Driver Shaft Flex Question

[Sportdog]

If I am posting in the wrong forum I apologize. I'm pretty new to the game, only playing three years about 2-3 times each year, and one year of playing about 15 rounds of nine holes. That was last year. I'm six foot tall, 60 years old, and in pretty good shape for a "seasoned" citizen. I recently retired from my job as an electric utility lineman which kept me pretty fit. My present driver is a Nike SQ 11 1/2 degree medium flex. About three out of four of my drives are big time slices. Do you think that maybe a draw driver with a stiff shaft would help me out or is it all about a problem with my swing? I know there are a lot of people that think that a new club will solve their problems. Am I one of those? Thanks for any helpful advice or opinions.

[glock35ipsc]

Spend the money on a few lessons with a good instructor.  Depending on what type of slice you are hitting, you are either coming into impact with an open club face, or swinging from out to in, or a little of both.  Work on swinging more in to out, or in to square, and getting the club face more closed at impact and you should see improvements.  Also, things like ball placement could be adding to the problem.  Little things like that is where a good instructor can save you lots of money and grief.

[jeffrey r]

First, some of this is likely swing related, and as said above, a lesson sure couldn't hurt.  Second, conventional wisdom would say that a stiffer shaft would not help fight a slice, but could aggravate a slice by preventing your shaft from coming around quickly enough.  Third, the best way for you to find a driver that works for you is to get fitted at a store to try out different brands, lofts and shafts.  All that said, if you buy a Ping K15 driver, with a 12* loft, and a regular or soft regular flex stock TFC shaft, I would be surprised if you did not come close to eliminating your slice.  I have a K15 and it does wonders hitting the ball straight.

[dbwood]

+1

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

Spend the money on a few lessons with a good instructor.  Depending on what type of slice you are hitting, you are either coming into impact with an open club face, or swinging from out to in, or a little of both.  Work on swinging more in to out, or in to square, and getting the club face more closed at impact and you should see improvements.  Also, things like ball placement could be adding to the problem.  Little things like that is where a good instructor can save you lots of money and grief.

[erock9174]

Usually when I slice my driver its because of the flying elbow.  If you are right handed, place your golf towel in your right armpit and then take a swing.  if the towel falls you know you are throwing your elbow out.  if it stays there, then you are taking a good inside out swing at the ball.

[broombroom]

the shaft is too stiff or a big swing problem or both. getting a stiff draw driver will actually make it worse.  Look for a softer flex shaft, that will do the job try seniors flex and I would recommend an aldila nvs.  If the shaft is too stiff you will get weak low slices if too soft it will be high and left.  It could also be your swing.  You are probably swinging out to in so check all your alignment etc is good and see a pro.

[MitchWayne]

If your going to blame it on the driver and not the swing, I wouldn't jump from medium to stiff. If you hit some good with the medium I say go with a regular flex shaft. Either way, I think a lesson is important wether you decide to get a new driver or not.