what do the different shaft types mean?

[fsquid]

stiff, regular, senior. What are these?

[mgoblue]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

stiff, regular, senior. What are these?

they're different stiffness of the shaft...stiff are really rigid, regular are a bit more flexible, and senior are even more flexible because older people need a bit more give in their clubs

I just have regular stuff, I think you'd have to go to a club fitting place for them to determine if you have other needs...personally don't know that much about different grips/shafts and how much they'd impact you. I'd be interested to hear from those who are more in the know

[mjb2124]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Mgo explained it well.

I went with "stiff". I have enough torque in my swing that I didn't want a less stiff shaft.

If you really want the correct type, you should have your swing measured (in terms of MPH). The higher the MPH, the stiffer you want the shaft.

***Waits for jokes about a shaft being stiff***

[fishepa]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Generally, if you have a swing speed of above 90mph, you need stiff shafts. I have a cleveland laucher 3 wood that I had reshafted because I didn't think it was stiff enough. It had a factory installed regular shaft, but once my golf shop actually tsted it, they found it was lady flex

So, it just goes to show that they could be way off.

[jdros13]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Everything depends on the manufacturer. Within a set of clubs you could have a couple that are different from the rest and you wouldn't notice it unless you had it tested (although you would probably say that you find it difficult to hit that particular club). Companies also play games with shaft flex...I'll give you a quick example:

Callaway Golf became a prominent company with the release of the Big Bertha. Suddenly golfers had these clubs they could hit farther than ever before. What you probably didn't know is that Callaway Golf played mind games with their consumers to make those clubs so popular. All of their drivers have a 2 degree hooked face. What that means is that in order for you to have the club appear to be set up 'straight', you have to open up the face by 2 degrees. What that does in essence is make a 9 degree driver (what the majority of golfers think they should be hitting) into an 11 degree driver (what the majority of golfers actually should be hitting). Additionally, their 'Firm' shaft is really a regular, because most people get shafts that are too stiff for them and sacrifice distance as a result. Doing these two things helped people to get the ball in the air and carry it further than ever before..thus a legend is born.

So any way, for the majority of golfers regular flex shafts are the way to go. You will get greater distance and depending on where the kick point of the shaft is (I realize I'm probably getting a little too in depth here) it should help you get the ball in the air as well. The stiffer the shaft, the more accurate you should tend to be, but you will also sacrifice distance and hit lower shots (once again, depending on the kick point). If you see a shaft for example that bills itself as "Tip Stiff", that is a ball with a higher (closer to the handle of the club) kick point and should help your accuracy. The shafts that seem really 'whippy' down by the club head (like senior and ladies shafts) will tend to help the golfer get the ball in the air and achieve more distance.

I didn't realize people asked questions about real golf in this forum (and I haven't played a golf videogame in quite a while). I may have to pop in here from time to time.

[mgoblue]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

thanks for the in depth explaination...i enjoy learning more about the equipment as I start to get more and more into the game. Definitely check this forum out once in a while, we tend to have more talk on real life golf, our own or the pros, than video games lately.

[jdros13]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

NP...I'll stop in from time to time.

[James_E]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Shaft types depend on your swing timing, not just on your overall clubhead speed. Most people with fast clubhead speed (like the guy said... >90MPH) would use stiff, but people with really really smooth swings like Freddie Couples, who gets a ton of speed, can use regular. As long as things like the kick point etc. are correct.

I got fitted for a shaft last year. I had always played stiff. While being fitted I was generating > 100MPH, but I was not stressing the shaft alot due to a smooth tempo, so the machine suggested a regular flex. Problem is I really didn't like the feel of the regular flex (felt like it was twisting), and also I know for sure that when I get on the golf course and start to "get quick"... I will stress the shaft more and if I do that with regular it will cause worse control problems than with stiff. I don't really need extra distance, I need better control. I went with a stiff shaft.

[Herbsinator]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Callaway Golf became a prominent company with the release of the Big Bertha. Suddenly golfers had these clubs they could hit farther than ever before. What you probably didn't know is that Callaway Golf played mind games with their consumers to make those clubs so popular. All of their drivers have a 2 degree hooked face. What that means is that in order for you to have the club appear to be set up 'straight', you have to open up the face by 2 degrees. What that does in essence is make a 9 degree driver (what the majority of golfers think they should be hitting) into an 11 degree driver (what the majority of golfers actually should be hitting). Additionally, their 'Firm' shaft is really a regular, because most people get shafts that are too stiff for them and sacrifice distance as a result. Doing these two things helped people to get the ball in the air and carry it further than ever before..thus a legend is born.

I just want to clarify that the Big Bertha isn't the only club to have a closed face. However the rest of your explanation is spot on.

[Dallasin2K3]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

My clubhead speed was tested while hitting shots at 115-120 MPH and I play with stiff shafts. Any higher than that and you would want an extra stiff, closer to 100 MPH and you probably want regular flex.

[fishepa]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

115mph???? Good lord you swing hard...

[Herbsinator]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

My clubhead speed was tested while hitting shots at 115-120 MPH and I play with stiff shafts. Any higher than that and you would want an extra stiff, closer to 100 MPH and you probably want regular flex.

I disagree...if your swing speed is in the 90's you are gonna want to have a stiff shaft.

But the bottom line is...test all different kind of head and shaft combos and use the one that you can hit the best.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Assuming you're holding a driver, if your swing speed is around 90 mph then you're probably going to want regular flex shafts. I say probably because as another poster mentioned the smoothness/violence of your swing will effect how much whipping action you apply to the clubhead. Too much whip and it will be next to impossible to get the clubface closed at impact... producing a slice/fade or a block right.

The thing is, 90 mph just isn't very hard with a driver. My clubhead speed is up in the 110-115 mph range (260-280 off the tee depending on contact) and stiff shafts are pretty much a perfect fit. The only clubs of mine with regular shafts are my sand and lob wedges... mostly because I don't swing very hard with them and regular shafts provide a little better feel. I've tried extra stiff shafts and they're really just a little too rigid. I believe most tourpros are up in the 120-130 mph range... which has a lot to do with having better swings.

What you sacrifice if your shafts are too stiff is the distance that their whipping action produces.

[fishepa]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Give me control over distance any day.

[mgoblue]

Re: what do the different shaft types mean?

Give me control over distance any day.

amen, brother...amen