A fitter would be able to best advise you, but based on the limited information given (swing speed) you may benefit from regular flex shafts. A shaft that is too stiff may lead to a weak slice/fade and low trajectory.
Forget about regular or stiff, those are just labels to tell apart different versions of that particular shaft model. An x-stiff version of one shaft might suit you equally well as the regular version of another shaft model.
More than likely a weight reduction would matter more than a flex change.
What weight shaft are you playing? Dropping 10 or more grams will really help it feel easier to swing. Could also not work well with your timing, which is why you should go at least demo something.
The flex change between shafts of the same model is pretty small. The weight change is most often the thing that is felt more, or makes a more immediate difference.
Good feedback. I watched DoD King get his Mizuno fitting the other day with the different weighting, shafts, etc. A lot more than I have ever done before.
If your driver still feels good and you are having good results I wouldn't worry about it. If you start to notice that impact feels bad or dead then I would consider trying a few drivers out at a local store to see if regular flex is a better fit.
Shaft flex ratings are no standardized, so you might find an R flex in one model works well, and an X flex in another also works well. The only way to know what will work best is to try them.
And there are slow swingers that prefer X flex, and fast swingers that prefer R flex. Every shaft is different, and everyone's swing is different. Don't get hung up on the label on the shaft.
I’d say if you are going to get new clubs, then get fitted again. But if you’re happy with your equipment, the potential downside of your current stiff shafts given your swing speed is likely very small.
68 here and play regular shafts with all my clubs until today. I got fitted for a new driver today and he went with a lighter shaft than my current driver, but a stiff shaft which I found surprising. He measured my club head speed in the 92-95 range. Went out and played a few holes on my regular course and was consistently about 10 yards further than normal and we had rain last night. I got my irons fitted last summer and those are regular steel shafts.
Actually, my distance is good. Recently, too good as my common miss is long. Still adjusting to an improved swing and different irons. My G430s have 5 wedges rather than my old 4 and I haven't quite sorted that out yet.
Nice. I can’t imagine the current shafts are too stiff then. I guess if your concern is reducing strain then graphite shafts are a bit easier on your body because of the reduced vibrations
Reducing strain is probably not a bad idea as well. Taking lessons and learning to hit the ball correctly has given me a whole new set of aches and pains, but relieved some old ones.
I know a few guys 40 and under that have recently gone to less flex and even graphite shafts. Less stress, less missed fairways. And less weight to carry if you go with glass.
Take whatever your stock go to club is. Like 7i for me. Buy a used one that's same everything as is in your bag only with less flex. If you don't like it, just sell it again.
Weight, Not Flex. Flex doesn't have a standard. Weight does.
Consider the MOI of the assembled club as well. This is kinda related to weight, but mostly tip weight at length with respect to balance point.
My old driver MOI at 45.75" even with a counter balanced shaft was 3010 kg-cm^2. I cut the driver to 45" and took like 3g out of the head and the MOI is now 2860 kg-cm^2, and even though it's "C6.6" Swingweight, it's a 75g 6.5 X flex shaft and I have been straight up annihilating the ball.
This is what I was alluding to in another response. My last fitting was not nearly this precise. I think by next year I will have incorporated the changes to my swing enough to be fit like this. Annihilating is good.
I really don't understand the dipshit downvoters. Oh well. u/Glendale0839 kind of answered my question. I generally hit a draw and hit the ball high as opposed to low. I play PING G430, so that probably helps with the higher ball flight. I hit my 7I 165-170. I think that at this point, I will keep working on my swing and if I continue to see improvement, I will get fit again next year and see what they recommend. I am working on my fitness, so my swing speed may increase during that time as well. Thanks for the feedback.
Plenty of GI irons have strong lofts sufficient to make that possible, especially with the stated 80 MPH iron swing speed. Strong lofts and decent compression technique can do that pretty easily.
If he's really at 80 for irons he should be way higher than 90 for driver. If both are accurate numbers, there's something he should be able to tweak either through his swing or gear to get that driver above 100.
I think it is more about compression. I hit about the same distance with my i20 and Rapture V2 irons. I have been taking lessons and working on my swing, so it is very likely that my swing speed with the mat/net/launch monitor is slower than on the course. The speeds from my launch monitor are the speeds I am quoting.
If you're hitting a draw with the driver then it seems unlikely stiff shafts are causing you a problem.
Are regular shafts better with your swing speed? Maybe! Hard to say, you might gain some distance and lose some stability. Maybe with some weight selection you love it. I really don't see the harm in a fitting if you're curious and are willing to eat the cost of a fitting if it's not a clear improvement to you.
A fitter would be able to best advise you, but based on the limited information given (swing speed) you may benefit from regular flex shafts. A shaft that is too stiff may lead to a weak slice/fade and low trajectory.
Forget about regular or stiff, those are just labels to tell apart different versions of that particular shaft model. An x-stiff version of one shaft might suit you equally well as the regular version of another shaft model.
I’ve also been told that some people need stiffer shafts not necessarily because swing speed but because they transition quicker than most.
This comment should be somehow pinned to this sub. DG R300 is more demanding than 90% of the stiff labeled shafts.
