Finding the right golf club can be complicated when you run into things like flex. Many people might not understand what flex means or how it affects your golf club.
However, a golf club flex calculator will use the yardage you attain on specific clubs and give you a flex recommendation for your shaft. It should enable you to be more accurate with club fitting.
The flex refers to how much the club would bend when you are playing. While you might need or have a specific flex for one club, the flex could vary for other clubs.
You must research to ensure you find the right flex. Using a good calculator will surely provide you with the adequate flex you could need.
This article aims to look at the flex of golf clubs and help you better understand which club is the best for your needs.
Aside from helping you understand the calculator, we will look at the meaning of the letters that refer to the flex. Once you have a grasp of these numbers, it should be much easier to find the clubs you need.
Golf Shaft Flex Calculator: Improve Swing Quality
The idea of a golf shaft flex calculator is to help you understand how your distance per club will affect the flex you need.
If your swing is not fast enough, you might need something less stiff to help you generate the speed and momentum required for a good shot. However, with a rapid swing, more stiffness might be required.
Since the swing speed and distance heavily correlate with one another, it is safe to assume that a player with great distance will have a faster swing speed.
Once you have an idea of your swing speed and style, you could input the numbers in the calculator and it should give you a general idea of what you should be looking for when choosing a new shaft.
While the calculator does not take everything into account, it will enable you to have a basic idea of where you are when choosing a new shaft. The swing speed and distance directly correlate with the shaft.
However, this can be different with various clubs and you will need to keep this in mind as well when buying a new shaft.
- X – eXtra Stiff
- S – Stiff
- R – Regular
- A – Amateur or Senior
- L – Ladies
Why We Use Distance Instead of Swing Speed?
You might notice that our calculator will enable you to enter the distance instead of the swing speed for the various clubs.
The swing speed might not be as accurate when helping you determines the right shaft for your club. Swing speed can vary depending on your clubs and the type of shot you play.
If your golf club bends too much when you have a slow swing speed, you will generate momentum, but the club will not have the full potential to launch the golf ball.
Adversely, having too little bend on certain clubs with a fast swing speed could still reduce the momentum and you might not get the distance you need.
By using the distance instead of the swing speed, we can accommodate certain golf clubs that do not need such a fast swing speed.
One example could be that when you are playing with an iron, you might not need exceptional speed from your club. This means that the flex will change depending on the shot you take.
You should use the calculator for each club and aim to see how far you can hit the ball with each club. Once you have a general understanding of what your targeted distance is, you can adjust the flex on the club.
It might take one day to run through all your clubs and find out what you can change.
Since replacing the shafts can be daunting, you might also want to consider a club-fitter. These experts will be more knowledgeable in helping you find the ideal shaft for your golf club.
A basic tool like the Golf Club Shaft Puller Extractor will be a useful tool to consider when you need to make changes and replace the shafts.
Golf Club Shaft Flex Chart
Another way you can go about determining the flex you need for your golf club is by using a flex chart. The golf shaft flex chart will be an effective tool that enables you to quickly make comparisons and see where you are in terms of yardage.
Once you have the yardage range, you will notice the correct shaft flex recommended for your golf club.
| Swing Speed | Carry Distance | Flex |
|---|---|---|
| 10 to 70 mph | 30 to 175 yards | L |
| 71 to 72 mph | 176 to 181 yds | L / A |
| 73 to 79 mph | 182 to 197 yds | A |
| 80 to 81 mph | 198 to 203 yds | A / R |
| 82 to 94 mph | 204 to 236 yds | R |
| 95 to 96 mph | 237 to 241 yds | R / S |
| 97 to 105 mph | 242 to 263 yds | S |
| 106 to 107 mph | 264 to 269 yds | S / X |
| Over 108 mph | 270 to 380 yds | X |
However, this is often a bit different from having a direct calculator to work from. The calculator will be more accurate and take the specific measurements that you input as a distance.
It will spew out a solid shaft flex, which you need to be aiming for. Once you have accurate measurements, it is much easier to find a shaft with the correct golf shaft flex.
