Does Shaft Flex Make ANY Difference???

Does Shaft Flex Make ANY Difference??? when buying new golf clubs the shaft is one of the most important components. should you use steel shafts? should you use graphite shafts? should you use stiff shafts vs regular shafts? maybe you should use extra stiff shafts? what shafts should beginner golfers use? and what about exotic expensive shafts? do they make a big difference? maybe you should use extra stiff shafts? what shafts should you use? let's find out... and let's do it now!

[erictouchet]

would've figured there would be a HUGE difference between the 5.0 v 6.0 shafts. That's actually quite amazing. Its opened my eyes a lot. Thank You!

[matthewhall]

I love it when this type of video on flex is posted. Always the same results, but loads of comments that disagree with the evidence in front of their eyes.

I can see weight making more of a difference to most people.

Can you do that video James? Take the heaviest stiff shaft and the lightest you can find and hit loads of shots with it. I switched from heavy PX LZ to S300 AMT because the weight of the PX felt tiring as a round went on. I thinks there’s about 15g difference which feels massive to me.

[danielc]

You mentioned it in there James, the “feel” is different though. And what I have learned in near 30 years of golf....you can’t underestimate feel

[adamvlassis]

I love when you, mark cross field, mygolfspy and others make these videos because I know comments will be entertainment. I just switched from the Project rifle 6.5 to modus tour 120 x. I'm a 4 handicap and can't really tell whats different. keep up the videos I enjoy them.

[robbreeze]

Great video James. It confirmed my suspicions when a Pro tests different shafts.
But an “average” golfer? Let Mark repeat this test please.

[soulsurvivor]

I am now using Royal Precision FCM 5.5 with a soft tip trim. I made these clubs years ago, and only recently been in shape enough to start using them again. Pure!

[marshallcook]

I do club building, and the most notable thing to me is swing weights. The flex matters to a certain degree, the swing weight is differently the most important factor. Also where you put the weight too. If you put the weight in the hands its harder to feel but if you put it in the shaft tip you can feel it.

[fashionandfitnessover]

Shaft model matters more than the flex as they all vary with their kick/flex points etc. which is affected by how you load the shaft in your individual swing. I was recently fitted for my new irons and tried about 7 different shafts all the same flex but hit the Nippon Modus 3 120 8 yrds further and straighter than anything else, just because it was working in harmony with my swing. Also just because a shaft feels great in 1 set of irons doesn't mean it will behave the same in another set due to head weighting. Moral of the story get custom fit with whats right for your swing, it may cost a little more but its worth the extra!

[dougdavis]

My handicap is 18 and I am 66 years old.
I find regular in irons and hybrid but fairway woods and driver old farts flex.

[tonydg]

I went from the 6.0 project x steel to mimaya f2 smakwrap graphite. No difference in carry distance but the graphite are just easier on my aging joints

[gunnarjinx]

For me as a low hcp golfer it's easy to just "hit" a ball with almost any type of shaft... what it all comes down is the possible SHAPING and how easily I can shape it multiple ways.... high, low, left & right... rainbow flight... airline take off ect. Nippon Stiff Tour 120 did it all for me in a very comfortable way.... tried many shaft types and flex ... there was noticeable difference ... specially when wind was added to the equation ;) Cheers James... Iceland ... Out :)

[superskank]

From what i can gather a regular shaft may make someone with a faster swing go a bit to the left and much harder to work the ball left to right, maybe wrong though. I personally play with dynamic gold regular in Mizuno mp60's bought off the shelf around 11 years ago, Love them.

[KenMagee]

My girlfriend definitely prefers the stiff shaft. Ball speed varies. OK I'm gonna stop now.

[jameystarke]

I play project x shaft. I typically play a stif shaft (6.0). When I last got fitted I found I didn’t like the weight of the 6.0. The Club fitter recommended I “tip” the 5.5 which would give it the flex of a 6.0 but the weight of the 5.5. Very happy I did.

[apaulmcdonough]

Thanks, James. Good Video. "Numbers Testing" in recent years have disproved many of the "Shaft Myths and Lore" of old.

So, 718 AP2 (5-9), plus Vokey 46 & 50 SM6 / All Standard Length and Loft, Bent 1 degree Flat / using PROJECT X LZ 5.5 (115 gram)
Then, Vokey 54 V Grind and 58-06 K Grind / Standard L & L, Bent 2 Flat / using P X LZ 5.0 (105 gram)
I prefer a firmer Feel and moderate Weight for the Shaft, yet I like a Softer Feel at Ball (2019 Pro V1x) Impact.
As for Driver & Woods, 917 D2 Diamana BLUE "S" - 70 Grams.
3, 5, 7 - 917 F2 Diamana BLUE "S" - 80 Grams.
ALL Four are Standard Length and Hosel Adjusted "Flat".
Thanks Again, James.

[coegj]

Feel, individual feel to me is everything. I have had more than my share of irons and woods and if it feels good keep it or them until it doesn't feel the same. Everything changes as we age, gain strength, lose strength and the same with flexibility. I have had shafts with no feel at all like lead pipes and then shafts where you know exactly where the bend/kick point is and love that feel and flight or hate that feel and flight. Just a couple swings is enough to know whether a club stays in the bag or goes back on the market. But back in the day the S400 was my favorite shafts in mid to long irons and the S200 in my short irons and wedges, but back in the day was forty plus years ago, damn it, I miss those days.

[matthalo]

I play dynamic gold x-100 shafts.... I recently came off dynamic gold s300 shafts... but when I started I played the cb alta stuff regular shafts from ping.


So from a stiff regular to extra stiff I can tell you there is a huge difference for me. I can feel the flex of the club on my downswing and I really find it weird so I prefer extra stiff

[JonathanMoosey]

I play Dynamic Gold S300 shafts in my older Mizuno MP-67 blades and I have a high launch and a high spin rate. I don’t have a fast swing speed per say but I found that the Project X 6.5 does everything it needs to do to get my numbers in the right direction and straighter as well.

[roccomicelotta]

Nice video, very helpful for me….Thank You, Ric

[patrickmonell]

Great video! I was fitted with kbs c taper 130 extra stiff due to overpowering my old shafts and creating a ballooning effect on my iorns! Thanks for the great content for my morning coffee James! Cheers mate!