Does It Even MATTER?...Golf Shaft Flex Test

[@jerryneff6018]

Great comparison Mat. As a 71 yo high handicapper I went from a reg shaft to smoke hzdr stiff. Distance was slightly longer, but, dispersion was greatly reduced.

[@michaelstevens5178]

Actually had a driver fitting today. The pro was laughing that I was gaming a regular flex shaft with a 110 mph swing speed. Matched me up with a 70g stiff flex on the Epic Speed and, like magic, carry and accuracy improved dramatically. Needless to say, I’m $529 poorer today🤣🤣🤣

[@lawbinson]

Did you also try a 2nd hand stiff shaft in your old driver?

[@michaelstevens5178]

@@lawbinson no, didn’t even think of it actually. After 17 years, I was just excited to get a new toy, lol.

[@lawbinson]

@@michaelstevens5178 17 years! Haha that is a dutiful driver. May I ask what it was? Sounds like it was time. Congrats on the purchase and the yards gained :)

[@michaelstevens5178]

@@lawbinson TM Burner… HT model I bought when I was having trouble getting off the tee. 13 degrees of loft!!! Some lessons and lots of practice and I didn’t need the loft anymore. The spin rate on that club was killing my distance

[@chipmunk6947]

I’m still in a reg shaft ping G25 and swing at between 104-106ish… i know there’s a bunch of improvement to be had in carry and dispersion and can’t wait to upgrade some day

[@jakebella5683]

And I thank you for the lessons. You’ve helped me out with my golf game. Waiting for the next lesson.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Glad to hear it

[@terrybrewer4296]

I was fitted with a stiff flex shaft and there was another detail with the shafts that I was surprised to learn about. There are 4 different stiff flex shafts that looked identical (same brand) that had a different color band near the grip. The different color bands determine where the break, or flex, point in the shaft is located. I hit all 4 of them and was shocked to see it actually made a difference in the accuracy.

[@GolfingMalky]

Pretty much as I expected though I was surprised by the extent of the regular shaft results. Certainly shaft specs need to be determined with a fitting session as opposed to pick and hope. Cheers

[@Mattfryergolf]

Glad you liked it Malc

[@AndrewCHASB]

Would love to see the same kind of comparison with an "average" swing speed golfer. I think many more of us could then relate to the results

[@midlifebiker7424]

Flex or shaft weight a bigger differentiator? I use a stiff 60g shaft playing at 45" as my "Goldilocks" for feel and timing. I can use a regular but dont like 40 or 50g, too whippy....

[@jessepippin9698]

Interesting results Matt. When I first started golf, I had a old hand-me-down Cleveland Launcher on a "A" flex shaft. As I learned how to properly swing a driver, i saw mostly straight shots. As i got better, and my club head speed increased, i saw shots more and more to the right with uncontrolled fade. When i eventually got fitted, we found that the flex wasn't allowing my club head to catch up with my swing, causing healy, open strikes. I still have that club with the same flex though. I find that it is a great training tool at the range by slowing down my swing and concentrating on my swing shape. It does provide excellent feedback on my poor swings.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yes softer to start is better and learn to hit a driver

[@philscott3982]

Great video very informative. When I was fitted for my Mavrik driver with my swing speed of around 88mph I naturally thought that I would need a shaft with regular flex. At that time the accuracy of my then driver wasn't great. I tried the Mavrik with a regular flex and the results were pretty similar to the driver I was using. The fitter switched shafts to what he described as a light stiff shaft, the difference was amazing, 40 yds gained and accuracy was way better. He also gave me a stiff shaft to try, accuracy was even better but distance dropped off. Needles to say I ended up with the light stiff shaft and I'm still very happy with it.

[@ballforegolf]

I am doing my first proper fitting ever next week. I don't know what I don't know. Can't wait to learn something new. Thanks for the education.

[@stevebartlett1755]

When I changed my flex from a stiff shaft to an extra stiff I got more distance and tighter dispersion and it has made a huge impact on my game.

[@ScratchArkkitehti]

118 mph. Stiff gained me 14 yards over the x. on 3wood i went from x to reg....carry went from 248 to 272! Thanks for your content!

[@conorhovland2798]

I bought a used set of clubs and didn’t realize the shaft on the driver was a senior flex. I went out today and hit a stiff flex and x stiff. Immediately felt and saw the difference. Hooks were all but gone. Definitely going to swap out the shaft asap.

