What Golf Shaft Flex Should You Choose? The Simple Answer

[@Papa-Bogey]

By far the best explanation of shaft flex and its effect on your shot shape I’ve ever seen. I was even able to flips sides for a lefty! I now I know I have to (1) get a fit and (2) move from stiff to regular.

[@chrisb9478]

Awesome video. This matches several online fitting apps I’ve tried for me also. They all recommend for me: Irons- stiff & +1 up lie, Woods- regular. All normal length. I usually hit straight, but sometimes hit a hook/draw with irons & occasionally slice woods. Thanks for info! 👍🏻

[@brettcollins2210]

What a brilliantly simple concept. I could sit and talk to you all day.

[@adammiller4044]

I’ve also seen similar results going to the X100’s after 15 years with the S300’s. It’s a minor difference but the face is slightly more open which helps launch the ball higher and decrease the hooks. The bigger difference for me is that I can really step on one with the x100’s where the S300’s would hook in that situation.

[@rickcudmore8156]

As a lefty, the last 3 weeks I have been fade slicing my driver to the left with a stiff shaft. Now it makes sense. Time to switch to a regular flex and see what happens. Great video.

[@LetsPlayThru]

Excellent advice as always 🙌

[@EFGMC]

Thanks Gabe. Hope all is well!

[@RodDandyGolf]

Excellent! Great point on the weight of the shaft being the base of the pyramid. I’d encourage everyone to experiment. I love testing different clubs/shafts out on the course where I actually use them…test it out in the wild and see how it works for you! To me, it’s the best way, and I’ve found stuff I liked that was entirely unexpected.

[@richardllewellyn2633]

I’m 62 dont swing that quick but the clubs that feel most solid accurate are my Callaway CB which have 120 stiff/wedge flex my irons are graphite 60R . Am looking at getting some heavier possibly steel shafts as having returned to game after period of irregular golf think this might help consistency

[@bpatienceb-atease2333]

Keep pulling left with my Stealth, I switched from KBS 85 Stiff Flex to KBS Tour 120 Regular, and it looks like it's back to the way it was. In my opinion, static weight and swing weight are the most important. Good works, thanks AJ.

[@franks4973]

Such a simple explanation, thank you. Would love to see another vid with sr flex and altering just the weight. Wish you were close to me, I come for a custom fitting.

[@TonyCallaway]

I would like you to do another between Regular and Senior, same weight , same length . PLEASE WITH THE DRIVER!!!🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@rickd4840]

Another awesome video AJ! Most golfers would enjoy the game more and benefit greatly by checking their ego at the door when picking out their golf shafts. ⛳

[@hiblendmedia]

Been building golf clubs as a hobby for a while now and concur with your findings. You could always turn the club face slightly out at address to counter hooks or turn the face in to counter slices😎

[@WilliamWright-hf8ob]

Most people who come into the store where I work think because the shaft is marked stiff all stiffs are stiffer than regulars and don't realize for example a regular Dynamic gold at 125 grams plays stiffer than say a stiff lighter shaft like a KBS 85-90 gram shaft , so definitely find the weight and shaft you like then the flex and players with speed have way more choices than a slower swinger because they can't load the shafts in the mid to longer irons if they even play them.

[@imraniftikhar6967]

Thanks for the explanation. Is there a rough or approximate way to know what shaft weight is better for me especially the driver

[@roadtoscratchgolf3481]

Learn something new today, thanks AJ. Softer flex if you want to reduce fades or slices, and stiffer if you want to reduce draws or hooks. I’ll always remember that flex is the last part in a 3 part shaft selection: 1. Weight, 2. Profile, and then 3. Flex. Thanks for the education. Cheers.

[@kent3874]

And besides a generic flex rating, when it comes to wood shafts you have different butt, mid, and tip flexes to consider and not simply one overall flex rating. While it may be overkill for someone starting out different combinations of flexes in these three zones on the shat lead to significant feel differences and impact on the swing

[@kent3874]

And even weight has 2 parts, overall total weight and the swing weight, and one should also consider the clubhead weight impact on both of those weights.

