X-flex shafts in Woods and hybrids for ~105mph Clubhead speed?

[onthehunt526]

Hello TST Universe,

I recently picked up fitted Tour Edge EX9 Driver, 4-wood and 3-hybrid... My clubhead speed is around 105 mph... I was "technically" fitted for Stiff flex, but I decided to get X-flex to tighten the dispersion some... Good move, or should I have stuck with S-flex?

[SavvySwede]

What does "technically" imply here? If you were properly fitted it doesn't sound like a good decision. With a shaft that is stiffer than ideal you may gain some accuracy but likely lose distance because your launch angle will be lowered.

[onthehunt526]

1 hour ago, SavvySwede said:

What does "technically" imply here? If you were properly fitted it doesn't sound like a good decision. With a shaft that is stiffer than ideal you may gain some accuracy but likely lose distance because your launch angle will be lowered.

Well, @SavvySwede that was what I was thinking, when I got fitted, I was told the exact same thing... My launch angle with stiff was around 16°, spin around 2900... X was a smidge lower but the spin was down... so the carry was the same, I chose Matrix Black Tie 75M4 which I think is a mid kick... Your right though I could've gotten Stiff. However, I'm not sure a few yards of carry is going to matter much. 

But I agree on the launch being lower... Something I didn't realize...

My issue was last year, when I played the XRail Driver, 3-wood and Hybrids... The shafts were only 60g... my peak height is around that of a tour player... (Though I don't hit it as far, and my smash factor kind of sucks 1.38-1.40 (if I'm lucky)... ) I wanted to bring the height down to around 30, but I still haven't mastered hitting the sweet spot... (Imagine if I could even get 1.45 as my smash factor).

Basically in so many words, I went with the Black Tie because it's heavier. And with X-flex to tighten the dispersion, to help make my transistion smoother so I make better contact.

I probably could do that with a Stiff version of the same shaft...but I felt X-flex would help with the transistion... I couldn't feel the transistion with a lighter shaft. 

[saevel25]

8 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Hello TST Universe,

I recently picked up fitted Tour Edge EX9 Driver, 4-wood and 3-hybrid... My clubhead speed is around 105 mph... I was "technically" fitted for Stiff flex, but I decided to get X-flex to tighten the dispersion some... Good move, or should I have stuck with S-flex?

Depends on your golf swing and how the golf shaft reacts to it. Some people lose dispersion and some gain dispersion by increasing flex.

Number 1 goal should be to get fitted. I know it's a used club. I would say spend the $50-$100 and go get fitted for a few different drivers and just get the information on the type of golf shaft that works well for you.

 

[newtogolf]

2 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Depends on your golf swing and how the golf shaft reacts to it. Some people lose dispersion and some gain dispersion by increasing flex.

Number 1 goal should be to get fitted. I know it's a used club. I would say spend the $50-$100 and go get fitted for a few different drivers and just get the information on the type of golf shaft that works well for you.

 

It's not a used club, he was fitted and bought it new.  

[saevel25]

Just now, newtogolf said:

It's not a used club, he was fitted and bought it new.

Oops

amend my comment,

Then going to an X-stiff wouldn't matter much if it is in the same make and model of golf shaft. All that happens is you are gaining a few grams heavier golf shaft. Not really that big of a deal.

[newtogolf]

8 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Hello TST Universe,

I recently picked up fitted Tour Edge EX9 Driver, 4-wood and 3-hybrid... My clubhead speed is around 105 mph... I was "technically" fitted for Stiff flex, but I decided to get X-flex to tighten the dispersion some... Good move, or should I have stuck with S-flex?

You could have probably found an stiff shaft that provided you with the launch characteristics you wanted without going to X-stiff.  As others have said, it likely isn't going to hurt you aside from slight loss in distance.  

Another factor in determining shaft stiffness depends on how you load the club.  I am borderline regular to still depending on the shaft not because of swing speed but because of how I load it.  

[Lihu]

The weight of the shaft makes a difference as well. If the shaft weighs more you can probably use a stiffer shaft.

[freshmanUTA]

Well, in my driver I use a stiff shaft, and in my 5 wood and my 3wood, I ise the ping i25 X-flex shaft. my dispersion sucks with the driver but I'm 10 yards farther, and most of the time in the fairway. with a 3 wood and 5 wood I feel like I need a stiffer flex to avoid hitting fat shots... It's worked so far, and my dispersion is normally pretty tight, just depends how I'm hitting that day.

 

If you were properly fitted by a club professional, or someone similar, then maybe you made a mistake by not going with their word.

Did you at least hit the X-Flex before you bought it?

[Dave2512]

The Matrix Black Tie is already the lowest launching shaft in that line. The specs are very close between X and S, it's just a couple grams heavier I doubt you'll notice anything. I use the White Tie in my driver and Red Tie in fairways and hybrids.

