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what is a flex golf club

by Antoinette Willms Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The flex is a rating of a golf club shaft's ability to bend during the golf swing. All shafts, no matter how stiff, exhibit flex under the forces of the golf swing. A player with a very fast swing will require a shaft with less flex, while a player with a slower swing will need a shaft with greater flex.

How do you determine golf shaft flex?

1 day ago · The flex of the club is the bending of the shaft that is done in different ways according to requirements for each category of golfers, and yes, it is chosen by golfers as per their requirements and choices.

What shaft should a senior golfer use?

Overview. 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 …

What Golf Club shaft stiffness should I use?

Sep 01, 2003 · If you want to avoid giving your golf game the shaft, you need to understand the effect that golf club shaft flex has on your game. "Flex" refers to the ability of a golf shaft to bend as forces are applied to it during the golf swing. Those forces are generated by the type of swing that you have: fast or slow, smooth or jerky. Featured Video

What is golf shaft flex is right for me?

Aug 10, 2021 · Stiff flex is for golfers who produce consistent shots in the 250 yards range and reach a swing speed of 95 mph or more. It is a popular choice for mid-low handicappers. Extra Stiff Flex Extra stiff flex is for players with a swing speed over 100 mph, and their shots cover the 300-yard range. This flex is the right choice for professionals.

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What is an A flex golf shaft?

"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" "S" denotes "stiff flex" (might also be designated "Firm")May 28, 2019

What flex golf clubs should I use?

– Golf Shaft Flex Chart
Carry DistanceSwing SpeedFlex
Under 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior
200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular
240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiff
Over 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra Stiff
Oct 15, 2019

Is flex good in golf clubs?

When selecting golf club shafts, it is better to buy a softer flex than a stiffer one. Flex is related to ball trajectory, so if you choose a shaft that is too soft, you might have trouble getting air under the ball. If you slice, a softer shaft may help. If you hook, a stiffer shaft may help.

What does Flex mean when buying golf clubs?

"Flex" refers to the ability of a golf shaft to bend as forces are applied to it during the golf swing. Those forces are generated by the type of swing that you have: fast or slow, smooth or jerky.Sep 21, 2018

What happens if your golf shaft is too flexible?

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.

Is Stiff flex good for beginners?

Beginners may acquire clubs from friends or family and not consider the flex of their shafts. Shaft options include senior, ladies, regular, firm, stiff, x-stiff. Length – shafts can be cut different lengths – for most beginners, standard length is fine, unless you are an abnormal height.Sep 24, 2021

How fast should you swing a 7 iron?

An average golfer will swing a seven iron about 75 mph. This number can change based on the weight of the club and if it is steel or graphite. The faster you swing a seven iron, the further it will go. If you can swing at about 85 mph, you will see distances closer to 165 yards.

Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?

If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low.Dec 22, 2016

How can I tell my swing speed?

Divide the ball speed by 1.5 to get the estimated swing speed for your drive. Alternatively, you can divide the carry distance by 2.3 to estimate the swing speed at impact, but the result will not be as accurate.

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 is the difference between senior flex and stiff flex?

A senior flex shaft and a stiff flex shaft are made for two very different types of golfers. Senior shafts are flexible, lightweight, and easy to launch. A stiff shaft is built for a golfer with a very fast swing speed. When a golfer has a fast swing speed, they are going to get high ball flight typically.Aug 23, 2021

What is the difference between senior flex and regular flex golf clubs?

Senior flex shafts are appropriate for golfers who swing between 75 and 90 mph and carry a driver about 180 to 200 yards. Regular flex shafts are designed for golfers who swing 90 to 100 mph and carry a driver about 200 to 240 yards.Dec 11, 2018

What does flex mean in golf?

"Flex" refers to the ability of a golf shaft to bend as forces are applied to it during the golf swing. Those forces are generated by the type of swing that you have: fast or slow, smooth or jerky.

What are the ratings for shaft flex?

There are five generally used ratings for shaft flex: Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior and Ladies, usually denoted by the letters X, S, R, A and L ("A" is used for Senior because this flex was originally called "amateur").

What Is Shaft Flex?