To attain the best ball speed, you should avoid the wrong golf shaft flex. Having a flexible shaft with a softer flex might not work for everyone and a stiff flex can often offer the right shaft flex.
The chart also indicates clubhead speed and how extra stiff shafts can help shaft flex and deal with faster swing speeds.
Golf Club Shaft Flex Numbers
If you have ever bought a golf club, you will notice a few small numbers on the shaft that refer to the flex. These numbers indicate the flex of the club and they can be translated to numbers on a golf chart.
For a better understanding you can see the project x shaft flex chart:
| Products (Steel) | Flex | Weight (g) | Length (In.) | Tip Diameter (In.) | Butt Diameter (In.) |
| Project X LZ | 5 | 110 | 40-36.5 | 0.355 | 0.6 |
| Project X LZ | 5.5 | 115 | 40-36.5 | 0.355 | 600 |
| Project X LZ | 6 | 120 | 40-36.5 | 0.355 | 0.6 |
| Project X LZ | 6.5 | 125 | 40-36.5 | 0.355 | 600 |
While they range from 4.0 – 7.0, you might not find every number the same on different clubs that you own.
For instance, 5.5 can be considered a stiff shaft on wood. However, it is only considered a regular or regular plus on certain irons. You must single out each club to make sure that you have the ideal stiffness needed.
Our calculator will enable you to input numbers from different club types as well.
Once you have the numbers sorted and you know what they mean in terms of stiffness, you can start doing your research about the different stiffness levels.
We have broken down the different stiffness letters to help you better understand. If you see different alphabetical letters on your clubs, this is what they mean:
Extra Stiff (X)
Longer hitters will often use the extra stiff shaft due to the swing speed they generate through the swing. The extra stiff shaft can often be indicated by an “X” on the golf club.
You must ensure you are a longer hitter, as having a too stiff shaft could diminish your loft and control over shots.
You might often see tour professionals prefer the extra stiff shaft. Legendary player Ben Hogan is one of these players and with his specific swing style and technique, the extra stiff shaft served the player well.
If you want to improve your game and perhaps consider the extra stiffer shafts, you should learn the specific swing style and control.
Stiff (S)
You will notice the stiff shaft being used by most players, especially the low handicappers, who might be gunning for a professional level. The stiff shaft is ideal for those that can breach the 250-yard range and will be functional with the right swing speed.
Regular (R)
You might find that most new players are often recommended the regular shaft. The shaft does not bend as much, but will still give you a slight bit of flex to ensure optimal momentum is achieved.
High handicappers from the male side should consider these to ensure they can attain a good range.
Senior (A/M)
As the name would suggest, the more senior and older players will use this flex shaft for their game. It gives the perfect flex needed for players that still lack some swing speed.
You will often notice the letter “A” as well. This is also referred to as the flex that should be used by entry-level players or “amateurs”.
Ladies (L)
Finally, you can find the ladies flex on your golf club and these clubs will offer the optimal flex for female players. Many male players might also be able to use this flex for their shaft.
It is best for players that struggle to crack the 200-yard range with a driver. However, you might integrate it with other clubs you own.
Which Shaft Type Should I Choose?
You should notice a variety of shaft materials you can choose from when buying a new shaft for your club. Aside from considering the flex, you should know which material can have what effect on your clubs.
We have listed the main shaft materials you might encounter to give you a better understanding:
Steel
Steel shafts are the most durable of the lot and you will notice steel shafts are slightly heavier than their other counterparts. They are more affordable than graphite shafts and will be standard on many entry level golf clubs.
Graphite
In terms of popularity, the graphite shaft seems to be the most common. Most people prefer the graphite shaft for its lighter weight and flexibility. Unfortunately, these shafts are more expensive to produce.
Multi-Material
The multi-material shaft is the combination of the previous two and fuses the graphite shaft with the steel shaft.
It is slightly less expensive than a full graphite shaft, but still more expensive than steel. If you are struggling with flex or need something more specific, this could be the perfect option for your game.
Titanium
Titanium shafts are fairly new and they are the ultimate lighter shaft you can have on your golf clubs. The titanium shaft is lighter and stronger than any of the other shaft materials.
