Choosing The Correct Golf Club Shaft Flex
You’ll have several factors to consider when choosing golf clubs . The the major consideration is the shaft flex of the golf clubs you’ve selected. If the flex choice is not right, you probably will not hit good shots .
So, first you should study shaft flex to be able to choose the perfect shaft that fits your swing. The shaft is the motor of the golf club and flexes, or bends, during your swing. The amount of flex depends on how fast you swing the club.
There are five major flex ratings. They are L, A, R, S and XS. The definition for each is Ladies (L), Senior (A), Regular (R), Stiff (S), and Extra Stiff (XS). Normally, R or S will work for the average male golfer.
Some Guidelines
• How far do you hit your driver? Here are some guidelines:
250 yards or more – Stiff
230-250 yards – Regular
200-230 yards – Senior
Less than 200 yards – Ladies.
Only the really big hitter is going to need Extra Stiff.
• If you have a smooth swing, you can use a softer flex even if you swing fast. A jerky swing will probably require a stiffer shaft.
Flex Is Too Stiff
1. The ball will probably fly lower and shorter.
2. The ball may tend to go to the right, or fade side, for right-handed golfers.
Flex Is Not Stiff Enough
1. The ball might fly higher.
2. The ball may tend to go left, or to the draw side , for a right-handed golfer.
The Best Methods to Choose Flex
Visit a local golf professional to get fitted for the proper flex. The pro will do several measurements, consider your swing, measure your swing speed, look at your ball flight and make a recommendation of the proper flex for you .
If you can’t get a personal fitting, watch for demo days that the manufacturers will hold at courses near you. At demo days, you can hit several types of clubs with different types of shafts. It’s always better to hit lots of different clubs to see the effect that changing shaft flex has on your shots. If you find a flex that feels good and produces a good ball flight, it’s probably right for you.
Online retailers that sell discount golf clubs and clone golf clubs will provide charts that may help in your shaft flex selection.
