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what happens when your golf shaft is too flexible

by Prof. Edward Brakus Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Having a shaft that is too flexible can also cause the ball to hook uncontrollably, because the shaft bends incorrectly, it will come through with a closed clubface causing the ball to go left, this is because the shaft can't handle your swing speed, and the head is rotating too much.

Full Answer

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.

Is your shaft too stiff or too flexible?

Playing with a shaft that is too stiff for you can really compromise your game, and the same goes for a shaft that is too flexible. Signs that your shaft is too stiff are, fades or slices, too low of a ball flight and not enough spin on your ball. A shaft that is too stiff can also affect your swing, causing you to start bad habits.

Why do golf clubs have stiff shafts?

The faster you swing the more the shaft will bend, so the more you need to control it. The stiffer shaft allows the shaft to bend correctly and allow the club head to return to a square impact position.

Should I change my golf shafts?

If you are using a regular golf club and having inaccurate long hits, you may want to change to a stiffer shaft. With such a shaft, you will achieve more control. You won’t need much energy when taking swings and hitting the ball. All in all, distance without accuracy is not what a golfer wants.

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What happens if my golf shaft is too flexible?

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.

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.

How do I know if my flex shaft is correct?

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.

Does shaft flex affect distance?

Does shaft flex affect driver distance? Yes and it is really important you get your flex right.

How do I know if my shaft flex is too soft?

If the shaft is too flexible, you will have a 'whippy' feeling in your hands, and you won't be able to feel the clubhead on the downswing. 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.

What happens if driver shaft too soft?

Incorrect 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 if 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 shaft stiffness is best 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

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.

Does shaft flex really matter in irons?

1) Shaft flex is a very important variable in fitting. Our testers saw variations of as much as 22 yards of distance from one flex to another. Getting the right flex is key to an optimal fit.

Can you hit a 300 yard drive with a regular flex shaft?

Let me put it bluntly – No You Can't! If some guys on the PGA Tour can't hit it 300 yards – you can't either. Understanding the 'true distance' you hit the golf ball is more important than the 'bragging distance' you can hit it.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What Happens If Your Driver Shaft Is Too Stiff?

Playing with the correct shaft in your driver is incredibly important. With the correct shaft flex you will be able to deliver the club at optimum speeds, and produce the correct numbers in terms of launch and spin on the golf ball.

What is Shaft Flex, And Why Is It Important In Drivers

Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends while you swing the club, if you swing it slowly you will need a more flexible shaft, while if you swing it fast you will need a stiffer shaft.

What Are The Signs Your Driver 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 the course.

Will You Adapt Your Swing To The Incorrect Shaft Flex

Yes you will, if your shaft is too stiff you will adapt your swing in more ways than one.

How Does Weight, Kick Point And Torque Affect Shaft Flex

90% of the time shaft flex is impacted by weight, the heavier the shaft is the stiffer it is, and the lighter the shaft is the more flexible it is.

How Does Swing Speed Affect What Shaft Flex You Should Use?

Swing speed is the main influencer in what shaft you should use. The faster you swing the more the shaft will bend, so the more you need to control it.

How To Discover Your Swing Speed?

By using a very fancy piece of machinery called a launch monitor, you are able to track how fast your swing speed is. The most popular companies are Trackman, Flightscope and GC Quad.

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