[@peterduncan3359]

I have a Ping G425 10.5 Drive, &a Ping G425 3 Wood i am 74 Years Young which shaft should used i have been fitted for both but like you with the reg shaft i leak to the left i am left handeb many thanks

[@markpreston6345]

Love it…I’ve moved out of regular to stiff shafts across the board due to feel…my old regular shaft clubs always felt like I could feel the head wobble at the end so looking for it to feel more controlled 👍

[@Mattfryergolf]

Feel is a huge aspect for sure!

[@veneratedmortal4369]

Steel shafts for irons are quite stiff, are they not? Unless you had floppy graphite in your irons.

[@VanishingImage]

Great video and was info I had to test on my own. I've had to drop from stiff to regular and got my shots back up where the height needs to be. Was hitting low hard drives and lacked distance. I gained some distance due to ball being in air more. If you are being honest with your swing you will find the right stuff. Stop trying to impress your friends with your equipment and help yourself with the correct stuff 👌

[@Mattfryergolf]

Very wise words

[@VanishingImage]

@@Mattfryergolf Thanks Matt! These types of videos are so important to help people get the right stuff to improve their game either for fun or competition. I play for fun.

[@Zigshow2423]

I personally would love to try this test out. I got x-stiff shaft on my driver and i got 170-174mph ball speed with that, but my 3wood has stiff shaft and i have 163-169mph ball speed. There is about 20m carry difference on clubs but best 3wood shots go as far as driver!

[@lukebramhall1548]

Having used a senior, regular and stiff flex shaft, I’ve definitely noticed the difference in results of distance and dispersion, but also the need to change your swing tempo to optimise the result. I would be interested to see what the difference of shaft would make to irons?

[@spl2238]

Im not sure my swing speed currently but Im probably pretty average and should game a regular. My issue with a regular is I feel the whippiness of the head and it throws me off. Where as with a stiff it feels better and I know where the clubhead is.

[@trevorkettels7829]

absolutely brilliant video sir, ive just changed to a regular from a stiff shaft and it changed my game, finding fairway and consistant distance around 260-270 yards. I know so many guys playing with extra stiff shaft and they cant find a fairway....................... and 240 yards at best. I'm playing a Mizuno MP 001 with 9.5 degree and love it. I'm a big believer in playing clubs to your skill level.........

[@BizRGamingHD]

Great move, usually people with slower swing speeds get great benefits from regular or senior flex, seeing all the old people at the course use the softer shafts now too.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Fantastic! glad you like the video

[@marcsimmonds7814]

According to most of the experts here that would be impossible! Having gotten used to my G410 Max regular (and shortened) shaft 12 deg loft, I'm now hitting it 250 yards. Which is 20 yards further than before. And I'm hitting a lot of fairways. I bet that if Matt persevered with that regular shaft his swing would adjust and he'd hit it better with much smaller dispersion (maybe not quite as far as with the stiff shafts).

[@trevorkettels7829]

@@marcsimmonds7814 just curious why you would say imposible? Also, were you fitted for your driver?

[@amarug]

I think it can be much more individual, than looking up a swing speed chart. Your friend Rick Shiels did the same and even went down to light flex and his data showed very little difference, in both distance and spread. Personally, I am a bit of a strange case: I play with one arm only, which leads to quite a few differences in swing mechanics. Despite that handicap, my drive averages about 105 mph and about 240 carry, which often puts me even ahead in distance of most of my friends of the same age. Yet I play all clubs, including driver, with light flex carbon shafts and I love it. I absolutely hate the feeling of stiff shafts and when I tried them, I was shorter and all over the place. I found that an 8.5 degrees light flex driver gives me the best performance, which ought to be one of the weirder combinations out there. Granted my case is probably rather unique and hardly useful for the average comparison, I still wanted to mention it since maybe someone will find it interesting. :) EDIT: I have a very slow tempo, friends always "complain" how it can look like i am doing nothing and still get 240 carry.

