A too flexible shaft causes a nasty hook or a pop-up, whereas an extra stiff shaft pushes the golf ball onto the next fairway. If you want to diagnose the flex for the driver correctly, it is best to go to a professional club fitter to determine your golf swing speed. Then you can look for options and choose the most suitable one.
Should you change your golf clubs to a stiffer shaft?
If you are using a regular golf club and having inaccurate long hits, you may want to change to a stiffer shaft. With such a shaft, you will achieve more control. You won’t need much energy when taking swings and hitting the ball. All in all, distance without accuracy is not what a golfer wants. First, let’s define swing speed.
Is a stiff shaft flex bad for driving?
On the other hand, a shaft flex that is too stiff may not bend enough and could rob you of power. You may be able to work it out to hit pretty straight drives, buy you may never be satisfied with the distance you are getting.
How do driver shafts affect a right-handed golfer?
A right-handed golfer with a flexible shaft will notice that the ball moves towards the left. The driver’s face gets a bit closer which makes the ball go in the opposite direction.
Should you change your shaft flex?
The best thing to do is make sure your shaft flex is well-matched to your swing (by meeting with a clubfitter or at least a teaching pro in a hitting bay when buying new clubs). But when in doubt, always err on the side of more flexibility in the shaft.
What does a stiffer shaft do for a driver?
Stiff shafts produce lower torque (resistance to twisting) and go well with high-speed swings. Lower speeds should opt for a regular shaft that produces greater torque, to assist them with their launch speed.
Does a stiffer shaft give more distance?
A shorter shaft will be a little stiffer, again think of the lever analogy, but it can actually lead to increased distance as well as accuracy. Shorter clubs are easier to use so you will hit more shots out of the middle which means longer straighter drives.
Does driver shaft flex make a difference?
Most golfers in the world know that shaft flex makes a difference to performance and feel in golf.
What happens if my driver shaft has too much flex?
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 stiffer shaft help slice?
If your club shafts are too stiff, you'll have trouble loading them properly during your downswing. When the clubhead gets to the ball, the shaft won't unload properly and the face will remain slightly open, causing a slice.
Does shaft flex affect swing speed?
faster swing speeds equal stiffer shafts. slower swing speeds equal weaker shafts. A softer flex gives you more “kick” and ballspeed. A stronger flex makes the ball fly straighter.
What is the best flex for a driver?
– Golf Shaft Flex ChartCarry DistanceSwing SpeedFlexUnder 200 yardsUnder 75 mphLadies or Senior200 to 240 yards75 to 95 mphRegular240 to 275 yards95 to 110 mphStiffOver 275 yardsOver 110 mphStiff or Extra StiffOct 15, 2019
How do I know if my shaft flex is too soft?
If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results:The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. ... The ball may tend to draw a bit more from the forward bending of the shaft at impact causing the face to rotate past square to be slightly closed.More items...•
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.
Can a high handicapper use stiff shafts?
Stiff shafts are appropriate for men with single-digit handicaps as well as some with handicaps 10 to 15 who have high clubhead speed. Stiff flex is available in graphite or steel.
At what swing speed do I need 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.
How do I know if my golf shaft is too flexible?
Recap: The Effects Of A Golf Shaft That Is Too FlexibleGolf ball flying too high.Difficulty feeling like you can control where the golf ball goes.No consistency in shots.Continually missing shots to the left or hitting hooks.Feeling like you aren't getting the full distance potential out of your shots.
What is the best way to find out what golf club shaft flex you should be using?
Club Fitting is the Best Option. In order to find out what golf club shaft flex you should be using, a fitting session with a professional club fitter (like those that are AGCP certified) is a great idea. The fitter will have all of the necessary equipment and technology to measure your swing and produce some shaft options for you to consider.
Why do golf clubs have X Flex shafts?
It is true that most of the best players in the world use an x-flex shaft in their clubs, but that is because they have the power and speed to use them properly. Don’t get caught up copying them – head to a local club fitter and find out exactly what golf club shaft flex is the right fit for you.
What is shaft flex?
The whole point behind the golf club shaft flex is finding a club that is going to flex just the right amount so you can unload it into the ball at the bottom of your swing. A shaft that is too soft of a flex for your swing can bend too much and not recover by the time you reach impact.
Can a shaft flex be too stiff?
On the other hand, a shaft flex that is too stiff may not bend enough and could rob you of power. You may be able to work it out to hit pretty straight drives, buy you may never be satisfied with the distance you are getting.
Do you need flex in your driver to hit long drives?
One of the things that some golfers believe is that in order to hit long drives, you need to have almost no golf club shaft flex in your driver.
Is it better to pick a stiffer shaft or a stiffer shaft?
If you try to force your way into a stiffer shaft, you are likely to end up losing track of your fundamentals and may harm your game in the process. In fact, if you are in between two shaft flexes and not sure which one to go with, it is often better to pick the softer of the two. It is true that most of the best players in ...
Do you need a flex shaft in your driver?
One of the things that some golfers believe is that in order to hit long drives, you need to have almost no golf club shaft flex in your driver. Most of the players on the professional tours use x-flex shafts, so one might think that you have to have one in your club to hit long drives, right? Well, yes and no.
Why is a stiffer shaft better for golf?
Also, a stiffer shaft tends to help reduce dispersion as the club can move less through impact and so be more consistent.
What does it mean when you get the wrong flex of shaft?
This means that getting the wrong flex of shaft means that you will give up distance and control of the ball with your driver.
How fast can a stiff shaft hit?
Who benefits from a stiff shaft? A good tip for working out what flex you need is the 150-yard test. If you can hit an 8- or 9-iron 150 yards, comfortably, then a stiff shaft is for you. This means that you will have a driver swing speed of around 100 mph and you will see the benefits of a stiff shaft.
