Shaft Flex - Swing check Photos from 7/09

[SpacklersEdge]

It seems the discussion in the swing check comments was about the shaft flex in the pictures included. I had never seen anything like that before really. What I am wondering is this, is his shaft really bending forward like that? Or is it some illusion from the photo taking process. It seems impossible that the shaft is actually flexing towards the ball unless he has the strongest forearms in the world, while at the same time decelerating his hands.

What I could not understand from the article was if the author was saying he had too much flex in general, and if the pictures should show that OR if he was saying the flex was so bad that he was making it bend the way it actually appears to, TOWARD the ball.

[Zeph]

He may not have enough flex in his clubs, I'd say probably.

The reason his clubhead is bent that way is probably because of acceleration from the top of the backswing. Our body is pretty quick, so it'll gain top speed very fast. From there, you can't really accelerate more, so the arms slow down, the clubhead keeps going, you cast the club, the clubhead moves faster than the arms and shaft, and you see the result on the picture.

You can try to do it with your own clubs. If they are properly fit, you probably wont notice as much as that guy did, but it is possible. I'll give it a go some day, try different shafts also. I'll try with 300 or 600 FPS, which I guess people would consider more reliable, if that is a problem.

[LBlack14]

Check the most recent Golf Digest I think it is. There are 2 pics in there, 1 of Lorena Ochoa and 1 of Bubba Watson with the same flex forward at the bottom of their swing.

[SpacklersEdge]

Check the most recent Golf Digest I think it is. There are 2 pics in there, 1 of Lorena Ochoa and 1 of Bubba Watson with the same flex forward at the bottom of their swing.

I saw those as well, which is why I am trying to understand what is going on. We all know Lorena and Bubba have the "correct" shafts.

[amcquay]

I assumed that was just the shaft "kicking" as they started to release their hands, since we're seeing it right around the time of impact. I also assumed it was probably embellished by the camera somewhat.

[gohardorgohome]

Two things.

1. The shaft can/does bend forward some in the lower part of the swing.
2. Camera effects in some cameras will create an artificial forward bend appearance in an image.

These two facts make it difficult to determine how far the shaft is actually bending in a video still. The bend seen in the swing check pictures is very extreme. This leads me to believe that it is number 2 exaggerating number 1. I could be wrong.

Google "video camera shaft bend" and you'll see some interesting discussions.

[iacas]

2. Camera effects in some cameras will create an artificial forward bend appearance in an image.

I think you are. Most video cameras don't "scan top to bottom" as is commonly stated, and the motion blur indicates a much faster shutter speed than 1/60th or 1/30th of a second.