[@Sinners4SaintsTV]

I wanna see some video of this swing! I’m the same way, slower temper and can’t do a full swing cuz of a back injury yet I can hit the ball 250

[@chrischapin2936]

Great video! I was always told that the shaft is a timing device….I expect having a flex that you are used to should be a better match for the timing/tempo of your normal swing…..I also reckon that with a bit of practice you can get better at matching the timing your swing to pretty much any shaft flex, although a stiffer flex might require a bit more effort…

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yes i think you could work to using any shaft, but don't think you would optimise your driving this way

[@tomthumb4325]

I'm 62 and was struggling with my reg flex driver until I purchased a G400 with a tour stiff shaft and its been Brilliant for me I'm not the longest but at least I'm hitting the fairway more often than not

[@mitchellwinters6198]

when i first started i obviously had a slower swing speed, and I was able to hit my regular shaft driver well. In fact it was the best part of my game in my early days! I played for about a year and thats when my driver game went DOWNHILL FAST. I didn't realize it before, but it was due to my starting to swing my irons much faster than when I first started out. This increased swing speed carried over for my driver and I was getting that strong pull to the left that you were showing in this video. I switched to a stiff shaft and my driver game is BACK. Shaft definitely matters. Get your swing speed tested.

[@neothings7662]

Out of interest what is the torque rating on the different shafts..... As that will be related to the dispersion based on swing speed rather then flex I would suggest!

[@martinyoung5805]

Had a driver fitting today, have been using a 9.5 degree stiff shaft, as a slower swinger when I changed to a light weight regular my distance dipped slightly but I was far more accurate which gave me a lot of confidence to swing a bit harder, I’m now happy that when I hit course I’ll hit more fairways, we’ll that’s the plan :) great video, I would recommend a fitting for all your clubs not just driver, made a massive difference for me, expensive though 🤔

[@jameslane586]

Class, exactly what i needed to see for my game right now. Spot on as always Matt, thank you good sir.

[@Mattfryergolf]

My pleasure

[@gavinporter8035]

Great example of using the wrong flex shaft in your game. Certainly amplified, with you Matt, using the Regular! Think how many golfers out there are using an inappropriate flex and think it's just their technique. Good quick informative video. 👍

[@tobiassorrell9070]

Hi Matt, I use stiff flex in my driver and 3 wood should I consider getting stiff flex for my irons or doesn't it make as much difference in irons ?

[@markroberts9305]

I was really surprised how far out the regular was for you, however I should have realised it because I recently went from a SIM Driver with a senior shaft, which I only had for 2 months and just couldn't hit straight, mostly slicing it. I have now changed to a SIM 2 Max with a regular shaft, however very light (45gms) and love it, much straighter. So to answer your question I would rather have a close dispersion rather than distance. Thanks for your Videos Matt, really like them, always interesting

[@paulrhoades653]

Would there really be big differences for a slower swing? It would be interesting to test this with someone who has a decent, consistent, but slower swing ...

[@mrb018538]

Slower swing then a stiff shaft would be no good at all

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yes it would affect launch, that will affect distance and disruption as well

[@Michael-Boston-23]

Quick question is the Hzrdus Smoke yellow not a complete different bend profile and counterbalanced compared to the Smoke Greens??

[@shaunleonard6590]

Matt Ive always been a sort of big hitter currently hit driver about 270 I changed from x stiff to stiff and again to regular after 2 years I find I have more confidence off tee with the whippy lighter regular shaft Now that I’m hitting it long with this should I get fitted for a shaft or just keep with what I have

[@thevoiceofcod643]

Aaayyy! Was this my video suggestion from a couple of months ago? X-Stiff is the GOAT flex 😂. Better Ball Speed and Accuracy. We be got a bit of the “Sergio Lag” at top/transition, so my Regular Flex swing feels weird and slower. I feel more flex when I drop at the top, and it makes me slow the swing down because the club head feels so far behind. You were right, Regular goes left. For me, it goes high right, for a guy who usually misses left. You’re a man of high skill. But for me, X-Stiff just works best for me. Especially for when I want to step on it. Now I know you experimented with letting it go. Which worked best for your “Bryson Swing?” And good on ya Matty. 👍🏿👑

[@OvieKovy]

Definitely going into a fitting this spring before the season starts! Interested to see what comes out of it, great video Matt!!!

[@thomasmillar5977]

So would you recommend more "whip" for slower swing speeds?... I'm 58 with a "hi" of 5.4?....I'm really struggling with long irons, don't feel I've got the swing speed any more to get the ball in the air.

[@acbadgers19]

Excellent video! I've always been curious about this. I would be curious to know your swing speed in your test. I'm currently swinging my driver about 92mph and my dispersion and distance is not good, 220 yards at best with a stiff shaft. I was thinking of dropping to the regular flex to see if that helps.