[@William-Bill-Munny]

Then the search inside ones swing gains momentum after you know the equipment is not to blame hahaha

[@andyfrizzell4352]

Nice simple demonstration. I'd be interested in seeing a demo/ fitting show the difference between stock (no upcharge) shaft options. on a driver. As in how much vsriety is there and maybe how close they can get to upcharge shafts

[@stevenzunich]

great info...as a club fitter from the 90s / early 2000s, it's nice to see that things haven't changed that much since then, even with all of the amazing technology available these days...i was between stiff and regular and went regular to keep a left / draw bias...thanks!

[@jesusaguilera3803]

Great explanation! My case was odd, I started with a regular flex iron set and all my shots would go right. Bought a great condition Nike VR combo set with X flex shafts and all my shots are now straight. Driver is a stiff flex and can hit them long and straight on a good day but usually go right

[@bowl816]

Always good videos AJ! I found your channel about the time I got back into golf and started re-gripping clubs right away. Thanks.

[@locobenno9435]

was exactly the case for me, played S300 for years and my bad miss was a hook, eventually went to an X100 and voila, no more left miss (well, rarely)....I've since matriculated into lighter weight shafts but keeping an X-stiff profile, same deal - although I will say I moved out of the Dynamic Gold, not a profile I get along with any more.....good vid

[@orionmec]

And that my friends is why my shafts were tipped! Nice presentation.

[@EarlBlevins]

Your demonstration makes it easy to understand. Thank you.

[@grahamgregg3006]

Great demonstration. The practical results matched the theory perfectly👍

[@pasmith850]

Thanks for a nice, simple way to explain what shaft to choose. I tried a 40g L and 50g A flex in my driver. At the range, I hit 10 shots with the A flex, and saw three quarters of shots found my imagined fairway; the L flex results varied--one third went right, one-third went left, and one hit my target landing area. I have access to a simulator and plan to try this experiment indoors Until then, I plan to keep the A flex in the driver. I'm interested in learning about putter shafts (double bends, plumber, slant necks, etc.) and which shaft works best for different styles of putting. Thanks

[@Tomt13241]

Perfect timing! Needed this! Getting fit next weekend. Thank you!!!!

[@kierankenny]

Excellent content. This confirms my recent thoughts about the irons I use currently. I've X in all metals, but S300 irons and left misses or slightly too much draw is my consistent miss with them, so I've started compensating for it lately. At the very least, this gives me a little more to consider when selecting my next upgrade.

[@jayfangRSA]

Cool vid, especially as planning to get fit shortly (Definitely going lighter than old fashioned 130g shaft!) My 6i speed hovers around 80 mph so with traditional fitting I would be border-line Regular vs Stiff. The shot that hurts in terms of miss is when pull the shot. And especially if feel shaft bend more than usual, it can really go wide.

[@CjBallerTheFirst]

Great Video.. Actually helped me rather than leaving me more unsure!!!!

[@galemurphy4914]

Great video and tip on shaft flex! Keeping it simple. Thanks again.

[@calvinkang1224]

Its an eye-opening video, very interesting. My good hits are draws and bad ones are hooks, I guess I should try some x-stiff shafts in future.

[@GreengenesGardenOfficial]

Dead on. So simple. Best vid yet imo.

[@joebouscaren1]

Nice test. Would have been great to have included face angle in your results. Future test request: where to add lead tape on the rear most part of the driver to encourage fade vs draw. (More specifically, does lead tape on middle (left to right) rear most part of driver encourage face to close)

[@CarlosSaintPatrick]

Awesome explanation! Straight to the point with data to back it up. Well done!

