Stiff or Regular

I'm buying a new driver and have a choice of stiff or regular shaft. I play off 16. What's the difference between the two and which should I choose?

The difference between the two is how much the shaft will flex when you swing it.

Hit both shafts, and see which one gives you what you want - theoretically one will give you distance at the expense of control, and the other may give you the opposite.

It's largely dependent on your swing speed.

Try them both! Then you'll know.

you can either go to a proshop that test your swing speed, they will be able to tell you which shaft will be better for your swing speed. But I myself would try both and see which one is better for you. I use regular flex on my irons and stiff on my driver. But have started to notice with my long irons I am getting a bigger draw, So I may have to go stiff on my irons aswell.

So what's the main difference? Do you lose distance but gain accuracy with a stiff shaft, or is it the other way round? And is a stiff shaft more suited to a slower swing speed?

The best thing to do is try the driver (s) you want in both stiff and reg, and then the people in the shop would be able to tell you if you need stiff or reg!

Yes, that's what I intend to do, I was just asking the question as a point of interest.

The main difference between regular and stiff is the amount of flex.

Yes, generally speaking (especially if you're between flexes) you'll lose some distance (~ 5 yards) but gain accuracy going stiff.

No - contrary to popular belief, the slower you swing, the need for flex is GREATER. That's why the 'senior' flex and 'ladies' flex are for, well, seniors and ladies - those that swing slower.

I'll reiterate, hit both. Mr. Change suggested getting your swing speed clocked - it's a great idea, and a wonderful starting point. But nothing can replace hitting the same club in 2 different flexes and watching the ball flight.

One thing - ask the guy to put tape over the flex, so that you can hit them anonymously.

People do strange, strange things when hitting clubs they 'know' the flex on.

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For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Some great advice there Lowpost, especially the tape over the shaft tip. I've got this preconceived idea that I might suit a stiff shaft, so taping the shaft will make sure that I can't influence myself. Does that make any sense? Not really, but you know what I'm saying.

It makes perfect sense, Ace. Enjoy trying out those clubs!

In addition to the flex, when I am trying out new clubs I put tape over the brand - and I use the clubs repeatedly, over the course of several days, to determine the ones I like. I should follow my own advice – I bought a pair of used Hawkeye’s off of eBay!



I am a newbie to golf, and my comments should be taken as such. I have also heard that the “flex” of a shaft is somewhat misleading: I read, and heard (on the golf channel) that there are no industry wide accepted guidelines on precisely what a stiff or regular flex shaft ought to be. A shaft which is rated stiff by one manufactured may be rated regular by another – having said that there is no substitute for testing the clubs you are going to buy.





James

You're exactly right, James - which is why it's so important to test a few clubs in any given clubhead.

Better yet - go to a well-outfitted clubmaker, and you can get a much more reliant number as to flex.

I know for myself, I tried the same clubhead with 2 different lofts and 2 different shafts aswell as different flexes. It was a wilson deep red, the lofts were 9.5 and 7.5, In the end I got a stiff shaft and a 7.5, because it's the one I had the most control over.

You can have drivers fitted these days so if you get the opportunity do so. You will learn more about shaft flex in 50 minutes than you will in ten years of playing golf. 3 years ago i used a Callaway Big Bertha 9 degree with a stiff shaft. I was fitted with a Henry Griffits HG400 10 degree with a shaft which is in between medium and stiff and as well as hitting it higher as you would expect i also hit it 30 metres longer. The biggest difference i have found is that it is all carry so i lose no distance during winter. The in word now with drivers is launch angle.

i have the same problem. my 3 wood is steel and i can hit it and the irons straight as hard as i like. but the driver is a reg flex, and i slice it to no end when i want to hit it hard. i have to force myself to slow down to use it. its really frustrating, especially after i spent all the money. i had requested a stiff flex when i bought it, but the salesmen slipped my a reg flex. i guess he thought he was doing me a favor. now i wont go back there. dont trust them.

My take on shafts.

Shafts are made to flex within certain parameters. Shafts that are flexed over or under these tolerences will not take full advantage of the shaft. If a person with a slow swing speed, chooses a stiff shaft, they wont be using enough of the shafts "sling shot" and thus not maximizing their distance. If a person uses a shaft that is to flexible, he will bend the club to far, and loose accuracy. (Think of it like swinging your club way past parallel in your backswing). Finding a shaft that best fits your swing speed will maximize your distance, while still giving you complete control over the face of the club; trajectory, and spin.

The higher the swing speed, the stiffer the flex.

Also, shafts loose their resilience over time. My driver (400cc Hippo TI) shaft is S flex. Since the club is so old, its probablly more arround A (senior/ammetur flex). I demoed a R7 with S and XS shafts, and they felt nothing like my driver, "whippy wise".

Make sure you demo a good quality club too. It's best to demo clubs from a retailer when they visit your golf course or driving range. Using the demo clubs that these places "buy" to demo isnt the best choice sometimes. When a retailer of a club I want to use announces a visit, I make sure to keep a note of it.

Demoing a club that comes direct from a Ping or whatever trailer, makes all the difference in the world. You never end up demoing clubs with mat burn marks, or sky ball marks.