what is a flex on golf shaft

Types of Flex in Golf Shafts

• Overview. The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot. ...
• Extra Stiff. Extra stiff shafts should generally be reserved for really long hitters (about 300 off the tee) and this flex can be difficult to find, as it is not ...
• Stiff Shaft. ...
• Regular Flex. ...
• Senior Flex
• Ladies Flex. ...

Full Answer

How do you determine golf shaft flex?

Aug 10, 2021 · 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. Although, choosing the most flexible one will not improve your accuracy as it tends to twist more. You have to consider some aspects to improve your swing ...

What shaft flex should I use?

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 the clubhead changes and it is important to select the proper flex in a club so that the clubface will be square on the ball when it makes contact. There are five flex ratings for golf clubs--extra ...

What Golf Club shaft stiffness should I use?

Sep 01, 2003 · Shaft flex impacts, either directly or indirectly, the accuracy, trajectory and distance of your shot. Three pretty important things in golf. As the shaft flexes throughout the swing, the position of the clubhead changes. And the face of the club must be square (perfectly straight, or parallel to the target line) at impact to get the most out ...

How to pick the right golf shaft?

Determining which golf shaft flex your need (stiff, regular, senior, etc.) requires club fitting and testing. 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 golf shaft flex should I use?

What does 5.0 shaft flex mean?

What is a good shaft flex?

What shaft flex should I use for irons?

How do you determine what shaft flex you need?

What does a 5.5 shaft flex mean?

What happens if shaft is too flexible?

Is senior flex good for beginners?

Is Stiff flex good for beginners?

Do any pros use regular flex shafts?

Will a stiffer shaft increase distance?

Is there a big difference between stiff and regular flex?

What does flex mean in golf?

The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot.

Why is it important to use a more flexible shaft?

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 the clubhead changes and it is important to select the proper flex in a club so that the clubface will be square on the ball when it makes contact.

How many flex ratings are there for golf clubs?

There are five flex ratings for golf clubs--extra stiff (X), stiff (S), regular (R), senior (A) and ladies (L). Generally, the faster your club speed, the stiffer the shaft, but use care when selecting a flex. If you are not certain or in between flexes, it is better to select a softer flex than a stiffer one.

What is the softest flex for golf?

Women generally have the lowest club speed of all golfers and should select a ladies flex. This is the softest of all the flex ratings. If you consistently hit the ball less than 200 yards off the tee , this is an appropriate flex. Women who hit further may want to consider either senior or regular flex clubs.

What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?

It is important to note that if you select a shaft that is too stiff, you will lose loft and control on your shots.

How many yards off the tee for stiff shaft golf?

The stiff shaft is quite popular and should be chosen by those who consistently drive the ball 250 or more yards off the tee.

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 the best way to choose the proper amount of flex in your golf clubs?

A clubfitting with a golf professional is the recommended way to choose the proper amount of flex in your golf clubs.

Why is softer flex better for macho men?

Choosing a softer flex often has the effect of forcing macho men to slow down their swings. And slowing down the swing often makes those macho men into better golfers. And the fact is, the harm in hitting a shaft that is too flexible is much less than the harm in hitting a shaft that is too stiff.

What happens if your flex doesn't match your swing?

Having a flex that doesn't match the needs of your swing will result in the clubface being misaligned at impact, causing your shots to go off-target.

What is the key to a club fitting?

The key, short of a club fitting, is hitting lots of different clubs and watching the effect that changing shaft flex has on your shots. If you find a flex that feels good and produces a good ball flight, there's a good chance that's the right flex for you.

What happens if your drives go left?

If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.

What is important to think about in golf clubs?

It's important to think about the shafts in your golf clubs, and specifically whether you are playing the right amount of flex. David Cannon / Getty Images

What to know about golf shafts?

