A graphite
Graphite
Graphite, archaically referred to as plumbago, is a crystalline form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a hexagonal structure. It occurs naturally in this form and is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Under high pressures and temperatures it converts to diamo…
Full Answer
What is the difference between stiff shaft and regular shafts?
Stiff vs Regular flex The stiff shafted clubs are going to flex less during the swing than the regular shafted clubs. Conversely, the regular shafted clubs are going to flex more.
Do I need extra stiff flex for my golf shafts?
If you hit an 8- or 9-iron 150 yards, an extra stiff flex is the best option. For your driver and fairway metals, a regular drive in excess of 250 yards would indicate you need a stiff flex for the shafts. A regular drive in the 230-250 range would indicate a regular shaft, and less distance would merit a senior shaft.
Are regular shafted golf clubs better than other shafts?
Conversely, the regular shafted clubs are going to flex more. If you have a slower swing speed, you are probably going to want to choose regular shafted clubs because the additional flex will provide a little more power and accuracy.
Do stiffer golf shafts make you swing faster?
The stiffer shafts should provide you with a little more control with your swing without having to swing faster provided you have the right club in your hands. You should also take into consideration the shaft’s material when making these important decisions.
Is there a big difference between stiff and extra stiff shafts?
Stiff shafts are for golfers that swing fast; the extra stiff are for those that swing exceptionally fast. In years past, the extra stiff shafts were a bit hard to find and rare to see a player using.
Who should use extra stiff shafts?
If you're swinging the driver above 105 mph, it might be time to get some X stiff shafts in your set. Stiff – This range is still considered fast, but you most likely won't be out on Tour anytime soon. If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex.
Are extra stiff shafts harder to hit?
3:0610:19Extra Stiff Shaft vs Stiff Shaft - On Course Test !!! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou'll see a little bit more distance.MoreYou'll see a little bit more distance.
Is there a big difference between stiff and regular flex?
The regular flex golf shaft is more flexible and easier for slower swing speed golfers to swing than the stiff flex golf shaft. A stiff flex golf shaft creates more resistance in the swing of a golfer. Therefore when they attempt to hit the ball with a bit more speed, they can get the incredible distance.
What swing speed is needed for extra stiff shafts?
90-105 mph80-95 mph swing speeds should use regular shafts. 90-105 mph swing speeds should use stiff shafts.
Why do pros use extra stiff shafts?
Most PGA Tour pros use stiff or x-stiff shafts. Depending on what type of swing you possess, stiff-shaft irons might help you control your shots better, achieve optimal results from a swing with a fast tempo and aid your short game.
Do all PGA Tour players use extra stiff shafts?
Over 80% of the top 100 PGA Tour Players play an extra stiff or Tour extra stiff golf shaft in their driver. Only a select few players, including Brian Harman, Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day use only a stiff shaft. None of this elite group uses a regular flex driver shaft. And the simple reason for this is swing speed.
Do PGA players use extra 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.
Will a stiffer shaft give me more distance?
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. By figuring out the most common type of shot you are playing, it becomes easier to know whether you need a softer shaft.
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 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 ...
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.
Do all tour players use extra stiff shafts?
Do all pros use extra 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.
Do all PGA Tour players use extra stiff shafts?
Over 80% of the top 100 PGA Tour Players play an extra stiff or Tour extra stiff golf shaft in their driver. Only a select few players, including Brian Harman, Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day use only a stiff shaft. None of this elite group uses a regular flex driver shaft. And the simple reason for this is swing speed.
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.
How do I know if I need a stiff shaft?
When To Move To A Stiffer Shaft?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.You ball spins to much on the greens when you approach with your irons.Your accuracy has dropped.You start hitting hooks.More items...
How Can I Tell My Swing Speed?
There are a few ways that you can find out your swing speed. The easiest way is to go to a local golf retail store and use their golf simulator.
What Will happen if My Shaft Is Too Stiff?
If your golf shaft is too stiff you are going to spend a lot of time on the right side of the golf course. The ball is very hard to release and hit straight when your golf shaft is too stiff.
What is the best swing speed for a golf shaft?
Golfers with a swing speed of 95 to 105 mph will do best with a stiff flex golf shaft.
How to know if you need a stiff golf shaft?
How To Know If You Need Stiff Or X Stiff Flex. To know what golf shaft you need, you will need to know your swing speed. The faster your swing, the more stiff of a golf shaft you are going to need. When you swing the club fast, the club needs more resistance and a stiffer shaft.
What is flex in golf?
