High loft is indicative of a driver that is too flexible, whereas low loft is indicative of a driver that is too stiff. Step 2 Identify the flex ratings you should try, given the analysis of your drive loft. The universal golf club flex ratings are named, in order from most flexible to the stiffest, ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra stiff.
Full Answer
What does “flex” mean in golf clubs?
What Is Flex In Golf Clubs? “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 is the difference between high loft and low loft golf clubs?
High loft is indicative of a driver that is too flexible, whereas low loft is indicative of a driver that is too stiff. Identify the flex ratings you should try, given the analysis of your drive loft. The universal golf club flex ratings are named, in order from most flexible to the stiffest, ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra stiff.
Which golf shaft flex do I Need?
Determining which golf shaft flex your need (stiff, regular, senior, etc.) requires club fitting and testing. 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.
What is the best loft for a 3 wood golf club?
Most golfers will carry a 3 wood and the standard 3 wood loft is 15 degrees. Some manufacturers will have their 3 woods at 14 or 14.5 degrees and some will have them at 15.5 degrees. Many players will carry a strong 3 wood at around 13-13.5 degrees of loft if it is a club that they want to go as far as possible or like using off the tee.
What flex should my clubs be?
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 I have on my irons?
In general, golfers with driver swing speeds over 95 mph should play stiff flex shafts, and those under 95 mph should play regular flex. Shafts also come in extra stiff (105+ mph) and senior flex (under 85 mph).
What does Flex mean in golf clubs?
ability to bendThe 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.
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 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.
Is regular or stiff flex better?
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 are more experienced at golf and have a good swing speed and driver carry distance.
Is 6.0 a stiff shaft?
Have you ever wondered what the number designation on your Project X shaft means? You know, the 5.0, 6.0, 6.5 and so on printed on the shaft. These numbers correspond with flexes from “regular” to “extra stiff plus”.
What loft should my driver be?
The ideal driver loft depends on your swing speed and the attack angle. Average players that swing the club less than 95 MPH will likely find that a 10.5-degree driver performs the best. Better players who can control their drives and want the most distance will lean more towards a 9-degree driver.
Does Flex matter for irons?
Shaft flex letters are 'essentially irrelevant,' according to an expert club fitter. Most golfers in the world know that shaft flex makes a difference to performance and feel in golf.
Is senior flex good for beginners?
Senior flex can be an excellent choice for beginners with slower swing speeds and can benefit from this type of technology.
What shaft is best for my swing speed?
FlexExtra Stiff (XS)Swing Speed Over 110 mphStiff (S)Swing Speed 95 – 110 mphRegular (R)Swing Speed 85 – 95 mphSenior (S)Swing Speed 75 – 85 mphAmateur (A)Swing Speed 75-60 mph1 more row
What is standard shaft flex?
The most common flex, regular, is designated as "R" on the flex chart and is recommended for golfers who regularly drive the ball 210 to 240 yards and have a swing speed between 75 and 84 mph. Steel and graphite shafts are available in regular flex, which is appropriate for men with mid to high handicaps.
Golf Club Lofts Chart
We'll explore the lofts of each golf club in more detail below, but here is a chart summarizing each club's loft.
Wood Lofts
Woods typically have lower lofts than their iron and hybrid counterparts. For example, a standard 3-wood has around 15 degrees of loft, while most 3-irons have 19-21 degrees of loft.
Hybrid Lofts
Like irons, hybrids have more loft than their wood counterparts. Most 3-hybrids have 19 degrees of loft, while the most common 3-wood loft is 15 degrees.
Putter Loft
Unless you're Bryson Dechambeau, chances are a putter is the lowest lofted club in your bag. A traditional putter loft is 3 to 4 degrees.
Golf Clubs Loft Comparison Table
The table below compares lofts of irons, woods, hybrids, and drivers. We've gathered data from top manufacturers like TaylorMade, Cobra, Callaway, and Mizuno.
Which golf clubs have the least loft?
Putters have the least loft, usually from 2 to 4 degrees. Among full-swing clubs, drivers have the lowest degrees of loft (some pros use drivers with as little as 7 degrees of loft; most recreational golfers use drivers lofted at 9 to 14 degrees). In a typical golf set, loft increases as shaft length decreases.
Why is the loft of a golf club higher?
Lower loft is closer to vertical, higher loft is closer to horizontal. Higher loft means the clubface is pointing more upward, so the ball goes up and down more sharply.
What degree loft is best for golf?
The Effect of Loft on Golf Shots. It makes sense that a golf club with a lower loft - say, 23 degrees - will make the ball go farther than one with a higher loft (say, 36 degrees). It also makes sense that the 36-degree club in our example will cause the golf ball to rise into the air on a steeper angle and descend on a steeper angle than ...
What is loft angle?
Technically, loft angle is the angle formed by a line that runs down the center of shaft and a line running down the face of the club. Not-so-technically, you can think of loft in these ways: Loft is how much the face of a club is angled upward; Or loft is how much the top of the clubface is angled back from the shaft.
What is the degree of loft in golf?
The degree of loft on golf clubs helps separate them from each other as the loft influences the flight and distance of shots. A lower loft hits the ball further whilst a higher loft launches the ball up into the air with more spin. There really are no set lofts of golf clubs these days, with manufacturers bringing out clubs at all different lofts ...
What is the loft of a driver?
A driver loft is traditionally somewhere around the 10 degree mark although there are plenty of exceptions. Bryson DeChambeau’s driver loft is 5.5 degrees although most better players will have somewhere between 8-10.5 degrees of loft in their driver.
What is the loft of a lob wedge?
The loft of a lob wedge is traditionally 60 degrees, however some players will carry 58 degree wedges, which can also be classed as a lob wedge. Players like Phil Mickelson have lob wedges as lofty as 64 degrees.
How much loft does a Yonex 7 iron have?
The Yonex CB701 7 iron has 26 degrees of loft. That is around a traditional 5 iron loft. Manufacturers are ‘cranking’ the lofts of their clubs because they would simply launch too high if they didn’t due to the forgiving and high-launching qualities on offer.
How many degrees does a hybrid loft come in?
Hybrid Loft. There really is no set hybrid loft, with hybrids coming in anywhere from 16 degrees all the way through the bag with some beginners and higher handicaps using hybrid irons. Most tour players with hybrids in the bag will have them between 18-22 degrees to replace their 2 and 3 irons.
What is the pitching loft of a wedge?
Pitching Wedge loft. A pitching wedge loft is usually between 45-47 degrees, with most golfers using one that comes with their iron set. However, better players like to use a traditional wedge instead of the one that comes with the set to help with control and spin.
What is the loft of a 3 wood?
Most golfers will carry a 3 wood and the standard 3 wood loft is 15 degrees. Some manufacturers will have their 3 woods at 14 or 14.5 degrees and some will have them at 15.5 degrees.
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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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 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 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.
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 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 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 a flex rating in golf?
The universal golf club flex ratings are named, in order from most flexible to the stiffest, ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra stiff. This rating is usually printed or engraved somewhere on the shaft or club head of each driver. If you're using a ladies flex driver and your loft is too high, you should try a senior or regular flex driver, ...
What does it mean when your loft is too high?
Analyze your drive to see if your loft is too high or too low. High loft is indicative of a driver that is too flexible, whereas low loft is indicative of a driver that is too stiff.
