Results of clubs being too stiff?

[wrx_junki]

I have a 80-85mph iron swing speed and I went from a regular shaft on my Ping Eye2 to a #4 stiff on Ben Hogan. What results in using a shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed? I wasn't hitting all that great with my new irons toward the latter part of the season last year. Especially my long irons. I'm not sure if it was my attempt at a swing change or the new clubs. Any input will be greatly appreciated! TIA.

[purple monkey dishwasher]

Shafts that are to stiff will result in lower ball flight and shorter distance as well pushing the ball. The proper shaft is the single most important aspect of someones clubs.

[walfice]

I would have thought an iron swing speed in the mid 80's was suited to a stiff shaft. My 6 iron swing speed is mid 80's and I was recently fitted to DG s300 shafts. If it is too stiff for you then, as mentioned, you will hit the ball lower and lose distance.

[Hidalgo]

Shafts that are to stiff will result in lower ball flight and shorter distance as well pushing the ball. The proper shaft is the single most important aspect of someones clubs.

Exactly.

I would have thought an iron swing speed in the mid 80's was suited to a stiff shaft. My 6 iron swing speed is mid 80's and I was recently fitted to DG s300 shafts.

While swing speed is a good place to start when fitting shafts, it's sometimes not the defining variable. Angle of attack and trajectory preference play a big part also. And bear in mind that one manufacturer's "stiff" isn't going to necessarily be the same as another. As an example, Rifle shafts (especially the flighted series) generally play a little softer than Dynamic Golds. And when you get into graphite it gets even more confusing.

[Titleist Man]

Dont want hijack this thread but my question seems very close to the OP's. What is the result of a club that is too flexible? Thanks

[cocky_watchman]

If you had a problem with a cut/slice on your longer clubs, almost certainly it will be worse with a stiffer shaft as you will struggle to close the face even more-less whip for the club face to catch up. I'd say your swing is average to slightly below average speed. You would probably be better served with a regular shaft.

[Hidalgo]

Dont want hijack this thread but my question seems very close to the OP's. What is the result of a club that is too flexible? Thanks

I don't think that asking about it is a "hijack" at all.

Usually, a shaft that is too soft will cause erratic accuracy and a tendency to draw or hook the ball given a straight approach to the ball, as well as causing a trajectory that is higher than desired. Erratic accuracy is the biggest problem. As a general rule, the stiffer the shaft, the better the consistency/accuracy. But if you can't properly flex the shaft, distance will suffer as well as ball flight. Like I said earlier...swing speed is not the end-all to determining shaft preference. Tempo also has a lot to do with it as well as the steepness of the approach to the ball.

[cigarnut81]

Shafts that are to stiff will result in lower ball flight and shorter distance as well pushing the ball. The proper shaft is the single most important aspect of someones clubs.

This is incorrect information!!!!!!!! Does the shaft hit the ball??????? Shafts that are too stiff can cause you to change your tempo to try and restore some bending feel of the shaft in your hands. Yes it can change ball flight but not by very much! The biggest effect of a shaft that is too stiff will be horrible feel and a change in your golf swing to bring back that feel and that is why the other things show up like reduced distance,reduced accuracy, and higher scores! As a clubfitter we always err on the soft side when we fit a golfer that we are unsure of perfect shaft flex! Your swing speed is decent for an iron and yes it is near an S flex as far as that goes but there is no standard for shaft flex measurement so that S could be a X or an A from another company! It is really sad that there is no standard for shaft flex and it was spoke about in the 90's but the companies were all too stubborn to agree so we have this system that exists today with no measured standards just letters on a shaft. The proper flex & weight of the shaft should always be fit to a golfers swing speed,tempo,transition from backswing to downswing,wrist release point, & strength. That is how a shaft should be fit.

[Jay-Bird]

...Tempo also has a lot to do with it as well as the steepness of the approach to the ball.

Tempo is probably the biggest factor, especially if you're swing speed falls in an over-lapping area of suggested speeds per any given flex. The quicker/faster tempo (backwing+downswing) needs a stiffer flex. If you're stroke is easy/moderate in tempo, you might need a softer flex.

I used to use PING JZ stiff. I got used to them... When fitting for new clubs I hit the s300 straight, with a slight push. I hit the PX 6.0 low, short and right. I hit the PX 5.5 at a good trajectory, good distance and with good control. I hit the PX 5.0 all over the place.

[Titleist Man]

I don't think that asking about it is a "hijack" at all.