Flex is one of the most essential features of a golf driver shaft. If you swing a club that is the wrong flex, it will have significant impacts on the distance and the direction that you can hit the ball. It’s important to have a golf shaft that is both stiff enough, yet not too stiff.
What is a stiff shaft?
Stiff shafts are for golfers that swing fast; the extra stiff are for those that swing exceptionally fast. In years past, the extra stiff shafts were a bit hard to find and rare to see a player using. With modern club technology and the golfer’s ability to swing clubs faster, the extra stiff shafts are becoming more and more popular.
Why graphite shafts?
Most driver shafts are going to be graphite for increase swing speed but the flex of the shaft is most important when a golfer makes their final decision on a new club.
What are the two main compositions of golf shafts?
The two primary composition types are graphite and steel . Many players use steel shafts for irons to improve shot control and graphite for their driver and fairway metals for increased distance. Steel shafts are more durable. Pick the shaft flex for your clubs.
How many yards does a 7 iron shaft flex?
Shaft flex depends on your swing speed and distance you normally hit the ball. If you hit a 7-iron 150 yards, then a regular flex will be the most help to your game. If you hit a smaller numbered iron 150 yards, choosing a shaft with more flex will help your game.
What is a flex point in golf?
The flex point determines the height of ball flight for your clubs. The higher the flex point, the lower the trajectory of your shots will be. If you want your shots to fly lower, choose a flex point of high. Conversely, if you want a higher ball flight, choose a low flex point. Step 4.
Can you buy the same shaft as a golf club?
With continued advances in golf club technology, golfers can no longer simply purchase the same club shaft that their previous clubs used if they wish to get the maximum benefits from new clubs. Golfers should consider shaft composition, flex, flex point, torque rating and length before making a major purchase.
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
Most golfers have their swing speed measured using their driver. The general rule of thumb is as follows . . .
What About The Different Clubs?
Even though swing speed is mostly measured when using the driver you can apply that number to the rest of your clubs. Except, of course, in the instance where you fall in between two shafts. When that happens, it does benefit you to test out both options and see which one feels best. Make sure to hit enough shots that you get a little tired. If you are borderline between stiff and regular and decide to go with the stiff, you will need to be able to release it and hit it solid even as you get to the eighteenth green.
Does Shaft Flex Matter In Wedges?
You might have noticed that wedges tend to come in “wedge flex”. It is possible to custom order many wedges with the exact shafts that you have in your irons, but most players tend to stick with the standard wedge flex. A wedge is usually quite a bit heavier as it is not swung as hard or as fast as something like a driver. The weight in the wedge also helps give you the feeling that you need around the greens.
What happens if shaft flex is too stiff?
If the shaft of your golf club is too stiff for you, you will have a tough time hitting the ball straight. Your swing speed will not be able to release the club to turn it over enough and square up the clubface at impact. Almost always, if a shaft is too stiff for you, then you will hit the ball to the right.
Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?
The only time a player will lose distance with a stiff shaft is if it is not the correct shaft for them , just as you will lose distance with a regular shaft if it is not the right shaft for you. Making sure that your swing speed can flex the shaft you are using correctly is what will give you the distance you need. If you are hitting a regular shaft and you lose a few yards, and it starts tailing to the right when you switch to stiff, then you are just not producing the swing speed necessary to hit a stiff shaft consistently. All regular swing speed players make a few fast swings in their round, but you want something that continually delivers.
Will stiffer shaft lower ball flight?
A stiff shaft can very likely lower your ball flight, and for some players, this may be a good thing. For faster swing speed players that have been using regular shafts, they may notice that they are getting a bit too much height and potentially losing some distance. For this player switching to a stiff shaft will be a welcome change as the ball flight will be lowered to the proper height.
Do all pros use extra 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 many yards is stiff shaft?
Anything more than 250 yards, stiff shafts are for you. Unless you are a huge hitter and average about 300 yards on your drives, stay away from Extra-stiff shafts. Nine times out of 10, this method works well, but you still need to be comfortable hitting with whichever shaft you choose.
What is a senior flex shaft?
The Seniors flex is meant for golfers who swing a bit harder. A Regular shaft is used by golfers who hit the ball an average or farther than average length. For those long hitters, there are Stiff and Extra-stiff shafts that flex little.
What is flex in golf?
Flex is the amount that the shaft will bend when it is swung. All of us have heard the admonition, “let the club do most of the work”. If you choose the right shaft, that can be true. With the right shaft, you'll swing the club easier and get more distance out of your shots.
Do clubs fitters charge?
Many retailers have professional club fitters on their staffs who provide the service free of charge because it's likely that you will purchase a set of their clubs. Others may charge for their services.
