This proves you have to try everything. I'm 77, was a scratch golfer years ago and was persuaded to change to more flexible shafts about 20 years ago. My striking has been awful of late so I tried an old set of irons I had put in the cupboard, with stiff Dynamic Gold (S300) shafts and EUREKA!!!!! My striking immediately improved and I lost no distance at all. This makes me wonder why on earth we should ever listen to the so-called "experts" in golf equipment------it is important to at least TRY everything before dismissing anything out of hand. I have since returned to stiff shafts in my woods as well, again with no loss of distance, making me question the theory that older players "should" use more flexible clubs to regain lost distance. I would love to hear your thoughts on this please, James.
Dick Turnip toatly agree every one telling me to play regular but tried some stiff ones and striking improoved with no loss of distance and flying straighter
When I was in my 20's I had my swing speed measured and was told that I needed extra stiff shafts. I couldn't play them to save my life. Then I heard John Daly say that you should use the most flexible shaft you can control...so I got a set in A-Flex(senior). I never looked back. Shaft selection is more complicated than swing speed. It's also about matching your natural tempo and how much force you put on the shaft during the transition(change of direction) at the top of your swing.
Never been fitted but I used to hit a stiff shaft and felt a lot of gearing on of center strikes. I bought the m3 with the tensei extra stiff blue just like the one you just used and boom. No more hooks on high toe and haven't hit a driver this long in about 15 years. Love this club and shaft combo.
When I first started playing, around 21 years old, I played with regular flex clubs and one of my friends commented that on my downswing that the shaft was flexing so much that it looked more like a whip. I went and had my swing speed measured(124mph) and the shop told me to go with an extra stiff flex shaft. I made a big difference in the distance and consistency, for me.
I was fitted for the Black Tie & Atmos Black S Flex at Golf Galaxy. On a simulator I was around total distance around 265 and about 15 yards right of line as I like to pull it. Real life driving range they were all over the place. I'm using the 2017 M1 also. Unfortunately I wasn't happy when I was getting my 3 wood around 260 with a Rogue Silver S Flex, tried it in a driver and hated the feel. Took a vacation to California and we stopped at the Kingdom, Taylormade was awesome with the fitting process and offered a free session as I expressed my concerns. Talk with the guy and he really listen he had me try the HZARD Black was great but went too high. Next we went lower Tour AD BB 6s.......2nd Best shaft on tour he said. 1st was low but I had to readjust to it, 2nd I bombed it 280 carry alone and only 5 yards off line. I hit 10 more after that and they got longer. Around 290 and safe to say I was happy golfer. Played a few days ago and I know I live in higher elevation in Northern Arizona but some on course I was getting total distance around 320 to 330. Not complaining now but shaft technology will help but debating if I want to try the M3 with it. You definitely want to get fully fitted because there are so many shafts out there and they all do different things. Graphite Design has so many options with flexs, stiffness, weight and this one is huge and underrated for the fitting process is the Torque in the shaft. Off the rack clubs they're gonna be around 3.7ish better Golfer would need a 3.2 or less that .5 difference is HUGE with your dynamic loft and will play a factor in your spin numbers, launch, and height. I can talk all day about this because it want I teach but that's just me. James.......love the video. Can't wait for the Shaft length one as I said before I hit my 3 wood 260+ ok now I'm 6'3 270 and a 3.4 handicap i had to cut it down 1 inch. Before I was all over the place with that, took a inch off and Bam...260 and straight. 😁😁😁😁 can't wait to watch it. Sorry I wrote too much but we can't talk all day with Shaft Technology and Performance.
MikeOSmith , Dear James. enjoyed the shaft test, I have a 90+ swing speed and a senior flex on all my clubs. I found that fitting was great for straight flight, using the senior shaft. I used a reg shaft till I turned 66. that is when I noticed the loss of distance got fitted and wham yardage back.
I cannot play frequently due to neuropathy in hands and feet, so I found some ladies clubs at a thrift shop for ten dollars. Put bigger grips on for comfort and cushion. Lengthened them a half inch and tried them out. Like a rebirth as a golfer. No distance loss and the feel was phenominal.
Fabulous, James. I have always used a stiff shaft due to my aggressive swing. Never been fitted, but maybe time to investigate the X-stiff shaft. Thank you.
I’m using a Graphite Design Tour AD BB 70 gram X stiff in a Taylormade M3 460. I was custom fitted for this and I chose it because it was the shaft that I had the best dispersion with while also controlling my high ball flight
Jack Nicklaus used an S steel shaft in the same driver for thirty years! Went on to win 18 majors..... Figure that!! Marketing, the putter is more important!
James I use a stiff shaft on my driver and regular shafts on set of clubs. I tried a stiff shaft around three years ago on my driver and I found after a short time I had to swing nice and smooth to get good distance rather than swinging the driver fast.
I've never had my club head speed checked, but I've noticed that over the years my dispersion with regular shaft is wider than with stiff shafted clubs,unless I make a point of backing off. But I can often hit it further with a regular shafted club. So, I've always tended to stick with stiff shaft and tighter dispersion.
I’m currently using a 70g X flex shaft on my new M3. My last driver was a RBZ stage 2 with the stock 50g stiff shaft. It always felt flimsy and too light. So I wanted something different when I was testing at the shop. Turns out this was exactly the difference I wanted. I’m much more consistent now.
Was fitted for a new driver last week, went through a lot of shafts before we found the right one, shows how important it is to get properly fitted. My previous driver was fitted at American Golf and was spinning at over 4000.
I originally had an extra stiff shaft on my M4 head and kept losing the ball right. I switched to the Atmos Regular shaft and the ball flight straightened back out. I am a senior golfer and the M4 added 16 yards to my drive; but the shaft made the most difference in control, rather than distance.
Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec X Flex. I was fit for this shaft in the Cobra F8+ Head. Mostly to help me fight the high spin rate I produce. Launch conditions are great and I love the club. I suggest to all my students to always have their clubs custom fit, every time they buy. Even if they have been fit before, because let’s face it, all of our swings will change even if it’s just with age.
On my driver (F9 Speedback 9 degree) I play a HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 60g (stiff) 0.5in tipped down to 45in playing length. I love it so much. On my irons (Srixon Z765, 4i-AW) I play an Dynamic Gold S300 stiff and I love those too!
I have never been fitted. I have a G25 Ping. I'm a Senior golfer. I have tried several shafts. Bought this used this driver. It came with Reg flex.shaft. I built a A flex Senior shaft 45 grams for it. I have a swing speed of 80-85. This shaft works well for me. Very interesting test of shaft flex. I think there still could be a bias with out using a robot to swing each one. But good job.
Currently gaming the TPT Golf shaft in the 16 setting which is between a regular and stiff and was fitted for it and it’s a game changer. Great video James!
All - I am by no means an expert but I am an avid golfer and very technical and analytical. I am over 50 and have gone through all sorts of methods of fitting for my gear. I have always used X flex shafts in my woods with a swing speed of 100-110+ over the years. The reason the x flex works for me is due to my particular swing/loading/transition of the club. The weight of the shaft also plays into the equation along with kick point. Shafts differ so much manufacturer to manufacturer, you really have to go to an outdoor demo with a launch monitor and fitter to "see" electronically AND visually what best fits your preference and optimizes your swing. Many times I was "fit" by club head speed alone incorrectly. I was astonished that after getting the correct combination of shaft/head loft how I was able to feel and see subtle differences in shaft brands and weights. James did the best here outside, different flexes of the same shaft for comparison. If he tried the Tensei white ck 70 he may find the STIFF to be just as consistent as the ck 60g X flex but possibly shorter. Just my 2 cents to hopefully give some thought. Run though a bunch of combinations - a manufacturers fitter will be able to send you in the right direction then it will be up to you to decide. Great videos and information - thank you
I was fitted 2yrs ago for my shaft and driver head,fujikura speeder 60gms tour stiff,amazing shaft with a great kick point given me mid/high launch. A massive shout out to taylormade for supporting you with their products 👏👏 oh and another fantastic review
Awesome video. I just ordered the xtra stiff white shaft for the M3 online. Purely based on numbers from flight scope. Ive never been fitted for anything in my life. I only play 3-4 times per year so it’s hard to justify paying $165 for a driver fitting and then full price for a driver. I saw this one online in the clearance section as it’s old now so grabbed it for $399 instead of $799.