Shaft flex is the degree to which the shaft will bend or flex during the swing. A more flexible shaft bends easily during the swing and has the potential to produce a longer-ranged shot.

How Does Shaft Flex Impact Your Golf Game?

The shaft flex of your golf club has an immense effect on the game’s outcome as a whole. From high irons to wedges and drivers, you have to make sure they have the correct flex for trajectory, accuracy, and distance.

How to Choose the Shaft Flex for You?

You can know the correct flex for your shaft by evaluating your swing at a golf equipment store. They’ll check all kinds of things like ball speed, distance, clubhead speed, spin, and many other factors. They also try several shafts in the same driver head to give the most accurate results.

What Shaft Flex Should You Use for The Driver?

It would be best if you choose the stiffest shaft flex for your driver because it is often the club that has the maximum swing speed. Since it carries the maximum swing speed, you may consider choosing the most accurate shaft flex.

How to Determine the Right Flex for Your Iron?

Choosing the right flex for the iron depends on the club you use for hitting a 150-yard shot. If you’re about to take a 150-yard shot, consider using these flex for your irons.

Final Thoughts

When selecting a flex for the shaft in your clubs, the tradeoff is between accuracy and distance. Choosing a senior flex helps you to achieve greater distance due to its flexibility but at the cost of lower accuracy.

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What does Flex mean in golf clubs?

Golf club shaft flex refers to the bend in a club when a player swings and makes an impact with the golf ball. The shaft flex can have a significant impact on a player’s swing and should be selected based on a few different factors identified by a proper club fitting session.

Swing Speed vs. Swing Tempo

Swing speed is measured in miles per hour. It is very easy to measure this, as most golf courses have speed sticks available to members and customers. But speed isn’t everything. The tempo of the swing is very important. For instance, look at the swing of 2021 Masters Champion Hideki Matsuyama compared to the 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson.

Different Club Flex Options

It is important to use the correct flex option that suits your swing. If the shaft is too soft, it will typically flex more through impact and cause the clubhead to close and start the ball to the left with added spin.

Club Shaft Kick Point

The kick point is mistakenly thought of as being a wide variance; the high kick point being up by the grip and the low kick point being down by the clubhead. But this isn’t true. The kick point is actually a small 6” section in the middle of the shaft.

How to Choose the Correct Club Flex

So, let’s take what we have learned from above and apply it to selecting a new driver.

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 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.

Why use steel shafts in golf?

With steel shafts, you may find that golf shots are easier to control. Steel shafts place a greater focus on accuracy as opposed to distance. Since they don’t get as much distance as graphite shafts, steel shafts require faster swing speed to make up for the loss of distance compared to graphite.

What is the difference between a steel shaft and a graphite shaft?

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. Stepped is the use of steps down the shaft or ridges you see while rifle is smooth all the way.

What is a multi material shaft?

Multi-material – this shaft uses both steel and graphite to create a multi-material that offers the best of both worlds. Usually the shaft is steel with graphite at the tip to help limit whip. A multi-material shaft can be found in both irons and drivers.

What is titanium shaft?

Titanium Shafts – this is a newer material type being used to build golf shafts with. It’s much lighter in weight as compared to steel but still offers that same strong support you get from steel compared to graphite.

How much does a golf shaft weigh?

Shaft weights typically range between 50 grams and 85 grams with the 50-60 numbers being pretty common as seen in the example shafts above. Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball.

What is a shaft flex?

The flex simply refers to how flexible the shaft of the golf club is. This effects the distance, trajectory, and accuracy. As you bring the golf club down to hit the ball, the shaft flexes to allow a more devastating contact with the ball. This can offer you much better shots for less effort, which is often great for beginners.

Different types of shaft flex available

There is a chart that will help you to determine the correct flex for you, which we will include below. However, the best way to find the ideal flex for you is to attend a professional fitting. If you don’t want to do this, though, don’t forget to refer to this chart to help you make your decision.

How to find the best golf shaft flex?

If you don’t want to get a professional fitting for the flex of your golf clubs, there are some alternative methods to ensure that you choose the right option.

Final Say

We hope that this article has given you some insight into the right golf shaft flex for you. There are various options out there for you to try, and there are multiple options for how you can go about finding the best flex for you.

Is flex in the shaft more important than the clubhead?