[onthehunt526]

5 hours ago, freshmanUTA said:

If you were properly fitted by a club professional, or someone similar, then maybe you made a mistake by not going with their word.

Did you at least hit the X-Flex before you bought it?

I hit both Flexes of the Black Tie S and X the difference was minimal, I could always order an S shaft with an Exotics adapter on it for the Driver if I feel I'm launching the Driver too low.

 

@Dave2512 said, the Black Tie specs are very close between X and S...

 

I stuck with stiff in my irons however.

Edited March 4, 2016 by onthehunt526

[Dave2512]

Where did you get the EX9? Not available on TEE site and still pricey on eBay. I am considering getting out of my XCG7 Beta 440. I like it but not the most forgiving driver I've ever hit. Weird because I just picked up a XCG7 Beta 4w and that is nearly impossible to mishit. Though I've only played about 12 holes of golf in 2016 (injured). The few times I hit it I was shocked with the results.

[onthehunt526]

46 minutes ago, Dave2512 said:

Where did you get the EX9? Not available on TEE site and still pricey on eBay. I am considering getting out of my XCG7 Beta 440. I like it but not the most forgiving driver I've ever hit. Weird because I just picked up a XCG7 Beta 4w and that is nearly impossible to mishit. Though I've only played about 12 holes of golf in 2016 (injured). The few times I hit it I was shocked with the results.

They are on the Tour Edge website... they are $300 for the standard model and $400 for the tour... PGA professional Al Lupis ordered them for me. Also RockBottomGolf and Budget Golf have them... mine were custom so they took a little longer... (Hell, I haven't gotten my EXi's yet, well tomorrow I'll have them)

http://touredge.com/products/ex9driver.asp

http://touredge.com/products/ex9tourdriver.asp

the first link is the standard model, the Second is the 430cc Tour model... I still haven't decided what hosel setting I'm using on the Driver yet. I almost got the Tour model Driver and the 17° Tour 3-wood.

Erik and Mods, I'm just passing on general information to another member, not promoting anything, except honesty and information for other golfers.

[Dave2512]

I saw a few on eBay in the $250 range. I'm usually not a full price buyer and I buy a bunch from RBG and BG. I have time my ribs are messed up.

[onthehunt526]

If you wait a little bit, the price will probably go down, I almost went with the E8 instead, but I loved the sound off the EX9... Some E8 Betas are around $175-$200 and they were $400 when they came out...

Send me a PM @Dave2512 so we can discuss this further, and the thread stays on topic.

Edited March 4, 2016 by onthehunt526

[GolfLug]

17 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Hello TST Universe,

I recently picked up fitted Tour Edge EX9 Driver, 4-wood and 3-hybrid... My clubhead speed is around 105 mph... I was "technically" fitted for Stiff flex, but I decided to get X-flex to tighten the dispersion some... Good move, or should I have stuck with S-flex?

Longer you hold the shaft lag, faster it will need to recover for forward kick at impact, stiffer the flex you will need. I think 105 SS is on the hairy edge of S flex/X flex (sorry, gross generalization). But IMHO, it is better to lean towards too stiff since I think a slow recovering shaft is the worst thing for both consistency and distance. I find that fitting is great but it takes to few rounds to get used to the tempo you will be somewhat forced into. Anyway, who doesn't want more distance but I'm guessing you prolly are not hurting as much for distance.

I was fitted for an R- Flex back in July last year at 97-98 mph, but I keep getting the distinct feeling that I need to go back to S-flex like the rest of my set (especially 2 and 3 hybrids which I have been hitting great). I have a two way miss because of club path issue but the ball curves a lot more with the R flex.

[newtogolf]

2 hours ago, GolfLug said:

Longer you hold the shaft lag, faster it will need to recover for forward kick at impact, stiffer the flex you will need. I think 105 SS is on the hairy edge of S flex/X flex (sorry, gross generalization). But IMHO, it is better to lean towards too stiff since I think a slow recovering shaft is the worst thing for both consistency and distance. I find that fitting is great but it takes to few rounds to get used to the tempo you will be somewhat forced into. Anyway, who doesn't want more distance but I'm guessing you prolly are not hurting as much for distance.

I was fitted for an R- Flex back in July last year at 97-98 mph, but I keep getting the distinct feeling that I need to go back to S-flex like the rest of my set (especially 2 and 3 hybrids which I have been hitting great). I have a two way miss because of club path issue but the ball curves a lot more with the R flex.

Stiffness varies across clubs and shaft manufacturers so it's very possible the R flex is okay for your iron shafts but not hybrids and woods. 

[Lihu]

I just read a bunch of Team Titleist articles on shaft stiffness, and the bottom line is they seem to indicate that you should not restrict yourself to any particular shaft stiffness. Get whatever works best.