My driver and woods are regular flex my irons are senior flex. I’m 61 years old with some limited mobility. This combination seems to work great for me.
I go with what i see on the golf course. Tried being fitted but always struggled to maintain tempo which is key to my slow swing speed. Ladies shaft seems to work best. Even went there with my irons. The only shaft that gives me height and carry. We should go with what works. End of story
Great content James, I also have the M3 driver and bought it on eBay. It came with a tensie extra stiff flex and I hated it.(I couldn't swing it fast enough and be consistent) So I ordered the stiff 60g tensie. It was night and day. The stiff flex is my sweet spot for sure. Thanks for posting this video
Thanks James. Where does Senior flex fit in the range? Same as Ladies? Stiffer than ladies but less than Regular? Would swinging a ladies-flex allow you to have more stamina for the full round, more so than using a stiffer flex? I think you could get acclimated to about anything if used a few times... So many options....
Good videos James, looking at a good variety of different subjects for the normal golfer. How about you look at the difference in regular and stiff shafts in long, mid and short irons? Thanks again.
Interesting video since I am getting fitted for a driver shaft in a couple of days. I have tried using stiff but was losing distance. Since the quality of shafts have improved, it will be interesting to see what happens.
I'm hitting stiff flex for the past year BUT I am getting closer to moving up to Extra Stiff! My last session at Golf Galaxy, most of my shots were over 110 mph clubhead speed and the shots were pulling left.
Great stuff as usual! I swing around 95 mph and have used senior to x flex. I am always most interested in the fit with the head. Diamana whiteboard 70S in current head (913 D3). Perfect match. Last driver Fuji Pro 60R (Cobra F7+) also perfect match
James - I believe that the reason you hit the X-flex further is because the X-flex probably helps you to find the center of the face more consistently, and we all know that center contact with solid impact equates to more distance.
So interesting........... But when I think of my bloody swing, and its huge variations, I'm let as confused as ever, and certainly no closer to driving a fitter mad with my lack of knowledge and consistency. But thoroughly interesting watching you go through these shafts. Thanks!!
I was told repeatedly by everyone that I needed to start using stiff shafts. So when I ordered new irons (JPX 900 Forged) I got them with KBS Tour 120 Stiff Flex shafts, as was recommended by my pro. Omg did I hate those things. Every once in a while I could get some really nice hits that felt really smooth, but I just couldn't get them off the ground consistently and they were sooo heavy. I worked at a course so one night I took our test irons out with a bunch of shafts just to experiment. I was shocked at how well I was hitting the TT XP 95 Regular Flex shafts. The ball was getting up into the air, and I was so much more consistent. Plus they didn't feel like two ton bricks. I bought a whole set of those shafts and replaced the KBS shafts in my irons. Haven't looked back. If you're going to spend a lot of money on clubs, be sure to go somewhere and try out all sorts of different shafts. They make a huge difference. And the flex is based on a lot more than just swing speed. Also, kick the ego. You aren't a better golfer just because you use stiff or extra stiff shafts...
I got fitted by titleist at st ives and after hitting a load o balls with driver and different shafts I settled on a diamana blue board stiff.. best numbers by far👍🏻
I play the M3 with the Mitsubishi Tensei 60 shaft and it performs great. I have played the "R" flex since the "bubble shaft" era of the 1990's. Now that I am 68 my swing speed has really slowed down. It's really had to square an S or X flex at impact.
I wasn't fitted for a specific shaft, but had a general recommendation based on swing speed average of 122 over 15 swings. I was told to find the stiffest and heaviest shaft I could find which led me to an Aldila RIP Phenom Tour X-Stiff at 80 grams. Unfortunately this is a mid launch shaft and my ball flight is way too high even with my 9.5 degreeTM RBZ stage 2 turned down to 8 degrees. Would like to upgrade my whole driver setup and find a low launch/low spin shaft with the right shaft flex that won't break the bank. The only Tour X-Stiff low launch/low spin shafts I have found are all $250+ which I can't justify since I play less than 15 rounds per year. Definitely like the looks of that M3 driver head.
Had same issue when I did my fitting. I found a 100g grafalloy blue on eBay and luckily had a high kick point. 1 of say 5 drives is monstrous! >300yds and straight.... but will easily lose a ball with the other 4 drives. Painful but still love the shaft.
Unfortunately James, I bought a Callaway FT Tour driver, the day after Phil won his 3rd Masters. It came with a stock Voodoo SVS stiff shaft. It was a mistake. I hit low duck hooks, 240yds down the middle, and very high, perfect fades. But very, very, high. I believe at 6'4 260lbs, I should be hitting the ball, much farther.. Would a X-stiff shaft be cool for me??
@@alanmerrill8628 no. Just because you're big doesn't mean you can hit the ball further. Its all about timing plus speed. You have to be at the fastest speed at impact. Lots of players create the speed before the impact zone which is usually caused by breaking your wrists before impact.
Golf is endlessly entertaining. There are infinite variables, equipment, weather, human input, luck etc. It only takes one good shot to bring us back to the course tomorrow. And if you can't play well anymore, there is always someone who can improve your game. Even as a senior, I am hooked on possibilities. thanks
I've just got this one comment: I used to use X-stiff shafts when my driver swing speed was around 120mph. As my swing speed diminished over the years to around 85 mph, my X-shafts felt "boardy" and I began to lose the feel of where the club head was during my swing. This created doubt, loss of confidence, and bad shots. So down the ladder I went. Now I play A-flex in my driver and regular shafts in my irons. None of these changes gave me the distance that I lost with age, but they gave me "feel" and consistency in my shots, making the game enjoyable again. (used to be a 5 and now a 10)
James Robinson Golf, you can never go wrong with a course vlog of some sort. At least a few recordings to add at the beginning of your video for an update :)
James Robinson Golf I’m getting there! I think the switch to the x-stiff got the club head in sync with my swing and not lagging slightly behind. It just feels right!
I tried a R S and XS SHAFT when getting fitted. My club head speed is 115 mph and the R and S shafts felt like they got away from me and weren’t consistent. The XS 75g shaft I have now feels perfect and my ball flight is way straighter than with the other ones
Interesting. I've been playing a 60 gr stiff shaft for 35 years and was fitted last week. With a swing speed ave. of 96.5 I found a 53 gram Regular shaft to be winner for me I was adding 10-15 yards over the shaft I had been using. Definitely feels more "whippy" be as the fitter said "that isn't a bad thing at all". Looking forward to getting it out in the real world.
Hi James for me it’s more the weight and balance of the club that gives me the confidence. But hold my hands up never been properly fitted for shaft, I have an average of 106 mph swing speed, driver bought blindly off the internet not knowing anything about shaft(it’s flexi), hate it too high flight and spin, my fairway wood tried about 3 shafts ended up with stiff 60g Pro-Ject x love hitting it. I’m defo getting fitted for my new driver this year for Christmas.
Forget about flex rating j , it’s all about feel and numbers , the matrix allowed you to load properly and more importantly find centre strike more consistently , I noticed your spin rate was down from your last tests also with m3 heads, you should game that matrix 👍 playing off scratch in no time
James, a most interesting video. From watching it would seem that when knowing which flex we hit, it will influence our mindset more than the actual results, like "Ah, I will never be able to hit a good shot with the X flex. My swing is too slow." but you got it working pretty well. Or the Ladies flex which you seemed to like more than you would have expected... 2 things I would be interested in knowing: 1. What flex did you end up using on your personal driver in the end? 2. Could you do something similar on some Iron clubs? Many thanks for the interesting videos, I keep discovering them only today! Cheers mate
great test James .....I don't carry a driver only 3 wood but was fitted for it the shaft is a Matrix Ozik stiff flex hit it dead straight and like a bullet love it
93 club head speed Senior flex. Plus I cut 3 inches off the butt end . 12.5 head. And love it. I have been trying to get a youtuber to try this with no luck. Mini driver with the smaller head defeats the purpose
I personally have a very similar swing speed, I generally swing around 105 on average. However due to my approach into the ball and spin rate I have been fitted into a high kick point x-flex shaft, generally with the loft set around 7 degrees.
