do any tour pros use regular flex shafts

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Stiff vs Regular Flex Shaft: Choose Wisely

If you want more distance and better accuracy in all of your golf clubs, you need to swing the right shafts. If you’re playing the wrong type of shaft, you are making golf even harder on yourself.

For those of you who like distance, did you know playing the wrong shaft flex can cost you some serious yardage? And it’s not only distance that can be hurt, the wrong shaft flex can also make you wildly inaccurate.

Needless to say, your golf club shafts (especially your driver shaft) are vital to playing your best golf. Keep reading to learn more about regular and stiff shafts, shaft weight, custom fittings, and more so your equipment is helping your game. 

Stiff vs Regular Flex Shaft 

Golf has no shortage of choices in terms of equipment. 

While most of us think about the clubhead when we’re buying a new set of irons or a driver, the shaft is just as important. Some club fitters might even argue that golf shafts are more important than the club itself.

Not only do you need to decide on graphite or steel shafts , but shaft flex is just as important. Luckily, there’s a shaft flex for every type of player. It’s just a matter of dialing the right shaft for your specific swing.

Here is a breakdown of each type of shaft: 

• Senior (A flex or lite)
• Extra stiff (X-stiff)
• Tour stiff (TX)  

For most average golfers, you’ll probably fit in the category of a regular or stiff flex… but how do you decide which is right for your swing? 

In the past, there was a lot of guesswork when choosing shafts or you needed a custom club fitting session to find the right one. But now, it’s much easier thanks to personal launch monitors which tell you a ton about your game. 

Personal launch monitors display ball speed, clubhead speed, smash factor and more data. If you don’t have one yet, make sure to read about our   best launch monitors here . 

How to Find the Right Shaft Flex

To determine if you need a stiff shaft or regular shaft, don’t guess and instead, let the data guide you in the right direction.

Here’s how…

• At the driving range (or a golf store with a launch monitor), warm up for 10-15 minutes.
• Work your way up from wedges through your bag to driver.
• Once you’re loose and ready to go, start hitting drivers with a launch monitor. Don’t swing out of your shoes and just swing like normal. 
• The main number you want to focus on for this session is clubhead speed (not ball speed).
• After 10-15 drivers, calculate your baseline average. If you have any shots that are way off, eliminate those so they don’t skew the data. 

Once you have your average clubhead speed, compare it to this chart from True Spec Golf that was featured in   Golf Magazine . This makes it easy to determine which shaft is the best option for your swing speed. 

Swing Speed for Stiff Shaft vs. Regular Shaft

As you can see from the data, if you swing a driver between 84-96 MPH, it’s best to play a regular shaft. This will help you maximize distance and get the most from every club in the bag.

If you are faster and average between 97-104 MPH with your driver, opt for a stiff shaft. If you’re in this range and have been playing regular shafts, you will see a big difference almost immediately. 

Here’s why it’s so important to play the right flex that matches your swing (and what happens when you don’t). 

Shaft Too Much Flex 

Having a shaft with too much flex can create all kinds of problems on the golf course. A  True Spec article  (a top club fitting company) stated,  “A golfer using a shaft that is too flexible may experience a ball flight that is too high, a ball that spins too much, or a shot pattern that has inconsistent dispersion.” 

If you should swing a stiff flex but are using a regular shaft, you will hit the golf ball too high and spin too much . This will kill distance and also leads to much bigger misses. 

Make sure to read our full article on signs you may need a stiffer shaft .

Shaft Too Stiff

Too stiff golf shafts create problems too. For example, if you swing a driver between 97-104mph (the swing speed for stiff shafts), but play an X-stiff a few things will happen.

According to the same True Spec article:  “A golfer using a shaft that is too stiff will experience ball flight trajectory that is too low, golf balls that do not spin as much as desired, and/or a lack of distance potential.” 

A shaft that is too stiff will lead to a lower ball flight which hurts your total carry distance with longer clubs. For shorter clubs it also makes it harder to spin correctly and stay on the green. 

To maximize your shot dispersion , add distance, and improve accuracy, you need the right shafts! 

Shaft Weight 

While finding the right flex is crucial, you can’t forget about the shaft weight either. The experts are True Spec had this to say about finding the right shaft weight.

“Some shafts can be lighter in weight, which once again biases a higher ball flight and produces more spin. Shafts that are heavier tend to do the opposite, lowering ball flight and spin rates.” 

Steel shafts weigh much more than graphite shafts and many golfers benefit from playing a graphite shaft in irons. A steel shaft is heavy and harder to hit consistently well for most golfers.

Not only do you need to find the right flex but match it with the right weight too.

Quick Public Service Announcement: Don’t confuse shaft weight with swing weight .

Shaft Tipping Graphite Shafts

Another factor that a lot of golfers don’t talk about often is shaft tipping . This is when you trim a shaft from the club end, not the grip end like normal. 

According to   Golf.com ,  “When you tip a shaft — which by the way, you need to have parallel shafts to do this — you alter how the shaft performs by making it slightly stiffer and increasing torque for less twisting through impact.

Better players tend to make the most use of this technique in order to fine-tune their shafts to precisely the amount of flex and feel they’re looking for.”

This isn’t something that the everyday golfer will need to do but could happen as you progress. Tipping the end of the shaft gives you an even greater ability to fine tune the flex profile and customize your game. 

FAQs to Decide on Regular or Stiff Shaft 

If you want to learn even more about shaft flex, make sure to read our frequently asked questions and answers below. 

Is stiff flex or regular flex better?

Deciding on stiff vs. regular flex is crucial to success on the golf course. One isn’t necessarily better than the other… it’s about matching it with your clubhead speed. Otherwise, you will lose distance and accuracy. 

Make sure to review the chart above to learn more about the average clubhead speed that is ideal for each flex of shaft. 

Should you get stiff or regular flex irons?

You want to play the same shaft flex for all your golf clubs.

If you do a professional fitting or use a launch monitor and find a stiff flex is best, play that type of shaft in every golf club. Don’t mix it up with your woods, irons, or wedges as it will impact trajectory, distance, and accuracy. 

Who should use stiff flex shafts?

Players who swing a driver between 97-104MPH. If you’re above that, you should probably opt for an even stiffer shaft (X-stiff) to maximize distance and not sacrifice accuracy. 

What is the average clubhead speed?

After hitting golf balls with a launch monitor, it’s easy to want to learn more about what’s average or above average in terms of speed.

According to   Trackman Golf ,  “The TrackMan Combine data collected from over 10,000 golfers of all levels from around the world will be used to analyze his performance in hopes of better understanding where improvement(s) can be made. The AMA has an average club speed of 93.4 mph and an average total distance of 214 yards.” 

To see more of how you compare, see our full article on average distance for all golfers .

If you’re above 93.4 mph, you are an above average player. If you want to keep increasing your speed for more distance with every golf club in the bag, make sure to start speed training too. More on that below.

Can beginners use stiff shafts?

It’s not recommended for beginner golfers to use stiff shafts. Most new players will benefit from a regular flex or even senior flex as they have a much lower swing speed. As you progress and increase your speed, then you can look at playing a stiffer or heavier shaft. 

Do pros use stiff flex shafts? 

No, pros tend to use X-Stiff or TX. While you can buy X-stiff with most iron sets, drivers, and fairway woods, TX is a custom order. They’re much harder to find these incredibly stiff shafts (usually eBay) and they’re significantly more expensive too. 

Plus, they’re only made for .001 of the golfing population as they require a swing speed of 110+ MPH with a driver. My swing speed is between 108-110 and tried a TX shaft and had to sell it since it was stiff. I think you need a swing speed of 112-115 to confidently swing those types of shafts. 

Will too stiff a shaft cause a slice? 

Yes, a shaft that is too stiff can contribute to a slice. If you already hit a cut shot or slice to begin with, a stiffer shaft than you need will only create more swing issues. 

Not only will the ball go more left to right, it will lose distance too, even if you put a solid golf swing on it. Your carry distance is significantly shorter which leaves you longer approach shots. This is why it’s so important to play the right shaft based on your clubhead speed. 

What is the shaft kick point?

If you’ve been researching new golf gear in order to optimize driver distance, chances are you’ve seen the term kick point frequently. Simply put, kickpoint is the part of the golf shaft that bends the most during the golf swing. 

