Shaft Flex: What's Right For Your Swing

Shaft Flex can have a significant effect on your ball striking.  We all know this, but it can also affect what type of swing you have.

There's more to consider; what is the right flex for your swing profile? You should also take into consideration, what is the right shaft movement for your acceleration profile.

If you have an early release or cast the club, you can most likely get away with a softer flex shaft, even if you have a faster swing speed. If you create and hold significant lag, you can most likely fit yourself with a stiffer flex shaft, even with a slower swing speed.

Taking these points into consideration, your shaft flex will be critical in helping maximize your consistency.

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[manyahn]

This is the best explanation I've heard yet about which shaft to use.

[chriskraemer]

I’ve watched 4 videos on golf club shafts before I found this video, this video by far explained it better and now I know what to look at and can video and learn. THANK YOU

[theboombapp]

Makes sense. I am 49 and just went through a shaft fitting. I am playing shafts that were foolishly fit for me when I was 33 when I started playing. True Temper x100's that were stepped down twice. Now at 49, I was just fit for a set of True Temper X Seven shafts. My old sticks were too stiff and I payed for it. Different golf game now thanks to a proper and desperately needed fitting.

[TheRnB]

Should beginners start on regular or softer flex?

[phoward]

I play a power fade…with stock shaft regular flex I leak it too much…I went to a project X San Diego LZ reg flex and it reduced the fade to a baby cut. I have now gained more club head speed ans am now going to be putting a Stiff San Diego in…..or a Ventus 5S blue. I feel as hard as I go at the ball…the fade is getting left open…especially with my swing weight on my driver of D8.

[skithewhitestuff]

Very interesting, not something that I have heard before. I use a stiff flex shaft in my driver as I don’t like the ‘whipping’ feel of the regular flex. I am now considering trying a stiff flex in my irons to compare the difference. Thanks

[FFLL]

Great video! Best analysis I’ve seen and without all the technical info that confuses most recreational golfers

[EasyIAPs]

Main flaw to shaft flex is the lack of industry standards. Due to proprietary issues among manufacturers, a stiff, flex or “S” shaft from one may not and mostly will not be same from one manufacturer to the other. This is one major flaw in purchasing off the rack without a fitting from a professional fitter and I’m not talking about a salesman. I’m not a fitter but my game greatly improved after I paid for a fitting, purchased new clubs and took lessons. My game improved to the point that I needed to change shafts because of my swing speed improvements and swing path traits.

The video is 100% on target but do yourself a favor and get fitted for the best shaft for your game.

[mikec]

Great content tells me club fitting and some form of instruction are very important. Thank s for this video

[cpintucson]

Would have been nice to see the three examples, high speed video (and played in slo mo): casting, coming from inside and returning to address position.

[txterbug]

For the longest time I was slicing and ended up turning it into a pull slice/fade to compensate. The entire time I was using heavy & stiff shafts because I thought my club face was being left open from my transition but it turns out I wasn’t even properly loading the club (felt like a baseball bat) so I was getting no launch and my club face was being left open due to that and not the contrary.

[dapstur]

Amazing i bought a new driver and it came with a really flexable shaft and i fade right super bad. I swing the club about 103-108 so i should get a regular or stiff.

[Hhajsjeieirhrbbr]

Wow think I just realised my driver is so inaccurate because I need an XS. Always wondered if my driver is too flexible for the speed of my swing

[russ]

I don't need extra pressure to swing too hard, jerk at the ball and slice the hell out of it. That's my standard swing lol. I have good technique practise swings but when I get to the top of my back swing when I'm actually gunna hit the ball my Hulk smash reflex gets triggered and I try and crush the bloody thing lol

[Unplugged]

I understand swing speed and flex. What about weight and how does that affect impact and distance?

[truthof]

A lot of info on attack angle, but all based on 91mph swing. Most weekend players swing much slower.

[Uisci]

I’m confused, I’m a high handicapper and was told I have a fast swing and was told to get a steel but the graphite just felt nicer to hit and was getting way more yards. But I keep being told steel

[kfqccxn]

What about a senior that has a mid 70’s swing speed. I hit the ball straight.

[dry]

High handicapper I have 70 mph swing speed? 80-85 mph ball speed?

[vinny]

It's all about how you load the shaft is what he's saying. Really not enough information presented IMO, as swinging a Driver at a somewhat higher swing speed with a longer shaft is going to be different than swinging your irons and taking a divot. Just because you can hit a stiff driver does not equate into having your set make-up have stiff shafts. You need to get fit for your clubs, or know your swing well in order to get the best performance out of your set.