[@nohandledude]

I have found that swing weight has the most influence on my ability to sense where the club head is during my swing. This enables me to swing the club head on a better swing path and make better strikes.

[@garfscarf]

Great video Matt. Interesting to see the different on the regular shaft. Stiff shafts work best for me.

[@robertgarnsey3487]

Matt, really complex topic but nicely simplified. For a bloke like me at 20 handicap dispersion is key, I guess it comes down to a quality fitting. Thanks mate.

[@Fenwickboy123]

I’ve got some old cobra irons that I love and I’m not looking to upgrade. I’ve still got the original grips and shafts. I noticed that American Golf do re shafting and re gripping. Would you suggest doing this?

[@stannie4475]

I was struggling with my Sim and regular shaft, changed to a stiff and alot better. Can actually hit right to left now

[@504Dboi06]

Would a slicer like my self with a fast swing swing 115-120 mph club head speed benefit from a regular shaft to help move the ball left like this video in theory?

[@kenhawkins8360]

So how much of a difference would it make in wedges? Say if you are somewhere around 70-80 mph swing speed. Would a stiff shaft help or hurt?

[@RARA-ri6fl]

I went from a 46" Stiff stock Fubuki to a 44.5" X Stiff Kuro Kage that was heavier and had a higher kick point on my Nike Vapor Speed and got way more control on the course. I may have lost some distance but my miss hits aren't all over the place. Swing speed is around 117 so the longer stiff flex shaft felt whippy.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Brilliant, glad you find one to help

[@markaochoa2017]

Tried this with a few drivers. I would spin regular way too much. X-stiff didn’t have the “feel” I liked. So stiff it was for me. Cool little test

[@Britton0932]

I have a swing that is between 105 and 108 mph. I used to use a stiff flex shaft. I was inconsistent with misses and my average drives were 250yards. I switched to a regular shaft and slowed my swing to 95 to 98 mph. I am now hitting the ball 270, on average, and I have consistent misses. Additionally, a slower driver swing is less intense on the body both long term and during the round.

[@GolfHeroes]

Interesting! Perhaps my regular flex driver shaft explains my dispersion these days, time for a fitting I guess, cheers!

[@steisdre]

Interesting Matt, I'm a fairly new golfer, a year in. Looking for a new driver 2nd hand and have been avoiding stiff shafts....got me thinking this!

[@impat5357]

If you’re a decent athlete and have an alright swing, go for stiff. I went reg off the bat and had to upgrade all my clubs after about a year. I got fit this past spring and went from 85 gram reg flex to 120 gram stiff+. I’d get fit and even if you don’t buy the clubs you’re fit for, you’ll have an idea about what to look for.

[@impat5357]

It was an iron fitting just to clarify.

[@francoisdesmoulins-lebeaul4273]

Pretty much what I expected... I have a similar driver speed and I observe similar stuff with my balls: regular (and some stiff) just turn way too much to the left and are fairly uncontrollable, x-stiff and firmer stiffs, I manage to control and end up way straighter (and further). The same (or worse) goes with irons, by the way... If I play anything softer than a project x 6.0 (my lower limit, empirically), I'll have HIGH over-draws that I'll struggle controlling. Stiffer than that and all's back to normal! I haven't tried XXX or tour-x-stiff or whatnot (like x7, PX 7.0 and so on) but I guess these would end up low(er) and (a bit too much) right...

[@kevmcl4258]

Would be interesting to see if you find such a difference between regular and stiff shafts in irons. I'm a fair weather, high handicap golfer with off the shelf clubs (stiff shafts on the woods). Recently had a "free" lesson from a major golf store. They suggested I try irons with stiff shafts to lower the flight. I saw no difference at all with the one I tested so felt it was just an attempt to get me to buy new clubs.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Depends on a few factors in the irons. I will look at a iron video

[@kevmcl4258]

Was good to see the numbers and get an understanding of the differences with the woods

[@jamesledlie280]

I would need to check, but there is something in the back of my mind regarding the kick point of the shaft and how that whips the club through more. So if you swung the club slower on a regular you should see the shot move from the left to more of the middle, not sure how that would have affected distance though. Have been using regular for quite a while and cant work out if I have slowed my swing down to get the regular to go straight, but should probably try a fitting :)

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yes kick point is also an important factor

[@luigihoratio5101]

Finally, someone says the absolute truth about shafts being a major factor in buying golf clubs. It is the engine of the golf club for a reason......