The lower kick point in a shaft, the higher the launch angle it will produce. While a high kick point leads to lower launch angles.

Go here to read our full article on a golf shaft’s kickpoint.

Should I do a custom fitting?

If you aren’t sure about the right stiff shaft driver or driver shaft to match your favorite club head, a fitting isn’t a bad idea. A club fitter can help you:

• Test graphite vs. steel shaft in irons
• Test out the same shafts in different drivers
• Explore shaft options (flexible shaft vs. stiffer shafts)
• See how different shafts and higher kick points alter your results

While these fittings are common for professional golfers, even the average golfer with slower swing speeds can benefit too. They’ll give you more confidence in finding the right club for your golf game.

How do you increase clubhead speed?

As you can tell from the data provided, finding the right golf shaft is mostly about clubhead speed. Faster swing speeds need more shaft flex you need to match your swing. Otherwise, your distance, trajectory, and direction will suffer big time. 

While   golf workouts  can help with distance, overspeed training is an even more effective way to add distance. We have a full article on increasing swing speed here . Or, click here to read our full review about   SuperSpeed Golf  – the #1 tool to start speed training for amateur golfers. 

These weighted sticks and training protocols make it easy to add more speed to your game. What’s great is that you only need to use them 3X per week to get results. Within 4-6 weeks (or sooner) you will start adding speed to your swing.

For every MPH you add, that equates to three more yards with your driver. It’s a great way to spend the off season to come back stronger than ever. 

Final Thoughts on Regular Shafts or Stiff Shafts

Shaft stiffness is something you need to focus on to hit the golf ball better. The experts at True Spec even said,  “In equipment circles, there is a common cliché that the shaft is ‘the engine’ of the club.”

The sooner you can play the right shafts (aka the engine of your clubs) in your golf equipment, the better. As you can tell, finding the right shaft flexes for your swing is key to performing your best on the golf course.

A higher swing speed needs stiffer shafts while a slower swing speed golfer needs more flex.

If your shafts are too whippy or too stiff, your distance and accuracy will suffer as a result. Once you find a good shaft flex, don’t forget to think about the shaft weight too.

When you buy new clubs in the future, make sure to always check that it’s the correct shaft specs too. And if you turn into Bryson DeChambeau and get into speed training, it’s a good idea to measure your swing speed in case you need more flex. 

If you’re ready to buy some new shafts for your clubs, make sure to read our   10 best golf shafts to consider.

• Search forums
• Golf Monthly Forum

Any pro's use regular shafts?

• Thread starter CMAC
• Start date Aug 31, 2013
• Aug 31, 2013

Blackballed

Money List Winner

The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)

I would doubt any Pros are using regular shafts purely form the spin aspect. I've used regulars in drivers and I can get them reasonably straight but with loads of spin that impacts distance. Going to a stiffer shaft brings the spin down but then I lose accuracy but then Me and Drivers have never got on.. Obviously a Tour Pro doesn't have that problem but even if they could swing smoothly enough to get away with regulars they must put too much spin on the ball for them to get to the distances they need consistently....  

I've know idea about the pros but am interested to know. I have never been fitted for regular shafts in any club and have been fitted many times. However after being fitted for my current irons, we had all the numbers sorted, PX 5.5 again. As I was walking away we got chatting about the DG SL S300, the fitter told me he had never fitted it for anyone or hit it himself. For fun we gave it a rip, I hated it and for who knows why he asked me to try the R300. Best results all day, it feels robust, better numbers than anything else, I don't look back. Pretty sure it's not going to happen in my woods though.  

Id be suprised if many use stiff shafts i dont expect any use regular. Do you still swing at 105 with your reg flex or have you pulled it back?  

I know an ex-Tour Pro, now Senior, who uses Regular. Pros with their much better swing consistency could probably even use even softer flex. However, most are frightened of the hook, so anything that helps eliminate that, which is normally stiffer, is preferred. My mate has the opposite problem. Anything stiff is liable to cause an unconscious adjustment and a hook is likely! So he favours a (push-) fade.  

Occasional Player of Golf

Not answering the OPs question, but have a look at this http://www.mygolfspy.com/mygolfspy-labs-wrong-shaft-flex/ # Mods, I think I have seen this kind of place linked to in the past, but if not good form then do remove and apols.  

There may be the odd senior who has softer flex?? Someone like Gary Wolstenholme maybe??  

• Sep 1, 2013

lyden said: Id be suprised if many use stiff shafts i dont expect any use regular. Do you still swing at 105 with your reg flex or have you pulled it back? Click to expand...

Journeyman Pro

Pretty sure Jim Fuyrk uses some really soft iron shafts. I may be wrong  

m10johnson said: Pretty sure Jim Fuyrk uses some really soft iron shafts. I may be wrong Click to expand...

Jim Furyk uses Regular flex, hardstepped once, so midway between Reg and Stiff, in his irons. But he also uses X flex in his driver, so who knows. His driver swing speed is just under 100mph, so his 6 iron speed is likely to be in the low 90s range, so most fitting algorithms would put him in a solid Stiff flex, possibly even X. But he must like the feel or trajectory of the shaft, so good luck to him. Pros with a smooth consistent tempo can get away with a wide range of flexes. I saw Michael Campbell at a clinic where he hit a driver with a L flex shaft in it and he hit it almost exactly the same as his own X flex.  

For drivers/woods - what flex is recommended for a beginner, regular or stiff?  

BRISTOL86 said: For drivers/woods - what flex is recommended for a beginner, regular or stiff? Click to expand...

garyinderry

Ryder cup winner.

Ethan said: Jim Furyk uses Regular flex, hardstepped once, so midway between Reg and Stiff, in his irons. But he also uses X flex in his driver, so who knows. His driver swing speed is just under 100mph , so his 6 iron speed is likely to be in the low 90s range, so most fitting algorithms would put him in a solid Stiff flex, possibly even X. But he must like the feel or trajectory of the shaft, so good luck to him. Pros with a smooth consistent tempo can get away with a wide range of flexes. I saw Michael Campbell at a clinic where he hit a driver with a L flex shaft in it and he hit it almost exactly the same as his own X flex. Click to expand...

Shaft stiffness pertains to how you load the shaft in the downswing, eg: some people have a smooth swing whilst others may rely on a later hit. Someone who is working on his swing may be able to hit their driver one day, and not the next if they have changed something. The pro's have grooved their swings for so long they can get a club that fits their swing..... until their sponsor brings out a new club and then they get fit again!!  

Tour Winner

Ethan said: But he also uses X flex in his driver, so who knows. His driver swing speed is just under 100mph.... Pros with a smooth consistent tempo can get away with a wide range of flexes. I saw Michael Campbell at a clinic where he hit a driver with a L flex shaft in it and he hit it almost exactly the same as his own X flex. Click to expand...

garyinderry said: jims driver swing speed under 100mph? don't be silly? under 100 wouldn't carry over 250 yards. are you seriously telling me that jim has a slower driver swing than 99% of this board. :rofl: Click to expand...

Blue in Munich

Crocked professional yeti impersonator.

Foxholer said: I've seen stats showing him swinging at 106-110 with distances that correspond to his PGA stats (276) I'm pretty sure he's got a more consistent one than any on here - which is more important. Wouldn't say it as 'nicer looking' though! Cambo's demo reflects what I've seen other Pros do. I'm surprised how low he hits it btw. And I wonder if it's significant that there are more Major winners in the bottom 20 of the PG Driving distances than there are in the top 20! Click to expand...

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Should I Use Regular Or Stiff Shafts And For Which Clubs?

Regular vs. stiff flex, and for which clubs.

Making sure that you are swinging the correct flex shaft in your clubs is extremely important. Without the right flex, your golf ball will not end up where you want it. Also, your swing may be changing to accommodate the incorrect equipment. The good news is that it is not that difficult to figure out which golf shafts you should be using. If you know your swing speed or you don’t, there are still ways to tell what a perfect fit would be for you and your game.

How Does Golf Shaft Flex Affect My Golf Shots

The five most common shaft flex options are Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff, and Extra Stiff. Each company has their idea of what a stiff flex shaft is. So a Callaway stiff flex iron may be different than a Titleist stiff flex. 

What swing speed requires a stiff shaft?