Just bought the epic flash 3W. Wasn’t fitted but I did try it with the evenflow stiff (60g) and the tensei stiff (75g) for me there was a clear difference in shaft vs. performance, I kept pushing the ball with the tensei and was much closer to the middle with the evenflow, I didn’t think 15g would make much of a difference, but I could really feel it in my swing.
I'm experimenting right now. I've got a senior , regular and stiff shafts. Funny, but on a good day, I can hit any of them fairly well. But again, the next day the results coud vary, depending on my swing. Since I'm no professional, our swing MAY change from day to day, due to certain factors....
As long as I can remember I used stiff flex shatts because regularl shafts resulted in a major fade. When I turned 58 last year I went to a regular flex and started hitting it longer and straight as ever.
I use a an Original after market Diamana B series 60 x flex ,very smooth ,swing speed between 105 and 111,Its a great shaft and really not that stiff but it holds up well ,helps cut out the left side of the Course as you say .Got the best smash factor with it too .Flex is too wide a difference between different shafts and makes .Weight , feel ,kick point and torque are more important . If that x felt good James and you liked the feel ,stick it in bag .Good video .
Currently playing a stiff shaft. Unfitted. I bought my driver off the rack with a regular flex shaft in it because I didn't know my club head speed but didn't think I was that fast. After a couple weeks of using it, and not being able to get my timing right for the shaft, I swapped it for the stiff shaft and never looked back. Club head speed is about 108, tested last week on a launch monitor.
Loads of different shafts. Fitted into a mid-torque Pro-Green 62 stiff shaft with a EPIC sub-zero with the weight in the forward setting. Good for my 102mph speed and hits is a decent distance
Great video James. Over the past few weeks I’ve gone through the fitting process and find myself using a Nippon Zelos 7 shaft in an R2 flex in my irons...ladies or seniors flex. As I do qualify as a senior this isn’t that odd but I’m still surprised. They feel fantastic, encourage me to swing more smoothly and they really put a charge in the ball. I’m reminded that Fred Couples won the Masters using Tom Watson’s wife’s 3 wood off the tee on most of the par 4’s and one of the par 5’s.
Driver i'm using is a 2011 Cleveland Launcher DST 430cc head, 9.5 degrees. Shaft in that is a Diamana 44vSL S-Flex. I've never been fitted for clubs, i'm a 28 HCap and my game swings so wildly I just don't see the point until I gain some consistency - once i'm consistently playing within a 10 shot swing then i'll get fitted and invest the cash there. This club I picked up for £45 from Golf Bidder, gained 20yds on my previous Regular Flex driver, but that being said, that driver was also about 4 years older so - difference in distance and dispersion is probably down to that, rather than flex
Absolutely! That place is a gold mine! I meant to say I only went for a Stiff shaft on a hunch. I have no idea about my swing speeds or any of that, it was more of a "feel" choice, based on different clubs my friends use. I used a mates X-Stiff Driver and it just did not feel right for me, Regular felt great (my old club) but when I used a Stiff Flex driver my mate had, its a Callaway Big Bertha from about 2013, it just felt right for me. I'm sure if I go and get fitted i'll be told i'm using completely the wrong shaft but it's a gut feeling for now
Nathan Thomas I have that same driver with a 10.5° draw bias head, paid £25 off ebay 2nd hand great condition no damage. The club is awesome can agree with you there 👍👍
Currently using beginner driver with softer than soft flex that i bought when i started playing, but after some testing F9 with x-stiff shaft is in the mail on its way.
I was fitted years ago with a regular in an r7 425 But just had a look in my bag Driver and 3wood are regular My 5 wood is light All bought used without a thought to stiffness On a good day they all go straight On a bad day they all go right
Flex frequency has the absolute smallest impact on the performance of a golf club for the higher speed player. After a round or two, almost any athlete will adjust to a change in shaft, takes me about 5 or 6 drives. That being said, most of us just play the stiffest we can find because of the perception that it is more stable. I play a fairly stiff driver shaft, though I can pick up a uniflex club at top golf and adjust to it quite well. Just use the one that comes in the club you like, it really makes no difference, exotic, flex point, etc. its all marketing. The weight and overall length of the club will play a much bigger role in selection. Most will want heavy, though some will lean towards lighter shafts. At the end of the day, the stock shaft in your club will be good enough, spending top dollar on upgrades is just marketing. Fitted i gained about 3 yards over the stock shaft, maybe a 'slight' change in feel. Aldila Rogue M.AX (Low Launch) 65g Stiff - Driver head +4 grams. 100-105+ SS
As you know, "regular" or "stiff" mean little since there are no industry standards. Since you used the same family of shafts from the same manufacturer, then the regular is probably stiffer than the ladies, the stiff is probably stiffer than the regular and so on. However, I have tested the same flex shafts from the same manufacturer an found 12 to 15 cpm difference. I enjoyed your test but next time at least test butt stiffness so you know the true differences in stiffness and can compare performance in a better light.
Woodrow Greene just testing butt CPM will not tell a whole lot on true flex. Plenty of shafts out there that will CPM much higher but play weaker due to the profile of the rest of the shaft and same of the reverse. The flex designation, while different from manufacturer to manufacturer are still fairly similar. As someone else said, I think the best test would be to try this test using all the same shaft. You will have to go up in weight as you get to the X, but it will provide the best data. I've done this test myself and was also quite surprised by the results I got from the softer flexes. Glad to see I'm not crazy!
I am 65 years old, the first few holes my back is a little stiff, but when i have a few shots of patron my club head speed increases...but it all comes down to putting at the end of a great day with the boys. #1 rule in golf at any age is still "You drive for show and you PUTT for the dough" !!!
Just had a custom fit for JPX 919 HM Pro. Steel Shaft, Dynamic Gold AMT for me, I has better carry, spin and speed. I did try the project X also and shot my stats to bits!
So many factors come into picking a shaft, one is how you load the shaft ie smooth tempo or aggressive from top of back swing., had a fitting myself recently and found it very educational, but the way most golf shaft manufacturers advertise there product, you are led to believe you can buy a better swing, if only you could LOL.
Woods I use S Flex, but use R flex steel shafts. Mostly has to do with feel. Could care less about looks. As long as it’s straight I’m happy. Some have told me to go to S Flex in my irons because my misses tend to be left and I typically fight a hook. But I think I tend to come too inside and it has less to do with flex.
Wonderful video. As most would say, the distance could be greater from the more flexible shaft, but the stiffer shaft could produce a more appealing dispersion. I had a similar experience and queried manufacturers at the PGA Merchandise Show. They all agreed, there was something in the way I loaded and unloaded the shaft that gave me (and you in this video) better dispersion and greater distance. Others might find otherwise. Just one "scientific" observation. You have assumed the shaft flex given by the manufacturer. Not a good assumption. Should a manufacturer desire to give a club a "softer" feel, they might choose a weaker (more flexible) shaft. They might also insist on labeling it an R or S to appease the consumer. The only way to tell for sure is to get the frequency of each shaft and place them on a deflection board for comparison sake. Loved the video, great stuff :)
It’s tough to get an accurate result when the shaft profiles are different. It may have bee better to use all the same shafts, say Tensi Blue in X S R and ladies. I use a Kuru Kagi silver tini reg in my driver, Tensi red in a hybrid and Tensi blue in fairway, the feel is really close on all three. I use nippon Zellos 7 & 8 stiff in my irons. I was fitted and the feel is very balanced across the clubs
Gary Cumberland I absolutely agree. With no standard for shaft stiffness, using different brands is going to be all over the place for shaft stiffness, bend profiles and feel. I'd be curious in a redo of all tensei shafts in different flexes.
