Jump to content
IGNORED

neurotic equipment question shaft flex

scratchingballs
 Share
Note: This thread is 4011 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

scratchingballs Newbie

scratchingballs

Doubt anyone will make it through this post but I figured I'd lay my heart out on the line for my first post.  But feel free to tear me a new one.

Question:  I am under the impression that swing speed is mostly governed by technique and timing rather than strength, that is why the pros appear so effortless.  So here's my question: Many people have told me to go with a stiff flex but I wonder if as my technique and timing improve, so will my swing speed.  So while a stiff shaft may be right for me know, could my swing speed increase as I improve?  I am all about feedback and using it to improve so my fear is that if I use a stiff shaft I could get negative feedback from swinging too fast when my technique and timing are improved.  The last thing I want is negative feedback but doing the right thing.

If anyone is still with me, is this a theoretically valid concern?

I just bought a used driver on ebay. PIng i15 with x-stiff shaft but am willing to re-shaft.  I hit it today and did not feel the shaft load as much as my old club but I'd rather put it on the fairway and I seemed to have more control.  I may have lost a little distance but it was 50 degrees so I don't know and it wasn't that much lost.  Anyway I feel I could learn how to load the shaft better and get back that distance with more control.

Secondary Question:  Could using really stiff flex (like xx-stiff) be used as a training tool to teach how to properly load the shaft?

I'm pretty sure no one is still reading but here's a little more background on me:

I'm 23 years old and I've been playing golf for 2 years in July.  I have had the bug since I started and play a lot of golf as long as it is over 30 degrees.  I am also pretty athletic and have a background in collegiate tennis.  I have never calculated my handicap but I would say I'm somewhere between 10-14.  I just broke 80 for the first time at the end of December in 32 degree weather (tips were up a bit but the temp makes up for it I think).  Never had a lesson but I watch a lot of the Golf Chanel haha.  The point is that I am very committed and I like to think I can improve all facets of my game and become a scratch or near scratch golfer and am very driven to achieve this.

My swing speed varies when I use the launch monitor at golfsmith but it ranges from 100 to 110 sometimes up to 115 but generally closer to 105 but often not really warmed up.  My distance varies as well but when I'm hitting them well I can hit it over 300 on the monitor (312 max).

I also wouldn't trust the stat numbers too much so please don't base you answer on them solely.  I am really looking to find out weather my theoretical approach to my equipment, feedback, and improvement is completely crazy or just slightly crazy.

Not to offend anyone but I also would prefer answers from people who really know what they are talking about. Also please don't just tell me to get fit because I can't afford new clubs or a fitting and that doesn't really answer my question anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

inthecup Great Member

inthecup

Originally Posted by scratchingballs

Doubt anyone will make it through this post but I figured I'd lay my heart out on the line for my first post.  But feel free to tear me a new one.

Question:  I am under the impression that swing speed is mostly governed by technique and timing rather than strength, that is why the pros appear so effortless.  So here's my question: Many people have told me to go with a stiff flex but I wonder if as my technique and timing improve, so will my swing speed.  So while a stiff shaft may be right for me know, could my swing speed increase as I improve?  I am all about feedback and using it to improve so my fear is that if I use a stiff shaft I could get negative feedback from swinging too fast when my technique and timing are improved.  The last thing I want is negative feedback but doing the right thing.

If anyone is still with me, is this a theoretically valid concern?

I just bought a used driver on ebay. PIng i15 with x-stiff shaft but am willing to re-shaft.  I hit it today and did not feel the shaft load as much as my old club but I'd rather put it on the fairway and I seemed to have more control.  I may have lost a little distance but it was 50 degrees so I don't know and it wasn't that much lost.  Anyway I feel I could learn how to load the shaft better and get back that distance with more control.

Secondary Question:  Could using really stiff flex (like xx-stiff) be used as a training tool to teach how to properly load the shaft?

I'm pretty sure no one is still reading but here's a little more background on me:

I'm 23 years old and I've been playing golf for 2 years in July.  I have had the bug since I started and play a lot of golf as long as it is over 30 degrees.  I am also pretty athletic and have a background in collegiate tennis.  I have never calculated my handicap but I would say I'm somewhere between 10-14.  I just broke 80 for the first time at the end of December in 32 degree weather (tips were up a bit but the temp makes up for it I think).  Never had a lesson but I watch a lot of the Golf Chanel haha.  The point is that I am very committed and I like to think I can improve all facets of my game and become a scratch or near scratch golfer and am very driven to achieve this.

My swing speed varies when I use the launch monitor at golfsmith but it ranges from 100 to 110 sometimes up to 115 but generally closer to 105 but often not really warmed up.  My distance varies as well but when I'm hitting them well I can hit it over 300 on the monitor (312 max).

I also wouldn't trust the stat numbers too much so please don't base you answer on them solely.  I am really looking to find out weather my theoretical approach to my equipment, feedback, and improvement is completely crazy or just slightly crazy.

Not to offend anyone but I also would prefer answers from people who really know what they are talking about. Also please don't just tell me to get fit because I can't afford new clubs or a fitting and that doesn't really answer my question anyway.

So you want to be fit "in theory" on the Internet by people that have never seen your swing. I think if you are willing to change shafts then you are willing to spend money on a long grueling fitting experience based on guesses and what is cheap on ebay.  If I were you and the driver is what is really holding me back I would save up the coin and spend the $50 to be fit.