• Swing speeds above 105 mph Extra Stiff
• Swing speeds between 90-105 Stiff
• Swing speeds between 80-95 Regular 
• Swing speeds between 70-85 Senior
• Swing speeds less than 70 Ladies 

 If you are borderline stuck between two shafts, it can be challenging to decide what is best. If you are right at 90, you will probably want to go with stiff for your driver and regular for your irons. Most of the time, it is easier to swing a Driver faster than it is to swing irons. Plenty of players have a mix of shafts between their woods and irons.   

What About The Different Clubs?

 Stiff Or Regular For Driver?

As we mentioned earlier, if you are borderline for stiff or regular, go with the stiff on the driver and the regular in the irons. Make sure you don’t choose a very heavy stiff shaft, as that will make things harder on you as well.  

Heavier vs. Lighter Golf Iron Shafts? 

You will notice that as shafts get stiffer, they also get heavier. This is because there is usually a correlation between ball flight and player swing speed. The faster the swing speed, the easier it is to launch the ball.  

Does Shaft Flex Matter In Wedges? 

You might have noticed that wedges tend to come in “wedge flex”. It is possible to custom order many wedges with the exact shafts that you have in your irons, but most players tend to stick with the standard wedge flex. A wedge is usually quite a bit heavier as it is not swung as hard or as fast as something like a driver. The weight in the wedge also helps give you the feeling that you need around the greens.  

For players with slow swing speeds, shaft flex in the wedges may matter a bit more. If nothing else, make sure to try and get a graphite shaft in the wedge to make it a bit easier to release.  

On the other hand, if you have a breakneck swing speed and plan on needing full swing length wedge shots to fill in distance gaps in your bag, you should get the wedges custom fit with extra stiff shaft.  

Stiff Or Regular For Putters

What happens if shaft flex is too stiff?

If the shaft of your golf club is too stiff for you, you will have a tough time hitting the ball straight. Your swing speed will not be able to release the club to turn it over enough and square up the clubface at impact. Almost always, if a shaft is too stiff for you, then you will hit the ball to the right.  

 Will I lose distance with a stiff shaft?

Will stiffer shaft lower ball flight?

Who should use an extra stiff golf shaft?

If you are looking for a set of irons that come standard with an extra stiff shaft, you may have trouble finding something forgiving. Extra stiff shafts are typically considered to be for better players, lower handicaps. This means that the majority of the models are blades or tour preferred irons.  

Do all pros use extra stiff shafts?

Should a High Handicapper Use Regular Or Stiff?  

This is an interesting question that comes up quite often in the world of golf. Most beginner complete sets are made in a regular graphite shaft. That is because the majority of the golfers who take up the game are not going to have tremendously fast swing speeds. The problem is that for a twenty-five-year-old former college baseball player that wants a beginner set, he will likely snap the clubs his first time out. Shaft stiffness is tied more towards speed than it is towards handicap. This can feel misleading though, with most low handicap players clubs being stiff or extra stiff. Keep in mind that golf manufacturers are producing clubs to fit the majority of players. If you don’t fit in with the “standard” or “typical” beginner or high handicap golfer, don’t feel pressure to swing a shaft that is fit for them, it will not help your game.  

Choosing between regular and stiff shafts should not be overly complicated if you fall within the middle of the swing speed ranges. If you are still not sold on the fact that you need a regular or a stiff go out and test some equipment. As we mentioned several times, make sure to take plenty of swings as you want to see how you perform when you are tired as well. If you are looking to go to a stiff shaft, play your friends clubs on the 18th hole, this is a much better indication of the shaft you need than a hitting booth inside a store when you make five swings. 

Any questions for us about this advice? Feel free to reach out and let us know which shaft you went with and why.  

https://golftips.golfweek.com/shaft-flexing-swing-impact-golf-20516.html

https://swingmangolf.com/average-golf-swing-speed-chart-2/

https://pluggedingolf.com/shaft-flex-matter-golf-myths-unplugged/

http://www.golfcompendium.com/2019/03/putter-shaft-flex.html

https://golftips.golfweek.com/advantages-stiffshaft-irons-20497.html

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Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex: Which Is Right For You?

What’s the difference between the Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex? Are you unsure which is right for you?

We’ll tackle a topic that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves but can seriously shape your game – the ongoing debate between tour flex and stiff flex shafts. Choosing the right one can feel like a science, but the payoff is worth it: think optimal for ball speed and flight, maxed-out distance, and a game that feels just right.

In this guide, we’re going to break down everything you need to know about tour flex and stiff flex shafts. What are they exactly, how do they differ, and most importantly, which one is going to elevate your game? We’ve got all the answers.

For those new to the jargon, the “flex” of the shaft is all about how much it bends when you swing. This tiny detail can influence everything from your ball’s trajectory and accuracy to its distance and spin. So, knowing whether your swing is crying out for a tour flex or a stiff flex and correct shaft flex, can make a world of difference.

But here’s the million-dollar question: which one is right for you? Are you a tour flex kind of golfer, or is a stiff flex shaft more your speed? By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clearer picture and be ready to make a choice that could ramp up your game.

What is a Tour Flex?

Let’s get into the heart of the matter: the Tour Flex . You might also hear it referred to as the X-Flex or Extra Stiff Flex.

This is a golf shaft that brings more stiffness and lower torque to the table compared to its fellow flex options. It’s a favorite among highly skilled players who have swift swing speeds and are on the hunt for extra control over their shots.

Tour Flex Shaft Features

• Stiffer Shaft: You guessed it from the name – these shafts are stiffer than your regular stiff or senior flex options. This additional stiffness boosts energy transfer during the swing, sending your ball further into the distance.
• Lower Torque: Tour Flex shafts don’t twist as much during ball impact, thanks to their low torque design. For advanced players, this means more accurate shot-shaping capabilities.
• Faster Swing Speeds: These shafts are designed for golfers with fast swing speeds (above 105 mph). They help these players make the most of each shot.

Advantages of Using a Tour Flex Shaft

• Improved Accuracy: The stiffer construction of these shafts reduces clubhead twisting at impact, leading to straighter shots and improved overall accuracy on the course.
• Consistency: These shafts provide a consistent performance for golfers since they’re designed to match their swing speed and skill level.
• Increased Distance: Due to efficient energy transfer during the swing, golfers can achieve greater distances with Tour Flex shafts compared to other flex options.

Who is a Tour Flex Shaft For?

Tour Flex shafts are a perfect fit for highly skilled players who boast fast swing speeds (above 105 mph) and demonstrate excellent control over their shots. This includes professional golfers and low-handicap amateurs who need precision in their shot shaping .

If you’re not sure about your swing speed, it’s a good idea to pop into a local pro shop or fitting center. They can use launch monitors to measure your performance accurately and give you personalized recommendations based on your unique playing style.

In a nutshell, Tour Flex is a shaft flex option that gives players an increased sense of feel and control over their shots.

Next, we’ll take a look at what the Stiff Flex has to offer golfers in terms of performance benefits.

What is Stiff Flex?

Stiff flex boasts less torque, which means less clubhead twisting when it makes contact with the ball.

What does that mean for you? Think increased accuracy, consistency, and distance, especially for those with higher swing speeds.

Stiff Flex Shaft Construction

Stiff flex shafts can be made from a variety of materials, and this can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and the specific model.

Common materials you’ll come across include steel, graphite, and multi-material composites like carbon fiber mixed with tungsten or titanium fibers.

• Steel : Known for its durability and resistance to the wear-and-tear of regular course use, steel shafts provides better feedback during ball contact as it dampens vibration less than graphite.
• Graphite: Lighter than steel, graphite shafts offers manufacturers more flexibility in designing clubs for specific player needs. The lightweight shaft can increase swing speeds for some players, meaning potentially longer shots off the tee.
• Multi-Material Composites : These shafts give you the best of both worlds – steel, and graphite. You get a club that delivers an excellent feel, performance, and durability while maintaining a perfect balance between weight distribution and stiffness.

To determine if a stiff shaft is the right match for your game, you need to consider factors like your swing speed, tempo, golf ball flight preferences, and overall skill level.

Having a professional custom fitting session with a certified fitter can provide invaluable insights. They can analyze all these variables alongside various shaft options available today, helping you make an informed decision.