Shaft flex is just a small part of being fitted. Plus, you'll never notice 4-5 more yards on the course. The conditions of the course will far outweigh that difference in carry distance subject to roll. I got fitted for a lighter shaft and it's made all the difference in the world because of dispersion. You hit the nail on the head when you said you felt like you had to work more with the stiff flex. It's all about feel.
New to game. Played maybe 10 times. Had hand me down set and driver broke. Bought cheap Wilson black driver at box store and said mens flex. Realized I'm hooked and been upgrading set. Recently bought new M6 after fitting. With cheapie was getting 260 with roll and way to bendy. Fitting I was hitting left but 270 carry and up to 285 roll with stiff flex. Started talking grips and went with jumbo due to large hands. Was told that would help with hitting left. What I found odd after the fact was fitting shaft was atmos 6. Shaft I realized hours later I bought was atmos 5 in stiff still. Haven't been able to reach actual person that helped me to ask why. My best guess is jumbo grip with lighter shaft it's still 14 grams heavier than my demo club during testing. With regular grips my left hand in backswing would lose contact and be down to 2 fingers holding club. Jumbo was needed. And oh, my best hit with demo was 311 carry with 333 roll out and dead straight. I was sold there.
I play stiff flex in my driver, fairways and hybrids, and a soft-stepped stiff (or hard-stepped regular) in my irons, all in medium to heavyweight graphite composite. My wedge shafts are stiff flex Nippon steel. I am a Professional Clubfitter, and have been recognized by Golf Digest as one of America’s top clubfitters, and indeed I was fitted for all of my golf equipment including the shafts that I use. In fact, the ACCRA shaft in my driver says “custom engineered for Doug Mael” (my name).
I have a swing speed around 115 and use a senior flex shaft in my driver. If you hit it good who cares what flex it it! It’s different for everyone so just try our a lot of shafts.
Good video, the most interesting measurement I noticed but you didn't discuss was the carry distance. Between the L, R & S are almost identical with XS only slightly longer so the difference is the runout so depending on the course and how soft or hard it is the distance may not be that different.
James i am 105 mph swing speed my dispersion was the best with x flex and taking the left side of the course out of play is also a bonus for me considering the shaft I’ve been using is a stiff flex and i could miss the fairway a lot so fairways won out for me not a shaft i personally would have picked but a 2 day fitting changed my mind
That is very interesting. I'm 58 now. I grew up with a banana slice. At around age 33, (using Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons") I was able to turn it into a draw. Now, my bad shots miss the fairway left. I tried my brother's stiff Ping irons, and was surprised at how "forgiving" they seemed to me. Perhaps it was as much the shaft flex, as it was the quality clubheads? I don't know my swing speed, but never felt that I was fast, so never thought a stiff would be usable for me. I may have to reconsider.....
Currently using Titleist 917 D2 8.5 Driver with a X-Stiff Aldila Rogue Max. Great low rocket ball flight. Cool video btw dude all the best to you🙏🏻cheers from malaysia , Leon.
use a 40g Senior and it has made a huge difference. Wonder if Ultra Light or light might be useful. Epic Flash is what I am think about.. Senior golfers want to know
I’m wrong side of 50 swing is slow and smooth and always played a Reg shaft. Tried an x stiff this year. Wow drives are STRAIGHT. No more leaky high fades. And I’m longer than ever. Me, x stiff? WOW just try something different. By all accounts I shouldn’t be anywhere nears this but it works!
Was using a regular stiff shaft, but i just preferred an extra stiff shaft... ex baseball player so swing a little faster and with a lot of flew my ball tends to slice. And i like the feel of the stuff flew
I'm a 5.8 index with average club head speed. I've always hit stiff flex on all shafts, but happened to get a good deal on an TM M1 driver that happened to have an XS shaft in it. Could not be more UNhappy. Proper shaft flex is very important, obviously. Hitting an XS is like hitting rocks to the right all day long. I hate it. I want to feel some flex and whip. Not feel like I'm swinging an iron rod. I will be moving that head over to a new, S shaft after the season.
Another great vid mate! Think a fitting is in order when I save up the pennies! Interested to see a video about shaft lengths! I’ve often wondered if a slightly shorter shaft might help my dispersion and if it would cost much in the way of yardage! Keep the great content coming mate! 👍🏻
It does make some difference but the biggest difference I find it makes is how you feel about your shot. I went and got fully fit and the fitter said well your swing speed you should be using a regular flex and stuff wouldn't make a difference. Well it did make a huge difference because I felt better about my shot with the stuff flex shaft
James - Did all of the shafts have the same kick point? Could the ladies shaft have a lower kick point to get the ball up in the air quicker? What was the swing weight of the club for each shaft? Lot of questions left to compare apples to apples. Love your videos. Just found the channel and I am going back to watch most of them.
I’m new to actually playing golf the correct way lol, before this last year I would just go out and wack a ball hard as I could and hope i could find it, but this past year I have actually been trying to improve my game not just drink a few and hang with the boys, I have never been fitted and I don’t have clue as what size my clubs shaft length is, I have a old set of ping eye 2 and my driver is a G 25 with extra stiff shaft, and I have an average of 115 swing speed on the driver haven’t really tested any other clubs on that. Great video James would definitely like to see how the extra stiff does for ya on the course
Use a mixture of shafts Reg Tensai 50g in driver stiff flex shafts in 3&5 woods and stiff steel in my M1 irons have only ever been fitted for my driver TS2.
I got fitted with Alta cb soft regular senior shaft for Ping G400 max , the fitting went well for regular but the senior shaft seemed easier to hit the fairway with a smooth swing as I struggle on the back 9 , but got handicap from 28 to 18 so I might go back to see if my numbers has changed as driver distance has increased.
I walked into Edwin watts looking for a new driver, hit a few shots and my club head speed was around 110mph so the guy in the store said I should be using a stiff shaft.... stuck with it ever since... Edit : I deff thought that the ladies shaft was going to have a much lower launch angle because the shaft is much more flexible, therefore due to the Acceleration of the club head being above what the shaft would be “rated” for the club head would be lagging behind and actually removing some loft a smidge. That’s what happens in my mind at least....
This proves you have to try everything. I'm 77, was a scratch golfer years ago and was persuaded to change to more flexible shafts about 20 years ago. My striking has been awful of late so I tried an old set of irons I had put in the cupboard, with stiff Dynamic Gold (S300) shafts and EUREKA!!!!! My striking immediately improved and I lost no distance at all. This makes me wonder why on earth we should ever listen to the so-called "experts" in golf equipment------it is important to at least TRY everything before dismissing anything out of hand. I have since returned to stiff shafts in my woods as well, again with no loss of distance, making me question the theory that older players "should" use more flexible clubs to regain lost distance.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this please, James.
Dick Turnip toatly agree every one telling me to play regular but tried some stiff ones and striking improoved with no loss of distance and flying straighter
Mr. Turnip you cant beat experience and you just proved it with your comment my money is on the seasoned veteran and you are one of the best God Bless
When I was in my 20's I had my swing speed measured and was told that I needed extra stiff shafts. I couldn't play them to save my life. Then I heard John Daly say that you should use the most flexible shaft you can control...so I got a set in A-Flex(senior). I never looked back. Shaft selection is more complicated than swing speed. It's also about matching your natural tempo and how much force you put on the shaft during the transition(change of direction) at the top of your swing.
Absolutely! I’ve got a video dropping today comparing shafts on the course! So important you test where it matters!
Never been fitted but I used to hit a stiff shaft and felt a lot of gearing on of center strikes. I bought the m3 with the tensei extra stiff blue just like the one you just used and boom. No more hooks on high toe and haven't hit a driver this long in about 15 years. Love this club and shaft combo.
When I first started playing, around 21 years old, I played with regular flex clubs and one of my friends commented that on my downswing that the shaft was flexing so much that it looked more like a whip. I went and had my swing speed measured(124mph) and the shop told me to go with an extra stiff flex shaft. I made a big difference in the distance and consistency, for me.