In today’s guide we will review everything you need to know about golf shafts. Picking out the proper golf shaft is very important as it will impact several components of your golf swing. For example, picking the wrong golf shaft flex can cause you to hook or slice the golf ball. It also can hinder the total distance the ball flies by having too much spin or too low of launch. But don’t worry, at the end of reading today’s guide you’ll be much more educated on the buying process and how to pick out the right golf shaft. Lets Get Started!

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 does my golf shaft have a slice?

When the golf shaft is too stiff, it doesn’t unload properly at impact. This can lead to the face staying open and result in a slice golf shot. Beware, a slice isn’t always an indication the shaft is too stiff so if you already have a slice, it could be caused by another fault in your golf swing.

Why do golf clubs have shafts?

During the golf swing the shaft causes deflection (bend) that causes the clubhead to be in a forward and toe downward position relative to the grip of the club.

What is the most common shaft material used in golf clubs?

Graphite Shafts. Graphite – this type of shaft is usually lighter weight compared to a steel shaft but it’s less durable and more expensive to make. Graphite is one of the most common shaft types used in golf clubs and can arguably be considered the main shaft material used, beating out steel.

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.

How much does a graphite shaft weigh?

Graphite shafts are also much lighter weight (50-85 grams) while steel shafts can start at 120 grams in most cases.

What is the X stiff range?

X-stiff – This is the range where most high-level players fall. If you’re swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set.

Can you extrapolate your swing speed to driver?

You should consider that your swing speed for your irons might not extrapolate perfectly to driver (and vice versa), so while a certain flex might be right in some clubs, that might not be the case in others.

Is True Spec Golf affiliated with 8AM?

Our friends over at True Spec Golf shared some data with us that illustrates the shaft that’s right for you based on your swing speed throughout the bag. ( True Spec and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf ).

Why do golfers need flex points?

A power player with a fast swing speed such as PGA Tour player Gary Woodland needs a higher flex point to help keep his shots under control.

Why does the extra loft on a golf ball help?

The extra loft puts more backspin on the ball so it starts on a higher trajectory; the softer shaft stores more energy; and the low kick point releases the shaft energy quicker. To understand this concept, think of slapping something; your wrist moves your hand very quickly on a sharper arc.

What does a fitter do for a slow swing?

For Slow Swingers. If you have a slow swing speed, you need to get the ball up quicker for a higher launch angle. Your fitter generally will give you clubs with more loft, softer shafts and a lower kick point. The extra loft puts more backspin on the ball so it starts on a higher trajectory; the softer shaft stores more energy;

What does "less loft" mean in golf?

Less loft means less backspin (and a lower trajectory); the stiffer shafts dampen the energy in the shaft; and the higher kick point releases that energy more slowly. Rather than a slapping action, the high kick point is more of a sweeping motion. Golfweeks' Adam Woodard breaks down the results from the match.

What determines the ball flight of a golf club?

Your ball flight is the result of several interrelated factors. The most important is your swing speed, which dictates the club's loft, the shaft flex and the shaft's kick point, among other things. Your fitter starts with your swing speed because swing speed determines how high you need to hit the ball if you want to hit it a long way.

What happens when you swing a golf club?

When you swing your club, the shaft bends or "loads" to store power.

What to know before buying a golf club?

Other things have to determined before you buy the clubs – such as the shaft material (steel or graphite), type of flex (regular, stiff, etc.) and length. But golfers also are fit for a less familiar specification – the shaft flex point.

What is shaft flex?

Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) and Fujikura told us about how shaft flex is a guideline for connecting swing speed to a particular shaft.

What is the benefit of playing the right shaft flex?

All the manufacturers concur. Fujikura said the benefit of playing the right flex is, “Consistency!” Mitsubishi told us it will “optimize a player’s performance.” And Nippon said, “The correct shaft flex will optimize distance, spin, and dispersion control.”

How to measure shaft flex?

The most common way is to clamp the butt end of the shaft, attach a weight to the tip, displace it, and measure the CPM (cycles per minute) or frequency that the shaft oscillates . This can also be done in reverse – clamp the tip and weight and displace the butt.

