Would too weak of a shaft flex make it harder to hit the ball straight?

[tmf9]

My swing speed with a driver is usually 118-123 on the course and I have an x-flex driver which I'm hitting pretty good.  However I'm really struggling to control my irons, which still have a stiff shaft in them, i'm hitting them solid but I swear it seems like if I don't make a perfect swing I can't hit them straight at all.  I've really been hitting some mean hooks with them when i miss.  Was wondering if the shaft flex might have something to do with it?

[iacas]

Yes, it does. That's why they say you should swing the most flexible shaft you can control - for the best blend of distance and accuracy.

[jlt73]

Have you had a fitting anytime recently? It could be shaft flex or a swing "fault"

[tmf9]

Originally Posted by jlt73

Have you had a fitting anytime recently? It could be shaft flex or a swing "fault"

yeah last time i got fit it was for a driver, and I was told I definitely needed an x-flex, just haven't had the money to put them in my irons yet.  I was just making sure the shafts were playing a role in my shot dispersion.

[Zeph]

You can't transfer driver flex to iron flex, so you should really get fit for your irons. Especially, considering the differences from brand to brand. A stiff shaft of one brand may not be the same flex as a stiff shaft from another brand. If you don't want to buy new irons anytime soon, you could at least take them to a fitter and have him evaluate how your current shafts fit your swing. It may not be the reason for your problems, but if you are unsure, it's worth a try. If anything, you'll eliminate one factor. Re-shafting is of course an option as well, but not free.

[LuciusWooding]

My input is that I have an easier time hitting a heavy shaft straight and controlling it. Stiffness does affect the feel, but I find weight to affect how I swing, and I make better swings with heavy shafts. That's why I didn't go with the S+ c tapers in my irons; I went with a slightly heavier X, soft stepped to give about the same stiffness but it ends up being 130 instead of 125 grams. The C tapers are stiff enough for just about any swing.

That guy in your profile pic is probably strong enough to control something in 130 grams or so in the irons; you might lose a few yards but you'll probably like them better.

[tmf9]

Thanks for the input guys.  I went to the range today and realized that my quick transition to the downswing wasn't helping things , Worked on making a smoother backswing and it helped my erratic shot dispersion with the irons.  Still think I would definitely benefit from a stiffer shaft because of my swing speed though.

[jlt73]

Getting the quack hooks is usually a swing fault. Seems you're working it out though

[tmf9]

Its not really a duck hook as much as a giant draw.  For instance I was on a 185 yard par 3 yesterday and tried to play a small draw into the flag and it started right where I wanted and he just kept drawing, and drawing, and drawing, by the time it was done it probably drew/hooked 30 yards but it was pin high and started right on the line I wanted.  My swing is definitely part of it but I think its a combo of my quick transistion and too weak a shaft.  I read somewhere that the avg tour swing speed was about 112 and all of them play x-flex shafts.

[golfbarefoot]

Yes, it does. That's why they say you should swing the most flexible shaft you can control - for the best blend of distance and accuracy.

This is absolutely true, especially with such a high swing speed such as yours. But you may want a pro to take a peek at your swing before messing with your equipment.

[TourSpoon]

You definitely are an X profile. It will make a big difference getting into the right shaft at that that swing speed range.

[JxQx]

I have pretty much the same SS range as you and made the switch to x-stiff in all my clubs. I found it to be a big help for me personally. Definitely try and get to an outdoor range and give it a side by side comparison if possible that way you can check both dispersion and ball flight.