Your Assistance Requested Identifying Shaft Flex

[Timmy-9holes]

I picked up a Great Big Bertha at a thrift store today.  It was only $2.50 with what appears to be a new Callaway grip, the shaft doesn't have any bag wear and the head is n pretty good shape so how could I pass it up.

I am trying figure out the flex on the club but, I'm not having much luck.  The flex does not have the gram number like I have on my other clubs.  The shaft is a Fenwick - World Class Eagle with a sticker that has FCM 3.5 on it.

I found one website that mentions that the range goes from 2.5 for someone who hits their 5 iron 100 yards to 8.0 for someone who hits their 5 iron 200 yards.  I normally use a senior flex so I was not sure if it was in the senior range.

Does anyone have an idea of what flex this may be?  Thanks.

[WUTiger]

FCM stands for Frequency Coefficient Matching. It uses club-testing oscillation data to compare different model shafts on flex, getting around the problem of no industry standard for what regular and stiff mean. It was developed by now-defunct Brunswick/Royal Precision company, which developed the original rifle and Project X shafts.

Project X shafts - now owned by True Temper - have the two-digit decimal rating for flex.*

In comparison, the regular flex for DG R300 FCM = 4.8, for KBS Tour FCM = 5.0, and for PX 5.0 FCM = 5.5. * (The Project X shafts always play a half-flex firmer on FCM than their stated shaft rating. This is why so many golfers buy what they think are stiff PX 6.0 shafts, but trade them off as too harsh).

I have never seen a shaft with a 3.5 flex rating, but it would fall somewhere in the women's or senior flexes. You will just have to go out and hit the club and play with it to see if it works for you. If this older shaft is a bit heavier than the average senior flex, this may help you out in feeling the shaft throughout the swing.

Let us know your test results!

[Timmy-9holes]

Thank  you very much for the response.  It sounds like I may have gotten lucky and found a great bargain.  The range you mention should fit into the flexes I have on my other clubs.  I'm going to have to find a heated driving range to try it out.

[1badbadger]

@WUTiger nailed it...should be an A-Flex.  The Fenwick World Class Eagle was a really good shaft back in the day.  I don't recall Callaway offering it as an option though.  It's possible it was re-shafted and a factory grip was installed.  That's a nice find.