However, it is also the most expensive. As a high handicapper, it might not be worth it to consider a titanium shaft due to the costs of purchase.
How to Change the Shaft on a Golf Club?
If you have store-bought clubs, you might not have the ideal shaft flex you could need to improve your game. Once you have determined that the current shaft is not suitable, you might want to consider replacing it with something else.
However, this can be a daunting process for many players. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you in replacing your golf shaft:
1. Preparing The Club
The first step would consist of preparing the club head and the shaft. To do this, you would want to scrape the ferrule and the bottom of the club with your utility knife.
Using a shaft clamp like the GolfWorks Quick Shaft Clamp will enable you to keep the shaft in place.
By using a heating gun, you can soften the epoxy glue that keeps the club head connected to the shaft. This will make it much easier to eventually remove the club head and leave you with an open shaft.
2. Removing the Club Head
It might be a bit harder to remove the club head and a pry bar might be your best option to release the club head and the shaft from one another.
Once you have the club head, you should keep it from falling, or it might get damaged. Additionally, you want to clean the inside of the hosel to ensure the new glue will stick.
If you are struggling to remove the club head, the Golf Club Shaft Puller Extractor is one of the best tools to consider. It will simplify your life and remove the need for scraping with a utility knife.
3. Clean the Shaft Tip
Once you have a new shaft, you might notice that it could be dusty from not being used or when it is placed outside.
You would want to remove as much of the dirt as possible from the new shaft. If you choose a graphite shaft, the coating could get in the way of the glue, which means it needs to be scraped off.
4. Apply Glue and the Club Head
Once you are done with the cleaning and you are ready to replace the shaft, you want to apply the glue to the tip. The glue should be wet and it should easily slide into the hosel.
It is best to rotate the club a couple of times to make sure that the glue can spread into all the nooks and crannies. This will ensure a secure connection.
5. Wipe Down the Rest of the Glue
Once you have everything applied, you might want to do a final clean. The final clean would be centered around where the glue is located. Some of the glue might want to come out and stick to the shaft.
To ensure that it does not accumulate any unneeded dust particles, you should wipe down the epoxy residue from the club.
6. Visiting a Club Fitter
If you encounter any problems and you notice that the club does not efficiently stick to the head, you should visit a club-fitter. These professionals have advanced equipment that will fix any problems with your clubs.
Alternatively, you can take your clubs to a club-fitter if you don’t want to deal with the frustration of replacing your shaft.
For new players, it might be better to enlist a professional for assistance. This will allow them to recommend the right shaft and give you the ideal fitting. You might notice that your clubs play a little better.
If the golf shaft flex is your biggest concern, we believe the article has cleared up most of the confusion. However, there are a few common questions from new players when it comes to choosing the right golf shaft.
Having done tons of research, here are a few questions you might also have:
What Is a 5.5 Flex on a Golf Club?
When it comes to your traditional irons, a 5.5 flex is referred to as a stiff club. The stiff shaft does not bend as much as the regular and should be beast-suited for players that can hit over 250-yards.
You rarely see beginners that lack good swing speed use a 5.5 flex shaft and succeed.
What Does a 5.5 Flex Mean?
As stated in the previous question, a 5.5 flex is the ideal golf shaft flex you need when you want a stiff shaft. It is the shaft you see many mid-handicappers use to ensure they have the balance of power and flex.
However, you need to have a decent swing speed if you are to use a 5.5 flex golf shaft.
Which Golf Flex Is Right for Me?
Your distance will be the biggest determining factor when it comes to the flex you are going to choose. If you cannot reach the 200-yard mark, you might want to settle for a senior flex in your shaft.
Those players that easily hit past 250-yards, might want a stiff shaft like the 5.5 flex shaft from the previous questions.
Wrap Up
No matter how good your game is, the flex on the shaft of your golf club will be an important factor when you aim to be successful.
By understanding the different flex levels, you ensure you have the right golf clubs and the shaft matches your game. We would love to see your comments and find out which flex you use on your golf clubs.
