Shaft Flex difference

[70445]

I’ve noticed in some guys I play with occasionally, they went to a A, SR, shaft.  I’ve also noticed that they slice the hell of the ball!  They never sliced that much before!  Is it because the shaft is too flexible?  

[70445]

Can too flexible shaft cause a slice?

[ChipNRun]

1 hour ago, 70445 said:

Can too flexible shaft cause a slice?

 

Usually a hook could result.

 

Or, is there a big weight difference from their former shafts? Possibly with a lighter shaft their hands are getting out ahead and are delivering an over-the-top (OTT) slice.

 

When you go to a lighter/more flexible shaft, the trick is to swing with good tempo and good form. If you were fighting to control your heavy prior shafts, you don't benefit from your friendlier shafts if you try to muscle them and overswing.

[Go Horns!]

If a shaft is too flexible, you can leave it behind, and it comes in with the face open relative to path, which will cause a fade/slice.

[Stuart_G]

10 hours ago, 70445 said:

I’ve noticed in some guys I play with occasionally, they went to a A, SR, shaft.  I’ve also noticed that they slice the hell of the ball!  They never sliced that much before!  Is it because the shaft is too flexible?  

 

What happens when a shaft is too stiff or too soft for an individual is very subjective.  ANYTHING can happen.   A hook is a little more common for a shaft that's too soft but a slice is not uncommon at all.   There are also plenty of people who the change in stiffness will have no effect what-so-ever.  It's all about how the player's swing changes as a result of the change in feel from the shaft.

 

Same can hold true for weight changes - shaft weight or swing weight.

 

The only way to know for sure is for that player to try a club with the stiffer shaft BUT also everything else the same:  same head, hosel setting, playing length, grip, shaft weight, swing weight, etc..   If the new flex is a result of buying a completely new club, it's hard to say if it's the flex or not when so much else has likely changed.

 

 

6 hours ago, Go Horns! said:

If a shaft is too flexible, you can leave it behind, and it comes in with the face open relative to path, which will cause a fade/slice.

 

If by "leave it behind" you mean get impact before the shaft has a chance to unload, then no you can't. Well not and still have any chance of getting the club anywhere near the ball.   The slice comes from the sequencing and release timing getting messed up because of the feel from the shaft.   More typically the player feels too much loading and 'balks' the upper body and/or arms to try and keep from loading it more but the lower body keeps going and the result is the player gets into the classic "stuck" position and can't correct.

 

Edited April 17, 2021 by Stuart_G