What Is A Stiff Shaft And Who Is It For?
Stiff shafts are most used by golfers with fast swing speeds just below the massive swing speed achieved by professional golfers.
What Happens If Your Shaft Is Too Stiff?
Shafts that are too stiff generally lead to weak fades or slices as you cannot close the clubface in time to produce a straight shot or even a draw.
Do I Need The Same Flex In My Driver As My Irons?
The flex of your shafts depends on your swing speed and strength therefore it is likely that you will require the same flex in your irons that you are using in your driver.
Should I Get A Fitting?
The fitting process is aimed at providing you with the best opportunity to garner the maximum benefit out of every club in your bag and worth the price you pay, whether you are a seasoned golfer or a beginner.
Should I Use Stiff Or Extra Stiff Shafts?
Using an extra stiff shaft is only recommended for golfers that have extremely fast swing speed and can control the club at such high speed.
What shaft is needed for a fast swing?
Fast swing speeds require additional support and therefore a stiffer shaft to hold the club head in the correct position despite the increased velocity, while average swing speeds require a regular flex shaft so there angle of attack is optimal for a high and straight ball trajectory.
What is the best speed for a golf swing?
Golfers with a swing speed below 60 mph will benefit from using a Ladies flex shaft indicated by an “L”. Swing speeds between 60 mph and 75 mph will benefit most from a Seniors or Amateur flex shaft indicated by an “A”. Regular shafts are suitable for swing speeds between 75 mph and 90 mph while stiff flex shafts are aimed at swing speeds between ...
What is the most popular decision a golfer makes?
One of the most popular decisions golfers face is whether to get a regular or stiff shaft in their irons, hybrids, fairway woods, and driver. Most resources will tell you to make that decision based on your swing speed. Unfortunately, they are wrong.
Is there a standard for shaft flex?
There Are No Standards for Flex. There is a lot of misinformation amongst golfers (and companies) regarding flex. The most important thing to understand is that there are no standards when it comes to shaft flex. One company’s “regular” could be another company’s “stiff.”.
Is graphite shaft lighter than steel?
Graphite tends to be lighter, but many companies are offering steel shafts in much lighter versions. Long story short, using your swing speed to choose a stiff versus regular shaft is not enough information. You need to know more about your golf swing tendencies and, more importantly, have someone who actually knows shafts well enough to match ...
Did Nick Price find a stiff shaft?
Despite having similar swing speeds, each player needed a much different shaft flex. Nick Price couldn’t find a shaft that was stiff enough for him. He applied so much force to the shaft with his swing length and tempo that he needed a much stiffer shaft profile compared to Fred Couples.
Can you buy a shaft based on your swing speed?
If you purchase a shaft based only on your swing speed and nothing else, you are just guessing. Other characteristics, such as weight, are important. Generally speaking, golfers with slower swing speeds can benefit from a lighter shaft and vice versa. That can be addressed using a graphite or steel shaft.
How do I find out which flex is best for me?
If you are asking the question; should I use regular or stiff shafts in my golf clubs, there are a few ways you can work this out. The easiest is of course the old fashioned way of testing both types side-by-side on a driving range or out on the course. Take a look at the typical ball flights and you should notice a difference and be able to identify which one is working best in terms of both distance and accuracy.
What is the difference between a high and low kick point?
A club with a high kick point should produce a lower trajectory and help players who lose distance from a high, spinning flight, while a low kick point will launch the ball higher. Because stiffer shafts need more power or a more efficient action to work at their best, they usually feature higher kick points to help players control their ball flights.
What is the most important choice when buying golf clubs?
One of the most important choices you have to make when buying golf clubs is which shaft flex to use , with 80% of golfers being suited to either regular or stiff shafts.
Why do golf irons have higher kick points?
Because stiffer shafts need more power or a more efficient action to work at their best, they usually feature higher kick points to help players control their ball flights. RELATED: Best Golf Irons. The right weight and kick point also play a part in finding the right shaft.
What happens if you swing a shaft too heavy?
Choose a shaft too heavy and too stiff and you will inevitably swing a touch slower and consequently struggle to square the face at impact, causing you to miss more shots low and right .
How to tell if you need a shaft?
Of course, the distance you hit the ball is one of the tell-tale signs about the shafts you need to be playing. Longer hitters will tend to suit stiffer shafts while mid to short hitters will benefit from the extra speed through impact provided by regular shafts. If you are unsure about where you sit on the scale, a fitting session with a professional will really help.
What is stiff shaft?
A stiff shaft is firmer and harder to bend than a regular shaft, and so more often than not, they're also heavier in weight.