Regular vs Stiff Flex Shafts For Hybrids

Regular vs Stiff Flex Shafts For Hybrids – Which One Should You Be Using?

I recently watched some reviews on the difference between regular and stiff flex shafts from prominent UK golf coaches Michael Newton and Mark Crossfield. It was interesting to see that the overall results did not display any significant differences.

However, it got me thinking what the differences are between the golf shafts on hybrids. In this post, we will take a look at regular vs stiff flex shafts for hybrids, to see what suits your game best.

 

What Is A Regular Vs Stiff Flex Shaft All About

Shafts with a regular flex, offer slight assistance in generating clubhead speed on your downswing. Most golfers swinging a driver between 95 mph and 110 mph would be suited to a regular shaft.

On the flip side, stiff flex is more rigid and offers no flex. These shafts best suit golfers with faster swing speeds.

 

How Important Is Flex In A Hybrid?

It depends on your swing speed. If you strike a ball with power, you don’t require any additional assistance to ensure consistent carry and total distance. However, golfers with slower swing speeds may feel that some flex aides their launch ability.

Hybrids help you to get the ball airborne. But, if your ball speed and clubhead speed are on the slower side, you are going to lose distance.

 

How Does It Effect Performance?

In a test conducted by Michael Newton, he found that the regular shaft generated less than 2 mph more clubhead and ball speed than the stiff shaft. In terms of data, the differences between the stiff and regular shaft are insignificant. Even the carry and total distance were an average of 4 yards longer with the regular shaft.

How To Know If You Need Regular Or Stiff Flex?

If you are a. moderate to slow swinging golfer I recommend looking at the regular shaft option.

That being said. you should always get fitted, and test out both options. Before assessing the data, I would consider the feel. Most golfers that I have spoken to who prefer regular flex shafts say it is because of how it feels when you swing it.

Once you have determined which shaft feels better, analyze the data and see which gave you the best performance.

 

What Swing Speed Should Use Regular Flex?

If you are swinging a driver in the vicinity of 90 mph, you should be looking for a regular flex shaft. Any speeds lower than this may want to consider a senior or ladies flex.

 

What Swing Speed Should Use Stiff Flex?

Those of you who grip it and rip it like Bryson DeChambeau may want to use a stiff flex shaft. They are best suited to golfers swinging a driver at between 100 mph and 110 mph. 

 

If you are swinging faster than that, well, then you need to get yourself an extra stiff shaft.

Other Factors That Affect What Flex You Should Use?

 

Trajectory

If you are ballooning your hybrid shots, it could mean that you need to try a stiffer flex to achieve a more controlled launch, for a stable ball flight.

Shot Shape

If you are frequently pushing your shots, you are not able to get your face square at impact, and instead, the face is open. That is usually a result of a shaft that is too stiff for your game. As a result, you should consider more flex to help you get the ball square at impact.

Distance

If you are not a solid ball striker you will lose distance with a stiff shaft. An extra bit of flex will help you generate more clubhead speed to increase the friction between the face and ball at impact. This will lead to increased carry and more consistent distance.

 

Graphite Or Steel Shafts For Hybrids?

Graphite shafts tend to be lighter than their steel counterparts, which is problematic for faster swinging players. The lighter construction can onset duck hooks and slices.

 

If you are one of the golfers that need all the help you can get when it comes to clubhead and ball speed, then the graphite shafts are for you.

 

What Other Flex Types Are Available?

According to J.D Chi of Golf Week, shafts are available in five variations of flex. Extra stiff, stiff, regular flex, senior flex, ladies flex.

 

Extra stiff shafts best suit the fastest swinging golfers in the game. These are players with swing speeds in excess of 110 mph.

 

Stiff shafts work for faster swinging players who are not in the league of world long drive sensation, Kyle Berkshire. While regular shafts are for the average swinging golfer who rips a driver between 90 mph to 100 mph.

 

Finally, the slower swinging golfers have more flexible options available to them, in the form of senior and ladies flex.

 

How Can I Tell My Swing Speed?

The best way to determine your swing speed is to visit your coach, or local golf retailer, and hit a few shots using their launch monitor equipment.

Premium launch monitors used by these establishments can give you a breakdown of your swing speed, ball speed, clubhead speed among other data points.

You could also opt to use a personal launch monitor and there are a growing number of actually good ones to choose from like the Garmin G80.

 

Do I Need The Same Flex On All Clubs Or Different?

If you want to get the most out of each of your clubs I would recommend considering different flex on your clubs. This will depend on how you perform with each hybrid. It is worth getting custom-fitted to see what flex delivers the best performance on each club in your bag.

What Will happen if My Shaft Is Too Stiff?

If your golf shaft is too stiff you will likely slice the ball consistently. The clubhead will struggle to unload at a square angle, and instead strike the ball with an open face.

Will I Lose Distance Switching To Regular Flex?

You will enjoy more distance with a stiff shaft if you have a fast swing speed and can keep the ball in play. If you are a slower swinging golfer you will not enjoy the optimal distance of a flex shaft, and will likely achieve more distance by switching to a regular flex golf shaft.

What Will happen if My Shaft Is Too Flexible?

