Graphite shafts

wesclark

Hi, appreciate some help on this.

I recently bought my dad a Driver with a regular flex aldila shaft for his 50th. However, I have since been advised by a few people that stiff flex or metal is the only way to go. He has a fairly average swing speed, quick maybe by 50 year old standards.

Should I get a new club/shaft or are people undeservedly critical of regular flex shafts?

copacetic

sounds like a regular alida shaft would be perfect for him, steel shaft is definitely not the way to go.

colm-ccfc84

That sounds like it should suit him, I wouldn't change it.

milltown

I didn't think it was even possible to buy a steel shafted driver anymore!

Regular should be fine. Even though a lot of golfers think it's more manly to hit a 9 degree stiff shafted driver, the truth is most would be better off with more loft and flex.

ShriekingSheet

I agree with the lads. Regular graphite is perfect for the majority of middle aged and older club golfers. Aldila is a good shaft manuf too.



that said, i have an x-flex 7 degree

which makes me a legend

Mister Sifter

i switched to a regular shaft on my driver recently having used a stiff for years. Definitely hitting more fairways now. Sounds like the one you have bought your old man will be spot on.

wesclark

Thanks lads

MGrah

Dragging this question up again folks - leading on from the cheap clubs from the USA thread, I dived in and ordered a new driver.

Blinded by the bargain I thought I was getting and therefore not paying enough attention to the shaft - I will soon be the proud owner of a Aldila NV-70 shaft with Xtra Stiff flex.

Considering that I am a poor high handicap golfer, with average swing speed and it is too late to cancel the order - just how bad is this? Will I be looking to change the shaft in a couple of months time (i.e. bin the club), or is the difference something that I am not good enough to notice anyway?

Mister Sifter

Hmmm... having a flex that doesn't match the needs of your swing will result in the clubface being misaligned at impact, causing your shots to go off-target. Your shaft will effect distance, direction and trajectory so it's pretty important you get the right shaft for you.

If you have the wrong flex for your swing, there is less chance that you'll make contact with the ball with the clubface in a square position.

If Your Flex Is Too Stiff
What effect does a too-stiff shaft have on your golf game?

1. The ball will probably fly lower and shorter for any given loft, compared to a properly fit shaft.

2. The ball may tend to go to the right, or fade side, for right-handed golfers because with a too-stiff shaft the clubface is harder to square (the clubface is more likely to be open at impact, in other words).

3. The shot may feel less solid, more like a mis-hit even if you make contact on the center of the clubface.

What distance do you hit your driver Mgrah?

Sometimes it can be a good indicator (very general though).
If you carry you driver 250 yards or more - Stiff;
230-250 yards - Regular;
200-230 yards,
Senior - less than 200 yards

i guess you won't know until you hit the club though.

i've taken most of that off a golf site, by the way!

MGrah

Graeme1982 wrote:

What distance do you hit your driver Mgrah?

Sometimes it can be a good indicator (very general though).
If you carry you driver 250 yards or more - Stiff;
230-250 yards - Regular;
200-230 yards,
Senior - less than 200 yards

i guess you won't know until you hit the club though.

i've taken most of that off a golf site, by the way!

lol @ taking it off a golf site - I was thinking that it sounded like very professional advice!

I generally hit about 230 or so, but am a pretty big guy and really should be hitting farther (at least that's what I think).
The driver it's replacing would be a regular flex from a starter set.

I guess you're right - I won't know until I actually hit the club because my frame of reference is quite small in terms of whether the club I use at the moment affects my driving distance, but the consequences sound pretty devastating. Here's hoping I can find someone to offload this on if I don't like it. On the other hand this might be exactly what I need to motivate me to get down the range on a regular basis over the next few weeks because I'll have to give this a fair go before making any tough decisions on it.

Mister Sifter

what kind of driver is it by the way?

Golf Ninja

Your dad being 50 from the sounds of things needs the rugular shaft not a stiff shaft also make sure it is at least 10.5 degree loft with a draw setting face to help move the ball right to left.

Golf Ninja

MGrah

It's a Ben Hogan CS3 - 9.5* (Neutral weighting)

Went for the 9.5 rather than 10.5 due to various reviews saying there's a tendency for the club give a higher than usual trajectory.

When it arrives I will let you know how I get on.