I was fitted for the Black Tie & Atmos Black S Flex at Golf Galaxy. On a simulator I was around total distance around 265 and about 15 yards right of line as I like to pull it. Real life driving range they were all over the place. I'm using the 2017 M1 also. Unfortunately I wasn't happy when I was getting my 3 wood around 260 with a Rogue Silver S Flex, tried it in a driver and hated the feel. Took a vacation to California and we stopped at the Kingdom, Taylormade was awesome with the fitting process and offered a free session as I expressed my concerns. Talk with the guy and he really listen he had me try the HZARD Black was great but went too high. Next we went lower Tour AD BB 6s.......2nd Best shaft on tour he said. 1st was low but I had to readjust to it, 2nd I bombed it 280 carry alone and only 5 yards off line. I hit 10 more after that and they got longer. Around 290 and safe to say I was happy golfer. Played a few days ago and I know I live in higher elevation in Northern Arizona but some on course I was getting total distance around 320 to 330. Not complaining now but shaft technology will help but debating if I want to try the M3 with it. You definitely want to get fully fitted because there are so many shafts out there and they all do different things. Graphite Design has so many options with flexs, stiffness, weight and this one is huge and underrated for the fitting process is the Torque in the shaft. Off the rack clubs they're gonna be around 3.7ish better Golfer would need a 3.2 or less that .5 difference is HUGE with your dynamic loft and will play a factor in your spin numbers, launch, and height. I can talk all day about this because it want I teach but that's just me. James.......love the video. Can't wait for the Shaft length one as I said before I hit my 3 wood 260+ ok now I'm 6'3 270 and a 3.4 handicap i had to cut it down 1 inch. Before I was all over the place with that, took a inch off and Bam...260 and straight. 😁😁😁😁 can't wait to watch it. Sorry I wrote too much but we can't talk all day with Shaft Technology and Performance.
Golf galaxy is shit !
MikeOSmith , Dear James. enjoyed the shaft test, I have a 90+ swing speed and a senior flex on all my clubs. I found that fitting was great for straight flight, using the senior shaft. I used a reg shaft till I turned 66. that is when I noticed the loss of distance got fitted and wham yardage back.
I cannot play frequently due to neuropathy in hands and feet, so I found some ladies clubs at a thrift shop for ten dollars. Put bigger grips on for comfort and cushion. Lengthened them a half inch and tried them out. Like a rebirth as a golfer. No distance loss and the feel was phenominal.
Fabulous, James. I have always used a stiff shaft due to my aggressive swing. Never been fitted, but maybe time to investigate the X-stiff shaft. Thank you.
I’m using a Graphite Design Tour AD BB 70 gram X stiff in a Taylormade M3 460. I was custom fitted for this and I chose it because it was the shaft that I had the best dispersion with while also controlling my high ball flight
Like your style,
Not beating shots all day.
About my build,
About my quirky swing,
About my swing speed,
Makes sense to me!
Jack Nicklaus used an S steel shaft in the same driver for thirty years! Went on to win 18 majors..... Figure that!! Marketing, the putter is more important!
James I use a stiff shaft on my driver and regular shafts on set of clubs. I tried a stiff shaft around three years ago on my driver and I found after a short time I had to swing nice and smooth to get good distance rather than swinging the driver fast.
I've never had my club head speed checked, but I've noticed that over the years my dispersion with regular shaft is wider than with stiff shafted clubs,unless I make a point of backing off. But I can often hit it further with a regular shafted club. So, I've always tended to stick with stiff shaft and tighter dispersion.
I’m currently using a 70g X flex shaft on my new M3. My last driver was a RBZ stage 2 with the stock 50g stiff shaft. It always felt flimsy and too light. So I wanted something different when I was testing at the shop. Turns out this was exactly the difference I wanted. I’m much more consistent now.
Was fitted for a new driver last week, went through a lot of shafts before we found the right one, shows how important it is to get properly fitted. My previous driver was fitted at American Golf and was spinning at over 4000.
What did you get? I have this problem as well.
thinking of changing a shaft for me old taylormade R1 driver now! come just in time. thanks man!
I originally had an extra stiff shaft on my M4 head and kept losing the ball right. I switched to the Atmos Regular shaft and the ball flight straightened back out. I am a senior golfer and the M4 added 16 yards to my drive; but the shaft made the most difference in control, rather than distance.
Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec X Flex. I was fit for this shaft in the Cobra F8+ Head. Mostly to help me fight the high spin rate I produce. Launch conditions are great and I love the club. I suggest to all my students to always have their clubs custom fit, every time they buy. Even if they have been fit before, because let’s face it, all of our swings will change even if it’s just with age.
On my driver (F9 Speedback 9 degree) I play a HZRDUS Smoke Yellow 60g (stiff) 0.5in tipped down to 45in playing length. I love it so much. On my irons (Srixon Z765, 4i-AW) I play an Dynamic Gold S300 stiff and I love those too!
I have never been fitted. I have a G25 Ping. I'm a Senior golfer. I have tried several shafts. Bought this used this driver. It came with Reg flex.shaft. I built a A flex Senior shaft 45 grams for it. I have a swing speed of 80-85. This shaft works well for me. Very interesting test of shaft flex. I think there still could be a bias with out using a robot to swing each one. But good job.
Currently gaming the TPT Golf shaft in the 16 setting which is between a regular and stiff and was fitted for it and it’s a game changer. Great video James!
It's amazing to see how much your swing has changed over the years. Perhaps a video idea ?
All - I am by no means an expert but I am an avid golfer and very technical and analytical. I am over 50 and have gone through all sorts of methods of fitting for my gear. I have always used X flex shafts in my woods with a swing speed of 100-110+ over the years. The reason the x flex works for me is due to my particular swing/loading/transition of the club. The weight of the shaft also plays into the equation along with kick point. Shafts differ so much manufacturer to manufacturer, you really have to go to an outdoor demo with a launch monitor and fitter to "see" electronically AND visually what best fits your preference and optimizes your swing. Many times I was "fit" by club head speed alone incorrectly. I was astonished that after getting the correct combination of shaft/head loft how I was able to feel and see subtle differences in shaft brands and weights. James did the best here outside, different flexes of the same shaft for comparison. If he tried the Tensei white ck 70 he may find the STIFF to be just as consistent as the ck 60g X flex but possibly shorter. Just my 2 cents to hopefully give some thought. Run though a bunch of combinations - a manufacturers fitter will be able to send you in the right direction then it will be up to you to decide. Great videos and information - thank you
I was fitted 2yrs ago for my shaft and driver head,fujikura speeder 60gms tour stiff,amazing shaft with a great kick point given me mid/high launch. A massive shout out to taylormade for supporting you with their products 👏👏 oh and another fantastic review
Awesome video.
I just ordered the xtra stiff white shaft for the M3 online. Purely based on numbers from flight scope. Ive never been fitted for anything in my life. I only play 3-4 times per year so it’s hard to justify paying $165 for a driver fitting and then full price for a driver. I saw this one online in the clearance section as it’s old now so grabbed it for $399 instead of $799.
My driver and woods are regular flex my irons are senior flex. I’m 61 years old with some limited mobility. This combination seems to work great for me.
I go with what i see on the golf course. Tried being fitted but always struggled to maintain tempo which is key to my slow swing speed. Ladies shaft seems to work best. Even went there with my irons. The only shaft that gives me height and carry. We should go with what works. End of story
Hard to disagree with that!
did you try hitting it with your purse? lol
Great content James, I also have the M3 driver and bought it on eBay. It came with a tensie extra stiff flex and I hated it.(I couldn't swing it fast enough and be consistent) So I ordered the stiff 60g tensie. It was night and day. The stiff flex is my sweet spot for sure. Thanks for posting this video
Thanks James. Where does Senior flex fit in the range? Same as Ladies? Stiffer than ladies but less than Regular?
Would swinging a ladies-flex allow you to have more stamina for the full round, more so than using a stiffer flex? I think you could get acclimated to about anything if used a few times...