[@user_1664]

Weight first . For me weight is what creates and governs my tempo . Swingweight i then use to control release . Lie angle is the biggest influence on my shape bias . Flex usually follows weight imo . Im 56 yrs young , pretty fit and strong carpenter but feel my age by about the 16th . Ive got modus3 120 stiff (actually weight 105 grms and feel regular) and play them at d 0.5 . This set up for me keeps a nice straight to draw flight that i can open into a fade if required . I cannot overestimate how essential it is that my clubs fit me , basically they make my swing work or not work , no amount of changes to my swing can fix the wrong club ,

[@spennce]

I'm always excited to get a new Elite Fit video. I have gone to graphite but before that played the Dynamic Gold 105 S and struggled occasionally with balls going a little right especially early in the round. Tried 105r and really did change my direction to more online. Now use Dynamic gold 105 r in all my wedges and love em. Thanks again for the great content.

[@josephchiles1863]

So good, thanks for your insight. Love your channel. Keep up the good work.

[@ShotShapeFitness]

Great info here. I’ve been for multiple fittings at different facilities and never once been explained to about profile. They watch me hit try to find good numbers and hand me a club…I’d be interested in a fitting with you just so I can learn more about why I ended up with the clubs I have.

[@stevendickinson2897]

Great vid AJ. I need stiff as I hook and I got reg flex thanks

[@sarahjergens1267]

Great videos. Can you do a video where you test of the Bryson LA golf iron shaft? I think an argument could be made that heavy and xstiff shafts might not be just for super fast swingers. Thanks.

[@beyondthedead7677]

Lol, my answer to that question is "yes." If i have a fairly clean strike it's a fade, if my swing gets a little accelerated it's a hook. Fwiw, i have a 3 hybrid with a stiff shaft in my bag that i generally hit well, but my miss with it is hook, the rest regular shafts where the predominant miss is a slice or fade.

[@aen8264]

Loving your videos. Practical and easy to follow content! 👏

[@stuartlittle4241]

Love your videos.. Do you think as a 16 handicap player I would benefit from a full fitting?

[@huddwah]

Cool video ! Im right handed....maybe something wrong with me 😂 What would you guess I might do best with .. (I'll report back after testing). I'm not fast, around 85 to 90mph with 7i I own and have tested: 1)DG 95 R shafts I consistently miss right (can't not do it) 2) KBS tour xflex 130g which I miss left (sometimes) 3) KBS tour S 120g that I miss left a little too (now playing in pw to 7i) 4) DG 105 R in my 6i and 5i which feel ok but not sure if they're optimal (hence the tinkering) I also bought to test and tinker: - KBS Tour S Lite, and KBS FLT 120g What should I try and what would you guess might be right based on the above? P.s. a fitting session is great, but for me I feel like I need multiple sessions to really test and get a feel for a shafts sometimes (although I was able to easily rule out some others I tested immediately, e.g DG S200, NSPro S 95 ... KBS tour feel noticeably much better to me)

[@Peter4253]

Interesting test, answered my questions,thanks for posting👍

[@nickgalante708]

Today, there are many shafts to choose from. They all have individual characteristics. Swing speed, and swing plane, are really the most important factors that should be addressed in selecting a shaft. shafts are divided not only by weight, length, and the speed of your swing. The torsional rigidity ( stiffness) of the tip, center, and butt, sections are all being addressed by companies today. This kind of technology has driven the price of shafts through the roof. There are many elements to consider when purchasing a shaft, and it does make a difference! Choose wisely!!!!!

[@stevec9704]

Interesting logic with this video. I know from the past, the Xstiff shafts didn’t offer lighter weight, weight being the base of the pyramid, typical X flex shafts tend to be in the 120g area while stiff and regular down stepping 100g. An Xstiff shaft would be great if it were in the 110g area but I haven’t seen anything like this on the market? Just to note, I think karsten had it right with the eye 2’s, offering them in a light weight shaft with stiffer flex throughout the set. A lighter shaft allows most golfers the ability to swing consistently throughout a round vs tiring out due to heavier swing weighted clubs, plus offering enough flex and stiffness to keep the ball on target and optimal flight. Thanks

[@fraserh3716]

The image for the video shows a 105g x-stiff shaft

[@EFGMC]

I’d look at Modus3 105x or Steelfiber 110x. Steelfiber is a breast.

[@mostdope3178]

Played my first round of golf today ever. Used random clubs from goodwill. Would be cool to see what flex i would need or what something like that even is.

