
Full Answer
What is flex in golf shafts?
"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.
How do I know which shaft flex is right for me?
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 a Lite flex driver shaft?
Lite Flex This is a flex that suits those who swing it just a little too slowly for a regular shaft. This shaft will give you even more forgiveness. Golfers that hit their driver between 210-230 yards will benefit from lite flex.
How do I choose the right flex for my golf clubs?
If you can't decide between Regular and Stiff, go with Regular. A clubfitting with a golf professional is the recommended way to choose the proper amount of flex in your golf clubs. The pro will take a lot of measurements, watch your swing, measure your swing speed, watch your ball flight and be able to recommend the flex that is right for you.

What is an A flex shaft in golf?
"L" is the most flexible shaft and "X" is the stiffest shaft: "L" denotes "ladies flex" "A" or "M" denotes "senior flex" (might also be designated "AM" or "A/M," or "Senior") "R" denotes "regular flex" "S" denotes "stiff flex" (might also be designated "Firm")
What does the letter a mean on a golf club?
The "a" in A-wedge stands for either "approach" or (less commonly) "attack," and you might see a manufacturer use one of those names (approach wedge or attack wedge) instead of A-wedge.
What flex should my golf clubs be?
Each of these different aspects of golf club shafts that can influence the performance of your club, and each must be carefully considered before you put in an order....– Golf Shaft Flex Chart.Carry DistanceSwing SpeedFlex240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra Stiff2 more rows•Oct 15, 2019
What is a 5.5 flex on a golf club?
Stiff – 5.5. Stiff Plus – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus –7.0.
How do I know what flex shaft I need?
If you're between 97 and 104 mph with the driver, you need a stiff flex. Regular – Now we are getting into the range where a majority of recreational golfers fall, and also where many LPGA pros fall. If you're between 84 and 96 mph, regular is going to be best for you.
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 golf shaft flex is right for me 7 iron?
Find the Correct Golf Shaft Flex for Your Swing Speed 8-iron or 9-iron: You'd likely want an “X” or extra stiff flex shaft. 6-iron or 7-iron: You'd likely want an “S” or stiff flex shaft. 5-iron or 6-iron: You'd likely want an “R” or regular flex shaft. 4-iron: You'd likely want an “A” or amateur/senior flex shaft.
What golf shaft flex is right for me irons?
Determine the Proper Shaft Flex for Your SwingIf 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
Do I need a stiff or regular 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. 90-105 mph swing speeds should use stiff shafts.
Is a 6.0 shaft Stiff?
5.0 out of 5 stars 6.0 62g is VERY stiff! Great shaft! The only thing I would say to someone who is looking at this is if you normally play a stiff shaft you should go with the 5.5 62g variant. the 6.0 62g shaft is extra stiff in my opinion.
What does 6.0 mean on a golf shaft?
StiffRegular – 5.0. Regular Plus – 5.5. Stiff – 6.0. Extra Stiff – 6.5. Extra Stiff Plus – 7.0.
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.
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 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.
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 ...
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 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.
Golf Practice Plans with Step by Step Schedules to Follow
Or hop onto our email newsletter and get the free weekly golf tips we send out to our community plus updates and other announcements you don’t want to miss!
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").
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 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 shaft do you need for a jerky swing?
A swing that gets jerky at the top—when transitioning into the downswing—will probably need a stiffer shaft. 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 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 is flex shaft?
What Is A Flex Golf Shaft. Flex in a golf shaft determines the amount the shaft will bend during the swing and at impact. Higher flex shafts, such as those on ladies or senior clubs will be extra flexible for slower swing speeds. Pros or low handicap golfers, on the other hand, generally use stiffer shafts. This is to adjust to the faster swing ...
What is the right flex for golf?
What Golf Shaft Flex Is Right For Me. Knowing the flex that is right for you is an important part of golf that often is overlooked. If the flex of your shaft is off, the club head may be in the wrong position at the point of impact, affecting the overall flight path of the ball. With the right flex, the head is more likely to sit at ...
What happens if your golf shaft is too stiff?
A shaft that is too stiff may push the ball onto the next fairway, whereas a shaft that is too flexible may cause a pop-up or a nasty hook. However, to accurately diagnose the correct shaft flex for your driver, it is best to get a club-fitter to determine your swing speed. Then you can discuss your options and pick the most suitable shaft flex.