So many options....
Good videos James, looking at a good variety of different subjects for the normal golfer.
How about you look at the difference in regular and stiff shafts in long, mid and short irons?
Thanks again.
Good idea David!
Interesting video since I am getting fitted for a driver shaft in a couple of days. I have tried using stiff but was losing distance. Since the quality of shafts have improved, it will be interesting to see what happens.
I'm hitting stiff flex for the past year BUT I am getting closer to moving up to Extra Stiff! My last session at Golf Galaxy, most of my shots were over 110 mph clubhead speed and the shots were pulling left.
Ventus Blue 6R for me in the SIM driver, 3wood and hybrid 4H. Very consistent, straight shots, good flight trajectory.
Great stuff as usual! I swing around 95 mph and have used senior to x flex. I am always most interested in the fit with the head. Diamana whiteboard 70S in current head (913 D3). Perfect match. Last driver Fuji Pro 60R (Cobra F7+) also perfect match
James - I believe that the reason you hit the X-flex further is because the X-flex probably helps you to find the center of the face more consistently, and we all know that center contact with solid impact equates to more distance.
So interesting........... But when I think of my bloody swing, and its huge variations, I'm let as confused as ever, and certainly no closer to driving a fitter mad with my lack of knowledge and consistency. But thoroughly interesting watching you go through these shafts. Thanks!!
I was told repeatedly by everyone that I needed to start using stiff shafts. So when I ordered new irons (JPX 900 Forged) I got them with KBS Tour 120 Stiff Flex shafts, as was recommended by my pro. Omg did I hate those things. Every once in a while I could get some really nice hits that felt really smooth, but I just couldn't get them off the ground consistently and they were sooo heavy. I worked at a course so one night I took our test irons out with a bunch of shafts just to experiment. I was shocked at how well I was hitting the TT XP 95 Regular Flex shafts. The ball was getting up into the air, and I was so much more consistent. Plus they didn't feel like two ton bricks. I bought a whole set of those shafts and replaced the KBS shafts in my irons. Haven't looked back. If you're going to spend a lot of money on clubs, be sure to go somewhere and try out all sorts of different shafts. They make a huge difference. And the flex is based on a lot more than just swing speed. Also, kick the ego. You aren't a better golfer just because you use stiff or extra stiff shafts...
Hi James, great video of shafts. Always good to see the differences in equipment. Thanks.
I got fitted by titleist at st ives and after hitting a load o balls with driver and different shafts I settled on a diamana blue board stiff.. best numbers by far👍🏻
I play the M3 with the Mitsubishi Tensei 60 shaft and it performs great. I have played the "R" flex since the "bubble shaft" era of the 1990's. Now that I am 68 my swing speed has really slowed down. It's really had to square an S or X flex at impact.
I wasn't fitted for a specific shaft, but had a general recommendation based on swing speed average of 122 over 15 swings. I was told to find the stiffest and heaviest shaft I could find which led me to an Aldila RIP Phenom Tour X-Stiff at 80 grams. Unfortunately this is a mid launch shaft and my ball flight is way too high even with my 9.5 degreeTM RBZ stage 2 turned down to 8 degrees. Would like to upgrade my whole driver setup and find a low launch/low spin shaft with the right shaft flex that won't break the bank. The only Tour X-Stiff low launch/low spin shafts I have found are all $250+ which I can't justify since I play less than 15 rounds per year. Definitely like the looks of that M3 driver head.
Had same issue when I did my fitting. I found a 100g grafalloy blue on eBay and luckily had a high kick point. 1 of say 5 drives is monstrous! >300yds and straight.... but will easily lose a ball with the other 4 drives. Painful but still love the shaft.
Unfortunately James, I bought a Callaway FT Tour driver, the day after Phil won his 3rd Masters. It came with a stock Voodoo SVS stiff shaft. It was a mistake. I hit low duck hooks, 240yds down the middle, and very high, perfect fades. But very, very, high. I believe at 6'4 260lbs, I should be hitting the ball, much farther.. Would a X-stiff shaft be cool for me??
@@alanmerrill8628 no. Just because you're big doesn't mean you can hit the ball further. Its all about timing plus speed. You have to be at the fastest speed at impact. Lots of players create the speed before the impact zone which is usually caused by breaking your wrists before impact.
Golf is endlessly entertaining. There are infinite variables, equipment, weather, human input, luck etc. It only takes one good shot to bring us back to the course tomorrow. And if you can't play well anymore, there is always someone who can improve your game. Even as a senior, I am hooked on possibilities. thanks
I've just got this one comment: I used to use X-stiff shafts when my driver swing speed was around 120mph. As my swing speed diminished over the years to around 85 mph, my X-shafts felt "boardy" and I began to lose the feel of where the club head was during my swing. This created doubt, loss of confidence, and bad shots. So down the ladder I went. Now I play A-flex in my driver and regular shafts in my irons. None of these changes gave me the distance that I lost with age, but they gave me "feel" and consistency in my shots, making the game enjoyable again. (used to be a 5 and now a 10)
Great video. Thanks! Keep us updated as to how the on course testing went. Cheers, Mate!
Thanks Travis! Worth doing a video on? Cheers for watching mate. ⛳️👍🏼🔥🎥
James Robinson Golf, you can never go wrong with a course vlog of some sort. At least a few recordings to add at the beginning of your video for an update :)
I just switched from a stick stiff shaft in my Bio Cell + to a fujikura vista pro 75g x-stiff and cut down an inch and I love it!
Fairway machine Tyson!!!! ⛳️👍🏼🎥🔥
James Robinson Golf I’m getting there! I think the switch to the x-stiff got the club head in sync with my swing and not lagging slightly behind. It just feels right!
i have never been fitted for a driver but after watching this clip i will deffo get a fitting before i buy another .
I tried a R S and XS SHAFT when getting fitted. My club head speed is 115 mph and the R and S shafts felt like they got away from me and weren’t consistent. The XS 75g shaft I have now feels perfect and my ball flight is way straighter than with the other ones
Interesting. I've been playing a 60 gr stiff shaft for 35 years and was fitted last week. With a swing speed ave. of 96.5 I found a 53 gram Regular shaft to be winner for me I was adding 10-15 yards over the shaft I had been using. Definitely feels more "whippy" be as the fitter said "that isn't a bad thing at all". Looking forward to getting it out in the real world.
Enjoyed the test. Looking forward to the course test!
Thanks Menno! Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi James for me it’s more the weight and balance of the club that gives me the confidence. But hold my hands up never been properly fitted for shaft, I have an average of 106 mph swing speed, driver bought blindly off the internet not knowing anything about shaft(it’s flexi), hate it too high flight and spin, my fairway wood tried about 3 shafts ended up with stiff 60g Pro-Ject x love hitting it. I’m defo getting fitted for my new driver this year for Christmas.
Forget about flex rating j , it’s all about feel and numbers , the matrix allowed you to load properly and more importantly find centre strike more consistently , I noticed your spin rate was down from your last tests also with m3 heads, you should game that matrix 👍 playing off scratch in no time
😂😂😂😂 thanks. Rather not be off scratch though. Would be a bit of a career U-Turn!
@@JamesRobinsonGolf how about +4.1 😋
Lots of ladies in 2021 have shafts. It makes dating super weird.
James, a most interesting video.
From watching it would seem that when knowing which flex we hit, it will influence our mindset more than the actual results, like "Ah, I will never be able to hit a good shot with the X flex. My swing is too slow." but you got it working pretty well. Or the Ladies flex which you seemed to like more than you would have expected... 2 things I would be interested in knowing:
1. What flex did you end up using on your personal driver in the end?
2. Could you do something similar on some Iron clubs?
Many thanks for the interesting videos, I keep discovering them only today! Cheers mate
great test James .....I don't carry a driver only 3 wood but was fitted for it the shaft is a Matrix Ozik stiff flex hit it dead straight and like a bullet love it
Mike from Texas, 76 years old use A flex with Taylor made M 6 Driver. Avg. 220 Yards
Yes, on course trial with the extra stiff shaft please. Also noticed that your smash factor was consistently better with the X shaft!
