How Did Your Transition From Regular to Stiff Flex Shafts Go?

[xxsoultonesxx]

How long do shaft stiffness adjustments generally take to adjust to? Any tips?

I have phased everything in my bag from R-flex to S-flex except for my hybrid at this point. Within the last year I have learned how to release the club well enough to conjure up a 95-99mph swing speed. My iron game just got better with the stiff shafts, and I hit my 5 wood much better than my 4 wood which had a R-flex shaft. I just ponied up and bought myself an R9 with a stiff shaft and I have been pretty erratic with it at the range so far.

[WUTiger]

We would have to go back to 1974, but my transition went great.

I was playing with Spalding TopFlite irons (195x model) which I bought used in 1967, and Wilson Pro Staff woods, all R flex. In high school I weighed about 135 lbs. and in early college got up to 150 lbs. Ran out of money, and enlisted in the Marine Corps.

Got shipped to Okinawa, Japan, where Normdamarine now serves. For conditioning, I would lift weights on odd # days and run 3 miles on even # days. Got up to 175 lbs., and ended up at a Navy base back stateside with a golf course a mile from my barracks on my last assignment. Had a problem with hooking the ball, and couldn't break 90.

Got off active duty and went to the country club where I used to caddie, and the pro let me test out some MacGregor MT irons with stiff shafts. I got them for $135, if I remember right. Things changes quickly.

I started working on my game, and within a year had broken 80 for the first time.

Basically, the stiff shafts straightened out my shots. I could draw and fade, rather than fighting a hook. I added a stiff-shafted driver, lost a few yards raw distance but again straightened things out. Transition was no problem - my increased strength made it long overdue.

In Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 I went the other way - stiff back to regular. I couldn't bend the stiffs anymore, and I pretty well lost my swing tempo. With R flex (Uniflex in X20s), I've had some rounds in the 80s again.

I'll be 60 in November, and hopefully I can break 80 once more while I'm still able to play golf...

[pixel5]

I switched to an X-Stiff from a regular when I got into high school. I also switched from a 10.5* driver to a 9.5. The difference was incredible...it was like "Why haven't I been playing this all along?". You just have to make sure you are getting through the ball and do not bring the swing outside-in. Keep it steady, or maybe even a little inside out.

[Shindig]

My friend, it looks like we might be going through this together. My last measured 6-iron swing was 82mph. I've heard of people picking up distance when they go R to S (and of many others losing some, but picking up accuracy).

I'm debating going PX 5.5 (or some other form of "R and a half") to ease the transition, and I can't tell if this is a brilliant or terrible idea.

[xxsoultonesxx]

I have had no problem adjusting with my irons, although I went from a GI set (x-18r's, uniflex) to a cavity back blade style (W/S pi7's with DG s300) I felt as though I should have been hitting those all along. The driver is the one that has been giving me grief...I've been fighting the urge to really crank extra hard trying to regain the whippy feeling of the R flex tour burner I was hitting prior to the R9. Today I went to the range and just eased up a little and it was working out, but I feel like I sacrificed distance for accuracy. I will be happy when I'm taking my second shots from fairways more often, though.

[shades9323]

I'm debating going PX 5.5 (or some other form of "R and a half") to ease the transition, and I can't tell if this is a brilliant or terrible idea.

If you go with PX, your "r and a half" will be the 5.0. The 5.5 is actually more stiff than a DGS300.

[Shindig]

If you go with PX, your "r and a half" will be the 5.0. The 5.5 is actually more stiff than a DGS300.

Oh. I guess I didn't know the scale properly. Thanks for the heads-up.

[double_j]

Adjustments should be fairly minor and easy. If stiff shafts are really for you, then you'll just find that you'll be able to swing without worrying about coming through the ball too hard and hooking (the normal miss with too flexy a shaft). On the contrary, you'll also have to make sure you get through the ball all the time since the shaft won't compensate for you when you don't.

If you find that you have to totally alter your swing to fit a shaft, then it probably isn't a match for you. You really shouldn't have to think too much about it. Worst comes to worst you might pick up a slightly different shot shape (possibly a slight fade) but it should be manageable and easy to adjust for.