Besides professional advice, don’t be shy about testing different types of stiff flex shafts on demo days or through rental programs at local golf courses or retailers.

There’s nothing like first-hand experience to understand how different shafts perform in actual play.

Differences between Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex

Performance

Tour Flex shafts are the choice of advanced players with swift swings who need precise control.

With a lower torque rating than Stiff Flex shafts , Tour Flex twists less on impact, granting better accuracy and allowing seasoned players to shape their shots more accurately.

On the other hand, Stiff Flex shafts serve those with moderate swing speeds who want distance over shot shaping. Their higher torque lets them store and release more energy on impact, launching the ball further.

Feel Factor

The feel of a golf club can make or break a player’s confidence. Tour Flex, with its lower torque, provides a firmer feel during swings, offering invaluable feedback for experienced players and helping to enhance consistency.

Swing Speed

Tour Flex is recommended for players with higher swing speeds, absorbing the extra force while maintaining shot trajectory.

Stiff flex, on the other hand, works best for those with moderate swings, maximizing distance without compromising accuracy.

The Tour Flex is perfect for advanced golfers who favor control and shot shaping over sheer distance. Stiff flex, however, is for those aiming to improve their game by maximizing distance while retaining a decent level of accuracy, especially if they have moderate swing speeds but still want some forgiveness from their clubs.

Which Flex is Right for You?

Choosing the proper shaft flex for your golf clubs, whether Tour or Stiff shaft, can be a game-changer, enhancing your shot accuracy and boosting your distance. Here’s a quick rundown on how to select the best fit for your unique style and proficiency level:

Your swing speed is a pivotal factor in identifying the right shaft flex. Typically, quick swingers will find Tour Flex more agreeable, while those with a more leisurely swing might fare better with regular or even senior flex options.

Think of it this way, Tour Flex is great for those with a driver swing speed over 105 mph, while Stiff Flex works well for slower swing speeds between 90-104 mph.

Skill Level and Handicap

Your playing prowess and handicap are also crucial in the decision. For example, ace golfers with lower handicaps might lean towards the stability and control offered by Tour Flex.

In contrast, those with higher handicaps might find the forgiving nature of Stiff or Regular Flex more beneficial.

Trajectory Preferences

The type of flight you prefer for your ball also depends on your shaft’s stiffness. Tour Flex shafts typically produce a lower ball flight, perfect for minimizing spin and maximizing distance.

On the other hand, Stiff Flex shafts offer a marginally higher trajectory, assisting players who need more launch or carry distance.

Feel and Comfort

At the end of the day, what feels right matters significantly. Some golfers might prefer the firm feel of Tour Flex, providing stability during speedy swings.

Others might find Stiff Flex strikes the right balance between control and forgiveness.

FAQ: Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex

Can i switch between tour flex and stiff flex, depending on the course i’m playing.

Well, technically, you could. But in all honesty, there are more practical approaches. Your golf shaft flex isn’t like a club you can just switch in and out of your bag depending on the course or weather conditions.

It’s more about consistency and what complements your swing mechanics best. While different courses may have varying characteristics, it’s more important that your clubs are suited to your swing speed and style rather than trying to adjust for every course nuance.

Can using the wrong flex cause injuries?

While it’s uncommon, using the wrong flex could lead to discomfort or injuries over time, especially if you’re trying to adjust your natural swing to suit the club rather than the other way around.

For example, using a shaft that’s too stiff for your swing speed might make you swing harder than you should, putting undue stress on your back, shoulders, or wrists.

So while it’s not a direct one-to-one correlation, it’s still essential to use equipment that fits your natural golf swing to help prevent any potential injuries down the line.

How often should I reassess my flex choice as I improve my skills?

There’s no hard-and-fast rule here. But if you feel like you’ve made significant strides in your game or your swing speed has notably changed, it might be worth reassessing.

It’s also a good idea to reassess your equipment if you’ve had a significant break from golf or returned from an injury.

Just remember, it’s all about helping you play your best game, so if you feel comfortable and are happy with your performance, there’s no urgent need to change anything.

Will a Tour Flex shaft automatically make me a better golfer?

Ah, if only it were that simple! While having the right equipment is crucial, there’s no magic bullet in golf – trust me, we’ve all looked for it!

A Tour Flex shaft is designed for advanced players with fast swing speeds. If that’s you, it can help enhance your control and accuracy. But if your swing speed or skill level doesn’t match, it might actually hinder rather than help your game.

So, while a Tour Flex shaft can certainly help you play better, it will not transform you into a pro overnight. That takes practice, patience, and, well, more practice!

Can I determine the right flex for me without professional fitting?

It’s possible, but it’s a bit like navigating without a map.

You might eventually get where you’re going, but it will be a lot easier with some guidance.

Professional fitting involves precise measurements and expert knowledge, which can help you find the right fit much quicker and with less guesswork.

However, if a professional fitting isn’t an option, you could self-evaluate by trying different flexes and paying close attention to your comfort level and shot results.

Just remember, the goal is to find a flex that suits your natural swing, not to adjust your swing to fit the flex.

Wrapping It Up – Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex

Choosing the right golf club can make all the difference in your game, and understanding the differences between tour flex and stiff flex is a big part of that.

Tour flex is designed for advanced players with a faster swing speed, while stiff flex is better suited for intermediate players with slower swings. The main differences lie in their flexibility and torque, which affect how much power you can generate.

Ultimately, deciding which flex to use depends on your needs and skill level. For those still deciding, consult a specialist or experiment with multiple golf clubs, to determine the best recommendation.

We hope you found this article  Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex  helpful. If you’re an avid golfer like us, subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest tips, reviews, and other golf lessons and guides from Humble Golfer. Plus, you’ll be automatically signed up for our free monthly giveaway!

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Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex: The Differences!

Choosing the appropriate shaft should be a priority when stocking your golf bag.

The right shaft will immensely improve your game and make you a better player.

When choosing the right shaft, there are many factors to consider. One of the most important factors is the flexibility of the shaft.

Generally, there are two different flex options: Tour flex and Stiff flex, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.

But how do they compare, and which is the better choice?

Follow along as we explore the differences between the Tour flex and Stiff flex to help you make a confident decision that will directly improve your game.

Tour and Stiff Flex are two shaft options designed to help players achieve maximum distance and accuracy with their swings.

They are built with high-quality materials, including steel or graphite, to enable substantial durability and performance.

Both come in different designs, lengths, and weights and cater to different target audiences, each accommodating different swing styles and preferences.

The Tour flex suits veteran golfers with a high swing speed.

This shaft offers low spin with extra distance but only guarantees a little control.

In contrast, the Stiff flex is ideal for players with a moderate swing speed of around 95mph.

While it is more flexible than the Tour flex, it is less durable. It’s an excellent option for mid-to-low handicappers, offering low spin and launch.

Generally, the Tour flex shaft is usually heavier and stiffer than the stiff flex shaft.

Features of Tour Flex

• An excellent option for fast driver speeds
• Relatively easy to manage flight and tempo
• Incredible distance
• Perfect for very fast swingers
• Limited Spin
• Heavier than the stiff flex

Features of Stiff Flex

• Better launch
• Great for high-swing speed providers.
• Lower spin rate
• Higher ball flight
• Simpler to control flight and height
• Less driving distance

Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex: Differences

The Tour Flex and Stiff Flex differ in some varieties of ways.

Their main difference is their flexes during a swing, directly influencing the launch angle, ball flight, and feel.

The Tour flex is stiffer, making it great for players with lower handicaps. Conversely, the Stiff flex is more flexible, perfect for players with a mid-low handicap.

Let’s expound more on their differences using significant factors as follows:

Swing Speed

Swing speed is crucial in determining which flex option is right for you. Tour Flex shafts are designed for golfers with faster swing speeds.

They offer more flexibility, allowing the club to bend and whip through the ball, generating more clubhead speed.

Stiff Flex shafts are for golfers with slower swing speeds. They provide less flexibility and require more effort to generate clubhead speed.

The degree of flexibility in the shaft is the main difference between Tour flex and stiff flex.

Tour flex shafts have greater flex, which allows for more power and distance, but may sacrifice control and accuracy.

On the other hand, stiff flex shafts have less flex. They are better suited for golfers who prioritize control and precision over distance.

