R flex vs A flex eye opener

[Klubster]

I went into a golf shop today to look at irons as I felt I needed to explore going to A flex as I am well into being a senior. I have a very smooth tempo swing, but getting slower.  After a few swings, he says yep, you need an A flex.  He bolts up a 7 iron head and I hit a few balls.  To my surprise, everything is to the right and short.  Side spin is about 1100 rpm.  I ask him to swap in an R flex.  Distance increased by 20 yards and side spin dropped to 100 rpm.  Sticking with my clubs for now.  Anyone have similar experience?

[Cwebb]

Absolutely.  Some players get better results with a different flex than what normal fitting parameters would suggest.  Just remember that there is a wide variety of different bend profiles that are marked 'A' and 'R'.  One 'A' could actually play more like another 'L'....and one 'R' could play like another 'A'....and everything in between.   There's a lot more to it than these basic labels.

 

Always test everything with an open mind and explore further what proves to work the best.

[TallGuy90]

As some newer to the game I went with some softer sided STIFF FLEXs,  I ended up in so DG120s. I think the general rules about golf shafts are pretty wrong I.e a slice means shaft is to stiff and such 

[596]

At this point I have both regular flex and senior flex shafts in my bag.  My ping 3 wood is a senior flex and I hit it great.  At one point a few years ago I had everything from X to stiff to regular in the bag at once.  Different clubs, different shafts performing different tasks. 

 

And as mentioned, there is zero standard in shaft flexes.  All manufacturers measure differently. 

[obsessed_golfer]

Shaft weight often has more effect than shaft flex.

[Pepperturbo]

I am a senior, 70yrs old, still physically strong, and play to 3-5 index, 35' 7i is 148 carry.  In my quest to regain yardage lost due to aging, I recently tested A, R, S, even X in composite shafts.  Due to osteoarthritis, steel shafts are probably history for me.  A shaft that slices doesn't necessary mean it is too stiff.  It depends on a person's swing mechanics.

 

"A" spin was high, straight, trajectory really high, yet the ball came up short of expected yardage, unless I slowed my swing.  It couldn't stand up to me going after the ball.  "R" went straight and further, but didn't like it when I wanted to go after a shot, tip lagged back as my hands went through the ball, coming up short or fading right. 

 

I really liked MMT 125s, but aging was saying no longer.  So, I tested MMT 105 "S" and Steelfiber i110cw, both felt more comfortable, allowing me to go after the ball and still work it.  Whether X or TX worked depended on how light weight the shaft was.  Though I can still make X work, it tires me out 3/4 though 18, so stiff is still the flex.

Edited August 19, 2022 by Pepperturbo

[dmeeksDC]

3 hours ago, obsessed_golfer said:

Shaft weight often has more effect than shaft flex.

Agree. Flex labels mean very little. Compare a KBS Tour V regular (100g) to a DG 105g s300 stiff and you find the Tour V is way stiffer. Just one example but you see it all the time. Get the weight right and then worry about flex.
 

I was fit into KBS Tour stiffs (120g) but I play the Tour regular all the time because I prefer the lighter 110g weight. Has had zero impact on control. Dispersion is tight and I actually gain distance. I try to get the weight I’ll want coming down the back nine when I am getting tired. Fitting to the absolute strongest, most rested swings is not necessarily going to serve me well. 

[Colej]

3 hours ago, obsessed_golfer said:

Shaft weight often has more effect than shaft flex.

Shaft weight and profile are way more important.

[Billfitz]

I went to L flex this year. Carry and total went up, launch angle went up, accuracy unchanged. You never know what will work best for you.

[SwooshLT]

5 hours ago, TallGuy90 said:

As some newer to the game I went with some softer sided STIFF FLEXs,  I ended up in so DG120s. I think the general rules about golf shafts are pretty wrong I.e a slice means shaft is to stiff and such 

 

DG120 is actually built to be lower flight AND stiffer than Standard DG 

[Pepe8714]

I play a regular flex Matrix White Tie f4 in my TM tour aero burner 15* 3W. I swing approx 112 with this club and hit absolute bombs..... I'd say play what works. I'm a +3 handicap and have absolutely no issue controlling the club 

[bluedot]

Every club in my bag was fitted for me by the same guy, who is very good, and in whom I have a ton of confidence.  70 years old, 6 index.

 

Fit for Ping G410 hybrids back in 2018; Tensei blue, R flex.  Love ‘em…

 

Fit for Titleist T200 irons a year ago, Tensei blue, S flex.  Love ‘em…

 

Fit for Rogue St Max driver and 3w summer, Tensei blue, R flex.  Love ‘em…

 

I asked him at the time about the S flex in the irons; hadn’t used an S in years.  He told me not to get hung up too much on flex in iron shafts, that it was more about weight, and that I’d hit them straighter AND farther with the S than an R.  And so I have…

 

I think the takeaway is that this is MY experience and MY results.  My results are a good advert for working with a good fitter; I’ve had my best year in competition in a long time; I thank him every time I see him!

 

 

.

[Klubster]

I am now 75.  A couple years ago at the beginning of Covid, I went to check out new irons.  I figured A flex but could not hit.  The "fitter" said to pay no attention to what head or shaft he used, just hit it.  Best results were the Callaway Mavrik Pro head with a KBS 90 steel shaft in S flex.  Due to supply problems, clubs were not available so did not buy.  Recent trip still shows no real reason to buy either.  With regular shafts, I hit every head he gave me just about the same.  I believe the right shaft is 90% of the picture.

[Cwebb]

2 hours ago, Klubster said:

I am now 75.  A couple years ago at the beginning of Covid, I went to check out new irons.  I figured A flex but could not hit.  The "fitter" said to pay no attention to what head or shaft he used, just hit it.  Best results were the Callaway Mavrik Pro head with a KBS 90 steel shaft in S flex.  Due to supply problems, clubs were not available so did not buy.  Recent trip still shows no real reason to buy either.  With regular shafts, I hit every head he gave me just about the same.  I believe the right shaft is 90% of the picture.

 

Keeping in mind that KBS 90 'S' flex, has a bend profile that actually measures and plays like an 'R' flex with a soft tip.  It isn't a "stiff" shaft by any means

Edited August 19, 2022 by Cwebb

[TallGuy90]

23 hours ago, SwooshLT said:

 

DG120 is actually built to be lower flight AND stiffer than Standard DG 

Didn’t really notice a difference in launch and was definitely higher with the 120. 

[Howard_Jones]

On 8/19/2022 at 1:52 AM, SwooshLT said:

 

DG120 is actually built to be lower flight AND stiffer than Standard DG 

Thats a misunderstanding, but yes, 120 got a stiffer tip section than 130, but its to compensate for the weight. If they just used the same step pattern and reduced wall thickness by removing 10 grams from the OG version, we would have a higher launching shaft, so to keep it low like the 130 grams, the shaft is designed this way, so it should performe as equal to the OG 130 gram version we can get, but with 10 grams lower wgt.

[SwooshLT]

1 hour ago, Howard_Jones said:

Thats a misunderstanding, but yes, 120 got a stiffer tip section than 130, but its to compensate for the weight. If they just used the same step pattern and reduced wall thickness by removing 10 grams from the OG version, we would have a higher launching shaft, so to keep it low like the 130 grams, the shaft is designed this way, so it should performe as equal to the OG 130 gram version we can get, but with 10 grams lower wgt.

 

Not disagreeing but I read this somewhere in which true temper stated this...... I'm not smart enough to make that up!!!