[@SeeEssPerez]

This is eye-opening. Great vid.

[@banemeathleticclub]

Great video! Can you explain what is actually happening in the swing? Or how the shaft is responding? That yields to these results? Thanks again.

[@mariad750]

Interesting, I was not aware of this concept. Great insight, thank you.

[@ozone5150]

Excellent information! Thanks 😊

[@franklinniesterjr3812]

Just found your video today. Great info and even better presentation. Restarted playing in 2020 after 15 year layoff. August im 62, and I had to practically relearn everything, with a lot older back and right side nerve damage. Wasted no time going from steel to graphite, 85g to just 65g. My miss is a slice or a pull-hook. Im in a R flex, so should I consider going to a 60g shaft? I dont think i need to use a seniors shaft with a swing speed of normally around 92 - 94.

[@EFGMC]

I would try a 60g shaft before making the switch. 60g is very light and can cause timing issues for many golfers.

[@jesseross3794]

you are the best man. love your videos

[@stevel6895]

I have to just shake my head at these gushing comments below. Yes, I know that the science behind this should translate to all flexes when considering even regular and A flex shafts, but I'm pretty sure that the testing done here won't have comparable results for senior players like myself. And I would never expect to select a shaft based on the shot shape I'm trying to avoid. There are all kinds of reasons why people hit hooks and slices and when it comes to club fitting, lie angle comes to mind first. Then there's the players set up, grip and other factors. I think most of us want to know what's the proper shaft to get the most distance. As a senior golfer on the cusp of 70 the course keeps getting longer for me, and I'm already at the forward men's tees! Ironically my driver swing speed is also at 70 mph and my average carry is around 165 yards. Anyway, I think you need to bring in an old guy to run some tests to help out us seniors! 🤔

[@EFGMC]

Where do you live?

[@southpawjohnny5969]

Hey great video, Quick question... how would high or low torque fit into this equation? Thanks

[@pb130945]

shaft flex, to my own experience, involves weight, flex & torque each of which is equally important. i'm a sr.golfer. i have to have lightest weight with flex 2 or 3 & torque of 5.5 - 6.5 which i can find from Japanese made shafts. pls. talk about shaft selection for sr. golfers

[@elliott3991]

You cannot catalog spec fit a shaft. you have to hit them and fit to your feel. I have had a guy say hey i think I want a senior shaft, and days later after fitting on range, he was hitting the green aldila NV stiff the best ..... Its more about hand release, than head speed, that determines whether or how much the shaft varies in swing. Great point about weight, lots of folks don't hit lighter better.

[@ronmilenski2736]

Excellent video and Thanks.

[@henrikvester7171]

Excellent video 👌

[@dj42864]

I am a scratch golfer and I hit a straight ball....just turned 60 and my driver swing is 98mph...I need to the ball to launch higher. My irons are Srixon Z785 and the shafts I have in them are Modus MS Pro tour120

[@EFGMC]

Only sure way to do this is bend the lofts a degree or so weaker.

[@kyshapka]

Great vid, very helpful, thanks!

[@legend9018]

Great video, I’d like to maybe see a comparison between a graphite shaft and steel shaft of similar weight and flex

[@EFGMC]

Will do

[@cbwonderjr]

Interesting. Waiting on a flexy shaft to come around always left me early extended and the face still open because the club is still bent at impact.

[@MickR0sco]

Hmmm. My stiff woods draw and my stiff irons fade. I know why with my irons though when i slow my swing and watch it i come across the ball slightly from outside in.

[@darrelbentley5531]

Do a video on the pros and cons of counter balance weighting.

[@donaldahn5717]

Does this apply to driver shafts? Fairway shafts? I personally experience the opposite with driver 🤷‍♂️

[@Robert-1950]

thanks for your knowledge of golf and club repair etc.i would like your opinion on the project x hzrdus 5.5 reg graphite shaft.tell me your thoughts on this shaft.thank u

[@wdubbers1]

Nobody explanes it as clearly as you!

