does a flexible shaft affect your golf game?
A right-handed golfer with a flexible shaft will notice that the ball moves towards the left. The driver’s face gets a bit closer which makes the ball go in the opposite direction. Unlike professional golfers, amateurs will find it challenging to maintain the tempo of a highly flexible golf club.
How do I know if my shafts are too flexible?
These results may vary according to your swing speeds; however, they are general observations. With highly flexible shafts, expect misses from high and right to low and left that may either be a big hook or a simple slice. You will experience inconsistencies in distance and direction.
What happens when shafts are not correct?
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.
Will too stiff a golf shaft cause a slice?
Q: Will too stiff a golf shaft cause a 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.
How do I know if my golf shaft is too soft?
The first indication that your driver shaft is too soft is likely going to be a wild shot pattern from the tee. It's perfectly normal, and inevitable, to hit a poor drive from time to time. But if your shots are varying wildly from one swing to the next, there is a good chance that your driver shaft is too flexible.
What happens if shaft flex is too weak?
A golf shaft that is too weak will flex excessively throughout the golf swing, creating an inconsistent release point. Swinging with a weak shaft flex can hurt you in both windy and wet conditions.
What happens if your iron shafts are too soft?
Using an iron shaft that's too soft for you will also affect the flight of your golf ball. Your golf ball will consistently fly much higher than you intended if you use an iron shaft that's too soft for you. This is because of the extra amount of flex caused by using an iron shaft that's too weak.
Can too much flex cause a slice?
If your club shafts are too stiff, you'll have trouble loading them properly during your downswing. When the clubhead gets to the ball, the shaft won't unload properly and the face will remain slightly open, causing a slice.
Does shaft stiffness really matter?
faster swing speeds equal stiffer shafts. slower swing speeds equal weaker shafts. A softer flex gives you more “kick” and ballspeed. A stronger flex makes the ball fly straighter.
Does shaft flex affect distance?
If you have a good swing but your average distance is short, there is a problem with your shaft flex. If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low. If you are struggling with a slice, it is highly likely you are using stiff club shafts.
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.
Will a too soft shaft cause a slice?
MISSES STARTING LEFT AND TURNING BACK RIGHT (PULL FADE OR SLICE) Typically caused by an outside-to-inside swing path and a shaft that is too soft in the butt and/or the tip. Stiffening the butt section first MAY help but you typically need a firmer tip section to keep the ball from moving to the right as much.
What happens if my driver shaft is too light?
Too light of a shaft encourages an early unhinging of the wrists in the downswing, a swing flaw shown here with an iron known as casting that robs you of speed. Mucklow's data also shows that a heavier shaft improves your swing path.
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.
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 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.
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 ...
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.
Can you lose clubhead control with a graphite shaft?
For anyone with lower swing speeds, graphite shafts will only make you lose clubhead control. Therefore pick a golf club with a steel shaft since it is stiffer than the graphite shaft and offers more control on the clubhead.