[@Mattfryergolf]

Glad you liked it

[@paulg1402]

Interesting test. Can you do a comparison in iron shafts with shaft weight? Especially graphite shafts. Going from stiff shafted irons to a regular due to age, the shaft weights are confusing. Same as shaft weights in drivers. Thank you

[@sfink16]

Does the length matter in the shafts? At 6'6" tall with a left arm shortened by two surgeries, I use a longer driver (I think an inch or 1.5 inches) than average. When fitted a long time ago the pro said that the stiff shaft may be acting like a regular because of the length.

[@matthanes2050]

I often wonder if I should drop to a reg flex as I’m a new golfer with a club head speed of 98-100 mph. Matt your input ?

[@mattchiles7631]

Great video Matt , found myself over drawing a regular shaft so moved up to stiff . Tried a couple and found some stiff shafts would leave the face open and push the shots right if they had a stiffer tip section. Chose a Radspeed driver with Motore x3 F3 stiff shaft and was much more consistent . Definitely saw a difference

[@mrb018538]

Interesting! My swing speed is high 90s mph, and when I got fitted the club fitter said I was on the boundary towards stiff, but I’d probably just about be better with regular. Thoughts??

[@jeffsharp104]

I am at that same spot, clubhead speed between 94 -98, I got a new driver Mavrik with regular shaft and it has made a world of difference for the better. Now I still hit a few offline but that’s just being a 20 handicapper. Had a stiff shaft in Taylormade Burner before the Mavrik.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Hard to say without seeing you. I would say a lot of golfers are using to stiffer shaft

[@sckildare2772]

One manufacturers stiff isn't necessarily the same flex as another manufacturers stiff, the only way is a proper fitting and look at the numbers and see what performs best for you

[@lindsaynewell6319]

I got the opposite at my first ever fitting last year. 15 years with off the shelf Cleveland Launcher 10.5* and 55R shaft with frequent knuckle balls if my transition got quick. Fitted into 9* TSi2 with 55S Tensei blue and my timing was instantly better and the left miss is very rare now. 95 clubhead speed. I think correct stiffness and shaft profile will depend on delivery and the head (I really wanted G425 max but just couldn’t get comfortable or consistent timing with the heavy head and counterbalanced shaft).

[@mrb018538]

@@Mattfryergolf thanks for the reply 🙂 I’m going to try and gain some speed this year so that will almost certainly tip me into needing a stiff flex if I can regularly go 100mph+! My usual driver numbers are somewhere in the 250-275 yard range.

[@randygibsongolf4618]

I think I'm starting to get to a point where equipment is starting to matter a little....At first I could use a bat and a shovel and get around the same result 😄

[@graemesmith3117]

Tested p790s on a stiff flex (current irons ref flex) and saw 20 yards extra on 4 iron and more accuracy.

[@glenbates9460]

do all three shafts have the same kick point and torque?

[@lyonnes]

Just curious as to if you did any cpm , or weight board measurements to confirm the shaft flex was actually what was stated on the club. You are hitting the Project x , which are very tip stiff , & soft middle. with the butt sections being soft to stiff. { a shaft I don't get along with }

[@petemajor4454]

As there is no standard it comes down to what works? I play an Aldila NV RIP'D Stiff (90-95 ss) yet to find anything that feels better.

[@nigeljames9423]

I play stiff having been fitted by the Yonex rep. What doesn't get talked about much is kick point which is also a factor, especially for irons.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yes kick point is a big factor, lots of golfers don't even know about

[@andrewnewbould6067]

I can get away with Regular on my irons, but driver / 3 wood, I just feel the head move too much. I now use stiff throughout my clubs.

[@jackvaniciaadams4089]

Yep. Your results pretty much is what I have found in my swing although S flex is best for me. R flex just spins to much and it's going left or high Right. All weights are within a couple of grams. I've found that weight in the shaft is as important as flex and not all flexes in one category are the same like not all XL shirts fit the same.

[@alanmackenzie3258]

Enjoyed that, what would you say would be the steps in swing speed between the shafts?

[@Mattfryergolf]

rough guide I'd say 90 below reg, 90-105 stiff, 1-5 above x stiff

[@sappertappergolf]

Nice Insight video thx for sharing , before you started hitting your shots i predicted that the regular shaft would would be all over the place and the stiff would be on the ball as for the extra stiff shafft i expected the launch angle to be much lower . i guess if you have an above average swing speed around 105 110mph i would go for the stiff shaft and if i was around the 120mph i would go for the extra stiff .

