Conference 7.286::golf

    I have always played extra-stiff shafts because the club maker only
    uses extra-stiff for the stick. He (Karsten) believes that it is
    not as much the stiffness as the flex point. I us the Microtaper
    shaft which has the flex point at the bottom of the shaft. I can't
    comment on stiffness but I will say I have tried the other PING
    shafts (ZZ-Lite and K-Shaft) and like the low flex point the best.
    
    Don
    

    
    	Dan,
    
    	The selection of shaft flex has nothing to do with the fact
    	that an individual is a beginner or not. It deals with the
    	tempo of your swing and personal preference.
    
    	Gene (my_two_cents_worth)

    	
    	I've never heard of a medium shaft, just regular, stiff,
	and extra stiff.
    
    	Is there such a thing as "medium"?    

    	.2 makes a very good point.  It's the tempo of your swing that
    counts.  For a golfer who swings very hard, a stiff or xtra-stiff
    shaft is needed for control.  For a golfer who swings easy, the
    rgular shaft is needed to help generate more club-head speed thru
    the ball for added distance.  But you would be best to go to a pro
    shop that has a computer which analyses your swing, and let the
    pro there help you in your choice of shafts.  Nevada Bobs in West
    Springfield, Mass., otherwise known as Fran Johnsons, has one. 
    That's where I bought my Spaulding XL4's.  I got stiff shafts, becuase
    I have a hard swing.  But there gold computer is very good.
    
                                                        Beak

Re .3  When I said 'medium' shaft, I'm sure I meant 'regular'....

Re .4
>    the ball for added distance.  But you would be best to go to a pro
>    shop that has a computer which analyses your swing, and let the
>    pro there help you in your choice of shafts.  Nevada Bobs in West

As a beginner, I don't think I've developed much of 'real' consistent
swing yet.  I do know that I do tend to have a full/fast swing....

Thanks for the help.  I'm learning - and can't wait for the nicer weather!

Cheers,
Dan

    There is a very good article on this most interesting of subjects
    in one(1) of the latest "GOLF" monthly magazines.
    After reading this article and practicing,many may change their
    thoughts on club shafts!
    Also,make it a practice to ask pros,at the PGA events like at Pleasant
    Valley CC,what they use and you may be surprised.

    
    	RE: .6
    
    	Spit it out, just what is that you are trying to say. Don't
    	beat around the bush...
    
    
    	Thanks
    	Gene

    
    	As a rule of thumb, a healthy male of average size, should use
    a stiff shaft. Regardless of experience. As was mentioned earlier
    flex point is very important and plays a larger role in shaft selection
    than stiffness. The lower the flex point the easier it becomes to
    get the ball in the air, an easier shaft to hit. The higher the
    flex point the "stronger" the player should be to get the ball airborn.
    Two of the major club manufactures use shafts that are on the high-side
    of stiff, or on the low side of extra-stiff - they are Hogan and
    Ping. The logic behind this is that a stiffer shaft results in greater
    accuracy, but is offset with a loss of distance. This logic also
    dictates that players using these models have the strength to
    compensate for any "distance loss".
    	A quick way to determine if your shaft flex is suited to your
    swing is to hit a bucket of balls with a single iron ( 4 or 5 iron).
    Assuming you have sound swing mechanics, if the majority of your
    shots go right, not slice, just go right, your shaft flex maybe
    too stiff. If the majority of your shots go left your shaft flex maybe
    too weak.
    	A quick way to determine if your shaft flex point is suited
    to your swing is to look at the trajectory of your ball flight.
    If it is very low you may want to try a shaft with a lower flex
    point. If it is very high you may want to try a shaft with a higher
    flex point.
    
    	These are just a few shaft type comments, also affecting shot
    outcome are grip diameters, clubhead offset, and club lie.
    
    	But again the average male golfer should be using stiff shafts.
    
    
    					Fred Deady
    

    
    RE: .2
    
    	Medium flex is a term used by some club manufacturers instead
    	of regular...
    
    RE: .6
    
    	Mr. Glass,
    
    	PLease fill us all in on your thoughts and just what the article
    	had to say...
    
    	Thanks
    
    RE: .8
    
    	Fred,
    
    	You make some very good points including the other parts of
    	the golf club that affect ones shot making. I just have a couple
	of comments.
    	
    	
    	1. Perhaps we are having a terminology difference here. I don't
    	   feel that it is actually "strength" that determines ones
    	   shaft selection, it is timing of hand release/club head speed.
    	   One does not have to be big/strong to hit the ball long or
    	   use a stiff shafted or high flex point shaft. There are some
    	   "bulls" out there that are strong as hell that can't get
    	   a club head speed of that of some little guys like say
    	   a Chi Chi Rodriguez (5'7" 130, pounds).
    
    	2. A regular flex shaft has it's place in the golf world or
    	   it wouldn't be made and I don't think that a stiff shaft
    	   is for everybody, even though Karston Solheim is proving
    	   otherwise.

    
    
    FYI,
    
    	There are four major catagories of shaft flex (as far as I know).
    
    	1. A (?) flex (usually for the OLDER players)
    
    	2. L (lady) flex (for the average lady golfer)
    
    	3. R (regular/medium) flex
    
    	4. S (stiff) flex
    
    Some manufacturers also offer increments within these major flex
    catagories, including Xtra stiff...
    
    	Gene (those_are_my_thoughts, comments_welcome...)
    

    
    re .9
    
    Gene,
    
    	You are correct about size/strength not having much correlation
    with distance. What I meant by "strength" was ability to achieve
    club head speed.
    
    					Fred Deady

    Well,others seem to have covered the subject very well.
    I do strongly recommend that all read the March,1988 GOLF article
    on shaft flex and then better understand how to integrate all of
    the fine points made in the responses to this original note.
    This is a most interesting subject!!!!!!
    Also,read note 231 as a help on "feel" and swing weight and shafts
    and advice from that Golf Digest article.
    There are no secrets,just opinions.
    Tom