[@ransdell7]

Could you add regular flex? Also use a high HC golfer as an example

[@johnhoie-hj7cg]

When I aged out of extra stiff, I noticed the shafts didn’t seem to have a kick anymore. But the visual change was not left or right, but too low.

[@EFGMC]

The forward deflection can also add loft at impact.

[@alainsimon3]

For the senior with small speed😢😢😢😢

[@bga9388]

Nice one Sir!

[@johnjosephbarnes1953]

Great video. But having a different size grips would it make any difference on the shots you hit. Just wish I could hit my 7 iron that good like you hit in the video.

[@EFGMC]

Grip is very important but is a different variable so it's best to deal with it independently.

[@hammertyme8392]

I would have guessed the opposite. I slice the ball and wanna go to a stiffer shaft to counteract that

[@raymondunsworth1587]

Great video. I have a question is it odd or unusual have regular flex in irons and woods and to have stiff in driver?I find regular flex in my woods and irons are more comfortable. With driver I get better dispersion with stiff shaft.

[@EFGMC]

All that matters is that it works for you. Driver should probably be treated independently of the rest of the bag since it's so much longer and lighter than everything else.

[@francoiswalton6873]

So I did the same test with i530's as I am looking to purchase. I swing between 82-85 w 7iron. I was hitting tt dg 125g stiff and great shots 175-180 while slight mishits still got me 160....and it did move right to left. With the XStiff shaft, my best shots struck perfectly were going 169-162 max. I did love that they didn't move right to left as I fear a hook. What are your thoughts? Oh, and non perfect shots with Xstiff we're going 144-148 or so. I just didn't see the identical distance as you demonstrated in this video.

[@EFGMC]

Your swing may react more to slight changes in stiffness than mine does. The softer shaft is allowing you to make better contact on the face. You may be over swinging the X and losing accuracy on your strike because of it. Remember the shaft doesn't produce distance, you produce the distance. The shaft just helps or hurts timing and can alter flight direction slightly.

[@jlcsr9163]

I use senior flex but always hit it left, i might need a stiffer option.

[@craigmoyer6916]

I’ve been fit several times for DG105 S300. Shoulders and elbows have me wanting to try graphite. What graphite options should I be looking at?

[@imraniftikhar6967]

A good video but I thought demonstration with drivers would have been better as most of us experience/ suffer Alice’s and fades with drivers. Moreover, you mentioned that the weight of shaft was sort of more important but then spoke nothing about it. Is there a video on how to select weight of shaft especially for the driver

[@PaulByrne-ev2zm]

Would be interested in more info on your shaft “pyramid”; weight - profile - flex.

[@jeffpowers6861]

Pretty inearesting comparison. The left/right issue is the "old school" pre- launch monitor technique. I wonder about swing weight and kick point as those also make a difference to ball flight, distance, accuracy, and feel.

[@truckinterrapin7706]

Stiff shaft feels better to play with 😊

[@ronlangfus4946]

As an amateur my guess for you would be S300 hard stepped.

[@MrLeftshot]

A BIG item was not stated. There is no industry standard for shaft flex. An "R" on a shaft from one manufacturer is not going to be the same as an "R" from another manufacturer. This demonstration skirted this issue by comparing two shafts by the same manufacturer. But if you compare products from different manufacturers, say KBS, Nippon, and Dynamic Gold you likely would see different results. I do like that you emphasized the importance of weight and flex profile.

[@davidlewisTN]

How does shaft length affect the decision? I play +1/2 in irons.

[@doncrist2012]

I have always just aimed a bit to the left knowing I have a left to right ball.

[@robertpohaku7176]

Thanks AJ! Do you think the difference between tip sections is the focus here for these 2 DG shafts?

[@Unplugged704]

Great explanations! However, once you take lessons to fix your swing chances are you may need to get fitted again for the right shaft. Is that a fair/accurate statement?

[@Handletaken4]

I recently was given a set of stiff irons. I have noticed the ball comes out lower and has much more spin.

