Advice I was given about shaft flex

[pavespawn]

Hey guys I have been agonizing over what shaft I should be playing for a long time. I know there are a ton of threads about this already but I was given some advice at the local Edwin Watts and I wanted to see what you guys think.

I have stiff shafts in all of my clubs. I was thinking I may get better distance out of regular flex but the guy at Edwin Watts said I should stick with the stiff shafts since I can draw my 7 iron. He said I would just end up hooking it pretty bad. I had heard this before but he never even asked me about tempo in my swing which is pretty slow.

I know that I should have just got my swing speeds measured but they don't have a machine there. Anyway this is more of a rant than anything else but I just wanted to see what your advice was.

[max power]

I'm gonna agree with the guy at Edwin Watts. If I was hitting a draw one of the last things I would do is go to a flexier shaft.

[pavespawn]

It is more like I CAN hit a draw if I want to. Mostly I am a straight ball flight kinda guy. I see your point though. Maybe a more flexible shaft in my woods? It seems like the difference between my driver and my old 3 wood was only about 15 yards.

[Scott_K]

I agree with Max Power and the EW guy. I'd stick with the stiffs. In general, more flex will pull you to the left. If you can hit your 7i 150 or further, thats enough distance IMO. 7i is a club for accuracy, not power/distance.

[pavespawn]

Thanks. With my old R7s I hit my 7 iron 150. With my VRs I hit my 6 iron 150. It is frustrating.

[design]

I had my first experience with a FlightScope this afternoon. I have been hitting a regular flex shaft in my r7 driver for two years now. Every golfer I have played with has been in shock when they found out I am hitting a Reg flex shaft with my swing speed. (I know better than to post numbers on this forum, so I won't go there)

Point being after demo'ing a variety of drivers and shafts, the Pro said I had the most ideal trajectory, distance, and consistency out of my old driver with the reg shaft. I would suggest actually getting fitted to see what works best for your swing, as its not as easy as saying "Your SS is XXX, so you you need ABC Shaft"

I realize you are talking about your irons, but I'd assume the same would apply. You should get fitted for what works best for you, rather than spending money on reshafting when it may not actually improve your game.

[pavespawn]

When you got fitted did you hit on a range or on a simulator? I only know of one fitting system close to me and it is on a simulator. I like to see the real ball flight but if that is all I have I will use it. The problem is that the folks there (it is an Edwin Watts) don't seem that interested in helping you. I went there once and they let me swing a couple drivers and they said, "Yep this is what you need" like they were trying to rush me. This one store is kinda known for that. It is in a tourist town so I can see it a little but still it is annoying.

Maybe I will give them another try.

[design]

When you got fitted did you hit on a range or on a simulator? I only know of one fitting system close to me and it is on a simulator. I like to see the real ball flight but if that is all I have I will use it. The problem is that the folks there (it is an Edwin Watts) don't seem that interested in helping you. I went there once and they let me swing a couple drivers and they said, "Yep this is what you need" like they were trying to rush me. This one store is kinda known for that. It is in a tourist town so I can see it a little but still it is annoying.

The flightscope I hit was set up on a range, so I could see the ball flights. I can't say I've ever been to an Edwin Watts, however it sounds like you may have to go somewhere else to find someone willing to help you.

[pavespawn]

Thanks. The only one I have every had a problem with was this one. Unfortunatley that is the only one with the launch monitor. The one I normally go to has a range but no monitor.

[c. lassiter]

I have stiff shafts in all of my clubs. I was thinking I may get better distance out of regular flex but the guy at Edwin Watts said I should stick with the stiff shafts since I can draw my 7 iron.

This sounds like the sort of crappy advice I'd expect to receive either from a cab driver (no offense to any cab drivers out there), or from my mother-in-law.

First of all, I am fully capable of hitting a draw with a 7 iron with a Dynamic Gold X-100 shaft in it, but that doesn't mean that's the right shaft for my irons. It isn't. I have to swing it way too hard, I don't hit them high enough and I lose too much distance. Second, every brand and model of shaft is different, and therefore sweeping generalizations about someone being a "Regular" or a "Stiff" are silly. Try different shafts and see what feels comfortable to you, and gives you the best combination of accuracy, trajectory and distance (in that order).