The flex of a golf shaft is probably just as important, if not more important than the clubhead itself. Flex is what will make or break a golfer. Even if your golf swing is near perfect, you won’t be able to perform correctly with the wrong flex in the shaft. If you told a golf professional that they had to play with new clubs, ...

How fast should a golf shaft be?

Some golfers will decide which shaft they need based on swing speed alone. If your swing speed is between 75 and 85 miles per hour, then you will need a senior shaft. If you are between 85 and 95 miles per hour, then the regular shaft will be the best choice. You can get your swing speed measured at a local golf fitting center.

What happens if a golf shaft is too stiff?

If a golf shaft is too stiff for a player, there could be a decrease in distance and accuracy as well. The most common miss with a shaft that is too stiff is a slice. If you have tried everything to learn how to fix your slice, it could just be that the equipment you are using does not fit you properly.

What is Project X shaft?

Project X makes high-end golf shafts that usually have mid kick points and mid-spin. They have been used in top of the line drivers for many years. This driver comes with an adapter so you can put it directly in the golf club you are already playing, and it has a grip installed as well.

Can you measure your swing speed?

Some personal golf swing trackers and apps can measure swing speed. When you measure your swing speed, you are going to want to use your driver speed. Although there are ways to do club fittings using the speed of the irons, the driver speed is the most common way to do this.

What is flex in golf?

In simple terms, the definition of flex is the amount of bend in the shaft when under the load of the swing. Another way to express it is the stiffness or the softness of the shaft. It is generally accepted that the grading system of flex is universal. Contents [ show] The Different Types of Club Flex Available.

What is flex in golf shafts?

In simple terms, the definition of flex is the amount of bend in the shaft when under the load of the swing.

What are the benefits of graphite shafts?

The modern graphite shafts have many benefits: 1 They are lighter and the golfer will swing the clubhead faster through impact without trying to force the speed. 2 Speed equals distance. 3 They launch the ball into the air easily. They offer control, stability, and less vibration through impact. 4 Confidence in every swing.

What is a flight scope?

Modern technology has developed a Flight scope that is readily available in most golf retail outlets or driving ranges. Before deciding on the type of shaft you must have this test, as it will not only show your swing speed but also your ball flight and other important factors.

What is the kick point of a golf shaft?

Kick point is the part of the shaft that bends the most on the downswing. The kick point determines the trajectory of the shot. Senior golfers should select a low kick point shaft which enables a high trajectory and ball flight. The bend in the shaft is close to the clubhead. A medium trajectory is attained by a shaft with ...

What is a high kick point shaft?

A medium trajectory is attained by a shaft with the kick point close to the center of the shaft. A high kick point is for high-speed swings and offers the lowest trajectory.

Who is Nick Lomas?

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.

What Is A Flex Golf Shaft

Flex in a golf shaft determines the amount the shaft will bend during the swing and at impact. Higher flex shafts, such as those on ladies or senior clubs will be extra flexible for slower swing speeds.

Impact Of Shaft Flex On Your Game

The golf flex of your shaft has an immense effect on the outcome of your game as a whole. From your driver to high irons and wedges, you’ll want to make sure each one has the correct flex for accuracy, trajectory, and distance.

Golf Swing Speeds And Shaft Flex

Determining your swing speed is something a professional club fitter can do using swing analysis technology. Here is a general breakdown to give you a little insight into which shaft flex is right for swing speeds.

What Do Shaft Flex Numbers Mean

The shaft flex is sometimes displayed as numbers instead of clearly stating the flex in words. From brand to brand, the figures may vary slightly. A 5.5 flex on a Callaway shaft may be somewhat different than a 5.5 on a Taylor Made shaft.

What Shaft Flex Should I Use For My Driver

The driver shaft flex may need to be the stiffest in your bag. The driver is often the club that has the highest swing speed, given its length and weight.

Golf Club Shaft Flex Chart

Here is a golf shaft stiffness chart that breaks down swing speeds and the appropriate flex for each that you can use as a guide.

Conclusion

Getting the right shaft flex can make a massive difference if you have some frustrations on the course. If you have any questions or comments about finding the correct shaft flex for you, please leave them in the comments section below.

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