When your shaft is too flexible you are likely to experience an increase in ballooned shots, with higher levels of spin. This will lead to reduced distance.

 

 

Does Weight Affect Flex & Performance?

Absolutely. The heavier a golf shaft is, the more chance that it will launch at a lower angle, with less spin. Conversely lighter weighted shafts will deliver a higher degree of launch and ball flight, resulting in more spin, and softer landings.

Golfers that struggle to get the ball airborne may want to consider golf shafts with more flex to increase the loft of their shots. Whereas, more solid ball strikers would likely thrive with a rigid shaft.

Can I Get New Shafts On My Clubs Or Do I Need New Clubs?

If you are looking to change your shafts there is no need to run out and purchase a new set of clubs. All you need to do is visit your local master fitter, and get fitted for the shafts that best suit your game. They will run through the types of shafts available and you can get testing.

After some tests, you and the fitter will determine which shafts you performed the best with on each club. They will then fit them on for you.

 

How Much More Important Is The Choice Of Club Over Shaft Flex?

While the Vice president of Fujikura shafts, Alex Dee argues that the “clubhead is just the weight at the bottom of the shaft.” Data suggests that the shaft has less impact on your game than the club.

Which I would agree with. I have found the analysis on different clubs to reflect varying results compared to the shafts. With that being said, it is still important to have a shaft flex that you are comfortable with and that delivers the best performance.

I suggest choosing your club first and then focusing on the complimenting shaft.

 

Best Hybrids For High Handicappers

Callaway Golf 2018 Rogue X Hybrid Club

The Rogue X Hybrid provides higher handicappers with a higher more powerful launch, for a consistent carry distance. Jailbreak bars are inserted into the face to increase the club’s durability and enhance the load carry at impact.

Pros

• Powerful launch
• Higher loft
• Increased ball speed
• Consistent distance
• Forgiving

Cons

• The added stiffness in the face may be offputting to golfers after a softer feel club

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

King F9 Speedback Hybrid

The F9 speed back gives high handicappers two elements they require the most, forgiveness and accuracy. Cobra also claims that this is the longest and fastest hybrids the company has ever produced.

Pros

• Adjustable ball flight settings
• Larger clubhead for increased MOI
• Lower CG for a higher launch
• Interacts seamlessly with any turf condition
• Provides reduced spin for increased distance

Cons

• One length shafts may be uncomfortable for some players

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Best Hybrids For Low Handicappers

Taylormade Sim Max Rescue

The Sim Max is gifted with the ability to seamlessly navigate any lie. The club’s v-shaped sole plate lowers the rate of friction with the turf allowing the clubhead to glide seamlessly through the grass and cleanly connect with the ball.

Pros

• Low CG provides a powerful launch
• Reduced turf friction
• Twist face technology promotes straighter shots on off-center strikes

Cons

• Limited loft options available for each club

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Ping G410 Hybrids

The G410 is ideal for lower handicapped players who are looking for a workable ball flight. The hybrid enables you to adjust it in eight different ways, optimizing the loft of your shots depending on the lie.

Furthermore, the thinner flexible face offers accelerated ball speed, for a higher launch, longer carry, and more distance.

Pros

• Adjustable ball flight
• Enhanced ball speed
• Higher launch for increased carry and soft landings
• The larger frame increases MOI on heel and toe strikes for added forgiveness
• Lower spin

Cons

• Thicker clubhead may be off-putting for some golfers looking for a more compact frame.

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

FAQ

What Does Torque Mean For A Shaft – What Should Seniors Use?

As MyGolfSpy’s Matt Saternus explains, “Torque is a club’s resistance to twisting.” If you are a right-handed golfer playing with a high torque shaft, you will likely see your ball consistently end up left. This is due to your clubface striking the ball at a left angle.

If you are a serial hooker of the ball, it is probably time to look at a mid-torque shaft that can help your clubface connect with the ball at a squarer angle. On the contrary, if slicing is your thing it is worth testing a high torque shaft.

Based on this information, it would appear that our senior golfing peers should use shafts mid to low torque.

 

What Is The Kick Point?

The Kick point measures the part of the golf club where the flex occurs. The kick point can be determined on three levels. Low, mid, and high kick point.

A low kick point is located towards the clubhead, while high kick points are located closer to the grip.

 

Who Should be using Ladies And Senior Flex?

Despite the name, these shafts are not reserved for ladies and seniors. No, they instead offer the highest level of flex on the golf shaft spectrum. Senior flex shafts are suited to golfers with a driver swing speed of 70 mph to 85 mph.

If your swing speed is lower than that, then the ladies flex may help your game when it comes to carry and total distance.

 

Conclusion Regular vs Stiff Shafts For Hybrids

Golf shafts are personal, and there is no one size fits all approach. After reviewing the regular vs stiff flex shafts, it is clear that golfers with higher swing speeds are more likely to thrive with a stiff shaft.

While those of us who swing a driver 90 mph should stick to a regular shaft for optimal performance.

If you are a lower handicap looking for a slick hybrid, you can learn more about the Taylormade Sim Max Rescue, here. For the higher handicapper out there, take a look at the King F9 Speedback Hybrid.