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what is flex in golf clubs

by Dandre Powlowski V Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Types of Flex in Golf Shafts

  • Overview. The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot. Because the shaft...
  • Extra Stiff. Extra stiff shafts should generally be reserved for really long hitters (about 300 off the tee) and this...
  • Stiff Shaft. The stiff shaft is quite popular and should be chosen by those who consistently drive the...
  • Senior Flex.

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.

Full Answer

How do you determine golf shaft flex?

Aug 10, 2021 · How to Choose the Shaft Flex for You? Regular Flex. Golfers who drive between 200 to 240 yards and have swing speeds between 75 to 95 mph. The regular flex is... Stiff Flex. Stiff flex is for golfers who produce consistent shots in the 250 yards range and reach a swing speed of 95... Extra Stiff ...

What shaft should a senior golfer use?

Feb 02, 2022 · “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. There are five generally used ratings for shaft flex: Extra Stiff, Stiff, Regular, Senior and Ladies. What flex should a beginner golfer have?

What Golf Club shaft stiffness should I use?

Types of Flex in Golf Shafts Overview. The flex in a golf shaft affects the distance, accuracy and trajectory of your golf shot. Because the shaft... Extra Stiff. Extra stiff shafts should generally be reserved for really long hitters (about 300 off the tee) and this... Stiff Shaft. The stiff shaft ...

What is golf shaft flex is right for me?

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.

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What flex should my golf clubs be?

The first thing is to decide is what type of golf shafts you would prefer, followed by shaft flex, kick-point, torque rating and length....– Golf Shaft Flex Chart.Carry DistanceSwing SpeedFlex200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra Stiff1 more row•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 flex should a beginner golfer have?

But if a beginner player already has a decent swing motion and generates clubhead speed between the range of 95 to 110 mph or more, then a stiff shaft or extra stiff shaft could be justified to be used by a beginner golfer.

What is a 5.5 flex on a golf club?

Regular – 5.0. Regular Plus – 5.5. Stiff – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus – 7.0.

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

What happens if shaft is too flexible?

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.Oct 15, 2018

What's better stiff or regular flex?

What's the difference between regular and stiff shafts? 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. As a rough rule of thumb, the more speed you generate, the stiffer your shafts should be.Mar 1, 2021

Is Stiff flex or regular flex better?

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. When you swing harder, the stiff flex will be more controlled and give you the punch you need to hit better shots.Mar 30, 2020

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 does senior flex mean?

A senior flex golf shaft is a graphite shaft built to accommodate the needs of a slower swing. Players that use a senior flex golf shaft will typically have swing speeds below 85mph. These golfers struggle to get both distance and launch.Aug 23, 2021

What is SR flex?

SR stands for Stiff / Regular, which is a very common flex for Japanese clubs. Great for players that are currently playing a Stiff flex and finding it slightly hard but have experienced difficulty with the Regular.

Are steel shafts better than graphite?

Typically, steel shafts are much heavier, more durable and are generally less expensive than their graphite counterparts. They are more often than not made from stainless steel and they tend to weigh in between around 90g-120g. Torque or lateral twisting found in all graphite shafts is lower in steel irons.Dec 18, 2019

What is flex in golf shafts?

Types of Flex in Golf Shafts. Beginners should use more flexible shafts. 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 ...

How does flex affect golf?

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.

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 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 is stiff shaft?

Stiff Shaft. The stiff shaft is quite popular and should be chosen by those who consistently drive the ball 250 or more yards off the tee. This shaft generally appropriate for mid-low handicaps, but be sure to have your clubhead speed measured before choosing between a stiff and regular flex.

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 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 is shaft weight important?

Shaft Weight is important because it can help you generate club head speed and increase the distance you hit the golf ball. Lighter weight shafts tend to be swung faster (since they are lighter), increasing club speed. However, we don’t recommend looking automatically at the lightest shaft and disregarding heavier shafts.

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!

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 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.

What is the best shaft for golf?

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

How does a golf shaft affect performance?

Without the proper golf shaft in place, you will notice that you have trouble controlling the flight of the golf ball, the distance of your shots, and the path of the ball as well . The proper golf shaft will help to keep you hitting the ball straight with just the right amount of ball flight as well.

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, ...

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 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.

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 shafts are good for senior golfers?

The good news for senior golfers is that there are not steel shaft options to choose from. Senior golf shafts are almost always going to be graphite. The graphite is lighter and helps seniors get the ball flight and distance that they need.

Senior Vs Ladies Flex Golf Clubs – Which One Should You Choose

How fast do you swing a driver? The reason for this question is because your driver’s swing speed provides a guideline to help you find the perfect flex for your shaft.

What Exactly Is Flex In Golf Clubs?

The team at Burnaby Golf Club in Canada describes flex as the golf club’s ability to bend as force is applied to it during your swing.

How Does It Perfect Performance?

The flex of your club plays a role in the trajectory and accuracy of your shot. If you are playing with a shaft that is too stiff for your swing you may achieve a low ball flight leading to a loss of carry and total distance.

Senior Flex Vs Ladies Flex – What Is The Difference?

Both senior flex and ladies flex are used by the slower swingers in our game.

What Swing Speed Should Use Each?

Melton provides a detailed chart for what swing speed is best suited to each shaft flex in this article.

What Other Flex Types Are There?

In this article, Golfweek’s J.D Chi sets out the five types of shaft flex.

Regular Flex Vs Senior And Ladies

We know that the senior and ladies’ flex shafts are best suited to slower swinging players and offer the highest level of flex of the five shaft options. However, regular flex is an option if you swing a driver at moderate speed.

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