93 club head speed
Senior flex.
Plus I cut 3 inches off the butt end . 12.5 head. And love it.
I have been trying to get a youtuber to try this with no luck.
Mini driver with the smaller head defeats the purpose
I personally have a very similar swing speed, I generally swing around 105 on average. However due to my approach into the ball and spin rate I have been fitted into a high kick point x-flex shaft, generally with the loft set around 7 degrees.
Just bought the epic flash 3W. Wasn’t fitted but I did try it with the evenflow stiff (60g) and the tensei stiff (75g) for me there was a clear difference in shaft vs. performance, I kept pushing the ball with the tensei and was much closer to the middle with the evenflow, I didn’t think 15g would make much of a difference, but I could really feel it in my swing.
I'm experimenting right now. I've got a senior , regular and stiff shafts. Funny, but on a good day, I can hit any of them fairly well. But again, the next day the results coud vary, depending on my swing. Since I'm no professional, our swing MAY change from day to day, due to certain factors....
As long as I can remember I used stiff flex shatts because regularl shafts resulted in a major fade. When I turned 58 last year I went to a regular flex and started hitting it longer and straight as ever.
I use a an Original after market Diamana B series 60 x flex ,very smooth ,swing speed between 105 and 111,Its a great shaft and really not that stiff but it holds up well ,helps cut out the left side of the Course as you say .Got the best smash factor with it too .Flex is too wide a difference between different shafts and makes .Weight , feel ,kick point and torque are more important . If that x felt good James and you liked the feel ,stick it in bag .Good video .
Thanks Mike! Your bang on there! Cheers for watching and good luck with your game !
1.
Currently playing a stiff shaft. Unfitted. I bought my driver off the rack with a regular flex shaft in it because I didn't know my club head speed but didn't think I was that fast. After a couple weeks of using it, and not being able to get my timing right for the shaft, I swapped it for the stiff shaft and never looked back. Club head speed is about 108, tested last week on a launch monitor.
Loads of different shafts. Fitted into a mid-torque Pro-Green 62 stiff shaft with a EPIC sub-zero with the weight in the forward setting. Good for my 102mph speed and hits is a decent distance
Great video James. Over the past few weeks I’ve gone through the fitting process and find myself using a Nippon Zelos 7 shaft in an R2 flex in my irons...ladies or seniors flex. As I do qualify as a senior this isn’t that odd but I’m still surprised. They feel fantastic, encourage me to swing more smoothly and they really put a charge in the ball.
I’m reminded that Fred Couples won the Masters using Tom Watson’s wife’s 3 wood off the tee on most of the par 4’s and one of the par 5’s.
Cheers Timothy! Wonderful moments in golfing history!!!
Fred Couples won The Masters, using Tom Watson's wifes 3 wood!?!?!? That's Awesome! I wasn't aware of that! Cool Story!
@@josephvoll3842 Great story. I have a ladies club Iused once
Driver i'm using is a 2011 Cleveland Launcher DST 430cc head, 9.5 degrees. Shaft in that is a Diamana 44vSL S-Flex.
I've never been fitted for clubs, i'm a 28 HCap and my game swings so wildly I just don't see the point until I gain some consistency - once i'm consistently playing within a 10 shot swing then i'll get fitted and invest the cash there.
This club I picked up for £45 from Golf Bidder, gained 20yds on my previous Regular Flex driver, but that being said, that driver was also about 4 years older so - difference in distance and dispersion is probably down to that, rather than flex
Absolute bargain that Nathan!
Absolutely! That place is a gold mine! I meant to say I only went for a Stiff shaft on a hunch. I have no idea about my swing speeds or any of that, it was more of a "feel" choice, based on different clubs my friends use. I used a mates X-Stiff Driver and it just did not feel right for me, Regular felt great (my old club) but when I used a Stiff Flex driver my mate had, its a Callaway Big Bertha from about 2013, it just felt right for me. I'm sure if I go and get fitted i'll be told i'm using completely the wrong shaft but it's a gut feeling for now
Nathan Thomas I have that same driver with a 10.5° draw bias head, paid £25 off ebay 2nd hand great condition no damage. The club is awesome can agree with you there 👍👍
Currently using beginner driver with softer than soft flex that i bought when i started playing, but after some testing F9 with x-stiff shaft is in the mail on its way.
I played a tailor-made M3 James stiff flex the reason I like this the flex because I have more control over the ball flight very consistent
Regular flex shaft on my TM Burner 10.5. Feels like a wet noodle. Can’t complain since I got my whole TM set for under $100.00
I was fitted years ago with a regular in an r7 425
But just had a look in my bag
Driver and 3wood are regular
My 5 wood is light
All bought used without a thought to stiffness
On a good day they all go straight
On a bad day they all go right
Flex frequency has the absolute smallest impact on the performance of a golf club for the higher speed player. After a round or two, almost any athlete will adjust to a change in shaft, takes me about 5 or 6 drives. That being said, most of us just play the stiffest we can find because of the perception that it is more stable. I play a fairly stiff driver shaft, though I can pick up a uniflex club at top golf and adjust to it quite well. Just use the one that comes in the club you like, it really makes no difference, exotic, flex point, etc. its all marketing. The weight and overall length of the club will play a much bigger role in selection. Most will want heavy, though some will lean towards lighter shafts. At the end of the day, the stock shaft in your club will be good enough, spending top dollar on upgrades is just marketing. Fitted i gained about 3 yards over the stock shaft, maybe a 'slight' change in feel.
Aldila Rogue M.AX (Low Launch) 65g Stiff - Driver head +4 grams. 100-105+ SS
As you know, "regular" or "stiff" mean little since there are no industry standards. Since you used the same family of shafts from the same manufacturer, then the regular is probably stiffer than the ladies, the stiff is probably stiffer than the regular and so on. However, I have tested the same flex shafts from the same manufacturer an found 12 to 15 cpm difference. I enjoyed your test but next time at least test butt stiffness so you know the true differences in stiffness and can compare performance in a better light.
Woodrow Greene just testing butt CPM will not tell a whole lot on true flex. Plenty of shafts out there that will CPM much higher but play weaker due to the profile of the rest of the shaft and same of the reverse. The flex designation, while different from manufacturer to manufacturer are still fairly similar. As someone else said, I think the best test would be to try this test using all the same shaft. You will have to go up in weight as you get to the X, but it will provide the best data. I've done this test myself and was also quite surprised by the results I got from the softer flexes. Glad to see I'm not crazy!
I am 65 years old, the first few holes my back is a little stiff, but when i have a few shots of patron my club head speed increases...but it all comes down to putting at the end of a great day with the boys. #1 rule in golf at any age is still "You drive for show and you PUTT for the dough" !!!
Just had a custom fit for JPX 919 HM Pro. Steel Shaft, Dynamic Gold AMT for me, I has better carry, spin and speed. I did try the project X also and shot my stats to bits!
So many factors come into picking a shaft, one is how you load the shaft ie smooth tempo or aggressive from top of back swing., had a fitting myself recently and found it very educational, but the way most golf shaft manufacturers advertise there product, you are led to believe you can buy a better swing, if only you could LOL.
Woods I use S Flex, but use R flex steel shafts. Mostly has to do with feel. Could care less about looks. As long as it’s straight I’m happy. Some have told me to go to S Flex in my irons because my misses tend to be left and I typically fight a hook. But I think I tend to come too inside and it has less to do with flex.
Wonderful video. As most would say, the distance could be greater from the more flexible shaft, but the stiffer shaft could produce a more appealing dispersion.
I had a similar experience and queried manufacturers at the PGA Merchandise Show. They all agreed, there was something in the way I loaded and unloaded the shaft that gave me (and you in this video) better dispersion and greater distance. Others might find otherwise.
