Does Shaft Flex Make a Difference?

[Typhoon92]

You seem pretty much in love with the c-tapers so just do it. 

Ctapers aren't for everybody and I'm not going to get into this because it'll seem like I'm talking you out of them.  Only thing I will say is to remember a wedge head is heavier so it'll be different than the rest of the set.

Good luck, enjoy!

[caniac6]

I recently was fit for Ping G400 irons. I have played stiff shafts my whole life. I am a 3.9 hdcp., so I am a fairly good player. The fitter fit me into regular shafts, and I picked up significant distance (9 yds.) and height. This is not scientific, just my observation, but the flex made a big difference for me.

[Typhoon92]

Getting on about flex, I agree it makes a difference.  When i was fit for my irons he told me I could use x flex but I was more consistent with stiff.  So there is more to it than speed.  He was right too btw.

[Penleyguy]

19 hours ago, Typhoon92 said:

Getting on about flex, I agree it makes a difference.  When i was fit for my irons he told me I could use x flex but I was more consistent with stiff.  So there is more to it than speed.  He was right too btw.

The difference between quality graphite shafts and non-quantity shafts is both materials and designs. Materials are everything in creating shafts that load/unload the same every time. Manufacturers, for the most part, are marketing companies first and foremost and they will not spend the money to put top quality shafts in clubs as stock. That is why medium handicappers down, play aftermarket shafts. Most “known” brands have lowered their quality to meet cost demands and have lowered their performance accordingly.

In my opinion, there are few top Tour quality shafts out there nowadays but if you are going with a top shaft, you will notice that you can control a softer flex and it will give you better feel, height and distance. You want to play the softest shaft you can control...control being the difference in quality. Most players don’t understand the cost difference to a shaft manufacturer that uses top quality pre-preg, which in turn mandates a higher price shaft. Sure, there are Shafts that are not good shafts but market themselves as good and price themselves are good. There are companies that simply buy their shafts from a manufacturer and put their name on it. Too bad but people buy them thinking they’re top quality.

Do your homework, demo shafts on course or range if you can and let the result be the determining factor to purchase, not the name, not a marketing campaign, not the hype and certainly not the price. Results is what matters,the name is irrelevant! You have a couple choices of USA made golf shaft manufacturers, too.

[MuniGrit]

How much can you lower your ball flight with shafts? I have always hit a high ball and want to bring it down a bit.

[iacas]

27 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

How much can you lower your ball flight with shafts? I have always hit a high ball and want to bring it down a bit.

A few degrees of launch is possible.

[MuniGrit]

13 hours ago, iacas said:

A few degrees of launch is possible.

I hit a TM 460 SLDR with stock 57 gram shaft. Do you have any suggestion on a shaft to start at to lower ball flight? I'm guessing hitting on trackman is the best option.

[Penleyguy]

24 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

I hit a TM 460 SLDR with stock 57 gram shaft. Do you have any suggestion on a shaft to start at to lower ball flight? I'm guessing hitting on trackman is the best option.

What is your swing speed, what is your current shaft flex, what is your predominant ball flight and what is your handicap?

[Club Rat]

14 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

I hit a TM 460 SLDR

@mchepp wrote a review on the driver, maybe he could offer suggestions to tune the club. https://thesandtrap.com/b/clubs/2013_taylormade_sldr_driver_review

Quote

Playability and Feel
The rumors that I had been hearing regarding this club was that the face was extremely hot. The ball was launching off the face of this driver. I believe much of this talk was regarding the lower more penetrating ball flight that this driver provides. It does have what many would call a low boring trajectory compared to other driver with similar lofts. So the claim by TaylorMade that this driver gives a lower launch with higher lofts has some degree of merit. I am a pretty high ball hitter so I found myself adjusting the loft sleeve to lower lofts even it had the lower trajectory.

Before making any drastic changes IE: shaft replacement, have you tried adjusting ball position and height?
Would gripping the club an inch lower help?

Which Shaft do you have?

Quote

The SLDR driver will come stock with Fujikura’s Speeder 57 shaft (R,S and X flexes).

 

[MuniGrit]

1 hour ago, Penleyguy said:

What is your swing speed, what is your current shaft flex, what is your predominant ball flight and what is your handicap?

110, TM stock speeder 57, Ball flight is HIGH(through all clubs and always have hit high ball) slight draw that can turn into a hook with bad swing, handicap varies from 6-8 depending on how I have been playing. I want to lower my ball flight.

 

I have messed with ball position and I don't have the adjustable hosel. I think I definitely want a heavier shaft.

Edited January 23, 2018 by MuniGrit

[Club Rat]

5 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

I think I definitely want a heavier shaft.

That would be a good starting point.
Having the shaft prepped properly (tipped) is vital.
Are you comfortable with replacing the shaft yourself or having it done.
I would suggest testing other clubs with a shaft you may be interested in replacing.
Hate to make a suggestion without having more info such as trackman numbers.

