SS Driver Shaft Issues

Juice1121 · June 25, 2017

I have noticed that most stiff flex shafts have a recommended SS of around 105-107 and lower. I have always played a stiff flex shaft. I have been playing more lately and my SS has been pushing into the 110+ range. When I play the Stiff flex, in the summer the S flex shafts feel a bit whippy and become harder to control. My miss is a draw and it tends to become a hook. However, the few X stiff shafts I have tried have felt very boardy and too stiff. When I get after it they do OK, but when I lay off drives to play a more controlled shot, I end up not being able to load the shaft properly. I was able to hardstep my irons to get the right fit.

I am very happy with my bag from top to bottom. The problem is, as a WRXer, I have to tinker with something. I have become very interested in testing different driver shafts to find the optimum one for me.

I have tried a ton of shafts but have yet to find the perfect one. I am currently about to test out the Tensei CK pro orange V2 60S and the Speeder 565 X stiff. I tend to do better with Tip stiff shafts. My two thoughts were tipping stiff flex shafts or getting lighter x flex shafts. However, finding 50ish G x flex shafts that are tip stiff has proven to be a bit hard.

My questions is what shafts do you folks with a SS around 105-112 play in your clubs? Do you tip shafts to stiffen them up? Do you go lighter?

Thanks!

Mob · June 25, 2017

I think how you load the shaft and where in your swing the force on the shaft deforms it, has a big impact on what flex shaft matches your swing. I have a V2 60 stiff and it matches me pretty well, but I am in the 105 mph range. I think 110 mph may be too much for most stiff shafts, unless you have a smooth swing. If X feels like too much for you, then have you tried a 70 stiff in your driver? That may work if tipping isn't the answer.

b.helts · June 25, 2017

Try a heavier STIFF or a lighter X.

axh819 · June 25, 2017

Try a di6/7s

Don't tip it, it's tip stiff and will soften if you tip it

crazy8golfer · June 25, 2017

Try a di6/7s
Don't tip it, it's tip stiff and will soften if you tip it

Excellent shaft !

bazinky · June 25, 2017

Try a heavier STIFF or a lighter X.

It always surprises me how little attention get paid to shaft weight as opposed to shaft flex.

Juice1121 · June 26, 2017

I think how you load the shaft and where in your swing the force on the shaft deforms it, has a big impact on what flex shaft matches your swing. I have a V2 60 stiff and it matches me pretty well, but I am in the 105 mph range. I think 110 mph may be too much for most stiff shafts, unless you have a smooth swing. If X feels like too much for you, then have you tried a 70 stiff in your driver? That may work if tipping isn't the answer.

Try a heavier STIFF or a lighter X.

Thanks for the suggestions! Not too big of a fan of heavier shafts in the driver. I have tried it and never got a long with it. I have tried as heavy as 70g and 80 g shafts.

Try a di6/7s
Don't tip it, it's tip stiff and will soften if you tip it

See signature. I have had the best success with these so far. Interesting point about the tipping of a tip stiff shaft. I did not realize that that would weaken the shaft. I did not think that would be the case. Thanks for the info.

Try a heavier STIFF or a lighter X.

It always surprises me how little attention get paid to shaft weight as opposed to shaft flex.

Agreed, tinkering with both, especially in my other clubs has been beneficial. Going heavier in certain shafts can help to lower ball flight. As far as drivers I notice the weights of the different shafts feel much more pronounced. Also, with the lighter head weight of the epic, heavier shafts tend to throw the SW off.

I'm thinking of trying the Speeder 565 x flex I think a lighter x flex may be the trick for me. I do find it easier to swing the lighter shafts quicker. I tend to prefer the lighter shafts because I notice less swing fatigue especially later in the round as I tend to walk a lot instead of taking a cart. I had thought about trying an AD DI 5s and tipping it an inch to stiffen it up, but apparently that will not stiffen the shaft.

Stuart_G · June 26, 2017

Try a heavier STIFF or a lighter X.

It always surprises me how little attention get paid to shaft weight as opposed to shaft flex.