[@glenbirnie588]

i have x stiff shaft at 3.1 torque and stiff shaft at 3.2 torque that really a hybrid shaft weight. then i have 3.6 torque stiff at 70 gram. i can hit all three easy distance and spin all different. not by much...

[@colinmorgan1025]

What was the weight difference and does that have the same affect

[@jacobsumner7892]

I have the calaway strata starter set got my distance around 145 150 of good contact with my 9 iron off turf on grass I’m a sweeper as of now haven’t gotten the divot down but I’m working on it but I take off a few yards in fairway and about 10 in the rough the regular flex steel shafts work great I can hit straight and I can play a hook when I try to all the way to my 5 hybrid but my driver is graphite and it just doesn’t feel right I can get a rare 250 yard drive(total) on it when hit the sweet spot even though it’s cracked on the bottom kinda wondering if a steel regular shafted driver would work fine instead of stiff flex just not a fan of the graphite feel so far

[@EFGMC]

You could try it though it's hard to find a steel driver shaft these days.

[@matthewgibson5854]

Can you compare a mini driver to a cut down loft jacked driver

[@FJA---]

I think a lot of people (men) play shafts that are too stiff instead of using regular, senior or ladies flex because using one of them isn't manly. I'm now 73, went from regular to senior and now play ladies flex. Somehow it hasn't affected my manliness one iota. What's your take on flex point. I've always been told that the lower your swing speed the lower you want the flex point.

[@EFGMC]

It’s more feel than result. That flex point won’t usually change the trajectory enough to worry about. Just want a shaft that gives the most consistent strikes.

[@simonhuss9619]

How many times does someone pull a club from your bag and look😂😂 pull the stickers on shafts and say it's x flex 😂😂😂😂😂

[@bruceshearer8711]

Very interesting. You are iron Byron in the flesh. Great job.

[@rayblackman8069]

I play x flex in my driver as it keeps my shot height & and spin down, but the longest driver in our playing group plays regular in his driver as it suits his swing, horses for courses

[@EFGMC]

@@rayblackman8069 Drivers are also a slightly different discussion because the goals for a driver are different from your irons.

[@jayhales3822]

I have one set of clubs that the ball goes both ways. Fades and draws both. Dispersion from side to side is frustrating to zero into the middle. So what are the possibilities here?

[@industrialpalletworx3548]

My question for you is shaft droop. Is that a lie angle problem or a shaft problem or a swing problem? I seem to enter the turf toe first with my irons. I have a medium AOA. Not steep but not overly shallow either.

[@EFGMC]

If you like the shafts, then I would adjust the lie angle more upright. Also check if it's droop or hand raising, or some of each.

[@industrialpalletworx3548]

@@EFGMC appreciate the reply.

[@mek90703]

My conundrum is I prefer X's in the shorter irons and stiff's in the longer irons. Every fitter I've went to talked me out of doing this. What do you think? The set I'm using now is a tipped stiff flex. Thanks!

[@EFGMC]

It’s your game and you will know it better than a fitter who sees you for 1 hour. My irons right now are X but my woods are Stiff.

[@wskrsjelly3207]

I'm curious about this as well. I play all stiff right now and hit my short irons great, but lose my long irons right. Maybe a flex down in the long irons could help? 🤔

[@EFGMC]

@@wskrsjelly3207 I like that idea for the long irons.

[@fraserh3716]

I've found it might start that way but you adjust over time as you learn how the club behaves

[@EFGMC]

This is a different topic. Short term vs long term results.

[@fraserh3716]

@@EFGMC would love to see more conversation around the long term influence of these choices. For example I've found using a higher lofted driver taught me how to deliver the club more efficiently. I was actually struggling with excess spin before. With X100 shafts I was working a bit too hard to square the club and actually ended up pulling it as a bias so gone back to s300s which I ironically find easier to get a small fade with

[@xavierperez9725]

How does weight impact this. 105 vs 115 for example?

[@dtmcbride]

It’s more important than stiffness is what he’s saying

[@aaroncruisyazz8181]

What weight do you go with? You have a very similar swing to me