using a softer flex than what you should be using.. no real problem huh?

[shGGman]

so after all the research.. I've concluded that having a softer flex shaft won't really cause any serious problem. If your swing speed is 100mph, and you stick with R flex instead of Stiff, you might have slight draw ball flight/higher ball trajectory. vice versa with using stiffer than what you should be using.

 

Thats pretty much it, right? My swing speed is probably around 100mph. I got used to Regular flex shaft though, that stiff flex shaft feels like crap to me. Any opinion on this?

 

Anyone using softer or stiffer flex than you should and have no problem?

[Logie]

I think its not so bad around the 100 mph mark, but a player who S/S is 115 MPH trying to use a Reg might struggle to control there ball flight

[DChesler]

With the advancement in graphite shaft technology, I think the name of the game is feel. Many of the regular flex shafts on the market play stiffer than many of the "stiff" flex shafts on the market. I wouldn't get too caught up with it. Just use what feels best for your own swing.

[DLiver]

My nephew played on the mini-tours for a few years. He could flat-out smoke the ball. He would play a regular shaft in his driver because it forced him to make a smooth swing. He blasted that sucker. My conclusion is that if you can control your swing, you can hit any flex shaft. If you have a herky-jerky swing, you may have some problems with an ill-fitting shaft.

[silliwilli]

PM T1ger W00ds

[cwglum]

As a moderate tempo swinger, there is nothing worse to me than a shaft that feels boardy or plays too stiff for my swing.

 

Labels seem more and more meaningless now-a-days, R, S, etc. A really low-torque "regular" shaft can play very stiff, and conversely, a high torque "stiff"shaft can be all over the map. Just try everything at Demo days and buy what feels best to you regardless of the shaft labels.

 

My bag is mixed with shafts that are labeled stiff, regular, etc. I just hit everything that looks good to my eye and keep what feels good in my bag.

[CosmosMpower]

What about someone with a driver swing of 88-91 mph using a high launch stiff shaft that's a lighter weight? I picked up a R7 425 in 9.5 but the shaft is a stiff flex Fujikura Speeder 569 which is only 59 grams with a high torque number (4.5). I tend to have a slight fade which turns into a slice when I try and go after it too much. Is this shot shape caused by using a shaft that is too stiff? I also hit the ball a bit higher than I used to with a 10.5 head and R flex shaft even with a 9.5 head in the new club. Also all the movable weights are already set to max draw spec but it still has a mini fade.

 

Feel wise the Fujikura is less boardy and harsh than the Proforce V2 65 gram R flex shaft it replaced even though one is S and one is R.

[hayam]

I also like the idea of good quality shaft ( speeder, code , rombax )in softer flex. makes it very controllable yet very easy to play. Very high quality shaft are stiffer flex to flex usually.

[Asleep]

I think HotStix tends to fit people to a softer than usual flex.

[shGGman]

that is good to hear. Thank you for your opinions guys. Keep them coming.

[Taylormadematt]

I use a stiff flex even though my SS is from 95-100mph, i do so as i havn't found a Reg flex shaft that dosn't feel to whippy for me, i know i might have sacrificed a very small amount of distance due to using a stiff, but i'd rather know where i'd like to be more often off the tee. :)

[Golfpig]

i think 2 factors u have to consider. The spin tends to be more of a softer flex, and the tip or the torque factor.

I step down from a stiff flex(260cpm) to a regular flex(235cpm) and lost almost 30 to 50m in distance. Its a nightmare.

Choose the tip factor first, then get the fitter to get u the rite cpm, rather than rely on the flex label.

It might helps.

[Boba]

I like to play the softest shaft I can control. I've seen several better players with a ss of 120+ playing project x 5.0 in their irons.

[Shaftology]

I think you are going the right way based upon your swing...play the lightest, longest, softest flex that you can control. BTW, do not read much into the labels on the shafts as an R in one may be an S in another. In general, if you get too soft, you will lose control. High right if you "load" the shaft near impact, draw-hook if your release is a little early. Best to work with a clubfitter and a launch monitor to dial you in to what "feels" good with the best performance.

[projamie]

Alot of guys out there on tour are given spray painted shafts to try out that are plain black... they literatly try a number of blank shafts and take what they hit best, and then the testers let them know what shaft flex weight etc they have chosen and then its made up for them... this gives the guys an unbiased choice of shafts and they get whatever the best fit is...

 

 

My coach who has a SS of 120mph on average uses stiff in most of his clubs... i questioned it and he says as most of the posts here have that he likes to play the softest shaft he can control... he made the point by grabbing a senior flex, reg, stiff and X flex driver and hitting everyone of them exactly the same to prove he could play anything...

 

I persoanally like a stout feel in my shafts and the lower ball flight and control you get with them... some like a soft feel in their clubs... some like to play what they hit best...

 

Most people should play softer than they do... give it a go, youll be surprised...

[JaxLax]

My swing speed is around 100 on my dirver and avgs around 95 on my irons.

My club pro fit me and recommended I go with stiff shafts in my driver and fairway woods, but regular flex in my irons and wedges.

 

I thought it was awkward at first, but like the above it fits my game.

[clubshack]

I play X-stiff in driver but regular in everything else.

[heybrady]

I think the biggest potential problem with going too soft is the spin rate due to the softer tip. Now if you take a softer shaft and tip it up a bit, I think that will work.

 

For example, I put an NVS 105x into a hybrid. The shaft generally plays about half a flex softer than stated, and I liked the mid bend point, but not the soft tip. So I tipped it 3/4" and now the spin is kept under control but the shaft feels nice and smooth.

 

I may try the same thing in my driver. Get a mid-high bend shaft in a stiff but tip it up some more to keep spin under control.

[easycheesy]

Go with what feels good - that's all you need to worry about. I was fit on Callaway performance center monitor for rifle 6.0 - played them for a month, hated the feel and went back to what has always felt right to me TTDG R400s. My driver SS is 105-115 area. 4 iron carry 200-205 with normal 75% effort swing. I lost half a club in distance from 6.0 to R400s, but i wasn't making great swings with the 6.0s - the stiffness of the shafts made me HIT more and try to flex the shaft vs swinging through a point to my finish. I play better with the regular shafts - anyway, just do what feels good to you and gives you the most confidence (for me it's a more flexible shaft and relatively heavier swingweights).

 

Good luck.

[celts5407]

I agree. Play with what you like. My driver swing speed is between 112-118 and I play stiff flex. I just like the extra kick i get out of the shaft. I dont have a hard to controlling my flight. If it feels good, play it.