Distance is a critical factor in golf, and the shaft’s flex can significantly affect how far you hit the ball.

Tour flex will be your best option if you want extra distance. They are designed to maximize distance, while stiff flex shafts are geared more toward accuracy and control.

The golf ball spin rate also depends on the flex of the shaft.

Tour Flex shafts generally generate less spin, resulting in a flatter ball flight, which can help golfers achieve more distance.

Stiff Flex shafts produce more spin, providing more control over the ball’s trajectory, especially for golfers who tend to slice or hook the ball.

The launch angle is another essential factor when choosing a flex option.

Tour flex shafts typically produce a higher launch angle, which can help you achieve greater distance but may sacrifice accuracy.

On the other hand, stiff flex shafts have a lower launch angle, which can provide more control and precision.

The club’s feel is subjective and can vary depending on personal preference.

Generally, Stiff flex golf clubs provide more feel and feedback to the golfer during the swing, making them ideal for golfers who value control and precision.

Tour flex golf clubs provide less feel and feedback but offer more accuracy and distance.

Tour Flex vs. Stiff Flex: Which is Better?

Tour and Stiff flex are two excellent shaft flex options for players to improve their games depending on their skills.

They share some similarities, including featuring high-quality materials to ensure durability and strength.

They also have a low level of torque, which helps resist twisting when swinging them.

There is no definitive answer to the best, as it depends on the individual golfer’s swing style and preferences.

Tour Flex shafts are designed for professional golfers or advanced amateurs with high swing speed. They require more power to hit the ball longer distances.

Stiff Flex shafts are better suited for golfers who have a moderate swing speed and want more control over their shots.

It would help if you considered their swing speed, level of experience, and playing style when selecting between Tour flex and stiff flex golf clubs.

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The ‘game-changing’ Autoflex shaft: A year in review

Last year in August, I introduced the now-famous AutoFlex golf shaft to the English-speaking world here on GolfWRX (Korea’s Autoflex shaft: Challenging the conventional wisdom of golf).

Created by Dumina Co. in South Korea, the upstart shaft challenged the commonly-held view that flexible shafts are not only straighter but longer as well. In the weeks that followed, the neon pink shaft exploded onto the golf scene fueled by a series of videos from TXG’s Ian Fraser and Matt Blois, who seemed equally amazed at the unexpected results. And from the depths of obscurity where so many would-be ‘game changers’ remained, the legend of the Autoflex was born.

Looking back, it may have been the perfect storm – an innovative, ultralight, and flexible shaft with a mysterious “Korea Hidden Technology” appearing at the height of the golf boom brought on by a pandemic. The fact that the manufacturer refused to patent their know-how to protect the technology only added to the intrigue.

Shortly after TXG first introduced the “mysterious Autoflex,” the pink shaft made its appearance on all the major tours. Some of the tour pros to put Autoflex in play included Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, and Michelle Wie West, with dozens more requesting to try the new shaft.

Although the specific technology behind the shaft remains hidden, tens of thousands have since taken the plunge to track down the bright pink shaft despite the high price tag.

According to Dumina, Autoflex shafts are now available in most golfing countries and major OEMs such as Titleist and Srixon/Cleveland/XXIO have added the Autoflex to their premium fitting matrix.

So what have we learned in the space of one year? Recently, I spent several days scouring the Internet to see what the people have been saying about the shaft in posts, reviews, videos, forums, and testimonials.

From the thousands of actual golfers, club fitters, and pros who have tested or played the AutoFlex, the consensus is:

• The majority of users seem to agree that the Autoflex driver shaft is the real deal in providing increased ball speed (as high as +8mph) with overall carry distance and accuracy, just by changing a shaft and without any additional effort (i.e. speed swing or physical training).
• The shaft seems to work best when the overall swing weight of the driver is between C8 to D0. This is radically different from the ‘normal’ D2~D5 swing weight for heavier, stiffer conventional shafts.
• Many raised the concern that swinging such a flexible shaft would not readily translate to swinging a stiffer shaft on the following shots. However, many users, including myself, reported that the swings felt no different going from Autoflex to a conventional shaft and back again during the round.
• Despite the shaft feeling extremely whippy when waggled, golfers said they came to trust the clubhead to catch up to the ball at impact even when swung hard. A few golfers with an aggressive transition said the shaft actually helped to smooth out their tempo on all their clubs.
• Initially thought to target the slow swing speed golfers with a smooth transition, the shaft has been proven by numerous users to perform well for faster swings in excess of 120mph with aggressive transitions.

The above summary may seem to paint the Autoflex as the new golf messiah, but not all reviews were glowing.

I would be remiss not to mention the handful of golfers who saw no increased benefit whatsoever with the Autoflex. There were also a few golfers who likened the shaft to “snake oil”, but most of them did not seem to have actually tried one for themselves.

Most famous perhaps is the video review by Rick Shiels, who was disappointed at the lower-than-expected results. However, many replies on the channel pointed out that the swing weight may have been too heavy (D4~D5), and needs to be fitted to the recommended balance as it is not a “plug and play” shaft.

There were also some instances where golfers reported their shaft breaking or cracks appearing along the shaft. Luckily, the shafts are equipped with a warranty sticker and many reported that the company was quick in response with a replacement. On their website, Dumina recommends utmost care during club fitting as the walls of the butt end and tip are quite thin (be careful when tightening that vice!).

On the whole, however, the online feedback seemed overwhelmingly positive, and that the Autoflex shaft can indeed improve driving performance when dialed into their specified swing speeds.

Co-founders of Dumina Co., Chairman Gun-yul Park and CEO Doona Jeong.

The inevitable questions soon followed. What’s their secret? Many guesses were thrown into the hat, ranging from non-Newtonian materials to KHT being an elaborate marketing scheme.

Could it be all along that golfers can benefit from using a much lower-flex shaft than their current gamers? I have tried several times to coax Dumina into giving me some hints, but so far, they gave nothing away other than stating that their tech and materials are capable of hundreds of new combinations.

According to its two-year product cycle, Dumina plans to release its new shaft models in the fall of 2022.

Other common questions I’ve seen were about their fairway and iron shafts. These shafts cost less than the driver shaft ($790) but are still expensive enough to give most golfers pause. The fairway wood and hybrid shafts retail for $675 each, while an iron shaft will set you back at $210 per shaft. Since becoming smitten with the driver shaft last summer, I managed to save up for the SF505 Autoflex shafts to be installed in all my woods and irons 6 months ago.

So are they worth the money? Below is my experience using the Autoflex SF505 shafts in all my woods and irons.

AutoFlex Driver and Woods

I have been using the SF405 shaft in my Cobra F9 since last year, and switched to SF505 with SIM2 Max 9° head early March. Despite the small fortune spent, I have been quite pleased with the results. When built to 45”, my driver came to C8 with the 24g stock weight in the head. It was good, but I wanted to feel the clubhead a bit more on the downswing. I added about two grams of lead tape to bring the balance slightly past C9, and it is perfect for my average swing speed of 95mph. This setting is very comfortable to swing throughout the round, and my overall driving distance increased just under 20 yards.

As many users have attested online, one amazing benefit of the Autoflex shaft is that it allows me to feel the shaft loading as would a faster player swinging a much stiffer flex at 110+ mph. Thus, even at my slower swing speed I can feel the shaft actively loading and releasing explosively through the impact. The feeling is nothing short of glorious, and I believe this addictive feeling is a big part of the Autoflex charm. With the success of the driver shaft, I changed all the shafts in my woods and irons to the SF505 this March.

Driver: SIM2 Max 9° total 45” @C9; Fairway woods 3,5,7: Knuth High heat @D0; Irons: Yonex CB-301 5-P @C9~D1

The distance gain with my 3-wood (210-220 yds) was barely noticeable, but the 5- and 7- wood carry distance increased by 10~12 yards. The fairway woods and hybrid are all from Knuth Golf, which came with Fujikura Atmos shafts at D2~D3. After switching to Autoflex, the lighter club heads coupled with the 46g pink shaft came to D0 swing weight. Just like the driver, the woods felt light and whippy compared to their conventional counterparts.

