Figuring out whether your golf clubs have stiff or regular shafts can feel like a guessing game, but it doesn't have to be. The flex of your shafts has a massive influence on the height, distance, and even the direction of your golf shots. This guide will show you simple ways to identify your club's flex and, more importantly, determine if it’s the right fit for your unique swing.
Before we look for labels, let's understand what we're even talking about. Shaft flex is simply a measurement of how much a golf shaft bends during the swing. Think of it as the club's engine. As you swing, your power and momentum cause the shaft to bend or "load" on the downswing, then, just before impact, it unbends or "kicks," releasing that stored energy into the golf ball.
Manufacturers design shafts with different levels of stiffness to match different swing types. A faster, more aggressive swing needs a stiffer shaft to keep everything stable and prevent the clubhead from getting ahead of the hands. A smoother, slower swing benefits from a more flexible shaft, which helps generate extra clubhead speed through that "kicking" motion. Getting this match right is a huge part of finding consistency and maximizing your distance.
Finding out the flex of your current clubs is usually straightforward. Here are the most common methods, starting with the easiest.
This is the simplest way. Nearly every golf shaft has a label or graphic printed on it that indicates its flex. You'll typically find this a few inches below the grip. Run your eyes along the shaft, and you should see a letter designation. These letters are fairly universal across the industry:
Sometimes, you might see other designations like "R1" or "F3," which are often brand-specific attempts to define flex more granularly. A quick search of the brand and model online will usually clear up what those mean. For example, some brands use a numbering system where F5 is Extra Stiff and F2 is Senior, so it's always worth a quick double-check if you see something unfamiliar.
While subjective, the waggle test can give you a general feel for stiffness. Hold a club by the grip and give it a quick, short shake or “waggle.”
This isn't a scientific method, but if you waggle an "R" flex and an "S" flex club from the same set back-to-back, you'll immediately BfeelB the difference. It's a useful way to get a baseline understanding of what stiff and regular actually feel like.
Once you’ve identified the brand of your shaft (e.g., True Temper, Project X, Fujikura), look at the graphics. Many manufacturers use specific color schemes to denote flex. For example, one brand might use a gold band for regular and a red band for stiff on a particular model. While these color codes change between models and over the years, a quick search online like "True Temper Dynamic Gold_flex color_" will almost always give you the answer. This is especially helpful if the primary flex letter has worn off over time.
Knowing that your shafts are "regular" is only half the battle. The real question is: is regular flex right for you? The single most important factor in matching shaft flex to a player is swing speed along with your tempo.
Here’s a general guide that connects driver swing speed to the appropriate shaft flex. If you don't know your swing speed, you can get it measured at almost any golf store or driving range with a launch monitor. It's an incredibly valuable piece of data to have.
As you can see, there’s a sweet spot for each flex. A golfer swinging at 93 mph is a perfect candidate for regular flex. Someone swinging at 97 mph, however, is on the borderline and would likely benefit more from a stiff shaft. Tempo also matters. A player with a smooth, rhythmic 97 mph swing might be okay with a regular shaft, while another player with an aggressive, jerky 97 mph swing absolutely needs a stiff one.
If you have stiff shafts but your swing speed is in the regular range, you're making the game unnecessarily hard. The shaft isn't bending enough to help you out, and it can feel like you’re swinging a piece of rebar. Here are some common symptoms:
Using a regular shaft when you really need a stiff one can cause just as many problems, often related to a lack of control. If you have a faster swing, a regular shaft will bend too much, causing inconsistency.
Choosing the right shaft flex isn't just about small optimizations, it fundamentally changes how you deliver the club to the ball. When your flex is properly matched to your swing, the shaft works with you. It loads at the right time, kicks at the right time, and helps you deliver the clubface squarely to the ball more often.
This translates directly into:
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
