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How to Find the Right Flex Shaft for Your Golf Clubs

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How to Find the Right Flex Shaft for Your Golf Clubs

Golfers can generally be divided up into two categories – those who obsess over equipment, and those who completely ignore it.  It seems that the average golfer is either concerned with every last detail of the clubs they use, or totally disinterested in even learning about the basics.  In other words, some golfers feel that equipment can make a big difference to their scores, while others think that their technique and preparation are really what will determine how many birdies and bogeys wind up on the card.

In reality, the truth is likely somewhere between these two camps.  Yes, equipment matters, but probably not as much as some people believe.

Your performance is ultimately going to be determined by the swings you make and the shots you choose to play.  However, your equipment can help you get the most out of those swings, so you shouldn’t ignore this part of the game.

Golf is hard enough as it is, you don’t want to be fighting against equipment that is ill-fitted to your swing mechanics in addition to battling the course.

Finding the Right Flex Shaft for Your Game

Most of the attention that is paid to golf clubs seems to go in the direction of the club head.  That probably shouldn’t be too surprising – after all, it is the part of the club that actually hits the ball, and it is the part that varies the most from club to club.  With that said, you would be wise to pay just as much attention to the shaft of the club as you do to the head.

The shaft can be thought of as the engine of the golf club.  When you swing down, the shaft will flex as a way of storing up energy.  When that energy is released into the back of the ball, you will be able to launch the ball into the air as a result of what the shaft is doing.  Of course, that will only happen when you have the right shaft.

If you have a shaft that is the wrong flex for your swing, the results that you achieve will be rather disappointing.

Signs of Trouble that You’re Using the Wrong Flex Shaft

So how do you know if you are swinging clubs with an incorrect shaft flex?  Look to your ball flight.

There are patterns that will make themselves clear over time, but you are going to have to be paying attention in order to spot them.

#1 Your Shafts Are Too Soft

When you are using a club shaft that is too soft for your swing speed, the ball will consistently fly high and will often be pushed to the right.  Rather than a powerful high shot that travels a great distance, shots hit with a shaft that is too soft will just float up into the air as a result of a high spin rate.  If you are dealing with this problem with your current clubs, you probably struggle in windy conditions and you may find it difficult to produce a low punch shot when needed.

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#2 Your Shafts Are Too Stiff

Just as a shaft that is too soft can cause trouble, a shaft that is too stiff can lead to disappointing results as well.  However, the ball flight patterns that you notice are going to be completely opposite when the shaft is too stiff for your swing.  Most likely, you will find yourself hitting low shots that are frequently pulled to the left in this case.

Without enough swing speed to properly bend the shaft on the way down, the club face will usually be closed down at impact – leading to that low and left pattern.  In this case you will also have trouble generating backspin, meaning that you may not be able to hold greens easily when hitting iron shots.

Whether you are dealing with a club shaft that is too soft or too stiff, the result is going to be a golf game that is something short of what it could be.  Taking action as soon as possible to find the right shaft flex for your swing is something that can have a direct impact on the way you score on the golf course.

So, now that we know how to identify when we’re using the wrong flex shafts how do we identify what are the correct flex shafts for our golf game?

Here’s how…

Work with a Pro

The best way to get the right shaft flex for your swing is to work with a professional club fitter.  This is the way to go because there are so many variables within this process to consider.

Yes, you can make a basic judgement on the shaft flex you should used based solely on your swing speed, but this is a pretty rudimentary method at best.  Rather, you should use all of the modern technology that has been put to use in the golf club industry.

A good club fitter will use a computer that has been specifically designed to help golfers find the right clubs for their game.  Ask at your local course or golf shop if they offer a professional club fitter, and find out how much the fee will be for that service.  Usually the cost of the fitting is relatively minimal, and it may even be reimbursed if you wind up purchasing some new equipment from the shop.

This kind of a club fitting won’t take very much time at all, but it has the potential to completely change the way you play the game.

Your Equipment Needs Will Change Over Time

OK, so you’ve found the correct flex shaft for your game….now what?

The worst thing you can do is assume that will be the correct flex for the rest of your playing life.

Once you are able to place the right shaft in all of your clubs, you should notice an immediate improvement in your performance on the course.  However, don’t think that you can just ignore your club shafts now that you have them sorted out.  Instead, you are going to need to monitor the status of your equipment on an ongoing basis for as long as you are a golfer.  Your swing is going to change over time, so you need to make sure your equipment adapts to those changes.

Good equipment isn’t going to make you a great golfer – but it can help you become the best version of yourself on the course.  Specifically, finding the right shaft flex for your clubs can help you to create a nice trajectory with a reasonable spin rate from your driver on down through your wedges.

Take the time to figure out which shaft flex works best for you and better golf shots are surely right around the corner.


Cover Photo via Instagram

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