Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Light Or Flexible & How To Fix It

Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Light Or Flexible & How To Fix It

In a recent article, I looked into the weight of driver head weights, and what impact it would have on your game.

What became clear is how important it is to get fitted for clubs, to ensure you find the best option for every element of your swing.

As a result, in this post, we are looking at signs your driver shaft is too light or flexible whether it is because it was the wrong shaft all along or because your game is evolving.

We will discuss the importance of shaft weight and flex, and provide tips on how to find the right driver shaft for your swing.

Intro To Driver Shafts: How Does Shaft Weight Impact The Result of Your Shot?

Shaft weight influences the flight of your ball. As Golf.com’s Andrew Tursky says, “playing with a heavier shaft will result in less spin off the tee, and give you a lower ball flight.” Conversely, lighter shafts tend to generate an accelerated rate of spin and offer higher ball flight.

 

How Important Is Shaft Weight In A Driver?

Having the right driver head weight and degree of loft will be in vain, without the right weighted shaft.

Furthermore, if the weight of your shaft is not in sync with that of your driver head, you may have a club that is too heavy or light.

Therefore the shaft weight of a driver is important to consider, but cannot deliver the desired results on its own.

This is the stance taken by Golf Digest’s Liam Mucklow, who says “it takes more than the right shaft to optimize your driver.

 

How Does Shaft Weight Affect Performance?

The weight of our shafts can impact our game in various forms.

Heavier shafts provide low ball flight and spin off the tee. This makes it difficult for players with slower clubhead speeds to deliver sufficient ball speed to get the ball airborne.

Conversely, lighter shafts deliver a high trajectory and increased backspin rpm off the tee. These shafts are an ideal selection for golfers who struggle with launch and carry distance.

 

What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Light?

Golf Digest coach Liam Mucklow has found that when a shaft is too light “it causes an unhinging of the wrists, which impacts your swing path.” That leads to duck hooks and excessive draw.

If you fit into this category, Mucklow suggests switching to a heavier shaft, which will provide better control over your swing path.

 

What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Flexible?

Golfing Youtube legend, Rick Shiels suggests that when your shafts are too soft it kicks the clubhead up at impact and angles it left, for right-handers. That results in unwanted hooks.

Furthermore, if a shaft is too soft it can cause faster-swinging players to sky tee shots, and prompt excessive spin.

 

 

What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Heavy?

If you are struggling to swing through the ball, and are pushing your shots, it is likely the driver shaft is too heavy for your swing.

A heavy driver shaft will further reduce your clubhead speed, which will limit your ability to generate sufficient ball speed.

 

What Are The Signs Your Driver Shaft Is Too Stiff?

Those golfers that push your shots right, for right-handers, and left for the Phil Mickelson’s of the world.

May be playing with a driver that is too stiff for your swing. A heavy shaft will also generate excessively low backspin rpm.

 

How To Know What Weight Driver Shaft You Should Use?

The most effective way to determine the ideal driver shaft weight is to get fitted by a professional.

The reason for this is that every golfer produces different results depending on the weight of their shaft and driver head.

MyGolfSpy researched the performance of different golfers with a light and heavy shaft. The light shaft weighed 55 grams while the heavier version was 75 grams.

80% of the testers achieved further carry with a 55 g shaft. However, 60% of those golfers achieved more total distance with the 75 g shaft.

The results further showed that 60% of the candidates enjoyed enhanced ball speed with a heavier shaft than the lighter option. Those golfers that struggle to get the ball airborne may benefit from a lighter shaft.

 

Swing Speed Vs Driver Shaft Weight Table

Golfers with faster swing speeds may lose control of a light shaft, giving the tempo of their swing.

It will cause the shaft to veer off its swing path, resulting in hooks and slices.

Lighter shafts help slower swinging players increase their swing speed, and get the ball up in the air.

The faster swinging players among us are better suited to heavier shafts, which according to Liam Mucklow improves their swing path.

He further believes that for every 10 grams of weight added to the shaft the target line on your downswing improves by up to one degree.

I have provided a table below to outline which driver shaft weight is best suited to what swing type.

Weight (grams)	Feel	Tempo	Swing Speed
45	Light	Smooth/Moderate	Slow to Moderate
50	Light	Smooth/Moderate	Slow to Moderate
55	Light	Smooth/Moderate	Slow to Moderate
60	Light	Smooth/Moderate	Slow to Moderate
65	Light	Smooth/Moderate	Slow to Moderate
70	Medium	Moderate	Moderate
75	Medium	Moderate	Moderate
80	Heavy	Aggressive	Fast
85	Heavy	Aggressive	Fast
90	Heavy	Aggressive	Super Fast

 

Other Factors That Affect What Weight You Should Use?