For a driver SS what is the line at which you turn to stiff? (ex. 90 mph)

[Hidalgo]

This is incorrect information!!!!!!!! Does the shaft hit the ball???????

In all fairness....it

IS correct to some degree. Given the same clubhead and shaft model, the firmer the flex the lower the ball flight will be. And while the shaft doesn't touch the ball as you so eloquently put it, it is connected to the head which DOES hit the ball. That's like saying that hand position isn't important....because the hands don't hit the ball. As a clubfitter, you should know better.

[Hidalgo]

For a driver SS what is the line at which you turn to stiff? (ex. 90 mph)

TMan, we never took swing speed into account except as an initial starting point to begin an evaluation. In our experiences, the ONLY way to make an accurate assessment of a player's needs is to have him/her actually hit balls with the different shafts. Ball flight and distance come into play, and there is absolutely NO WAY that someone can ACCURATELY fit you without seeing you hit the ball.

To answer your question...I never hesitated to try a STIFF or FIRM shaft even with a swing speed as low as 85mph. You never know what will come out of a real-life test until it is done. I have seen smooth type swingers with lower speeds play "X" flexs in their irons. Ernie Els (when he was with Titleist) played "XX" flex shafts. And he's as smooth as it gets, and doesn't generate excessive speed.

[Petden]

Shaft flex is more of what is comfortable to play with, and what feels right. with rough numbers it seems though Stiff should be fine, however only a club fitter could really make an accurate assessment.

[purple monkey dishwasher]

I stand by what I said. If you take identical club heads and make the identical, in tempo swing, a stiff shaft will create a lower trajectory.

I have experienced it first hand.

[TMO]

Just my two cents but I was fitted by both Titleist and Mizuno in 2001 and both companies told me to err on the stiff side and not the weak side. Different bend points and torque of the shaft can lead to different trajectories, feels, etc. so that was what we spent the majority of my time looking for was the shaft that fit the trajectory that I liked.

[golf_junkie27]

I have a 80-85mph iron swing speed and I went from a regular shaft on my Ping Eye2 to a #4 stiff on Ben Hogan. What results in using a shaft that is too stiff for your swing speed? I wasn't hitting all that great with my new irons toward the latter part of the season last year. Especially my long irons. I'm not sure if it was my attempt at a swing change or the new clubs. Any input will be greatly appreciated! TIA.

If the shafts on the Ping Eye2 are stock, chances are that you are using the JZ series iron shaft. They are much lighter than the Ben Hogan #4s. The tips are also softer with a different kickpoint and trajectory.

FWIW, take both clubs to your fitter and have him check the flex frequency and swingweight of each club. From there, he should be able to make recommendations on what the ideal swingweight of the club and frequency flex of the shaft you should be playing.

[Ken Smith]

Only about 50% of golfers that claim they play with custom-fit clubs have every really been fit. It is a shame that there are no industry standards in shaft flex, but as a clubmaker I can certainly understand why the majority of the shaft manufacturers have varying thoughts on the topic. To answer your original question about playing with a shaft that is too stiff; If your shaft is too stiff, then the club would have already passed square, prior to impact, and in a lot of cases, already retracting at impact, causing a severe loss of distance and accuracy. Likewise, playing with a shaft that is too soft will cause accuracy problems as well because the clubhead has not returned to square at impact, and will also cause a loss of distance because you're not getting the result of the shaft's full potential. The majority of the industry still uses clubhead speed as the main variable in club fitting, but I can actually show you that two golfers who present the same time interval between club release and impact, the one with the higher clubhead speed actually gets a softer (lower frequency) shaft. I realize that this goes against the basic understanding of the majority of industry, but if you consider the notion that the player with the higher clubhead speed is actually getting more help from centrifugal force, then he would obviously require less help (softer shaft) from the shaft to return the clubhead to square at impact. I cover this in some detail on my blog http://kcgolfclubs.blogspot.com/ . Hope it helps...

[osean79]

I'll keep this simple, stemming from my recent experience.

I bought a new set of TOM WISHON 705W2, with Project X 6.5. 2 weeks ago.
Result: slightly lower ball flight, loss of 1-1.5 club distance, and pushed everything way right. Also a strained back and shoulder from trying to swing fast enough for the shaft.

Went back to my old regular TOM WISHON 550M, with NS Pro 950GH stiff flex shaft.
Result: Back to my regular slight push draw and occational pull draw. Distance is back to normal.

Get fitted. Best 2 words of advise I'll ever hear and will use. =)