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what is stiff flex golf club

by Daren Lueilwitz Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The flex of the club allows slower swings to easily hit the ball in the air and improve their feel and control. Regular Flex or R-Flex 84-96 mph – Regular flex is the range that most recreational golfers and a lot of LPGA Pro fall into. Stiff Flex or S-Flex 97-104 mph – This flex is for recreational golfers that swing fast.

Full Answer

Should you use stiff or Regular shaft golf clubs?

Mar 30, 2020 · When you swing harder, the stiff flex will be more controlled and give you the punch you need to hit better shots. One of the most common problems that many golfers face is finding the right flex. You could have a smooth and mechanically-proper swing but still not play your best golf because of the flex in the shafts.

What does regular flex mean in a golf club?

Jul 22, 2021 · 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. The clubhead speed for most golf swings is too slow for a Stiff flex shaft.

Why use senior flex golf clubs?

Starting at 5.0, the stiffness goes up in steps of 0.5 up to 7.0 which is tour x-flex. These are rifle shafts, they don’t have the usual steps that you expect to see on steel iron shafts. The company say that the steps in the shaft reduce the power that …

What does the stiff of a golf club mean?

Feb 02, 2022 · A stiff flex is a bit heavy, and it adds resistance to your swing. So, when you try hitting the golf ball with a lot of speed, you’re able to achieve more distance. These types of shafts will be perfect for you if your swing speed hits about 100 mph.

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

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 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 stiff flex good for?

When you swing harder, the stiff flex will be more controlled and give you the punch you need to hit better shots. One of the most common problems that many golfers face is finding the right flex. You could have a smooth and mechanically-proper swing but still not play your best golf because of the flex in the shafts.Mar 30, 2020

When should you use stiff flex shaft?

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.Jun 12, 2020

Who should use stiff flex?

Who should use stiff flex irons? The starting point for this is swing speed, if you swing your driver between 90-105 mph then you will probably need a stiff shaft. This will benefit you by delivering great control of your club during your swing and stop you spraying it everywhere.

Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?

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

Does Tiger Woods use a regular or stiff shaft?

What is this? Tiger knows his equipment better than you know yourself! For almost all of his career he has used Mitsubishi Rayon shafts. This year he remains loyal to this brand with a TaylorMade SIM driver loaded with a Mitsubishi Diamana “White Board” TX (tour extra-stiff).

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.

What flex should my irons be?

Generally speaking, you can choose from a regular, stiff, or extra stiff shaft flex, though there are options such as the Senior Flex, Ladies Flex, and Uniflex....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)3 more rows•Feb 6, 2020

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

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...

What happens if golf shaft is too stiff?

If your driver's shaft is too stiff, the clubhead may not square with the ball at the point of impact, causing slices and fades. If you can't feel the weight of the clubhead loading through the shaft, it's probably too stiff, and can cause errors and issues associated with accuracy such as these.Aug 31, 2021

What Shaft Options Do Golfers Have?

Even though we are investing the difference between stiff vs. regular flex, it makes sense to understand all of the different golf shaft options that you have on the market. Not every golfer can choose between regular or stiff.

How Do I Know Which Golf Shaft To Play?

One of the best ways to determine which shaft flex you should have in your golf clubs is to go for a custom fitting. At the fitting, they will do measurements and let you test equipment. It’s important to remember that when choosing between regular and stiff, a few other factors will come into the decision.

Should I Use A Stiff or Regular Flex Shaft?

Typically speaking, if your swing speed is above 100 mph, you should use a stiff flex golf shaft. For those with swing speeds in the upper 80s and 90s, the regular flex makes more sense. Remember that the shaft flex you choose may be different in your irons than in your driver.

Should I Use Stiff And Regular Flex Shafts Throughout My Set?

Many golfers will use stiff shafts in their driver and regular flex in the rest of the set. Finding the right shaft can be difficult if your swing speed is borderline between regular and stiff. It would help if you found an option that allows you to have both power and tempo and to make great contact with the golf ball.

Regular Flex vs. Stiff Flex: Which Is Better?

It is impossible to say that a regular flex or a stiff flex golf shaft is better than the other. This is more about finding the shaft that is going to carry the furthest and travel the straightest. If your swing speed is fast enough to properly bend a stiff shaft, then that is what you should use.

What is the difference between a stiff shaft and a regular shaft?

The main difference is that a stiff shaft is harder to bend than a regular shaft . This is usually created by adding more material to make the shaft up which can often also make them slightly heavier. The more force you create in your golf swing (higher swing speed) the stiffer you will want your shaft.

Which shaft bends the most during a swing?

This is a larger jump than what’s above, it is more like the difference between regular and stiff shafts. Ladies flex is the shaft that bends the most during a swing as ladies tend to have the slowest swings. I think this name needs to change, however, if you don’t create much speed then this is the shaft for you.

What do people brag about in golf?

In golf there are a few things that people like to brag about around the club. How far they hit a driver, how high their swing speed is and what their handicap is to name a few. However, another that people use as a bragging point is the flex of their shaft. This can get tiresome and it can mean that some golfers play a shaft ...

How fast can a golf driver swing?

Elite golfers can create swing speeds that far exceed what is on the chart above and so they require stiffer shafts. On top of stiff you also have extra-stiff which would be for swing speeds over 105mph. When some tour golfers swing the driver they can generate 115mph and more, some even exceed 120mph!

Do you need regular shafts for irons?

Also, they will be graphite shafts so you may want a stiffer graphite shaft than your steel iron shafts. Finally, if you swing speed is just in that stiff shaft bracket for your driver, you may just need regular shafts for your irons, it can be as easy as that.

Is senior flex good for speed?

This is like a half step on the flex spectrum. For those who find regular just a little bit too stiff and are looking for a little more help, senior flex is the one for you. They tend to be a little lighter too which will help you create more speed.

Is it easy to get the wrong flex?

This article shouldn’t make you worry about getting the wrong flex, it is quite easy and with the right professional help it is even easier. It is important that you get this right though because the shaft is like the engine room of your golf club and it can really help maximise your swing.

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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Who is Nick Price's friend?

Nick Price and Fred Couples (and why they need different shaft flex) My close friend Woody Lashen has a great story about two legendary golfers and why they need different shaft flex. If you remember Nick Price, he had a lightning-quick swing tempo. His swing was also incredibly short.

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 ...

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.”.

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.

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.

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!

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 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 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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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