[@henrybutler2616]

Would definitely sacrifice distance to get tighter dispersion. As for shafts, always assumed stiff/xtra stiff was more suited to 100+ swing speeds

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yeah would see 100+ being in that bracket

[@galerauschenberger9411]

How about steel shafts. I'm old enough to remember clubs sold with True Temper steel shafts. Good or bad?

[@ryanmcclain9254]

Great video… but yes I do believe it is important to match shaft stiffness with swing speed… I always played a hand me down set ( regular flex) I went and got fitted and now play a tour stiff shaft for irons and am in the process of getting an extra stiff shaft for driver… it will make a world of difference when you get the correct shaft in your hands for playing… I would highly recommend getting fitted just to see what flex one should be playing it’s worth the time and money in my opinion 👍

[@reedcurtis1588]

I’m in a similar situation, I’ve had my driver for 10 years and it’s a regular but I should probably be extra stiff. I’m hoping it will help my dispersion. Did you ever get that driver? I’d love to hear if it helped you much.

[@waynepark4430]

That was awesome to watch. Interesting results.

[@robertthompson2806]

But what happens when you adjust the loft and lie as most drivers are now adjustable? If you are not fitted to your swing speed and launch spin/angle etc, what is the point. You may as well buy a fixed head to suit eg 10.5 R or 8.5 S

[@briandoyle6814]

Nice video. Could be interesting getting a mid handicapper on and testing them also, someone more likely to spray it.

[@Mattfryergolf]

That would be an interesting test

[@RayGorman2261]

What about "Kick Points"? Any shaft in any flex could have 3 different KP's. A low launch, mid launch and a high launch mode. So you can have NINE different versions of a shaft. Well, even more if you include the L and A shafts. I found I was launching WAY too high with a Stiff Smoke Red (Low KP). Went to a Smoke Black with a High KP and it made a 20 yard difference.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yes kick points are very important

[@creamabdul-jabbar6722]

I would say it does. I had a graphite stiff shaft on my driver. Not knowing what I was looking for I got a steel regular flex and it’s way too flexible makes the club feel heavy. Even heavier once it’s being swung

[@alrevels2510]

You went from cold to warm to hot. Does starting off cold make a difference when testing flex on shafts?

[@bryanmckinney7247]

Are the weights and manufacture the same for each shaft?

[@Mattfryergolf]

Manufacture yes weights were same on 2 different on one

[@arcticshots2321]

I would have thought the regular would go more to the right, club head being left behind and therefor more open at impact? I got fitted for driver (stiff shaft) based on those numbers, since then hitting with a trackman I managed 140 ball speed 12 Shots 226.5 yds Max Distance 98 mph Max Club Speed 134.2 mph Max Ball Speed

[@tcofield1967]

For me dispersion. Five yards extra but in the rough isn't an advantage as far as I am concerned. When I was fitted last time the fitter thought a regular shaft would be for me but my dispersion was horrible with a regular shaft and significantly improved with a stiff shaft. I'm not particularly long but obviously it was enough clubhead speed to cause a lot of left pull that wasn't there with the stiff shaft.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Good that you’ve found the right one

[@jean-claudeguignet2796]

Hi Matt, I really thought that you would be more accurate with the regular, even losing a bit of distance. This leads me to think that the regular is absolutely not designed for a speed like yours. Would be interesting to see the result if you could play around 100 mph... If this is possible... Thanks, cheers

[@jvelez1998]

Great post. On a personal note, I think shaft absolutely matters with Driver and 3W. Torque, bend profile, kick points are crucial for feedback and dispersion. I swing the driver between 122-125mph and favor either the counterbalanced Tensei orange stiff or the Tour Design XC stiff… too soft for me and I am pulling it deep left despite rally high ball speed (180+mph)… too stiff and it feel too boardy and lose all feel. 🙏👍🙌✊☝️🤜

[@Mattfryergolf]

You are very right Jason

[@ryanwainwright1829]

Interesting results Matt. Was wondering if you could do an iron comparison as well with different shaft flexes!

