Golf Club Shaft Flex
I Know I Play a Stiff Flex

Play the wrong golf club shaft flex if you want to limit your ability to get better - just go ahead and shoot yourself in the foot. Do not think because you are 6'2" and weight 240 lbs that you need to play a stiff - or even worse - an extra stiff shaft.

Flex is the bending of the shaft and storing the energy that is being applied to the shaft during the downswing and hopefully released as the club head impacts the golf ball. Simply put - play a shaft that is to stiff and you have a loss of distance - to weak of a shaft for your swing and you will scatter shots all over the course. A good guide to which golf club shaft flex is right for you - Play the weakest shaft that you can control for maximum distance. If you are directionally challenged play a stiffer shaft and work on your short game.

Some of the manufacturer's recommend club head speed to determine flex, so here is some food for thought.

I am looking at a Catalog - same manufacturer:

• High end shaft ($180) R (90-100mph)
• Mid priced shaft ($90) R (85-90mph)
• Economy shaft ($16) R (70-80mph)

If you are going to believe what you read, then the flex - in this case regular - for your club head speed changes with price. I know that doesn't make sense and sounds down right silly but that is because I did not tell you everything. I did not tell you about the playing characteristic of those shafts and the material they are made of. More than likely only the R is printed on each of the shafts.

Remember S, R, L or XS are just letters the manufacturers have decided to put on their shafts. Most shafts play softer than what the shaft label says, this is especially true with graphite shafts, because it is about sales. The only true way to find out what the actual golf club shaft flex is to dry build the entire club to your playing length and use a frequency meter. Only then will you know what flex that club will play to.

Some manufacturers put the frequency (cycles per minute) on the butt end of the raw shaft which gives us club fitters/makers a starting point, that cpm was determined by using a raw shaft with a shaft clamp and 200 gram weight(weight of the average driver head).

• S 249-253 cpm
• R 241-245 cpm
• A 225-229 cpm
• L 208-213 cpm

What they do not tell you is the playing length of that club.

A driver with an assembled playing length of 45" @ 249 cpm is playing to a 6.5 extra stiff. However, a driver having the same shaft with an assembled playing length of 43.5" @ 249 cpm is playing to a 5.25 regular.

The only way to get your true flex - which in turn will let you play to the ultimate of your ability and get better sooner - is to find a club fitter that has the tools necessary to get you into a matched set of clubs that are right for you.

The length of the club, the weight of the head and the weight of the grip all play a part in determining shaft flex. Want to know what you optimum golf club shaft flex is? Find yourself a fitter that uses the Shaft Lab by True Temper and see the difference for yourself. But if there is not one in your area go back to feel, because if it does not feel right you will never play your best no matter what some tweaked computer says.

A good golf club fitter will look at your physical characteristics -

Are there any limitation that would prevent you from making a good pass at the golf ball? Previous neck, back or hip injuries.

Your athletic ability - Did you play high school, college, semi-pro, pro sports or has watching sports been more your style?

Your goals and dedication to play better - Are you out to win bets with your buddies each week and maybe play on the senior tour or do you just not want to embarrass yourself the three times a year you have to play with your boss.

All these things help the professional club fitter determine which shaft flex is right for you, but as always feel must also be taken into consideration. I ask often during the fitting process "How does it feel?"

Look beyond all the catalog hype and learn that there is more to golf club shaft flex than , "Hey Man you got a 96 mph club head speed, you need a stiff shaft"!

What besides my shaft flex would a good fitting include?

Should I look at playing with graphite shafts?

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