Flex and Flex Point
Flex and flex point…there IS a difference?
Here is something that bothers me. Flex vs. flex point as it relates to shafts. Here is another marketing mess that can not only confuse, but scare golfers into submission to the golf companies every whim.
Flex of the shaft is usually printed on the shaft somewhere. It will say “regular” or “stiff” or “ladies” or “lite” or…well you get the idea. This is the designation that corresponds to the type of golfer that should be playing the particular shaft. Faster swingers typically play “stiff” and slower swingers play “lite.” Pretty cut and dried here. This is typically measured by swing speed and is, of late, being measured by ball speed.
Let me side step for a minute. If you are being fitted and are not being told your ball speed, ask the fitter what is it. If he/she does not tell you, go somewhere else. Ball speed is the single most important detail in the fitting process. Ball speed tells the seasoned fitter what kind of contact you are making when looked at with the swing speed in mind. Ball speed is the “new” swing speed to most of these golf club companies when they design and match shaft to head.
But I digress…shaft flex point is very different. Flex point is the zone that a shaft actually flexes at. You will see this called “low kick or flex”, “high kick or flex” and “mid kick or flex.” Here is where it gets tricky. High flex point will deliver a lower trajectory ball flight and low flex point will deliver a higher trajectory ball flight. Mid is…well…mid.
This should help you understand why the manufacturers will offer one driver with 3 different shaft options. In most cases, the “stock” shaft will have the lowest flex point while the other 2 options will be the mid and high flex options. Here is just such a monster. You will notice that when you select the “shaft” option, the dropdown menu gives you 3 shaft options. In this case, the stock is the mid flex point option where the Pro Launch Red is the high flex point and V2 is the low flex point. Remember, in flex point high means low trajectory and low means high trajectory.
So what should I get? Well that is a great question. I would urge you to take loft into account with all of this. I play a 9.5* driver with a “mid to high” flex point. That produces a 9.5* driver that tries to play like a 9*. Why not just buy a 9* you ask? Because they didn’t make one ha ha. I would also say that if you need some forgiveness, play a lower flex point shaft. It will produce a higher trajectory which is typically easier to control.
Here is the noose though. What if I want a stiff shaft with a low flex point? Well I am out of luck for the most part. The reason for this is that the kind of shaft I would be asking for caters to such a small population of golfers that it makes no sense, financially, for many of the shaft makers to produce that combination of shaft. The same can be said for a high flex point, senior shaft. Why make it when it is so counter productive to what the golfer at that speed or ability is actually going to do.
Next time your golf buddy tells you that you should get a high flex point shaft put in your driver, ask him why and see what he says. If he doesn’t say “So that you can hit the ball lower,” he is just trying to get in your head, or your pocket.
HIT EM WELL!