Difference Between Regular and Stiff Golf Shafts
- Overall. A stiff shaft is firmer and harder to bend than a regular shaft. ...
- Material and Torque. Most golf shafts are made of either steel or graphite. ...
- Kick Point. Club makers use the term "kick point" quite a bit when discussing and selling shafts. ...
- Swing Speed. A faster swing requires a stiffer shaft or exquisite timing. ...
- Advantages. ...
How to tell if your golf shafts are too stiff?
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. Head to a local golf shop and have your swing speed tested.
What Golf Club shaft stiffness should I use?
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
- Swing speeds above 105 mph Extra Stiff
- Swing speeds between 90-105 Stiff
- Swing speeds between 80-95 Regular
- Swing speeds between 70-85 Senior
- Swing speeds less than 70 Ladies
How to pick the right golf shaft?
Info - Choosing the Best Shaft for Your Game
- Choosing the Best Shaft for Your Game. ...
- Shaft Selection Primer 1.0: Single most important determining factor in shaft flex (indicator of overall strength of the player).
- Swing Tempo - Pace of the Swing. ...
- Release. ...
- Trajectory - Height of Ball Flight. ...
- Flight Direction Tendency. ...
- Distance Control. ...
- Price. ...
What shaft should I buy?
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.
What is better stiff or regular shaft?
Experts suggest that at the beginner level, you should opt for a regular shaft. This is because it is easy to handle and it assists you with your range. A stiff shaft is a better option for those who're more experienced at golf and have a good swing speed and driver carry distance.
What difference does a stiff golf shaft make?
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.
What type of golfer should use a stiff shaft?
Stiff shafts are great for golfers with a swing speed of around 100 mph. If you have hit on a launch monitor and have seen those three-digit numbers pop up, chances are the stiff shaft could be the best choice for you.
What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?
between 97 and 104 mphStiff – 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. Regular – Now we are getting into the range where a majority of recreational golfers fall, and also where many LPGA pros fall.
What flex do I need for my irons?
Should You Use Regular or Stiff Flex Shafts?6-iron Carry Distance6-iron Swing SpeedShaft flex (all clubs)< 130 yards60 – 70 mphSenior Flex131 – 155 yards71 – 80 mphRegular Flex156 – 175 yards81 – 90 mphStiff Flex> 176 yards91 + mphX-Stiff FlexApr 13, 2021
Should a beginner golfer use a stiff shaft?
With the proper fit, the new golfer can learn without making compensations for clubs that are too stiff or too flexible. In general, the faster a golfer's swing speed the stiffer a golf shaft should be in order to provide more control over the ball's flight.
How do I know what shaft flex is right for me?
Some General Guidelines About Shaft FlexTake a look at the distance you hit your driver. ... If you have a very smooth swing, you might benefit from a softer flex even if you swing fast. ... If your drives go left, you might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go right, you might benefit from a softer flex.
Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?
If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low.
How do you know if you need a stiffer 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 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.
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.
Do regular shafts go further?
No, not necessarily. Whilst this is a heavier object to strike the ball with and that should make it go further, you have to balance your swing speed with this weight. For many golfers a lighter shaft will allow them to generate higher clubhead speeds.
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.
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.
Is graphite shaft better than steel?
On the whole graphite shafts are a little lighter than steel alternatives and will help slower swingers find better, longer ball flights. For some golfers, lighter graphite shafts feel easier to use – helping to generate good ball flights with less effort.
Does a slow accelerating arc cause more lag?
This doesn’t just relate to players who swing quickly though, often a slow accelerating arc can generate more lag and power than someone who swings with a quicker tempo. Of course, the distance you hit the ball is one of the tell-tale signs about the shafts you need to be playing.
Is a stiff shaft stiffer than a regular 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. As a rough rule of thumb, the more speed you generate, the stiffer your shafts should be.
What happens if your golf club shaft 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.
Why do golf shafts get stiffer?
You will notice that as shafts get stiffer, they also get heavier. This is because there is usually a correlation between ball flight and player swing speed. The faster the swing speed, the easier it is to launch the ball.
How fast can you swing a golf club?
If you are continually swinging the club over 105 mph, then an extra stiff shaft is for you. Now, if you can go to the range and launch one and get a number of 125, that’s great news, but that is not your typical swing speed. When switching to an extra stiff shaft, you must be sure you can swing at this high speed for 18 holes, not two holes.
What is extra stiff shaft?
Extra stiff shafts are typically considered to be for better players, lower handicaps. This means that the majority of the models are blades or tour preferred irons.
What is flex in golf?
A golf club’s flex is the strength of the actual shaft. A golf shaft will also have a flex or a kick point that will affect the stiffness as well as the ball flight. If you are swinging a golf club that is not the correct flex for you, there will be effects on the golf shots you can hit. The five most common shaft flex options are Ladies, Senior, ...
Why are most complete sets made of graphite?
That is because the majority of the golfers who take up the game are not going to have tremendously fast swing speeds.
Is stiff shaft good for golf?
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.
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.
What is a stiff shaft?
Uniflex Vs Stiff Shafts. Stiff shafts are generally used by golfers that have played golf for an extended period and honed their swings to be able to control the driver at such high speeds. As you grow in confidence and control of your swing speed you may find that you are not getting the maximum benefit from a regular shaft ...
How heavy is a driver shaft?
Driver shaft weight can vary from 65g to 130g.
How fast should a golf swing be?
The same applies to golfers with a swing speed of 95 mph and the use of a stiff flex shaft. If you hit your drives between 240 yards and 275 yards the uniflex shaft will be best suited to your swing.
What is the average swing speed for a golf club?
Regular flex is aimed at the average golfer with a swing speed between 75 mph and 85 mph and as high as 90 mph. This is the most used flex and most new clubs come standard with regular flex shafts. It can be identified by an “R” nomination on the shaft and is available in steel and graphite shafts. Most golfers who consistently drive ...
Why use graphite shafts?
Graphite shafts are manufactured from a composite material to save weight enabling you to swing faster. A couple of grams of weight-saving can add a few miles per hour to your swing speed and produce more distance.
How to increase speed on a golf swing?
Get wide early for speed where it counts. Start the backswing with your leading arm straight and keep the maximum width without compromising other swing mechanics .
Which is more flexible, a regular or a uniflex shaft?
Regular is the most flexible and should be used by average swing speeds, Uniflex are slightly more sturdy and stiff is as the name suggest, less flexible and reserved for faster swing speeds. A uniflex shaft offers you an option when you are not sure whether you should be playing a regular flex or a stiff flex shaft.