Shaft flex advice needed please

[keiko]

cpm 240 vs. cpm 265

A friend gave me an adams 9016D 7* with a 48" soft flex (240 cpm) shaft on it. I am hitting it well but wonder if I am getting as much from it as I would if I changed to a stiffer shaft given average swing speed of 110mph. If I step it up, I can generate 115-120 swing speed.
So, stay with softer flex or go to stiff flex for maximum distance?

[Ken Smith]

Keiko,

Despite what some clubfitters may say, the most important aspect of clubfitting is the frequency, or stiffness of the shaft. Shaft stiffness has historically been determined via trial and error, and more recently by the measurement of swing speed. However, just because two players have the same swing speed, they won't have the same club release or swing timing. The amount of load placed on your golf shaft is not important, it is only the time interval that makes this first basic frequency selection. Some would argue this point, but if you place a shaft in a frequency meter, you will get the same CPM reading despite how much you load the shaft. The correction is based on the centrifugal force acting upon the clubhead. When the golf shaft is loaded during the downswing, the centrifugal force is attempting to straighten it, which reduces the amount of spring action needed to bring it back to straight and square. Since clubhead speed is the precursor to centrifugal force, then the correct relationship can be derived as a direct function of clubhead speed. Therefore, the relationship will describe reduced frequency as clubhead speed increases. This basic understanding goes against the general shaft fitting selection of the majority of the golf club industry. Clubhead is obviously the industry-preferred approach to determining shaft flex. However, there is absolutely no scientific relationship between clubhead speed and shaft reaction, at least in the way the industry uses it. So, if you're hitting the softer shaft better, stick with it. Using a stiffer shaft will most likely cause you to lose distance and control.

Ken

[Pepperturbo]

First off I find it interesting that you're swinging a 48" soft flex profile at 110 and hitting the ball good. Typically 48" soft shaft benefits people with much weaker swing speeds. That leads me to ask if you're hitting your current setup well what makes you think you'll get more distance using "S", and hit it well?

[keiko]

always looking for more distance and my trajectory is high, thinking of lowering trajectory would get more run

[Pepperturbo]

Ok. How far you do you "carry" your current setup? How old are you, and when you say "soft flex" what profile are you speaking about and what make of shaft?

[keiko]

64 years old former bodybuilder and still in great shape
carry 265
cpm 230 in grafalloy epic 48" shaft
adams 9016D 7* clubhead

[Pepperturbo]

Based on your SS which is much faster then mine, it doesn't make sense that a shaft that soft at 48" would even work for you.

I could hardly hit a 230/240 cpm shaft, let alone one at 48" because of my SS; it would have incredible lag requiring me to dramatically slow my SS. I am 60 and in great shape, strong for a old guy; play "X" and guess my SS around 105 carry driver 250-260.

[PGW]

hit the weakest you can control-that is usually the general rule-
I know alot of guys with 130+ swingspeed that hit 250-260 cpm shafts
shafts and their materials are much better nowadays which makes them more stable.
stiffer shafts will usually give more accuracy while weaker usually will give more kick and distance.
IF you are taking that club back in your swing as fast as your going forward-chances are-accuracy will suffer
the more aggressive swinger/hitter will benefit with a stiffer/high cpm shaft-it will remain stable
those that can take it back slow-let it load can make a lower flex work
my ss is average-125-130 -IF I slow down my backswing I can get away with using 250-255 cpm shafts
key is-how smooth is your transition
Alot of times fitting guys-I always try to sneak in a 250 or less cpm shaft-(this is for LD fittings) and tell them to slow down their backswing and then go forward as fast as they want-just set at the top before that-you would be amazed at how a shaft loads and kicks then
aggressive hitters/swingers stiffer shaft
smoother-weaker