Just one "scientific" observation. You have assumed the shaft flex given by the manufacturer. Not a good assumption. Should a manufacturer desire to give a club a "softer" feel, they might choose a weaker (more flexible) shaft. They might also insist on labeling it an R or S to appease the consumer. The only way to tell for sure is to get the frequency of each shaft and place them on a deflection board for comparison sake.
Loved the video, great stuff :)
It’s tough to get an accurate result when the shaft profiles are different. It may have bee better to use all the same shafts, say Tensi Blue in X S R and ladies. I use a Kuru Kagi silver tini reg in my driver, Tensi red in a hybrid and Tensi blue in fairway, the feel is really close on all three. I use nippon Zellos 7 & 8 stiff in my irons. I was fitted and the feel is very balanced across the clubs
Gary Cumberland I absolutely agree. With no standard for shaft stiffness, using different brands is going to be all over the place for shaft stiffness, bend profiles and feel. I'd be curious in a redo of all tensei shafts in different flexes.
Shaft flex is just a small part of being fitted. Plus, you'll never notice 4-5 more yards on the course. The conditions of the course will far outweigh that difference in carry distance subject to roll. I got fitted for a lighter shaft and it's made all the difference in the world because of dispersion. You hit the nail on the head when you said you felt like you had to work more with the stiff flex. It's all about feel.
Fitted regular flex shafts, mainly because of ball speed. I haven’t tried a range of shaft flex’s in a fitting
New to game. Played maybe 10 times. Had hand me down set and driver broke. Bought cheap Wilson black driver at box store and said mens flex. Realized I'm hooked and been upgrading set. Recently bought new M6 after fitting. With cheapie was getting 260 with roll and way to bendy. Fitting I was hitting left but 270 carry and up to 285 roll with stiff flex. Started talking grips and went with jumbo due to large hands. Was told that would help with hitting left. What I found odd after the fact was fitting shaft was atmos 6. Shaft I realized hours later I bought was atmos 5 in stiff still. Haven't been able to reach actual person that helped me to ask why. My best guess is jumbo grip with lighter shaft it's still 14 grams heavier than my demo club during testing. With regular grips my left hand in backswing would lose contact and be down to 2 fingers holding club. Jumbo was needed. And oh, my best hit with demo was 311 carry with 333 roll out and dead straight. I was sold there.
I got fitted for Project x 5.5 in my iron, there were 1 or 2 others near to that shaft but I preferred the feel of them.
I play stiff flex in my driver, fairways and hybrids, and a soft-stepped stiff (or hard-stepped regular) in my irons, all in medium to heavyweight graphite composite. My wedge shafts are stiff flex Nippon steel. I am a Professional Clubfitter, and have been recognized by Golf Digest as one of America’s top clubfitters, and indeed I was fitted for all of my golf equipment including the shafts that I use. In fact, the ACCRA shaft in my driver says “custom engineered for Doug Mael” (my name).
Sorry, but what is the point you are trying to convey?
Wow you must be amazing at golf, we are all honoured
Strike Location!! look at the Smash factor
I have a swing speed around 115 and use a senior flex shaft in my driver. If you hit it good who cares what flex it it! It’s different for everyone so just try our a lot of shafts.
Good video, the most interesting measurement I noticed but you didn't discuss was the carry distance. Between the L, R & S are almost identical with XS only slightly longer so the difference is the runout so depending on the course and how soft or hard it is the distance may not be that different.
Rogue black 70g regular tipped 1inch in a 917 head. Can’t wait to try the ts. Good vid James 👍
Cheers Paul! I’m looking forward to trying the TS as well!
James i am 105 mph swing speed my dispersion was the best with x flex and taking the left side of the course out of play is also a bonus for me considering the shaft I’ve been using is a stiff flex and i could miss the fairway a lot so fairways won out for me not a shaft i personally would have picked but a 2 day fitting changed my mind
That is very interesting. I'm 58 now. I grew up with a banana slice. At around age 33, (using Ben Hogan's "Five Lessons") I was able to turn it into a draw. Now, my bad shots miss the fairway left.
I tried my brother's stiff Ping irons, and was surprised at how "forgiving" they seemed to me.
Perhaps it was as much the shaft flex, as it was the quality clubheads? I don't know my swing speed, but never felt that I was fast, so never thought a stiff would be usable for me.
I may have to reconsider.....
Currently using Titleist 917 D2 8.5 Driver with a X-Stiff Aldila Rogue Max. Great low rocket ball flight. Cool video btw dude all the best to you🙏🏻cheers from malaysia , Leon.
use a 40g Senior and it has made a huge difference. Wonder if Ultra Light or light might be useful. Epic Flash is what I am think about.. Senior golfers want to know
I’m wrong side of 50 swing is slow and smooth and always played a Reg shaft. Tried an x stiff this year. Wow drives are STRAIGHT. No more leaky high fades. And I’m longer than ever. Me, x stiff? WOW just try something different. By all accounts I shouldn’t be anywhere nears this but it works!
Was using a regular stiff shaft, but i just preferred an extra stiff shaft... ex baseball player so swing a little faster and with a lot of flew my ball tends to slice. And i like the feel of the stuff flew
I'm a 5.8 index with average club head speed. I've always hit stiff flex on all shafts, but happened to get a good deal on an TM M1 driver that happened to have an XS shaft in it. Could not be more UNhappy. Proper shaft flex is very important, obviously. Hitting an XS is like hitting rocks to the right all day long. I hate it. I want to feel some flex and whip. Not feel like I'm swinging an iron rod. I will be moving that head over to a new, S shaft after the season.
I'm using an Aldila RIP Phenom 60 Stiff on my Ping G30 9°. Such smooth sailing. I love this shaft.
Nice work Mark! That’s what we want!
Loving your channel all the way from Long Island, NY. Thanks for all you do.
Another great vid mate! Think a fitting is in order when I save up the pennies! Interested to see a video about shaft lengths! I’ve often wondered if a slightly shorter shaft might help my dispersion and if it would cost much in the way of yardage! Keep the great content coming mate! 👍🏻
Cheers mate! Will defo have to get something sorted when your after a new big stick! ⛳️🔥
It does make some difference but the biggest difference I find it makes is how you feel about your shot. I went and got fully fit and the fitter said well your swing speed you should be using a regular flex and stuff wouldn't make a difference. Well it did make a huge difference because I felt better about my shot with the stuff flex shaft
James - Did all of the shafts have the same kick point? Could the ladies shaft have a lower kick point to get the ball up in the air quicker? What was the swing weight of the club for each shaft? Lot of questions left to compare apples to apples. Love your videos. Just found the channel and I am going back to watch most of them.
I’m new to actually playing golf the correct way lol, before this last year I would just go out and wack a ball hard as I could and hope i could find it, but this past year I have actually been trying to improve my game not just drink a few and hang with the boys, I have never been fitted and I don’t have clue as what size my clubs shaft length is, I have a old set of ping eye 2 and my driver is a G 25 with extra stiff shaft, and I have an average of 115 swing speed on the driver haven’t really tested any other clubs on that. Great video James would definitely like to see how the extra stiff does for ya on the course
Use a mixture of shafts Reg Tensai 50g in driver stiff flex shafts in 3&5 woods and stiff steel in my M1 irons have only ever been fitted for my driver TS2.
I was fitted a few years ago and the club pro had my swing speed at 108 and told me I should be using stiff shafted clubs.
I got fitted with Alta cb soft regular senior shaft for Ping G400 max , the fitting went well for regular but the senior shaft seemed easier to hit the fairway with a smooth swing as I struggle on the back 9 , but got handicap from 28 to 18 so I might go back to see if my numbers has changed as driver distance has increased.
Nice work! That’s an awesome improvement!
I walked into Edwin watts looking for a new driver, hit a few shots and my club head speed was around 110mph so the guy in the store said I should be using a stiff shaft.... stuck with it ever since...
Edit : I deff thought that the ladies shaft was going to have a much lower launch angle because the shaft is much more flexible, therefore due to the Acceleration of the club head being above what the shaft would be “rated” for the club head would be lagging behind and actually removing some loft a smidge. That’s what happens in my mind at least....