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what is flex on a golf club

by Mr. Lavon Feest MD 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. ...
  • 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. ...

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?

May 07, 2022 · The golf club flex is the measurement of shaft bending while swinging the golf club while hitting the ball, it means how much a shaft can bend while you hit the ball, and that measurement or rating is considered the flex. Does Golf Club Flex Matter? It’s a very important and crucial question that you must have the answer to it before you buy your best golf club set. …

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?

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 …

What is golf shaft flex is right for me?

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.

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What Flex is best for golf clubs?

– 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

How do I know what shaft flex is right for me?

Some General Guidelines About Shaft Flex
  1. Take a look at the distance you hit your driver. ...
  2. If you have a very smooth swing, you might benefit from a softer flex even if you swing fast. ...
  3. If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.
Sep 21, 2018

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 do I need for my irons?

Determine the Proper Shaft Flex for Your Swing
If You Can Hit 150 Yards with a...Then Your Optimal Shaft Flex Is...
6- or 7-IronRegular Flex (R)
5-Iron/Hybrid or 4-Iron/Hybrid(Male or Female)Senior Flex (A/M)
Any Iron/Hybrid lower than 4 or any Fairway Wood (Females or Juniors)Ladies Flex (L)
1 more row
Apr 6, 2022

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.

Will a stiffer shaft increase distance?

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

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 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

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.

Who should use regular flex shafts?

Swing Speed

In general, golfers with a fast swing should use a stiff shaft and slowed swings should use a regular flex shaft. To check your swing speed a shot tracking device will be the most accurate method. Based on your swing speeds here are our recommendations: 80-95 mph swing speeds should use regular shafts.
Mar 12, 2022

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.

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.

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.

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").

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 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 is a club fitting demo day?

At demo days, you'll be able to hit many different types of clubs with different types of shafts. Or find a good pro shop with swing bays where you can try before you buy. The key, short of a club fitting, is hitting lots of different clubs and watching the effect ...

What does flex mean in golf?

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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 ).

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 is a senior flex shaft?

Senior flex shafts allow the golfer to launch the golf ball easily into the air. The shaft also allows for the feel and control that golfers seek when striking the ball.

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 are the factors that determine the swing speed of a golf club?

The most important factors are the swing speed that is generated at the clubhead at Impact, and the tempo of the swing.

What does X mean in golf?

X = Extra Stiff— for the young, strong golfer with very high swing speed.

What does the repetition of a square club head through impact result in?

The repetition of a square club head through impact results in straighter shots.

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.

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