I find I don’t need to swing harder for the extra distance and the smoother tempo allows me to hit the center of the face more often. As a result, there is less chance of cold-topping the ball or pulling it left, and I am less afraid to pull out the longer clubs. The distinct kick at impact is also felt in the woods, but not as much as the driver. Depending on my condition and course, I switch out my 7-wood with the 4-hybrid. The hybrid feels a lot like a regular club, but a much lighter weight can be felt when compared to a normal hybrid club.

AutoFlex Irons

I tested both of the SF405 and SF505 iron shaft models and chose to go with the latter. I used Golf Pride Velvet Lite grips to get the swing weight between C9~D1 throughout the set.

Although the stiffer model of the two, the 505 shaft is still very light at 52g even when uncut. Unlike the driver shafts that range up to SF505XX flex for high-speed swings, the current iron shaft models are for average swing speed golfers between 80-100mph (driver SS).

Before switching, I played MFS Matrix Program 70 shafts weighing 79g uncut, and NS pro 950s steel shafts before that. My idea was to go lighter and still maintain adequate stiffness for control. I had pretty good success with the Matrix graphite shafts and carried on average 140~145 meters (153~158 yds) with my 7-iron on the course.

At first, the SF505 shaft actually didn’t feel too different. Perhaps I was already used to the lighter overall club weight from using the Matrix shafts. Also, the waggle test still produced a lot of whip, but not to the level of the driver and fairway shafts. Right away, I felt I could swing hard or smooth and still feel the clubhead following into the impact zone quite nicely.

It took about a week to get better acquainted with the new swing weight, but the overall transition into the new shaft was quite easy. I now average 150~155 meters (164~169 yds) with the same 7 iron (34 degrees loft). The spin is about the same as before at a low 4000rpm range, but the ball launches a tad higher for that extra carry distance. For those who play often in windy conditions, the added peak height may not be beneficial.

On the whole, the Autoflex iron shafts did improve my distance, swing tempo and accuracy over the last two shafts I’ve used. While I have seen equally good distance gains with other premium carbon shafts such as Steelfiber and MCI, there is no doubt that my dispersion got better. My iron play from within 150 yards improved noticeably, and I can swing more uniformly throughout the round.

Also, dropping down one club into the green helped both my GIR and putting average. I was a decent iron player to begin with, but the added distance with less exertion made the game easier on the body and the scorecard.

Looking at my past five-game average on a GolfZon simulator, I saw significant gains in all aspects of my game. To be sure, it is a simulated golf round and can’t compare to the actual course, but my numbers have all jumped up.

Compared to the tens of thousands of Korean golfers in my handicap/skills bracket, I am well above average except in putting. My driver averaged 226.8 meters (about 250 yards), launching at around 12~13° with 1900~2000rpm. This is an increase of about 20 yards B.A,

(Before Autoflex) and FIR has also jumped from the previous 55% to 74.2%. Greens in regulation improved by about 11% to 76.6%, and this is the indication that my iron play has gotten much more effective in terms of distance and dispersion. I have played over 370 virtual rounds on GolfZon over the past 12 years, and I can honestly say that my numbers have never looked better. If I can only take these numbers onto a real course, I’d be golden.

If I had to list the Autoflex shafts in order of performance for my golf game, it would first be the driver followed by iron, fairway, and hybrid shafts. The driver shaft is simply like nothing I had ever used and has proven to be worth every penny. The rest of the shafts are honestly equally good, but in terms of cost and the amount of use during a round, I figured that iron shafts are the better value.

So is Autoflex the answer for all? Of course not. No single product can possibly satisfy the countless number of unique golfer swings in the world. The price of the shafts alone would be a big pill to swallow for most golfers, and the gains may not be enough to justify the cost for some.

But as high-end club manufacturers have shown recently, more and more consumers are willing to pay for products that provide real-world performance. At the end of the day, it’s up to each individual to decide where price and performance intersect for their own budget and golf game.

Moreover, the Autoflex shaft taught me that we may be missing out on playing better golf, simply because we take certain notions in golf to be true without really questioning them. To be sure, I never believed that a more flexible shaft could be both longer and straighter, but I am more than happy to be proven wrong. For me, the Autoflex shafts truly delivered what it promised, and stands out among the dozens of “game-changer” products I have tried over the years.

Lastly, I hope the story of the Autoflex further helps to encourage all golfers and manufacturers to re-think and reexamine other previously-held notions in golf. For, who knows what other benefits we may be overlooking to take this amazing game to the next level?

How about it? What has been your game-changer of late?

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James is a golf gear-nut living and writing about all things golf in Korea. A fan of Tiger, Fred, and Seve, he is forever seeking the holy grail of golf clubs that will lower his score. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada and has been in Korea to witness the explosive growth of golf since 1996. Despite playing golf for over 30 years and being a perpetual 10-handicapper, James steadfastly claims to be the embodiment of the Average Joe Korean golfer. He can be reached at [email protected] , and often introduces cool new Asia-based golf gear on YouTube and Instagram.

20 Comments

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Nov 26, 2022 at 2:14 pm

What did you like best about the 505 iron shafts inlieu of the 405

Sep 12, 2022 at 7:30 pm

Just received mine was very skeptical but I’m a chance taker. This shaft is freaking amazing I’ve gained minimum 20-30 yards hitting the 505x at 109 club head speed hit 2 drivers in the course today over 300 was also very accurate,I would recommend this shaft to AA one,he naysayers just suck at golf imo

Just redid mine was very skeptical but I’m a chance taker. This shaft is freaking amazing I’ve gained minimum 20-30 yards hitting the 505x at 109 club head speed hit 2 drivers in the course today over 300 was also very accurate,I would recommend this shaft to AA one,he naysayers just suck at golf imo

Oct 5, 2021 at 9:07 am

Yea what a great shaft…. Really good marketing when Adam Scott had it in play at Riviera earlier this year, hit it all over the yard and the next day it was out of the bag. Piece of junk.

Oct 4, 2021 at 8:59 am

Thanks for the article James and peaking my interest.

Golf Geisha

Oct 4, 2021 at 2:57 am

Golf is like life. The fewer strokes you have the better.

Jim Thomson

Oct 4, 2021 at 7:12 am

Oct 3, 2021 at 9:41 am

I’m pretty sure $750 worth of lessons would do more for a persons game than a shaft that gives you 10-12 yards.

Oct 3, 2021 at 2:01 pm

They are $750? lol

Oct 2, 2021 at 9:19 am

You didn’t introduce us to autoflex. You were introduced to it the same way everyone else was, social media. People were talking about autoflex long before August 2020. Stop trying to take credit as if you were the first English speaking person to know or use autoflex, it’s pathetic.

Oct 2, 2021 at 10:56 pm

I went to interview Dumina in April 2020 literally on the week they manufactured it for the first time, and before it was on any SNS. I used it for months before having written the first article for golfWRX.

Oct 1, 2021 at 8:57 pm

I still can’t justify a shaft that costs twice what my driver head costs. Maybe if it hit my drives for me.

Oct 1, 2021 at 1:54 pm

When you have absolutely no idea how shafts actually work, I guess you’ll believe anything.

Oct 1, 2021 at 12:50 pm

How come AliExpress are selling them for 89.00 euros

Oct 1, 2021 at 1:26 pm

…because they’re fakes….

Oct 1, 2021 at 1:28 pm

Very interesting article. I was fit with an Autoflex shaft in a Tsi3 driver a few weeks ago. The SW is about D2.5. Hearing that the recommended SW is much lower, I reached out to TXG and they told me that most of their fittings are in the D2 to D4 range and they think that the SW recommendations are lower for clubs in the east as the weights of the driver heads are lower.

Oct 2, 2021 at 11:10 pm

I don’t think head weight is the case. Matt on TXG has a smooth transition despite the powerful impact. But for others who don’t have a steady transition, the club head may wobble and miss the center of the face. For me, any swing weight above D1 does this and I lose accuracy and distance. After many tries, C9 seemed best for me. Looking at various AF foruns online, many golfers have tinkered with weight kits to find their own ideal swing weight which ranged from C8 to D4, so try for your self too. Good luck!

Oct 4, 2021 at 2:20 pm

Is there any chance the Autoflex will be in a different color graphics any time soon? I don’t mind the color pink, but a blacked out version would peek my interest like was BST Stability Putter shafts.