More than likely a weight reduction would matter more than a flex change. What weight shaft are you playing? Dropping 10 or more grams will really help it feel easier to swing. Could also not work well with your timing, which is why you should go at least demo something. The flex change between shafts of the same model is pretty small. The weight change is most often the thing that is felt more, or makes a more immediate difference.
Good feedback. I watched DoD King get his Mizuno fitting the other day with the different weighting, shafts, etc. A lot more than I have ever done before.
Possibly, but I’d still say find a trustworthy fitter and find out with the data to back it up.
80 with a 7 iron is still borderline for stiff shafts if they're a lighter shaft. 90 with a driver is definitely regular territory.
If your driver still feels good and you are having good results I wouldn't worry about it. If you start to notice that impact feels bad or dead then I would consider trying a few drivers out at a local store to see if regular flex is a better fit.
Shaft flex ratings are no standardized, so you might find an R flex in one model works well, and an X flex in another also works well. The only way to know what will work best is to try them. And there are slow swingers that prefer X flex, and fast swingers that prefer R flex. Every shaft is different, and everyone's swing is different. Don't get hung up on the label on the shaft.
I’d say if you are going to get new clubs, then get fitted again. But if you’re happy with your equipment, the potential downside of your current stiff shafts given your swing speed is likely very small.
68 here and play regular shafts with all my clubs until today. I got fitted for a new driver today and he went with a lighter shaft than my current driver, but a stiff shaft which I found surprising. He measured my club head speed in the 92-95 range. Went out and played a few holes on my regular course and was consistently about 10 yards further than normal and we had rain last night. I got my irons fitted last summer and those are regular steel shafts.
I play the project X LZ 5.5. It’s called a firm shaft. In between a shift and regular. Definitely a tempo shaft. 48m 10.9 handicap index.
If you’re looking for distance then get lighter shafts, flex won’t matter as much
Actually, my distance is good. Recently, too good as my common miss is long. Still adjusting to an improved swing and different irons. My G430s have 5 wedges rather than my old 4 and I haven't quite sorted that out yet.
Nice. I can’t imagine the current shafts are too stiff then. I guess if your concern is reducing strain then graphite shafts are a bit easier on your body because of the reduced vibrations
Reducing strain is probably not a bad idea as well. Taking lessons and learning to hit the ball correctly has given me a whole new set of aches and pains, but relieved some old ones.
I know a few guys 40 and under that have recently gone to less flex and even graphite shafts. Less stress, less missed fairways. And less weight to carry if you go with glass. Take whatever your stock go to club is. Like 7i for me. Buy a used one that's same everything as is in your bag only with less flex. If you don't like it, just sell it again.
That is a good idea. Thanks.
Weight, Not Flex. Flex doesn't have a standard. Weight does. Consider the MOI of the assembled club as well. This is kinda related to weight, but mostly tip weight at length with respect to balance point. My old driver MOI at 45.75" even with a counter balanced shaft was 3010 kg-cm^2. I cut the driver to 45" and took like 3g out of the head and the MOI is now 2860 kg-cm^2, and even though it's "C6.6" Swingweight, it's a 75g 6.5 X flex shaft and I have been straight up annihilating the ball.
This is what I was alluding to in another response. My last fitting was not nearly this precise. I think by next year I will have incorporated the changes to my swing enough to be fit like this. Annihilating is good.
I really don't understand the dipshit downvoters. Oh well. u/Glendale0839 kind of answered my question. I generally hit a draw and hit the ball high as opposed to low. I play PING G430, so that probably helps with the higher ball flight. I hit my 7I 165-170. I think that at this point, I will keep working on my swing and if I continue to see improvement, I will get fit again next year and see what they recommend. I am working on my fitness, so my swing speed may increase during that time as well. Thanks for the feedback.
How do you hit your 7i 170 when your driver swing speed is 90 mph?
Plenty of GI irons have strong lofts sufficient to make that possible, especially with the stated 80 MPH iron swing speed. Strong lofts and decent compression technique can do that pretty easily.
If he's really at 80 for irons he should be way higher than 90 for driver. If both are accurate numbers, there's something he should be able to tweak either through his swing or gear to get that driver above 100.
It's not impossible, but yes there's probably Driver swing speed on the table. Some people have funky swing speed distributions.
This is the more relevant point. There should be a much much larger gap between the two.
I think it is more about compression. I hit about the same distance with my i20 and Rapture V2 irons. I have been taking lessons and working on my swing, so it is very likely that my swing speed with the mat/net/launch monitor is slower than on the course. The speeds from my launch monitor are the speeds I am quoting.
Because his 7 irons is probably more like a 5 iron. Lol. The number on the club matters very little. It's loft that matters.
If you're hitting a draw with the driver then it seems unlikely stiff shafts are causing you a problem. Are regular shafts better with your swing speed? Maybe! Hard to say, you might gain some distance and lose some stability. Maybe with some weight selection you love it. I really don't see the harm in a fitting if you're curious and are willing to eat the cost of a fitting if it's not a clear improvement to you.
The only advice that’s worth listening to here is to go get fitted again and see for yourself.
68 and still advised to get stiff shafts. At least that's what my GF says.