Stiff shaft help?

[Elmer]

What are the benefits of a stiff shaft?

I have been using a tailor-made 2009 burner regular flex  shaft 10.5.

When I hit it well, which is most of the time, I hit it well.  I average about 265 in the fairway or maybe a slight fade or draw depending on my wrists and follow through.

On the advice of some salesman at a big box store I purchased a Callaway razor X 10 1/2 stiff shaft. They told me I had a high swing/clubhead/ball speed. Before anyone goes crazy, I did not get suckered into purchasing an overly expensive club from the box store. I actually bought a slightly used driver from callaway used clubs online for a steal.

But I digress....

The call away is a good club but I have difficulty getting the same result as I have with my tailor-made.
Callaway doesn't seem as forgiving and I also's feel like I have to work harder to get a result out of it. The callaway also does not have as big a head, but I am wondering if most of this is just in my head maybe I am sub Conscience about changing equipment.

What are the benefits of a stiff shaft as opposed to a regular flex?

Should I keep trying to get the callaway to work for my game, or just give up on the club?

Sent from my iPhone

[saevel25]

What are the benefits of a stiff shaft?

Depends on the make/model and your golf swing. For me, its like a limit on the golf swing. If you swing fast, with an aggressive tempo and release profile then you want a stiffer golf shaft because it will allow the golfer to feel comfortable swinging the club. Of course that is generally speaking. It might be completely different for you.

Also note that you can have two golf shafts marked "Stiff" and one can feel more flexible than the other. There is no standard for golf shaft flex. Basically it is a way to break up model's into more options for club fitters. Most of the time shaft stiffness is just one weighting more than the other for the same make/model.

Basically it is a fine tuning process. Just depends on what the fitting tells you.

From what the guy told you it looks like he is a crap fitter. If he was just looking at ball speed and saying, "Oh you need a stiff flex". He's not doing you a good service. He should have had you hit multiple clubs with different types of shafts in the clubs to get you close to optimal launch conditions for your swing.

Side note, actually the Callaway has the same size clubhead. Both are 460 cc in volume. The dimensions are just different, but they are classified as the same size. Some clubs can look larger because they are stretched out more front to back.

[Elmer]

From what the guy told you it looks like he is a crap fitter. If he was just looking at ball speed and saying, "Oh you need a stiff flex". He's not doing you a good service. He should have had you hit multiple clubs with different types of shafts in the clubs to get you close to optimal launch conditions for your swing.

Side note, actually the Callaway has the same size clubhead. Both are 460 cc in volume. The dimensions are just different, but they are classified as the same size. Some clubs can look larger because they are stretched out more front to back.

The guy worked at a big corporate golf store, I have always felt that they are salesmen and not much more.

If I get a fitting I go to my local golf shop which is independently owned, they know me and know that they are not selling me something.

Both the Callaway and the Taylor made are probably the same size. But they look and feel different. it is funny that with the size of the taylormade head I feel a confidence when setting up and taking a crack at the ball.

Not so much with the callaway.

but I really want to like the callaway!!!

[Mr. Desmond]

Look at the specs and reviews of the Callaway and make sure you bought what you thought you bought.

If not, callawaypreowned has 2014 Big Berthas at good price. You can always trade up.

[dbuck]

Generally speaking, if the shafts are the same model, the stiffer shaft will have a little lower trajectory and twist less than the same shaft in regular. In simple terms, if you have no trouble getting the ball in the air, a stiffer shaft can give a little more control over direction and trajectory. If you do have trouble getting the ball in the air, a more flexible shaft can sometimes help. Old school thought was flexible= more distance; stiff = more control. This is partially true, but especially with todays shafts, it is much more complex because not only how much flex but where along the shaft the flex occurs can be designed and controlled.

Bottom line is with today's shafts, swing speed is only one of several variables involved in shaft fitting.

[Elmer]

Generally speaking, if the shafts are the same model, the stiffer shaft will have a little lower trajectory and twist less than the same shaft in regular. In simple terms, if you have no trouble getting the ball in the air, a stiffer shaft can give a little more control over direction and trajectory. If you do have trouble getting the ball in the air, a more flexible shaft can sometimes help. Old school thought was flexible= more distance; stiff = more control. This is partially true, but especially with todays shafts, it is much more complex because not only how much flex but where along the shaft the flex occurs can be designed and controlled.

Bottom line is with today's shafts, swing speed is only one of several variables involved in shaft fitting.

I am going to hit the range tonight and compare and contrast the 2.

Funny thing about shafts was recently at a Demo day I was hitting a Nike 3 wood with stiff shaft. Really nice club and I have never, ever liked anything Nike.

I was hitting a stiff shaft 3 wood, so much better than my R-Flex taylor made (2007) 3 wood

[Mr. Desmond]

I am going to hit the range tonight and compare and contrast the 2.

Funny thing about shafts was recently at a Demo day I was hitting a Nike 3 wood with stiff shaft. Really nice club and I have never, ever liked anything Nike.

I was hitting a stiff shaft 3 wood, so much better than my R-Flex taylor made (2007) 3 wood

Hi --

There is no standard for what is stiff, regular, a flex, etc among shaft makers.

What one can expect in a stiff among various weights and flexes in a particular shaft is explained well in the above posts.

There is no standard in design - except most drivers are now 460cc and have a max cor in the upper center of the face (for your driver). They also place weight differently in the head -- all of that will not promote consistency among various brands or models in the same brand.  Newer drivers attempt to get more out of the upper, lower, heel and toe with compression channels, slots, thinner face technology like RMoto in Callaway.