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

It seems like the RBC Heritage is full of new gear to be spotted, and you can add TaylorMade’s P-UDI utility irons to that list.

We spotted a 17-degree P-UDI 2-iron in Nick Dunlap’s bag yesterday, and now have some photos of both the 3- and 4-irons. Nick has his P-UDI 2-iron setup with a Project X HZRDUS Black 4th Gen 105g TX shaft.

From what we can tell, this new P-UDI utility iron looks to have some of the usual TaylorMade technology as we can see the Speed Slot on the sole of the club for additional face flexibility. A toe screw is usually used to close off the hollow body design that will probably be filled with a version of TaylorMade’s Speed Foam that is present in the current iron lineup. This hollow body, foam-filled design should offer additional ball speed, soft feel, and sound, as well as an optimized CG for ball flight.

“Forged” is etched into the hosel, so we can assume that either the face, body, or both are forged for a soft and responsive feel. The club looks good from behind and at address, where we can see just a little offset and a topline that I would consider medium thickness. We don’t have the full details on what is under the hood or how many loft options will be available yet.

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• Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.  

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Can Long Drives be found with a Regular Flex Golf Shaft?

by Matt Ristine | Sep 17, 2014 | driver shaft , golf club shaft flex , golf driver shafts , golf equipment

By Paul Myers

There is a some thinking among amateur golfers that playing as stiff a golf shaft as possible is somehow a sign that you are a good golfer. Some players see it as a badge of honor to be playing with an ‘X’ flex golf shaft, even if the results aren’t as good as they could be with another golf shaft. Instead of worrying about what the flex rating on a given golf shaft happens to be, think about the ball flight it creates and the distance it is capable of. Basically, does it help you hit how you want?

Toward that end, don’t rule out using a regular flex golf shaft if that is what the computer fitting process suggests is best for your swing. The thinking that you have to at least play a stiff flex golf shaft in order to be a good player is faulty – you can play well with any normal flex golf shaft – preferably one that is fit for you.

Your swing speed is one determining factor in how far you can hit the ball, as well as in what golf shaft you might use. If you decide to go to a stiffer shaft even though your swing speed hasn’t increased, all you might do is hurt your game. Don’t buy a club that suits your ego – buy one that suits your swing.

Follow the Lead of the Pros

Unlike amateur golfers, some professional golfers opt for a softer shaft. In some cases, that is still an ‘X’ flex because of the power that those players possess. However, they understand that by using a softer shaft that still suits their swing, they might not have to work as hard to find distance off the tee (or from the fairway) and get the ball up in the air.

Generally speaking, a softer golf shaft can offer you the chance to create more height and possible speed/distance, while a stiffer shaft can offer you more control. That is not a hard and fast rule, but it can be a good place to start when thinking about what golf shaft to use. So, basically, find the softest shaft that you can successfully control in order to maximize both distance and accuracy. It’s a middle ground.

Trust the Technology

A great way to settle on the right golf shaft for your game is simply to trust in the club fitting technology we have available today, as well as the professionals who run them. The numbers can help, and the shafts that are recommended by the machine are probably the ones that will serve you best out on the course. Be sure to try them out before you buy and make sure that they do, in fact, suit your swing – but the computer isn’t wrong very often. Put your ego aside and rely on the impressive technology of things like Trackman to guide you in the right direction.

There is no sense in playing a club that doesn’t work for your swing just to have the ‘pride’ of using a stiff or extra-stiff golf shaft. With that in mind, If you want to play as well as possible and record the lowest score you can, choose clubs that are matched to your ability and swing, regardless of what flex that might be.

If you liked the article, which is answering the question ‘Can long drives be found with a regular flex golf shaft’ and you think it would help another golfer, please like it.

To learn more about Swing Man Golf products and hit it longer with swing speed training, click here .

And, if you would like to add 30 to 40 yards to your drives over the next 30 days, like thousands of our customers have before you, you might consider our unique Swing Man Golf Swing Speed Training.

Use the tool below to find out a.) how fast your swing speed should be and b.) how fast you COULD swing it soon:

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• Classic Golf And Golfers

Champions tour shaft flex

By BB17406 December 10, 2009 in Classic Golf And Golfers

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Anyone have an idea about the shaft flex in the irons of players on the

Champions Tour. Noticed a WITB for Jay Haas that said he used TTDS300.

Do they softstep? Anyone using regular shafts? Just wondering if anyone has any info.

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Nike Vr Pro LE 8.5 degree TEE CB Pro LE 13 degree TEE XCGV 16.5 degree Adams A4 Forged DG X100 Vokey Custom 54 & 58 Cameron CLN 1997 Custom Shop

Pepperturbo

[quote name='BB17406' post='2116522' date='Dec 10 2009, 02:09 PM']Anyone have an idea about the shaft flex in the irons of players on the Champions Tour. Noticed a WITB for Jay Haas that said he used TTDS300. Do they softstep? Anyone using regular shafts? Just wondering if anyone has any info.[/quote] There are many that play "R", but many more that play "S", hard and soft stepped, and some that still play "X". What's played has a great deal to do with their physical conditioning; as is the case for the result of the golfing world. Age is a state of mind. I am 60 and strong so still playing standard PX flighted and standard 6.0 and "X" or "S" in my wood shafts depending on weight.

• TSR2 9.25°  Ventus Velo TR Blue 58S
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Thanks for the reply. I, too, still use DGlite S300 and am in middle 60's and stiff shaft in my driver. Probably won't change, but always curious about alternative shafts.

• 2 weeks later...

I don't know anyone on the Champions tour personally, but I play with guys my age and older (I'm 54) at the local munis who still play stiff steel shafts in their irons. I just got my new MPs with px 5.5s thinking I needed to step down from my previous irons and their 6.0s. Now I'm hooking like crazy and trying to figure out what to do. I play with a guy who's almost 60, hits it almost as far as I do, and plays DG X-100s in his irons. I hope I'm still swing that well in 5 years!

Primary bag: Titleist 913 D3 8.5 Titleist 915Fd 13.5 Titleist 913h 17 Mizuno MP-18 4-PW Scratch wedges 50, 55, and 60 Bettinardi mid-shank putter Backup bag: Ping G400 9 Ping G30 fw 13 Ping G30 hybrid 19 Ping iBlade 4-PW power spec Macgregor VIP wedges 51, 56, and 60 Bettinardi mid-shank putter

Some people on this board have the social skills of a ...

[quote name='Pepperturbo' post='2137531' date='Dec 21 2009, 06:31 PM']Some people on this board have the social skills of a ...[/quote] With ranging remarks like the one you made, what do you expect. [i]"Who my neighbors are..."[/i] sounds like the little kid who is only trying to show everyone up. If you got info to share, we'd appreciate it. Do you think your "neighbors" don't want their names mentioned? My wife worked at NCSU for several years. I got to know the staff at Prestonwood CC extremely well and still do. When the Champions Tour came there every year, I was introduced to a number of them. We even stayed at the same hotels in town most of the time. I became friends with McCord, Jacobs, and several other players who are lesser-known. Am I bragging? Absolutely not. But I do know a lot about their games and equipment because I still talk to them at times. I played regularly on a Senior Tour on the east coast that at times became a "proving ground" for some of the Champions Tour players coming off injuries or who lived in the area. I've also played rounds in competition with John Jacobs, Tom McKnight, and James Mason. Sorry if I peed in your Cheerios earlier, but I know first-hand what some of the guys are playing. You didn't offer any info except to [b]not [/b]mention your neighbors name......

The changes become necessary, only as needed, and not at any specific age. For me, the last 3 years have been time to rebuild the game, as strength and clubhead speed have declined. I am now 70. What matters is being able to play the game. teespoon

Not to one-up Teespoon, but I'm 71 (recently) and play Nippon 850 GH R flex in my irons, but as late as age 67, I was playing DG S-300. Then one day , like overnight, the trajectory got lower and lower, so I went to a lighter weight, more flexible shaft, and it went back to normal. Most of the Sr. players I have known used DG S-300 or 400.

TBD Tour Edge Exotics CB 4 16.5 Regular Flex Cobra Baffler hybrid 22* Regular Mizuno MP 59 5-PW PX 5.0 Callaway MD2 Tour Grind wedges 54 & 58 T.P Mills Professional One 35" Bridgesone E6 Soft Yellow

[quote name='pickerjohn' post='2143340' date='Dec 25 2009, 10:42 AM']like overnight, the trajectory got lower and lower,[/quote] No Kidding, things happen fast and immediately. Time flies when you get older.

