Extra stiff compared to heavier shafts

for those of you, if you're like me cant afford to get fitted everytime you buy new clubs.. I've heard so much crap in my 3 years as a golfer as to what shaft is right for you, from club pros to golf retail salesmen,

i used to use a stock stiff 65 gram taylormade shaft in and r7 ht, and then later an aldila nv65 stiff in a 983k, they both felt like flimsy rubber at impact and i couldnt figure out why i was hitting pull hooks all the time. I asked the guy at my local pro shop if i should be using an extra stiff shaft, he said no, it would be too stiff, and my strong grip was the cause of the huge hooks, i told him I have a high swing speed and i hit my driver about 280-290 in summer but not when im snap hooking everything, i decided to keep weaken my grip and kept my shaft, and my driver struggles continued.

I asked a pro at my local golf course what he thought and he said dont go x stiff you're just over swinging.. if you do you'll lose distance and accuracy, i asked him about going to a heavier shaft he said id lose distance "dramatically". Finally after months of snap hooks i decided to up grade to a fujikura speeder, in the titleist 905t, its 78 grams instead of 65 grams, and has alot less torque. Im hitting it further now, and my accuracy has improved alot, the feeling at impact is so much more solid than a 65 gram shaft i actually feel like im hitting something again, only down side is it produces a low trajectory with tons of roll, so my carry is down.

so i was thinking of going to a real light graffaloy blue shaft x stiff, which is 63 grams and 2.8 torque for more carry in the wet winter. Is it worth a try, anyone have any experience or knowledge on xstiff shafts or when its time to go xstiff?

any input would be appreciated, thanks

The Graf Blue is one of the boardiest shafts on the market, slightly more than the 757 esp in a bore thru head .

the lighter shaft will increase your SS prob, not by much though. It's worth a try I suppose

Most people I know throw the fitting in for free if you buy a club or shaft. Its just a matter of finding a vendor in your area who will take you to a range and see your ball flights with various shafts. Many OEMs have demo days with their heads in a whole array of shafts for people to hit at no charge or obligation. Check your newspaper.

I have Xstiff in all my clubs but like I tell everyone xstiff isn't for everyone. If you are hitting the ball too low it probably has to do with too stiff a shaft. The weight issue may have helped you more than the stiffness. Heavier shafts help people with fast tempos. Stiffer shafts help people with high swing speeds. High swing speed does not neccessarily mean fast tempo and vice versa. Most demo days anymore have a launch monitor available for no cost. See if you can find one. If your swing speed is below 115 you shouldn't be swinging xstiff. My swing speed was last clocked at 129 mph and I can still hit stiff shafts just fine, I just prefer the feel of xstiff.

i looked at the shaft specs on the titleist website and the fujikura produce's a low launch angle, it is just stiff flex so it is not too stiff for me, our local golf shop has no range or launch monitor, but i can pay $40 to get on one..

all i can tell you is i hit an 8 iron on average 155, and driver about 280, with the every other 300 yrd drive.

i just want to hit an xstiff shaft on a range so i can feel what its like, would appreciate any other recommendations.

thanks