Why is my golf ball pushed so early?
Comparatively, if your a golfer with a slower swing speed using a shaft that is too stiff, your clubface angle may be too abrupt at the point of impact, causing the ball to be pushed slightly too early. This may also result in hitting the ball too low.
What happens if the flex of the shaft is off?
If the flex of your shaft is off, the club head may be in the wrong position at the point of impact, affecting the overall flight path of the ball. With the right flex, the head is more likely to sit at the correct angle and contact position for your swing speed.
Which shaft flex is the stiffest?
The driver shaft flex may need to be the stiffest in your bag. The driver is often the club that has the highest swing speed, given its length and weight. It is also the club that you want the most accurate shaft flex. Since it carries the highest swing speed and the furthest distance of any club in your bag, you want to be exact.
Do pro golfers use stiff shafts?
Pros or low handicap golfers, on the other hand, generally use stiffer shafts. This is to adjust to the faster swing speeds of stronger golfers to ensure that the clubhead is in the exact position it needs to be at the point of contact.
What is a golf shaft?
Intro to Golf Shafts. The shaft is the “engine room” of your golf club. Getting the correct flex of shaft can make your club the easiest thing in the world to hit or it can make it the hardest. It can be difficult to know which is best for your game. Let’s have a look at some different flexes and who they suit best.
What is Senior Flex?
Senior flex will help you gain every yard possible from your swing, it is the least stiff and most forgiving shaft for loder men.
Why do new golfers have a better swing speed?
You see, many new golfers will have decent swing speeds due to other sports they may have played like baseball or hockey. It probably helps to use a more flexible shaft, within reason, to give the new golfer their best chance of consistency.
Is the golf club market expanding?
The golf club market continues to expand and the amount of products can be confusing. Hopefully this article can help explain a few things about what is available for different golfers and can help you make a more informed choice for new clubs.
Is shaft flex stiff?
If you’re shaft flex is too stiff, changing to the correct flex for your game is likely to have a big imapct on the distances, accuracy and consistency you can achieve on the course. For many golfers a regular shaft is going to be a little too stiff and it makes a lot of sense to change to something more flexible.
What is the best shaft for golf?
A steel shaft is excellent for controlling the golf ball and hitting the shots that you want to hit. You may end up sacrificing a few yards, but you can stay much closer to the pin even when you miss. Golfers that have a faster swing speed will do much better with steel than they will with graphite on most clubs.
What shaft do you need for a golf club?
If you hit less than 200 or so, you may end up needing a Regular or a Senior shaft in your golf clubs. The uniflex shaft is more about the speed of your golf swing than it is about the type of golfer or handicap that you are.
What is a Callaway Uniflex shaft?
The Callaway uniflex shafts are like a strong regular golf shaft. Callaway makes all of their uniflex type shafts high launching so you will get the ball flight that you desire as well.
What is torque in golf?
The torque in a golf shaft is how much the golf club twists while it is in swing and especially at impact. A shaft with a high torque is going to twist quite a bit more than a shaft with low torque. The thing to remember is that even though torque is a numerical value given to you on a golf shaft, it will rarely affect how amateur golfer plays the game. In other words, do not worry about torque.
How fast can you swing with a Uniflex shaft?
Who Should Use A Uniflex Shaft. Any golfer with a swing speed around 90 miles per hour will do really well with a uniflex shaft. This golfer can probably drive a golf ball around 230-240 yards and hit a seven iron around 140 yards. Even if you hit it a little further than this, the Uniflex is going to be a great choice.
What is the difference between a driver shaft and a wedge shaft?
Golf shaft weight will vary depending on the type of shaft and what club the shaft is intended to go in. A driver shaft is going to be much heavier than a wedge shaft. Driver shafts are designed to give a player lots of distance, and the lightweight capabilities are going to help you get extra clubhead speed.
What does an R on a golf shaft mean?
If you see an R on the golf shaft is generally a men’s regular shaft. If you see an S on the shaft, it is probably a men’s stiff. For the uniflex shaft, you will likely see a U or sometimes something that may say R/S. For senior shafts, you will see two different designations, either it will say Lite, or it will have an A on it.