Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Note: This thread is 6193 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Posted
My X-14's are fitted with Big Bertha Light Flex Graphite shafts - I bought them used at Golfsmith and as such didn't really have a choice as to what shaft style I wanted with my budget (paid ~$150 since I didn't want to blow hundreds if I found out I didn't enjoy golf...which clearly isn't an issue!). They hit well, but I wonder if some of the problem I'm having finding consistency among other things is due to the shaft flex. I'm a 6'2'' 195lb. young man and probably have a swing speed that exceeds optimal light flex shaft speed (while testing out hybrids at a fitting center I was told I swing in the low to mid 80s).

I'm sure that with the proper instruction I should be able to work around this, as well as try and "contain myself" from grip it and rip it speed...but what are your thoughts on shaft style? Is this a huge problem or is it ok?
In my bag:
Driver: 454 Titanium Big Bertha 9*
Hybrid: Burner Rescue 3 Hybrid 19*
Irons: X-14 Steelhead Irons 3-8, PW
X-22 9 IronWedges: X-Tour Forged 56*, 60*Putter: Tri-Ball SRTBalls: e6+ (and some cheap balls usually for the first few holes )

Posted
Shaft stiffness was one of my big accuracy/consistency problems. I'm 6'4" 195 and I was swinging stiff graphite and having problems controlling the ball. I switched to stiff steel and am much more precise with my shots now. I don't have any idea what my swing speed is, but I'm glad I switched for what its worth.
Driver: Taylormade Tour Burner 9.5° | Fairway Wood: Adams Speedline Fast 10 15° | Irons: Mizuno MP-57 3-PW | Wedges: Cleveland CG11 52° 56° 60° | Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG Rossie

Posted
Any other input or advice on this topic? Just curious as to what other experienced golfers think.
In my bag:
Driver: 454 Titanium Big Bertha 9*
Hybrid: Burner Rescue 3 Hybrid 19*
Irons: X-14 Steelhead Irons 3-8, PW
X-22 9 IronWedges: X-Tour Forged 56*, 60*Putter: Tri-Ball SRTBalls: e6+ (and some cheap balls usually for the first few holes )

Posted
Graphite shafts in irons took a while to take off for general use, mainly because the shafts were so light compared to steel. Now there are graphite shafts that reach 115 grams and otherwise have characteristics of previous steel shafts. So playing characteristics for irons are getting close.

A shaft has firmness, flex-point (kick point higher or lower,) and torque (think of it as resistance to twisting.) Combine these with response speed (related to stiffness) or frequency and you have pretty much everything people measure. Still, a shaft's response (loads and unloads) in an infinite number of unique ways -- they are all very slightly different.

Typically, graphite has more torque than steel. We have been using graphite in drivers now for long enough to take advantage of a lighter weight, and designer firmness and flex characteristics. The torque issue was something we adjusted to due to the benefits of other parameters. Modern graphite driver shafts can be matched very well to your swing speed and type and your clubhead design, so as long as you are getting optimum or near optimum launch angles and acceptable spin with a driver you are in good shape.

I happen to find an old steel shafted driver in the garage the other day, took it out to swing it, and it felt terrible. However, the three wood felt great. A lot of shaft preference ideas are determined by what you first learned to swing.

Finally, in general, cheaper graphite shafts have more torque or twisting.

RC

 


Posted
It depends on how you hit them. If you hit them well then they are fine. I would think a decent steel shaft would be more optimal but you are talking about doubling the price. I would use them and see. Maybe rent a set of steel shafted irons to see the difference.

Brian


Posted
My X-14's are fitted with Big Bertha Light Flex Graphite shafts - I bought them used at Golfsmith and as such didn't really have a choice as to what shaft style I wanted with my budget (paid ~$150 since I didn't want to blow hundreds if I found out I didn't enjoy golf...which clearly isn't an issue!). They hit well, but I wonder if some of the problem I'm having finding consistency among other things is due to the shaft flex. I'm a 6'2'' 195lb. young man and probably have a swing speed that exceeds optimal light flex shaft speed (while testing out hybrids at a fitting center I was told I swing in the low to mid 80s).

Is light flex equivalent to an A flex or R flex? If it is A this is probably to soft a shaft and may actually be costingy you distance as well as accuracy. Swing speed in the low 80s, for hybrids, if accurate, would translate to 90 or more in the driver, easily a regular shaft. If you tend to hit your irons excessively high when making a good swing I would experiment further.