[@stephenhuman8082]

For my game, I need to find the fairway. Happier to be hitting off the short stuff a club or two back than in the trees.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yep the game is easier from the fairway instead of the trees

[@danielwinterbottom5531]

I think shaft profile Is important too as different feels/kickpoints really effect things

[@Themodelrailer]

I have always struggled with driver and went for a fitting a couple of tears ago been told with my swing/ball speed needed a reg shaft but still struggled … found my dream driver 2016 m2 but had a 95g stiff shaft and thought hey ho lets try it as the price was too good to turn down now hitting better and straighter still only getting 200yrds of carry but rather have that straight than a slice!

[@chrisgirling1097]

Excellent video Matt, I've found shafts do matter to me despite a swing speed that would suggest that a regular shaft in my driver would be the correct choice, I've found that a stiff shaft has helped me hit the ball straighter and longer

[@Mattfryergolf]

Great that you’ve found the right one

[@dilwynbull8175]

Great video Matt. Surely though, it is not just about the flex, but also about the weight of the shaft? Some driver shafts are as light as 40g and can be as heavy as (say) 80g. So, you probably need to consider a combination of flex and weight? Why not do a similar test with different weight shafts?

[@Mattfryergolf]

I did this as a start point, but i like the idea of a weight test

[@mikewilliams1479]

Dispersion over distance - any day every day. Because of where I live and fitting is not an option I play what I have available. That being said, I am going to assemble my clubs myself next with shafts and grips I ASSUME will be good for me.

[@andrewfazzone1524]

Class again Fryer.. love your approach to the game, it ain’t all about Distos!

[@Mattfryergolf]

Thanks Andrew

[@Tyriama]

I got into golf two years ago after having played when I was young, I picked up a used set from a guy with my size and what we found out is fairly similar distances. I have, thankfully, a lot of mobility and flex in my body so my swingspeed is apparently quite decent. My clubs are all steel shaft except for the driver being a soft-flex. Can't hit it for the life of me. It would be like trying to hit with a mallet on a string. Borrowed my brother's stiff-shaft driver for a session on the range and it was night and day. Figured out from talking to the guy I bought the clubs from he "never really liked the driver. It was a bit too unstable for him." XD

[@Mattfryergolf]

Maybe look at a fitting to try some drivers, to see if you can find one that works

[@cdolson5889]

I think the shaft itself is important, beyond just the letter on it. An S in one won't be the same as an S in another. That is where fitting (or a whole lot of experimentation) is really key.

[@captsparky6566]

I play a Callaway Rouge (not the new one) driver and 3 wood. My driver is stiff, and my 3 wood is regular. I wasn’t fitted for them but I’ve found that I hit a major slice (right to left cuz I’m lefty) with regular flex drivers but I tend to hit a nice buttery cut with my regular flex 3 wood. I’m also a newer golfer so what the hell do I know. 😂 cool vid tho man

[@seancook2264]

I think it’s less about flex and more about bend profile…..and matching that to the player to find the best balance of distance and dispersion…..

[@Mattfryergolf]

Yep with the amount of shafts out there some regs are stiff and VICE VERSA, great point

[@merkeva1841]

I use dg ti x100 and i hit my old (ns pro 95 stiff ) irons today, it feels really good but it goes twice as high as my gamers. the launch angle is very similar but peak height is 20 yards higher from spin loft so if i hit a fade or a draw i have to aim way more left or right depending on the shot. club head speed and ball speed is higher but same distance.

[@mosesjames748]

However on 3 wood ... was surprised to find out that a R flex shaft + low loft comb plays pretty like a S flex. Blew my mind!

[@michaelforrester816]

Nice on lad. I should be X stiff at 120mph speed but they just dont work for me. Stiff 70g for me.

[@Mattfryergolf]

As long as it's working thats what counts

[@mikebolduc9940]

I can't use regular shafts. My swing speed is right around the border between regular and stiff but I find I can't control the clubhead as well with a regular shaft. They feel too flimsy and just doesn't feel right.

[@paulbaker5432]

I got fitted with tsi3 stiff and have lost about 20yrds. Went back to my m6 in reg much better

[@briankinread2293]

Would love you to compare weights of shafts and see what happens. Light shaft compared to heavy shaft.

[@Mattfryergolf]

Like that idea

[@lindsaynewell6319]

@@Mattfryergolf for irons as well please - I’m hoping to get fit for new irons this year to replace ancient x16s but have no idea what to look for in shaft options. Maybe graphite vs steel analysis as well. I think content like this really helps golfers prepare for and work through a fitting to get the best results vs completely relying on the fitter 🙏