| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | be adversely affecting my results. |
| All low handicappers and golfers who are serious | | | | Here’s what I do: |
| about shooting the lowest scores possible | | | | Your driver will be your best gauge on which |
| consider flex in their clubs. It makes the science | | | | flex you need. Not 100% accurate but the best |
| of hitting the ball so much easier, which translates | | | | club to use for this purpose. If you can carry you |
| to more enjoyment on the course. | | | | driver 250 yards or more, go with Stiff; 230-250 |
| Now, when I say "flex", I am referring to the | | | | yards, Regular; 200-230 yards, Senior; less than |
| ability of a golf shaft to bend as forces are | | | | 200 yards, Ladies. What about Extra Stiff? I can |
| applied to it during the golf swing. Just go ahead | | | | count the number of people on one hand that |
| and waggle your club a little and see how | | | | actually need or use an Extra Stiff shaft. Only |
| much the shaft bends and you will get an idea of | | | | guys like John Daily and Long Drive Champions |
| what flex is. | | | | need that type. |
| There are five basic categories or types of shaft | | | | If shots with your driver tend to go left, you |
| flex: | | | | might benefit from a stiffer flex; if your drives go |
| 1. Extra Stiff | | | | right, you might benefit from a softer flex. |
| 2. Stiff | | | | If you know (or have been told) you have a |
| 3. Regular | | | | very smooth swing, you might benefit from a |
| 4. Senior | | | | softer flex even if you swing very fast. Further, |
| 5. Ladies | | | | if you have a swing that gets jerky at the top, |
| Why is the flex in your shaft important? Well, | | | | especially starting the downswing, you’ll |
| when you have a flex that doesn't match the | | | | probably need a stiffer shaft. |
| needs of your swing, the result is the clubface | | | | The Best (and most accurate way) to Choose |
| being misaligned at impact, causing your shots to | | | | Flex Type |
| go off-target. Not good. To be more specific, | | | | If you are not comfortable determining which flex |
| your flex will impact how straight you hit the ball, | | | | you should choose on your own, go see your local |
| how high or low it goes and how long or short it | | | | pro at the course you play at or your driving |
| travels. | | | | range. This will take a lot of the guesswork out of |
| Keep in mind one very important thing about the | | | | the equation. |
| shaft of your club and its flex. As the shaft | | | | A good pro will take a lot of measurements, |
| flexes throughout the swing, the position of the | | | | watch your swing, measure your swing speed, |
| clubhead will change. This means you need a shaft | | | | watch your ball flight and be able to tell you with |
| that will properly match your swing type and | | | | certainty which flex is right for you. |
| speed so that it can deliver the clubface back to | | | | What you want to do is to experiment by hitting |
| a square position at impact. | | | | lots of different clubs and watching the effects on |
| For example, if the flex of your clubs is too stiff, | | | | your shots of changing shaft flex. |
| the clubface will tend to be open, sending the ball | | | | If you find a flex that feels good and produces a |
| in a slicing direction. Or, if you have clubs with a | | | | good ball flight, there's a good chance that's the |
| shaft flex that is not very stiff, the clubhead will | | | | right flex for you. |
| be tend to be closed at impact, resulting in a | | | | And lastly, here’s the best advice I can |
| hook. | | | | give on choosing flex. Most high-handicappers |
| Choose Your Flex Type | | | | (especially men) tend to over-swing. If this |
| I always am experimenting with different shafts | | | | describes you (and you know who you are), you |
| and flex types because I know that if my swing | | | | should consider a softer flex to help you slow |
| is on plane and accurate, my shaft flex type can | | | | your swing down. |