1W Cleveland LauncherComp 10.5, 3W Touredge Exotics 15 deg.,FY Wilson 19.5 degree
4 and 5H, 6I-GW Callaway Razr, SW, LW Cleveland Cg-14, Putter Taylor Made Suzuka, Ball, Srixon XV Yellow


Posted
Is light flex equivalent to an A flex or R flex? If it is A this is probably to soft a shaft and may actually be costingy you distance as well as accuracy. Swing speed in the low 80s, for hybrids, if accurate, would translate to 90 or more in the driver, easily a regular shaft. If you tend to hit your irons excessively high when making a good swing I would experiment further.

You know, now that you mention it, I feel as though sometimes when I get that pure clean strike on the ball it not only goes far, but also climbs up REALLY high into the air...I assume you mention this because it would begin to hold back the distance that I can achieve on my iron shots?

As far as stiffness equivalency, I believe the "light flex" to be comparable to "senior flex" (I'm not sure if that is "A" flex as you refer to it in your post).
In my bag:
Driver: 454 Titanium Big Bertha 9*
Hybrid: Burner Rescue 3 Hybrid 19*
Irons: X-14 Steelhead Irons 3-8, PW
X-22 9 IronWedges: X-Tour Forged 56*, 60*Putter: Tri-Ball SRTBalls: e6+ (and some cheap balls usually for the first few holes )

Note: This thread is 6193 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    Carl's Place
    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • StuM,  I have, in the past, added a left handed club. (Ususally a 7 iron) However, I usually take a stroke penalty and move the ball to where I want it.  I play for fun and in a pinch can use theback side if my club if I don't want the penalty stroke.    RetiredOldMan,  Terry 
    • So, Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech transfer QB, was found guilty of sports betting by the NCAA. He admitted to it. He placed thousands of bets over multiple years while at Indiana and Cincinnati. This included betting on his own teams.  The NCAA rules ban athletes from betting on any sport (college or pro).  A retired visiting judge from Tarrant County, Texas has put an injunction on the NCAA ruling. He is a visiting judge because the first judge was a graduate and big fan of Texas Tech, and he recused himself. The judged ruled the following... "Under Curry's order, Sorsby is permitted to play for Texas Tech's 2026 season on the condition that he continues his treatment for a gambling and anxiety disorder and serves a two-game suspension (missing games against Abilene Christian and Oregon State)."  Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care for the NCAA. That still doesn't mean that a college can choose when or where to say, "Yea we agree to these rules for all our sports, well except in this case." Here is a breakdown from S&W. The Hidden Weapon in Sorsby’s Injunction: How a Lubbock County Court Order Quietly Neutralized the NCAA’s Most Powerful Enforcement Tool - Law Offices of Snell & Wilmer By Ryan J. Regula On June 8, 2026, Lubbock County District Court Judge Ken Curry issued a temporary injunction in Brendan Sorsby v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, Cause No. DC-2026-CV-0791 (99th Judicial District... The main judgement made sense. Sorsby, I am going to have all this harm done to me if I don't get to play. The Judge, I agree. The penalty for gambling is too harsh, so here are all these things you must do, and I will grant this injunction against the NCAA. Basically, an analogy would be when a person goes into court for a DUI and they agree to all these other things to not end up in jail.  What sucks for the NCAA is the NCAA has appealed to Texas’ Seventh Court of Appeals, based in Amarillo. All four justices that preside over the court are graduates of Texas Tech University School of Law. It would be hilarious if all four of them had to recuse themselves 🤣. For those who like to read legal rulings...  
    • The chatter in my brain is when the distance is between clubs since I am pretty weak at shortened backswings, etc. I try to simply decide if being long or short is the better outcome and choose my club based on that and simply not even try for the “real” distance.  For me a full normal swing is what I strive for.
    • I saw this comment made in a golf article... "Most golfers stand over a 4- or 5-iron still negotiating with themselves. They think about how hard to swing, whether they have the right club, if they have the aim correct and more. It’s a lot to deal with and long irons punish the “half-in” golf swing." I am not sure the "most golfers" is correct regarding the bolded part. I can understand if there is a bunker, water, and/or OB that a lot of golfers would be fixated on that. I am not sure that leads to ending up more times there. Pending your level in golf, the variance is so large in outcomes, it could be just with in the expected outcomes. I can understand if have a big lake on the right side of the hole being one of the most terrifying shots for right-handed amateur golfers.  I am not sure many golfers are standing over the ball talking to themselves, "Ok, maybe I should step back and pull the 4-iron. Am I lined up right? Oh, the wind came up, should I swing harder? What am I going to have for dinner tonight, maybe steak. (Joking, somewhat 😛)" A question is that how much chatter do you get while standing over the ball. Are you questioning the everything about your golf shot?   
    • Wordle 1,816 5/6 🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩⬜⬜ ⬜🟨🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.