Why use a stiffer shaft in wedges?
Most wedges come with a less flexible shaft as it can improve control for your shortgame.
What is torque in golf?
Torque is how much a shaft resists twisting during the golf swing. This feature has a huge role to play in how easy it is to deliver the clubface square through impact and therefore how accurate it will be. This isn’t really something you need to know but your pro or fitter will be well-aware of it.
Can regular shafts be used with high swing speeds?
Be open-minded. Like almost anything in golf, there are no hard and fast rules so sometimes certain regular shafts can perform well with high swing speeds. Your tempo and how you load the shaft has an effect on what flex you need so speak to an expert about this too.
Is custom fitting available for golf clubs?
The more you learn about golf shafts the more complicated it can seem, thankfully there are people out there that are real experts on this and are here to help you. Custom fitting is now available to all golfers and you should take advantage of it when buying new gear.
What happens if a golf shaft is too flexible?
If a golfer is using a shaft that is too flexible, here are the likely results: 1. The ball will possibly fly higher for any given loft. If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from ...
How to make sure your shaft flex is well matched to your swing?
The best thing to do is make sure your shaft flex is well-matched to your swing (by meeting with a clubfitter or at least a teaching pro in a hitting bay when buying new clubs). But when in doubt, always err on the side of more flexibility in the shaft.
Why does a golf shot feel more solid?
3. The shot will feel more solid because impact vibrations transmitted up to the hands along a shaft which is both more flexible and more bent will feel more solid .
Why does my golf ball flies lower?
1. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved. 2. The ball may tend to "leak" to the fade side of the target because the golfer cannot cause the desired forward bending of the shaft at impact, which helps bring ...
Can a golfer's loft decrease?
If the golfer is using the proper loft for his or her swing mechanics, this could cause a slight decrease from the golfer's maximum potential distance. On the other hand, if the golfer is using too little loft, which is the case with a very high percentage of players today with the driver and 3-wood, the more flexible shaft could bring his launch ...
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!
Why is my golf club shaft so flexible?
Expect misdirected flight paths of the ball. This happens because when a golf club impacts with the ball, the shaft tends to move forward. A right-handed golfer with a flexible shaft will notice that the ball moves towards the left.
How to tell if you need a stiffer shaft?
There are several ways you can use to tell if you need a stiffer shaft. One and the most common is distance and direction. If you tend to hit long balls, but with high inaccuracies, you likely need to have a stiffer shaft.
What factors affect the flexibility of a golf club?
Factors such as your swing speed and the shaft material affect the flexibility of your golf club. If you often lose your direction despite having an impressive distance, then the problem might be that you are using a highly flexible golf club.
What is swing speed?
Swing Speed. First, let’s define swing speed. It is the speed in miles per hour at which the clubhead travels through the hitting area. On that note, it would be great knowing that if you are a fast swinger, a highly flexible shaft is not for you. It makes it difficult for you to control the clubhead.
What to consider when buying a golf club?
When purchasing a golf club, always consider the type of material used to make the shaft. Different materials have different flexes. For instance, graphite shafts tend to be lighter than their steel counterparts. You are likely to have higher swing speeds when using shafts made from graphite than those made of steel.
Why does my golf club slice?
There is a high chance that your stiff golf club will cause a slice. This happens because the face remains slightly opened when it hits the ball. The shaft fails to unload appropriately, leading to a slice. When choosing a golf club, make a point of picking one that is neither too stiff nor too flexible.
Can you lose clubhead control with a graphite shaft?
For anyone with lower swing speeds, graphite shafts will only make you lose clubhead control. Therefore pick a golf club with a steel shaft since it is stiffer than the graphite shaft and offers more control on the clubhead.
What is the best mph for senior flex?
Between 72 and 83 mph signifies you need to be hitting senior flex. Ladies – By no means do all women’s golfers will fall in this category, but this is where many of the recreational women’s players find themselves.
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.
Weight
The weight of your shaft is going to primarily affect your distance. A heavier shaft will reduce your clubhead speed and thus the amount of energy transferred into the ball.
Kickpoint
Depending on the kickpoint, your shaft will bend closer to the head or the grip of the club.
Torque
Torque refers to how much the shaft twists. It’s the least talked about feature but still an important one to club fitters. High torque shafts can twist easily, and low torque shafts are resistant to twisting.
Cost
It always comes down to price at the end of the day and we are always looking for the best deal. A driver shaft can cost anywhere from $40 – $300.
Conclusion
Fitting yourself for a driver shaft is a bit like trying to do your own plumbing. You could do it yourself but if you get something wrong then you might end up in the water.
What happens if you lose 10% from a stiff shaft?
If you lost 10% from going from a regular to a stiff shaft then you were not fitted right. There is not general rule of thumb saying a less stiff shaft goes farther. Its all relative to your own golf swing. I bounced from a stiff to an x-stiff driver shaft, and i didn't see any drop in distance. Quote.
What is a regular flex shaft?
In the exact same brand and model shaft, a "regular" flex will give you a slightly higher ball flight than stiff. For some people this may mean more distance, for some people it may mean less distance. You just have to experiment. A regular flex will also give you slightly more dispersion than stiff flex.
How much speed can an OP gain?
Assuming that the OP has a consistant tempo that does not "require" a stiffer shaft, he can generally gain about 3% by moving from the same manufacturer's stiff to regular as long as his driver speed isn't over 100 MPH.
Does a regular shaft give you more distance?
A "regular" shaft will not necessarily give you more distance and you may lose some control if you are focusing on hitting fairways. Driver distance is a combination of launch angle and ball speed and spin which is a result of shaft flex, torque, and kick point, combined with the loft and design of the driver head.