Stiff vs. Normally Flexible: Everything You've Heard Is Wrong [Truth Revealed]

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The golf shaft industry is filled with myth and misinformation. One of the most popular decisions for golfers is whether they want a regular or stiff shaft in their irons, hybrids, fairway woods and drivers.

Most sources will tell you to make that decision based on your swing speed. Unfortunately they are wrong . There's a lot more to choosing between a normal and stiff shaft. In this article, I will clear up some basics for you, but more importantly, tell you the truth.

There are no standards for Flex

There is a lot of misinformation among golfers (and companies) about flex. The important thing to understand is that there are no standards when it comes to shaftflex . The & # 39; ordinary & # 39; from one company it can be & # 39; stiff & # 39; be from another company. This is one of the shafts industry's dirtiest secrets. So be careful if someone tells you to go out and buy a stiff shaft; you may not really get what you think you are! Quality control can be very vague among axle OEMs, and often you get what you pay for.

Each shaft has a different profile, and it's impossible to know exactly which one is right for your swing by reading an article on the Internet (shocking, I know).

Stiff vs. normal flex – it's not all about slew speed

I learned from working with one of the best club fitters in the entire industry that swing speed is not necessarily the most important factor in choosing your shaftflex . Despite this, plenty of "guides" all over the internet will say that if your swing speed is "X" you should be getting a specific shaftflex. It's more complicated than that. Let me explain …

Getting the correct shaft flex has more to do with the type of load the golfer applies to the shaft . The shaft itself has no idea how fast you are swinging. It usually responds to the force you apply.

Nick Price and Fred Couples (and why they need different shaftflex)

My good friend Woody Lashen has a great story about two legendary golfers and why they need different shaftflexes.

If you remember Nick Price, he had a lightning-fast swing pace. His stroke was also incredibly short.

Conversely, Fred Couples has a longer, smooth golf swing that looked effortless. But don't let looks deceive you; both golfers swung the golf club very quickly (compared to recreational players).

Despite having similar swing speeds, each player required a completely different shaft flex. Nick Price couldn't find a stem that was stiff enough for him. He applied so much force to the shaft with his swing length and pace that he needed a much stiffer shaft profile compared to Fred Couples.

So what should you do?

I don't have perfect answers for you in terms of which axle to buy. Every golfer's needs are different. Getting the right shaft is important as it affects how you occupy the golf club. The wrong shaft will make it more difficult to swing consistently and access the center of the face.

If you have access to a club fitter or even a teacher who has a lot of knowledge about golf clubs, I recommend using these as a resource first. When you buy a shaft based solely on your swing speed and nothing else, you're just guessing.

Other characteristics, such as weight, are important. In general, golfers with slower swing speeds can benefit from a lighter shaft and vice versa. That can be addressed with a graphite or steel shaft. Graphite is generally lighter, but many companies offer steel shafts in much lighter versions.

Long story short, it is not enough to use your swing speed to choose a stiff or a normal shaft. You need to know about your golf swing tendency and, more importantly, have someone who knows the shafts well enough to get the specs right. The shaft industry still resembles the Wild West, and it's not easy to navigate as a consumer.