Swing Speed

In the MyGolfSpy study, the testers were found to have generated less swing speed using a heavier shaft, than the lighter version. 60% of the participants achieved enhanced swing speeds using a lighter shaft.

 

Ball Speed

Heavier driver shafts tend to produce higher ball speeds, than their lighter counterparts. 60% of the participants in the MyGolfSpy test confirmed this point. It is interesting to note, that 60% of the testers achieved more total distance on their drives with a 75 g shaft over the lighter 55 g option.

 

Launch

Contrary to the popular belief, MyGolfSpy found that 60% of their participants launched a lighter shaft lower than a heavy one.

 

Swing Speed

Those of you with faster swing speeds will likely enjoy more control from a heavy shaft, enabling you to maximize the performance of your driver.

Players with slower swings may find that they achieve better launch and consistent carry, using a lighter shaft.

Driver Head Weight

The weight of your shaft should also depend on the weight of your driver head.

If you have a heavy clubhead, you will want a lighter driver shaft so as not to overload the club with weight.

That may make the club near impossible to generate sufficient swing and ball speed to send the ball skywards.

 

How Important Is Driver Shaft Flex Vs Weight?

As Andrew Tursky notes, weight impacts your shots in a similar manner to flex.

If you have the correct shaft flex but the incorrect weight, you will not enjoy optimal performance.

It is necessary to get fitted for your driver to ensure you have a shaft with the weight and flex that best suits your swing.

 

How To Know What Driver Flex To Use?

The simplest way to find out what driver flex you should use is to visit your local fitting professional. They will analyze your swing and determine the best flex for your driver.

However, as a rule of thumb, golfers with swing speeds above 100 mph should test a stiff shaft, while swing speeds above 110 mph are better suited to extra stiff shafts.

Those of us with moderate swing speeds may consider a regular flex. But, slower swingers should try a senior or ladies flex shaft.

 

How Can I Tell My Swing Speed?

When it comes to calculating swing speed, I have to agree with Golfweek’s Lyle Smith.

He believes that “the only true way to find out your swing speed is to use a launch monitor while hitting balls on the range.”

If you don’t own a launch monitor, try your local golf club, golf retail store, or your coach.

 

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

You can have various flex ratings on your clubs, and in fact, it is recommended. The reality is you probably swing your driver differently from your irons and wedges. ‘

Therefore you may want a softer flex shaft for irons compared to your driver.

As Jake O’Reilly from Golf Monthly says, you should be custom fitted to determine the best flex shaft for every club in your bag.

That will help you achieve low spin and added distance on long shots, and high spin and soft landings into the green.

 

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

If you are simply looking to add or reduce the length of your shafts, a club-fitter can do that with relative ease.

However, the challenge arises when it comes to swing weight. The fitter will need to determine if the clubs can be altered to match your original swing weight with the new shafts.

If you are looking for a heavier shaft, the fitter will need to find a way to balance the new weight of the shaft with the existing clubhead.

If they change the total weight of the club it will impact your swing.

 

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

Of course, you should choose clubs that offer the best performance for your game.

However, equally important is selecting the correct shaft flex rating, to ensure all elements of the club combine to give you optimal performance.

 

Best Driver Shaft For Slow Swing Speeds

Mitsubishi Bassara E42 X5ct

The Bassara E42 shaft was designed with slow-swinging players in mind. Mitsubishi employed the use of ultra-lightweight materials to deliver a flexible, yet light shaft.

The composition of the shaft enables sufficient whip to enhance clubhead speed and accelerated ball speeds at impact.

This shaft helps out those of us who struggle to generate ball speed and get the ball airborne. If you could use the Mitsubishi Bassara E42 X5ct in your game, you can check it out here.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Best Driver Shaft For Fast Swing Speeds

Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 70 X

The Tensei CK Orange 70 extra stiff shaft from Mitsubishi, has become a popular driver shaft option.

The regular flex option is the standard shaft on the Taylormade M5 driver. Mitsubishi constructed these shafts using DuPont Kevlar carbon fiber, giving the shaft enhanced stability and feel.

The Tensei orange range shafts offer you a mid-degree of launch and low spin. Finally, the shafts have a low level of torque with 3.8 degrees, and a mid-kick point.

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Conclusion On Driver Shafts Being Too Light

Our review on signs your driver shaft is too light or flexible has confirmed that these are shafts that are better suited to golfers with slower swing speeds.

If you are constantly hooking your shots or achieving excessive draw, your shaft may be too light and flexible.

If you can relate to this problem, I recommend getting fitted to find the right shaft for your swing.

It is advisable to test shafts with stiffer flex than you are currently using. The shaft I would suggest trying out is the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange range.

You can learn more about this shaft here.