All shafts are different.  To pick one with out trying dozens or having experience with dozens is a crap shoot at best.  You don't even know what the appropriate loft is.  Look at it as a long term goal work on your swing and save towards it.

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades
1
1

tiger187126 Well Established Member

tiger187126

why not just head to a big retailer and hit an i15 with a couple different shafts? if they think you're going to buy they aren't going to charge you to try some clubs out. you don't say what kind of driver you used before, but are you thinking you went too stiff? if so i don't get your question about being able to go stiffer.

inthecup is correct about anonymous internet people not being a good way to fit, and plenty of people around here will tell you buying stock clubs instead of getting fit may save you some money up front, but fitting is well worth it. i buy used clubs and get them fitted and that kind of makes it the best of both worlds.

swing speed, imho, is more natural than learned. i watched that haney project with phelps and he constantly gets on phelps for how slow he swings, so phelps cranks it up and swings in the mid 110s. then he goes to a pro-am and watches bubba swing it in the 130s (i think that's what haney put him at) and admits that it's not attainable for him. more swing speed doesn't always help and finding a comfortable speed that consistently puts the ball in play is going to go a lot further than getting an extra 10 yards swinging out of your shoes.

take it or leave, i say stick with your club and see how you score with it. if you can't get it to work and your old one works, then compare the differences in the club. you could also take a lesson for the same price as a fitting and a pro could probably tell you if it's the club or your swing.

best of luck with scratch.

 G25 Driver (10.5* Stiff Flex)

 G20 3 Wood (15* Stiff Flex)

 i15 3 Hybrid (20* Stiff Flex)

 i20 Hybrid (23* Stiff Flex)

 JPX 800 (5-AW)

 T11 54* (9* Bounce) and 58* (10* Bounce) w/DG Spinner Shafts

 Tracy

My ball is anything on sale

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Note: This thread is 4011 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
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up

  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.

  • Popular Now

  • Posts

    • WillieT
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By WillieT ·

      Day 126 (18 Apr 24) - Trail arm only drill with the LW…focused on letting the club drop, engaging the bounce and letting the club pop the ball up….wrapped up by repeating drill with both hands on the club…
    • StuM
      My Swing (StuM)

      By StuM ·

      OPPs, I guess I have been doing the drill incorrectly, just ignore this.  But as they say, mistakes are learning opportunities. Let’s hope I can learn from mine.
    • saevel25
      My Swing (saevel25)

      By saevel25 ·

      Some thoughts after the 1st 9 holes of the year. The driver was pretty good, nothing crazy. My miss seems to be just a push. The start line is a bit too far right for my taste, but they are drawing back at least. Hitting middle-ish of the face to slightly toe. Part of the right miss is a bit of open face and off the toe slightly.  Irons, some really good strikes, others were not so good. I am feeling a few things, when I am being mindful of the swing I made.  1) Got to get the pause down again, and keep things shorter (as usual). One of the best iron shots was when I tried to mimic Rahm's swing length, lol. I caught a flier and hit an 8-iron like 190 yards into an area of no return for that golf ball. The swing felt great 😉  2) I got to stay taller in transition, feel like I gain tons of space between my hands and my chest. The bad swing is the old swing, bad right elbow, tilt to lower the club. This was too much shallowing, and hitting the ball fat. I just think of it this way, you are bent over, and you can reach the ball at address. So, you can reach the ball at impact by getting your hands down.  3) The final thing is the timing. It might take some time to get some flow into the swing. Timing up hands down and the turn is a bit off. Focusing on the hands down kind of stalls everything for me, at least it feels like my hips do not turn. I end up hitting a decent strike, just feels meh athletically, lol.  Short game was Ok, which means pretty good for not practicing it. Not short, but not round destroying.  Putting, doing much better now that I quickened up my routine. Line up, looking at my target. Glance down at the ball to get into my stance. Glance up at my target spot again, then hit the ball with in like 1-2 seconds after looking back down at the ball. Trying not to get to static over the ball while putting.   
    • billchao
      My Swing (billchao)

      By billchao ·

      Oh I'm dumb, I just noticed I did the MyStrategy from the wrong tee box. I don't think it changes anything, though. I'll play it as a three shot hole and I still don't really want to miss right (guy I played with on Sunday never found his ball he hit just over the trees right). I think the trees left are considered part of the environmentally sensitive area because it's part of the drainage area for the course. I actually like this hole a lot. I'll try to remember to take a picture next time. I probably overestimated the wind speed. We had sustained winds of like 12-15mph with gusts up to 25mph. The wind is actually forecast to be WNW on Saturday instead of WSW like was when I played on Sunday so if I play this hole again the wind will be pushing towards that bunker. Similar speeds, though. Wind is always a factor at this course because there's really nothing blocking it. I'm definitely going to have to pay attention to it, especially with the wind. I hit a handful of short iron approaches a lot farther than I thought I would on Sunday. As of right now the only thing I know for sure is I'm starting on Ridge. I don't know if the back 9 will be played on Meadow or Lake.
    • Clemsonfan
      "5 Minutes Daily" Practice Challenge

      By Clemsonfan ·

      Day 113: 4/18/24 Stack training progress check after finishing my 6th program, and 4th Full Speed Spectrum Training session, which is recommended for my next program.     Gained 1 mph with driver, 195 g, 95g. Maintained with 280 g , and gained 2 with 145 g. Lost 1 mph on both lead and trail arm. Felt like I lost distance in my last round…
×
×
  • 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.

  I accept
The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...