So you will get a different flight, feel, and confidence from a driver, even those in the same family or same class.

You've just got to find what fits you. It's not easy. Golf equipment, like golf, is hard.

[upndown21]

I recently switched to a stiff shaft and I feel as though I have much more control but still trying to determine distance which should come with time and practice.

[dkolo]

Hi --

There is no standard for what is stiff, regular, a flex, etc among shaft makers.

What one can expect in a stiff among various weights and flexes in a particular shaft is explained well in the above posts.

There is no standard in design - except most drivers are now 460cc and have a max cor in the upper center of the face (for your driver). They also place weight differently in the head -- all of that will not promote consistency among various brands or models in the same brand.  Newer drivers attempt to get more out of the upper, lower, heel and toe with compression channels, slots, thinner face technology like RMoto in Callaway.

So you will get a different flight, feel, and confidence from a driver, even those in the same family or same class.

You've just got to find what fits you. It's not easy. Golf equipment, like golf, is hard.

There's not even a standard for what stiff is within a manufacturer. Sports Authority had an X Hot FW on clearance in a stiff the other day. I picked it up and it felt like a senior or even lady's flex. Meanwhile, their 2015 Callaway clubs have much stiffer "stiff" shafts. Part of that is them playing to the egos of their market; they know guys tend to buy clubs too stiff for their needs, so they weaken what stiff is. Clubs need to be tried out at the very least.

[Mr. Desmond]

There's not even a standard for what stiff is within a manufacturer. Sports Authority had an X Hot FW on clearance in a stiff the other day. I picked it up and it felt like a senior or even lady's flex. Meanwhile, their 2015 Callaway clubs have much stiffer "stiff" shafts. Part of that is them playing to the egos of their market; they know guys tend to buy clubs too stiff for their needs, so they weaken what stiff is. Clubs need to be tried out at the very least.

Yes.

That's between years...

The 2013 shaft in the XHot was widely known as a noodle.

The 2015 shafts in the V, BB, XR,  are more "true" to flex (whatever that is ... there is a range)

Callaway has upped their game as to shafts over the last 2 years. The no upcharge list is upgraded, too.

[rkim291968]

I don't have high swing speed but switched to stiff shaft driver (Taylormade) this year and it has worked out for me.   I had no problem getting the ball up in the air before and switching to stiff shaft was not an issue there.   The thing I've immediately noticed was that I was more accurate - FIR went from high 50% to high 60%.  No loss in distance.  In fact, I gained 20 yards but I think that's due to other factors - physical workout, better swing mechanics, etc..

[Elmer]

Went to the range last night. I kept my distance with the stiff shaft with a lower trajectory but had a 10 yard fade on it.

my R-flex was high in the sky with a slight fade.

Now the issue is the callaway head sounds like a hollow tin can on impact!

[saevel25]

Went to the range last night. I kept my distance with the stiff shaft with a lower trajectory but had a 10 yard fade on it.

my R-flex was high in the sky with a slight fade.

Now the issue is the callaway head sounds like a hollow tin can on impact!

How low is low? How high is sky high for you?

I think some people don't realize who high they are suppose to hit the ball. PGA Tour players average 30-32 yards in the air, basically you are looking at a ball going as high or just higher than your typical mature tree (Maple, Oak, Pine). I would say for slower swing speeds you want the high 20's for height. Something like 28-30.

[Elmer]

How low is low? How high is sky high for you?

I think some people don't realize who high they are suppose to hit the ball. PGA Tour players average 30-32 yards in the air, basically you are looking at a ball going as high or just higher than your typical mature tree (Maple, Oak, Pine). I would say for slower swing speeds you want the high 20's for height. Something like 28-30.

Once on a launch monitor I averaged a 16 degree launch angle./

I tee it up high and in line with my big left toe and at its highest I could clear a maple tree.

I have tried changing things on the advice of others to get lower trajectory, but after awhile I stopped. The high launch is not the worst part of my game and I still get 265 yards on a drive.

[saevel25]

Once on a launch monitor I averaged a 16 degree launch angle./

I tee it up high and in line with my big left toe and at its highest I could clear a maple tree.

I have tried changing things on the advice of others to get lower trajectory, but after awhile I stopped. The high launch is not the worst part of my game and I still get 265 yards on a drive.

How much spin at 16 degrees of launch? If you are getting low 2000's then you are fine with 16 degrees of launch. If you are still getting 265 yards then I would say that the driver that produces the 16 degrees of launch is a very good fit for you. If you want a modern driver I would find one that produces similar launch conditions.

[WUTiger]

.... Old school thought was flexible= more distance; stiff = more control. This is partially true, but especially with todays shafts, it is much more complex because not only how much flex but where along the shaft the flex occurs can be designed and controlled.

Bottom line is with today's shafts, swing speed is only one of several variables involved in shaft fitting.

Well said. Besides swingspeed, another factor for selecting shaft flex is transition to downswing. If you have a quick transition, a stiff shaft might help you out.

The Mizuno shaft optimizer measures six characteristics of a person's swing to give a "short list" of three shaft models that fit the golfer.

http://www.mizunousa.com/golf/custom-irons

For steel iron shafts, I thought I was in the neighborhood of 100-gram R flex shafts. The ShaftO, however, suggested KBS Tour Stiff - softstepped -  as one of my options. I evidently am quicker at the top than I thought.

To find the best driver, you need to do side-by-side tests on a launch monitor, and hopefully get help from the fitter in interpreting the data.