[xxsoultonesxx]

Adjustments should be fairly minor and easy. If stiff shafts are really for you, then you'll just find that you'll be able to swing without worrying about coming through the ball too hard and hooking (the normal miss with too flexy a shaft). On the contrary, you'll also have to make sure you get through the ball all the time since the shaft won't compensate for you when you don't.

Stiffer shafts actually reduced my fade quite a bit.

[soloredd]

Well, I got my irons fitted for a Stiff and played my first round in June, so far it's been great. The thing is, it's also a completely new shaft make as well (going from Uniflex True Temper to Stiff KBS Tour). My miss used to be a hook, or really bad draw, but this has pretty much gone away. I'm still able to draw the ball, however. Added to that is the trajectory, which I think is more shaft than anything. I get much higher ball flight, which is great for me because it used to be low low low.

As for tips? Hit the range, a lot.

[Gerald]

Stiffer shafts actually reduced my fade quite a bit.

A fade comes basicly from a outside-in swing, stiffer shafts normally increases a fade ..... so it must have been something else !

[xxsoultonesxx]

I still have never taken a lesson, and am teaching myself as I go. I am not 100% sure why the ball is going in one direction or the other at this point, but I'm feeling more comfortable knowing I am using the proper shaft for my swing speed. But I did play my first round with the R9 and played the left side of the course, when I generally play the right side of the course....

[design]

I think folks gets too caught up on swing speed and often swing shafts that are stiffer than they really need.

If you are hitting accurately with a reg flex, continue hitting it. Don't let internet numbers dictate what you should be swinging.

[Seamus Costello]

Hi,

I was using a Stiff shaft after a fitting I was advised to get a regular. I purchased a Ping 410. What differences should I make to my swing  to compensate for the new flexibility in the head? The stiff had very little and I moved hips forward, now the head is lagging a bit for that?? Please advise.

Seamus

[woodzie264]

10 minutes ago, Seamus Costello said:

Hi,

I was using a Stiff shaft after a fitting I was advised to get a regular. I purchased a Ping 410. What differences should I make to my swing  to compensate for the new flexibility in the head? The stiff had very little and I moved hips forward, now the head is lagging a bit for that?? Please advise.

Seamus

It seems to me the purpose of the fitting is to fit you for your swing so that you don’t need to make a lot of adjustments, right?

[arturo28mx]

My own experience, a stiffer shaft will give you better dispersion. Period.

[TourSpoon]

On 12/29/2020 at 6:17 AM, Seamus Costello said:

Hi,

I was using a Stiff shaft after a fitting I was advised to get a regular. I purchased a Ping 410. What differences should I make to my swing  to compensate for the new flexibility in the head? The stiff had very little and I moved hips forward, now the head is lagging a bit for that?? Please advise.

Seamus

I am hoping that you hit the regular during your fitting. The fitter put you into the regular based on how you were swinging so you shouldn't have to compensate at all. Just play with it and report back. 

[saevel25]

On 12/31/2020 at 8:54 AM, arturo28mx said:

My own experience, a stiffer shaft will give you better dispersion. Period.

Your experience doesn't make it definitive. Glad it help you out. 

On 8/9/2010 at 12:24 AM, xxsoultonesxx said:

How long do shaft stiffness adjustments generally take to adjust to? Any tips?

Depends on the golfer. Some people respond differently. Some are able to actually make adjustments no matter what club they are given. 

Also, it depends on the golf shaft. A regular flex in a certain make/model may be a stiff flex in another make/model. That matters more is not overall flex, but how the loads in the swing. 

I did a wedge fitting were the the two golf shafts were with in a few grams of each other, both were with in one flex of each other. Both would say to be competing with each other. It wasn't a stiff flex designed for slow swings versus a stiff flex designed for fast swings. Both were designed for fast swings. The one, I could not stop chunking shots. The club just bottomed out behind the ball. If you look at the numbers, these two golf shafts were nearly identical except one was more stouter near the tip end of the club.

Just to show you how feel has a big play on this. Again, a golfers ability to adjust to the feel is a skill or talent.