Is flex only one part of the equation?

While they didn’t agree on much, every shaft manufacturer that we spoke to said that flex is only one part of the equation . MRC noted that torque values will vary widely from model to model, and that has a big impact on performance.

Does shaft flex matter?

With all this disagreement about definitions, measurements, and rules of thumb, does shaft flex even matter? Yes, very much . The one thing that every manufacturer and fitter agreed on, besides the need to be fit in person, is that getting into the correct shaft flex is critical.

Is there a standard way to measure flex?

Given that there’s not a standard way of measuring flex, you can correctly assume that there is no standard for labeling flex either. What one manufacturer calls “stiff” might be “regular” to another. This is why they universally emphasize the importance of fitting.

Is a shaft X stiff or flex?

Regardless of the semantics, we’re talking about the flexibility of the shaft . A shaft that’s X-Stiff will be very rigid and hard to bend. A shaft that’s Senior or A-Flex will be very loose and easy to bend.

How important is flex in golf shaft?

How Important Is Flex In A Golf Shaft. 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 ...

What are the different flex shafts for golf clubs?

When it comes time to replace or upgrade the shafts in your golf clubs, it is essential to choose the proper flex. Golf clubs for men come in four basic flexes, extra stiff, stiff, regular and senior. The regular and senior flex shafts are for the slower swinging player. Some golfers have a hard time deciding if the regular or the senior is going to be the better fit for their game.

How to determine golf shaft flex?

Another way to determine which golf shaft flex you need is based on your current distances. If you are hitting your driver 180-200 yards, then you need a senior golf shaft. If you hit your driver 200-240 yards, the regular is going to be a better choice. The one problem with using distance as the only determining factor is ...

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.

How many percent of golfers keep the shaft the same?

If you told a golf professional that they had to play with new clubs, but they could keep the clubhead or the shaft the same, ninety-nine percent would choose to keep the shaft the same. With all of the variables in the game of golf, it is so essential to make sure that your golf shaft is appropriately fitted to your swing.

What is a senior flex shaft?

The regular and senior flex shafts are for the slower swinging player. Some golfers have a hard time deciding if the regular or the senior is going to be the better fit for their game. We have put together some great information about senior and regular flex golf shafts so you can choose an option that will work well for your golf game.

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.

How to choose shaft flex?

These are just general guidelines, however; the best way to choose shaft flex is to go through a club fitting. Not every golfer can (or is willing) to do that, though.

Why do golf shafts bend?

Shaft makers vary the amount of stiffness because golfers have different types of swings—different swing speeds, different tempos—and different amounts of stiffness in a shaft better match up to those different swings.

What does it mean when a golfer's swing is slower?

The slower a golfer's swing, generally speaking, the more flex he or she requires in the shafts that are in their golf clubs. And the faster the swing, the more stiffness. Tempo also matters: A jerkier swing requires more stiffness, a smoother swing less stiffness, generally speaking.

What happens if you mismatch your golf shaft?

If your swing is mismatched to your golf shaft flex—if you are using an X flex shaft, for example, when you should be using an R flex shaft—you will have a harder time squaring the clubface at impact. The way your shots are flying can clue you into the possibility you might be using the wrong flex.

What do the letters on a golf shaft mean?

Golf shafts are designated with a letter code, the letters most commonly being X, S, R, A, and L . What do these letters represent? Those letters tell golfers flex—the relative stiffness—of that shaft.

Why is senior flex represented by an A or M?

Why is senior flex represented by an A or M? " A" originally stood for "amateur." The "M" stands for "mature" or "medium." Also, of course, "S" is taken by "stiff."

When were steel shafts invented?

Alas, no. Golf industry veteran Tom Wishon, of Tom Wishon Golf Technologies, explains: "Shortly after steel shafts were introduced in the 1920s, steel shaft makers discovered they could change the diameter and wall thickness of the tubes to create shafts with different amounts of stiffness to better match to the different swing speeds ...