I went for a brief lesson today, and they chucked my shaft on a couple of implements to check out the flex of the shaft. I was shocked that the shaft on my driver (Mitsubishi Rayon 64g TP Stiff) came up as between Ladies and Regular flex. I was under the impression that the Taylor Made TP Stiff shafts are meant to be slightly stiffer than a normal stiff shaft. There is so much talk about shafts on the forum, I hope this hasn’t been directly discussed before.

I am sure AB or Guru may be able to shed some light on why this has happened…Could it simply be a shoddy measurement, or perhaps a shoddy shaft?

Guru, you’re next to test that shaft!!!

Too many variables here…

Is the shaft genuine – Is the testing equipment regularly maintained and calibrated – Was the club fitter competent in using the equipment – Has the shaft been lengthened – Has the shaft been mis-used ie. thrown or hit hard objects other than golf balls

I got a good deal on a set of Mizuno MX-25’s but was unsure about them as they had the Mizuno Exsar IS2 shaft in them in stiff whereas I have always hit regular!

My clubfitter suggested they would actually be fine as being a japanese spec shaft their stiff would play more like a firm - as it happens they seem to be fine!?

it’s all too confusing!

Too many variables here…

Is the shaft genuine – Is the testing equipment regularly maintained and calibrated – Was the club fitter competent in using the equipment – Has the shaft been lengthened – Has the shaft been mis-used ie. thrown or hit hard objects other than golf balls

Right, It’s time to book an appointment with Guru and get the clubs checked and swing specs all mapped out I think!

Because there is no set industry standard on flex it’s quite common to see discrepancies of this nature. What standard was it measured by & can you be sure that the measuring device was correctly calibrated?

I agree with Tim Mega Watty. There is no set standard between companies for shaft flex. The best thing to do is get it frequency analysed and supply cpm ratings. This is the way I select all of my shafts now. In one company I could be an X, in another I am XXX. It is a pain I know and the industry should get together and try and have uniform flex ratings.

I agree with Tim Mega Watty. There is no set standard between companies for shaft flex. The best thing to do is get it frequency analysed and supply cpm ratings. This is the way I select all of my shafts now. In one company I could be an X, in another I am XXX. It is a pain I know and the industry should get together and try and have uniform flex ratings.

Some dream, others DO!

It was done in 97. A group got together, I know for sure one was tom wishon, I think jeff jackson was the other.I’ve got the book, can remmber the name it’s in the work shop, but as it’s over ten years old it’s way out of date

There is also the Dyancaft shaft fitting index(DSFI), it’s a pdf file which you can get of the intergeek. Which has a listing which is preety good, Jeff Jackson headed that one I belive, which is up to data for 2007, I don’t know about 2008.

There is also a shaft profiling software which you can buy, from TWGT, I own a copy which is tip top. Jerry Jr I think has designed it, with partener ship with TWGT. Which is upto date with most shafts. It was updated about 3 months ago.

For the record butt cpm a shaft is just a guess at best, and will only give you a slight idea on how the shaft will play, you need to look at the whole profile, along the shaft. Plus weight toque, bend point as well.

Good points Nigel…

I didn’t realise it had been done. Why is there still so much variation between one company’s flex compared to another?

Why cant they all say “well 240-250 is an S flex” and mark their products accordingly? It just adds to the confusion of customers who say well I am an S in company X so I will get an S from company Y and they end up with a completely different flex.

Right-o.

FYI, one of the machines had a digital readout. The guy locked it in and made the shaft flex backwards and it gave some sort of readout.

The second, he suspended the club in a pipe on the wall, and then chucked a weight near the head. He then measured it against a chart on the wall.

Sorry for my lack of prowess in relation to shafts, it’s this forum that has made me think about them for once.

MW

Good points Nigel…

I didn’t realise it had been done. Why is there still so much variation between one company’s flex compared to another?

Why cant they all say “well 240-250 is an S flex” and mark their products accordingly? It just adds to the confusion of customers who say well I am an S in company X so I will get an S from company Y and they end up with a completely different flex.

Some dream, others DO!

It’s there shafts they can do as they want. Thats the line you will get from the companys.

Just the way it is. There is zip you can do about it.

I go with the hit it, and see what it feels like.

That’s the nuts of it. How do you hit it Mega & does it perform suitably for your action?

I personally find shafts softer these days than 5-10 years ago. Not so much in steel but definately in graphite. I would really struggle to use a regular graphite shaft wereas years ago i could make do. Are manufacturers making shafts softer to help some peoples egos? I have worked in the industry and dont remember so many people using stiff flex in the past?

Good points Nigel…

I didn’t realise it had been done. Why is there still so much variation between one company’s flex compared to another?

Why cant they all say “well 240-250 is an S flex” and mark their products accordingly? It just adds to the confusion of customers who say well I am an S in company X so I will get an S from company Y and they end up with a completely different flex.

Some dream, others DO!

Ya AB
for the Grossly lack of any standardisation
this Shaft flex thing makes life even more confusing in an already very challenging game
What a real Shame
makes comparing so much more troublesome for the majority of the consumers…..

the USGA/Royal n ancient should actually act on this and standardise Shaft flex among the manufacturers

Blame the usa fork and hoe company. The first company to make steel shafts later called (ture temper).

You can have two shafts reading 240 cpm on a meter, play and feel completely different.

There are already to many rules in golf.