[tomvk77]

You should try a shaft with a stiffer tip.  Do you know what is the spin number is at the moment? A high ballflight is normally not a bad thing as long the spin is good. I just bought a new driver Titleist 917 D3 with the Aldila Rogue Max stiff shaft it’s 68 gram

[Penleyguy]

9 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

110, TM stock speeder 57, Ball flight is HIGH(through all clubs and always have hit high ball) slight draw that can turn into a hook with bad swing, handicap varies from 6-8 depending on how I have been playing. I want to lower my ball flight.

 

I have messed with ball position and I don't have the adjustable hosel. I think I definitely want a heavier shaft.

With a 110 mph swing speed, I can understand why you have control issues with a stock 57 gram speeder. In my opinion that shaft is too light for that much swing speed and will exhibit erratic load/recovery results. 

Full disclosure, I’m an employee at Penley but I would at least try the Penley ET2 series shaft in mid stiff with a stiff tip TBAR...of course there are other high end shaft choices that you my like but I would try the Penley, they have a unique ability to control flex throughout the shaft span, it’s called Zone Flex Characterization. Look it up, it’s worthwhile to learn about.

You have a few choices in shafts, demo them all. Launch monitor info is good to start with but try the,in play, in your driver head on the course to see actual results, if you can. Pick the one that gives you the best result.

[MuniGrit]

1 hour ago, Club Rat said:

That would be a good starting point.
Having the shaft prepped properly (tipped) is vital.
Are you comfortable with replacing the shaft yourself or having it done.
I would suggest testing other clubs with a shaft you may be interested in replacing.
Hate to make a suggestion without having more info such as trackman numbers.

I could probably replace it myself but I'd most likely take it to a shop. I have looked for my driver  (Golfsmith, PGASUPERSTORE, local shops, second swing golf, etc) with aftermarket shafts but haven't actually found one. I actually have the SLDR-S without the adjustable hosel. I was thinking of trying a Grafalloy Prolaunch red and sticking it in there. I wish I could try a bunch of shafts in it without having to glue it in.

1 hour ago, tomvk77nl said:

You should try a shaft with a stiffer tip.  Do you know what is the spin number is at the moment? A high ballflight is normally not a bad thing as long the spin is good. I just bought a new driver Titleist 917 D3 with the Aldila Rogue Max stiff shaft it’s 68 gram

I don't know exact numbers but I'm guessing it is higher than I want. I won the club at a charity event years ago and I hit it in the screen at the store. I got pretty good numbers with it around 32-3500 on the backspin if I remember correctly. The club is sneaky long to be honest. I am shocked, along with my partners, at times I hit what looks like a pop up that gets out there 280ish. I am a horrible wind player because of my ball flight. I play with a couple buddies who are around scratch and I can hit it out there with them but they hit a much lower penetrating ball flight. I'd like to get that trajectory too.

[Club Rat]

17 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

I have looked for my driver

Have you checked EBAY? It's worth a look.
Did a quick search and there's many listed.  Found this -TaylorMade SLDR 460 10.5* Driver/Blue Aldila Tour ATX65 Stiff Flex
By the time you buy a shaft and have it installed, finding another club may be a good option.
 

[tomvk77]

24 minutes ago, MuniGrit said:

I could probably replace it myself but I'd most likely take it to a shop. I have looked for my driver  (Golfsmith, PGASUPERSTORE, local shops, second swing golf, etc) with aftermarket shafts but haven't actually found one. I actually have the SLDR-S without the adjustable hosel. I was thinking of trying a Grafalloy Prolaunch red and sticking it in there. I wish I could try a bunch of shafts in it without having to glue it in.

I don't know exact numbers but I'm guessing it is higher than I want. I won the club at a charity event years ago and I hit it in the screen at the store. I got pretty good numbers with it around 32-3500 on the backspin if I remember correctly. The club is sneaky long to be honest. I am shocked, along with my partners, at times I hit what looks like a pop up that gets out there 280ish. I am a horrible wind player because of my ball flight. I play with a couple buddies who are around scratch and I can hit it out there with them but they hit a much lower penetrating ball flight. I'd like to get that trajectory too.

The spin should be lower that 3000. In my new driver i have 2460. Look at tourpro’s they want even lower spin arround 21-2300. As i said a stiffer tip will help you bring the spin down and lower the ballflight

[Penleyguy]

6 minutes ago, Club Rat said:

Have you checked EBAY? It's worth a look.
Did a quick search and there's many listed.  Found this -TaylorMade SLDR 460 10.5* Driver/Blue Aldila Tour ATX65 Stiff Flex
By the time you buy a shaft and have it installed, finding another club may be a good option.
 

If you’re wanting a lower launch, why would you buy a 10.5* loft driver? Wouldn’t a 9.5* be better for you?

[Club Rat]

7 minutes ago, Penleyguy said:

Wouldn’t a 9.5* be better for you?

Yes most certainly.
I was only giving an example of club availability in a search for @MuniGrit  He never specified specs on his driver (Loft or Shaft Flex)