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What Irons Do LPGA Players Use? Top 50 Pros Analysis (2021)

Written by Graeme Hay | Last Updated: 12/03/2024

This post contains affiliate links from which Golfing Focus earns a commission (at no cost to you).

When it comes to selecting your next set of irons it is likely that you would be better seeing what can be learned from the iron sets of the top LPGA Tour pros rather than their male colleagues.

Swing speeds of the average male golfer match much more closely to LPGA Tour players than they do to the best players in the men’s game, and although there is little else in common between the average golfer and the top women pros from a skill perspective, there is plenty to learn from the iron choices of best women pros.

So we took a detailed look at the irons the top 50 players on the LPGA Tour are using.

14 different brands and 38 models of irons are used by the top 50 LPGA Tour golfers. PING is the dominant brand among this group with 12 players choosing them. Titleist and PXG irons are the next most played with 7 and 6 golfers each using them. The most common iron set up, chosen by over 50%, is 5-iron to pitching wedge .

The number of different brands and iron models used by some of the best players in the women’s game highlights how precise each player clearly is when it comes to choosing their equipment.

Each player is determined to find the best iron set up that matches their game, swing and desired ball flight and as such it is no surprise to find such a variety of irons among this elite LPGA group as they all strive to maximise the advantages individual irons give them.

Despite this variety however when you look at the irons used by the top 50 LPGA players, including the shafts they choose, some general trends do emerge which we believe every average player can learn from.

It is also fascinating to see the similarities between the iron choices of many of the top women pros and their male colleagues on the PGA Tour.

Breakdown of Most Popular Irons Used on the LPGA Tour

Comparing iron sets between different players is not as easy a task as it used to be.

Not all that long ago the top players in both the women’s and the men’s game would be choosing a 3-iron to pitching wedge iron set with the occasional player adding a 1-iron or 2-iron into the mix.

With the advent of driving/utility irons and especially hybrids however, there is now no such thing as a ‘standard’ set of irons as different LPGA players now choose to start their iron set with either a 4-iron, 5-iron or even 6-iron.

Many also do not bother with the pitching wedge common to the rest of their irons and prefer to play 3 or 4 specialist wedges instead.

And that is before we even consider the 8 out of the top 50 LPGA players who are using two and even three different types and models of irons in their set of clubs.

In spite of these trends though we managed to pull together a complete analysis of the irons used by the top 50 LPGA Tour players in order to discover what the most popular irons on the tour are.

PING’s i210 irons are the most popular irons among the top 50 LPGA golfers. 8 players use them for all their iron set with another 3 pros using a number of i210 irons alongside other models. Titleist’s T100 irons are the second most popular with 5 using them. PXG’s 0311 P Gen3 and 0211 ST irons are the next most used.

No data was available for 3 of the top 50 players – Pajaree Anannarukarn, Yealimi Noh and Xiyu Lin – but it is interesting to note that no other iron model from any of the other manufacturers, with the exception of Mizuno’s JPX 919 Tour irons, was used by more than one of the top 50 players.

It is also interesting to note that the two most popular iron sets among the top 50 on the LPGA Tour are exactly the same models as the two most popular iron models used by the top 100 players on the PGA Tour.

The only difference on the PGA Tour is that Titleist’s T100 irons are the most popular with PING’s i210 being second.

Turning our attention then to the iron set ups of the top 50 pros on the LPGA Tour we noted, after discounting driving/utility irons from the comparison, that the dominant iron set up choice is 5-iron to pitching wedge with close to half of this elite group choosing that set up.

15 of the top 50 then prefer to start their iron set with a 4-iron and carry irons all the way through to a pitching wedge with the other iron set ups proving to be much less popular.

The chart below shows the full range of iron set ups currently being used by the top 50 LPGA players.

The complete breakdown of which irons used are used by the top 50 players on the LPGA Tour, including golfers who only use one individual iron of a particular model, is as follows:

Do LPGA Players Use Blades?

There are probably not many areas where the average golfer would assume the best LPGA players in the world have led the way but when it comes to iron type selection they have.

I remember years ago having the privilege to caddie for a Ladies European Tour player when one of their events was hosted at my home club and I always remember being struck by her bag containing not one blade iron.

Having grown up assuming all top players all used blades and cavity backs were the preserve of beginner and high handicap golfers this took me by surprise but given the quality of her shot making I should probably have paid more attention before I wasted my money buying my next set of blades which were far too hard for me to hit.

Looking at the iron set ups of the top 50 LPGA players today this trend of preferring cavity back irons over blades has clearly continued to the present.

In total only 3 of the top 50 Top LPGA players use blades. Megan Khang and Ryann O’Toole use a full set with Austin Ernst also using blades from 7-iron to pitching wedge. 44 use cavity back irons and this number increases to 45 when you take account of pros who use at least one cavity back iron as part of a mixed iron set.

When we looked previously at the iron set ups of the top players on the PGA Tour we found an increasing trend in that elite group of a preference for cavity backs over blade irons to the extent that blade iron players are now very much in the minority at the top of the mens game.

In this regard therefore it would seem that the best LPGA professionals have come more quickly to the conclusion than their male colleagues that they achieve better results by choosing the extra forgiveness and distance that is afforded to golfers using cavity back irons.

[Note – if you are interested in comparing the irons chosen by the top players on the LPGA with the PGA Tour check out our analysis of the irons used by the top 100 players on the PGA Tour here .]

What Iron Shafts Do LPGA Players Use?

While the top LPGA players set the trend when it came to using cavity back irons in preference to blades when we look at the iron shafts this elite group use they are clearly different to the ones used by the top men pros.

And the most obvious difference is evident when it comes to the shaft flex most LPGA players use.

As a general rule the top 50 LPGA players use either regular or stiff iron shafts. 11 players use stiff shafts in their irons while 7 use regular iron shafts. 2 players use a regular+ iron shaft while Ally Ewing is the only player who uses a stiff flex shaft in her 5-iron but a regular shaft from 6-iron to pitching wedge.

Unfortunately no iron shaft data is available for 27 out of the top 50 LPGA players but it is clear that when it comes to their irons the top women pros prefer a softer flex of iron shaft compared to their male colleagues as a result of their slower swing speed.

When it comes to the material of iron shafts used by the best LPGA players it is also clear that they are much more willing to use graphite iron shafts.

In total we found 11 of the top 50 players on the LPGA Tour use graphite iron shafts in their set with another 24 preferring steel shafted irons. Ally Ewing was again an outlier using a graphite iron shaft in her 5-iron before switching to a steel iron shaft for the rest of her irons.

A complete data set was again not available when it came to comparing how many LPGA players use graphite iron shafts with no data being available for 15 players on this topic and although there was no data on 26 players out of the top 50 when it came to looking at the weight of the iron shafts they choose we found the following for the rest.

As a whole a wide range of iron shaft weights is used by the top 50 LPGA players from 64g up to 131g. 5 players use iron shafts between 100 to 110g with 1 player each choosing a 115g, 125g and 131g shaft. Under the 100g mark 9 players use irons shafts between 90 and 100g with the most popular shaft weight being 106.5g.

Nippon iron shafts are the most popular brand of shafts among the top 50 players on the LPGA Tour with KBS and Aerotech iron shafts being the next most used brands. Nippon’s N.S. Pro 950GH is the most used individual shaft among this elite group with 8 players choosing it.

Here is a breakdown of the iron golf shafts used currently by the top 50 players on the LPGA Tour.

Check out the latest price on Amazon (unless otherwise stated) through the links in the table.

[Note – if you are interested in comparing the golf shafts used by the top players on the LPGA with the PGA Tour check out our breakdown of the iron and driver shafts used by the top 100 players on the PGA Tour here. ]

Other top posts related to this topic:

• What Clubs do LPGA players use? Top 50 Player Breakdown
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• Do Pros Use Game Improvement Irons? They Also Want Forgiveness!
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• Do Pros Use Regular or Stiff Shafts? They’re Stronger Than That!
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• How Far Should I Hit My Irons? By Handicap, Age & Swingspeed

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