Shaft Stiffness

[DrivingRangeJunkie]

I'm new to the forum, I've been playing golf for almost a year now and as my name states I am a driving range junkie because I don't get to play as much as I want to on courses. I recently bought a 9.5 degree Taylormade Burner Driver with a stiff shaft, and I now realized that this was a bad buy for two reasons: the low loft and the stiff shaft. I hit my irons pretty well for the most part, but my driver is so so and I just wanted some advice on what I should do with the driver because I want to get a driver with a less stiff shaft because I think that will make my driver more consistent. So my options are:

1. Return or trade in the driver and buy a new driver that has a more flexible shaft and maybe more loft.

2. Learn to swing my current driver and maybe become a better golfer because of it.

Thanks in advance.

[denver_nuggs_15]

I always thought that a stiffer shaft meant greater accuracy but loss of distance. Same thing with a heavy shaft.

If I am correct, then you should probably keep the burner. You could always get it reshafted with a shaft that fits you properly.
However, 9.5* will create less backspin (and more sidespin on bad swings). You will also get a lower launch. You may want to get a different degree if you are having problems with it.

I think that you should keep your driver unless it is causing that many problems. The Burner is a quality club.

(BTW, this thread is in the wrong section)

[mirv]

the way i've understood it - and this could be totally wrong, so don't take it as fact - is that the greater swing speed you have, the stiffer the shaft should be. people who always swing over 100 mph, i've heard, should use a stiff flex. i personally swing just under 100, and i tried a stiff flex and it didn't feel right at all. it felt, well... stiff. and awkward. i don't know about accuracy or distance differences between stiff or regular or senior flex shafts.

[flopdarock]

you should get fitted for a driver... its a bad idea to try to "work" yourself into something thats not working for you... you pick up an keep bad habits that way

[DrivingRangeJunkie]

Personally I believe you can hit any club in the bag as long as you have a fundamentally sound swing. My swing is on plane and my irons are usually solid, if I can keep my head still and just relax while I'm swinging. But I just cannot understand why the driver is the only club I can't hit as consistently as my irons.

[MI Rob]

  flopdarock said:

you should get fitted for a driver... its a bad idea to try to "work" yourself into something thats not working for you... you pick up an keep bad habits that way

I agree with this. Dont make yourself do something that isnt working already.

[DrivingRangeJunkie]

I completely agree with getting fitted, even though hitting drives off of rubber tees freak me out for some reason, but what will I do with my Burner?

[jcrob902]

Alot of times we as golfers think we need to kill our driver to make it go any where,(at least thats my problem when I'm struggling) as far as shaft stiffness it depends on the shaft, for example the diamana yellow board in my SQ would break down in the tip sometimes on miss hits or when I would get carried away but the pro launch red stayed solid all the way through, but I got to much spin on the ball with this shaft so I ended up with the aldila nv65 green shaft,all stiff flex by the way so yeah you'r best bet is to get fit.

[jcrob902]

Sell it on e-bay or trade it in it's really your only option that or make it a nice christmas present for someone.

[anthonykim3]

just go to your local golf town golf galaxy dicks sporting goods whatever yo got and get fit for a shaft you will hear me say this a million time cause it is one of the best things you can do for your game.

[grantc79]

To be honest, I wouldn't bother getting fitted.

I would pick up a used driver that is at least 11 degree in loft and a regular flex.

Then I would take any and all money that you plan to spend on equipment and spend it on golfing lessons from someone who really knows what they are doing and has cameras to record your swing in slow motion and put your lessons on DVD.

I'm getting close to being a single digit handicap after playing for only 7 months because I learned the right way.

My 2 cents

[ks8829]

This is a problem when you get older but viagra helps.

[DrivingRangeJunkie]

lol good one KS8829, what I'm going to do is take a video of my swing with my driver, and everybody can attempt to give me advice so I can hit the straightest longest drive ever in the swing analysis thread.

[ks8829]

I would bring the driver back to where you bought the driver and have them check your swing and they can recommend the correct shaft if that is the problem.

[montru]

I had to go to a stiff shaft on my driver after I went on one those swing analysers at Golf USA, they told me my clubhead speed was 95mph and the reg shaft was flexing too much leaving the clubface open at impact pushing every thing right, I changed to the stiff shaft and saw instant changes.
I never get that problem with my 3, 5 or 7 woods only the driver!

[jonanthans]

You do know that you can have the shaft changed out in the driver, right?

Also, a 9*5 degree loft is not a bad thing, if paired with the correct shaft for your swing you will see longer distances than with a higher lofted driver. Everyone automatically assumes anything below a 10 degree is "bad", when actually the single most important aspect to your driver is the shaft. The shaft determines everything, and the TaylorMade Burner is a very good driver. Dont throw the baby out with the bathwater: get fitted for the proper shaft for your swing, have it installed into that baby, and start working on those long, straight drives.

[grantc79]

  jonanthans said:

You do know that you can have the shaft changed out in the driver, right?

9.5 loft isn't a bad thing for some people and then again it is a bad thing for other people.

The less loft you have the less spin you will have which generally is a good thing. But then again if you don't have the swing speed to compress the ball and get it up in the air then you need more spin and a higher loft. It just depends on the person. Tiger plays a 7.5 loft driver with an X stiff shaft but still hits it higher than most because he can compress the ball enough to make that happen. Your average Joe is much better off not attempting that. A Taylormade burner is a good club if you fight a slice or fade, if you fight a draw though it isn't a good club. Either way, as far as shafts go if it is too whippy for you then you will know it because your good swings will send the ball way too high and generally right. If you aren't skying the ball and hitting it right then I don't think you have a problem. I would SERIOUSLY suggest you don't go too stiff too fast, if you can still hit that regular flex well then stick with it. YOU ARE MUCH, MUCH better off trying to have good tempo with a whippy shaft rather than trying to strong arm a shaft that you don't have the swing to handle.

[CBob]

IMHO the effects of a stiff shaft or lack of loft are also dependent on the flex point of the particular shaft. low loft driver may work with a low flex point shaft, "one with a tip flexiable shaft". Being an old geezer I now hit a 10.5 Burner with a stiff Fuk... shaft. I never can hit a regular shaft in a driver. I used to like Hogan Apex 5 shafts in my driver and 3 wood.