Well weight certainly is very important - typically more important then flex, but the op is specifically asking about flex, not weight. And it's important not to confuse the two.

Heavier shafts are not always stiffer and lighter shafts are not always softer. And even if they were, you definitely do NOT want to go lighter just to get a softer flex. A shaft weight should be chosen because that weight is the best match for ones swing irrespective of the stiffness. Going lighter (or heavier) can easily cause more problems - usually with rhythm and temp - then it will solve by getting a better match for flex.

There is no standard for flex, not all 'stiff' shafts are the same and not all 'x-stiff' shafts are the same. So w/o knowing what specific 'stiff' shafts you have tried and what 'x-stiff' shafts you have tried and the specifics on how they felt and/or performed - it will be difficult to give any kind of helpful recommendation. Everyone is different on how the bend profile might translate to feel so it's hard to say for sure but best guess for what you likely may need is a stiff shaft with a relatively firm butt/mid section (e.g. rip alpha/gamma, rogue silver, grafalloy blue, speeder 757) or an x-stiff shaft with a softer butt/mid section (HZRDUS yellow, oban devotions, NVS, fubuki's or maybe one of the Diamana's)

And yes. If something is a little bit too soft, tipping 1" or even a bit more is always an option.

4rheel · June 26, 2017

Shayan, I'm in the same boat as you. Same SS and was told I could hit a X or TX but always preferred the S flex. My misses were also left so I started checking out stiffer flex shafts to minimze them. Had some success with premium TX shafts but didn't feel I was getting the results I wanted. Finally settled on a KK XT 60S (tipped 1") which has taken care of most of my hard lefts and a great mid to low trajectory. I've also had good results with my ATTAS 6star 7s (tipped 1/2") but not as good. Got my hands on a tour issued Tour AD GP-5x (untipped) which is my latest experiment. I'm amazed at how it doesn't want to go left. So much so I went from a soft draw to a fader.

Juice1121 · June 26, 2017

Try a heavier STIFF or a lighter X.

It always surprises me how little attention get paid to shaft weight as opposed to shaft flex.

Well weight certainly is very important - typically more important then flex, but the op is specifically asking about flex, not weight. And it's important not to confuse the two.

Heavier shafts are not always stiffer and lighter shafts are not always softer. And even if they were, you definitely do NOT want to go lighter just to get a softer flex. A shaft weight should be chosen because that weight is the best match for ones swing irrespective of the stiffness. Going lighter (or heavier) can easily cause more problems - usually with rhythm and temp - then it will solve by getting a better match for flex.

There is no standard for flex, not all 'stiff' shafts are the same and not all 'x-stiff' shafts are the same. So w/o knowing what specific 'stiff' shafts you have tried and what 'x-stiff' shafts you have tried and the specifics on how they felt and/or performed - it will be difficult to give any kind of helpful recommendation. Everyone is different on how the bend profile might translate to feel so it's hard to say for sure but best guess for what you likely may need is a stiff shaft with a relatively firm butt/mid section (e.g. rip alpha/gamma, rogue silver, grafalloy blue, speeder 757) or an x-stiff shaft with a softer butt/mid section (HZRDUS yellow, oban devotions, NVS, fubuki's or maybe one of the Diamana's)

And yes. If something is a little bit too soft, tipping 1" or even a bit more is always an option.

Thanks for the response stuart. Can you speak to more of this tipping point. Another poster above you said that tipping a tip stiff shaft will actually weaken the shaft is that correct?

As for going lower to get a softer shaft, I am more going lighter because:

a) I prefer a lighter shaft anyway.

b) I tend to maintain my swing speed throughout the round when using a lighter shaft. So going lighter and x flex will help me to maintain my SS throughout walking a full 18. I find that around the 12-14th hole swinging a heavier shaft (70-80g) I tend to get fatigued and have some trouble getting up to speed to properly load the shaft.

I can get you a list of shafts, but it's pretty long to be honest.

Juice1121 · June 26, 2017

Shayan, I'm in the same boat as you. Same SS and was told I could hit a X or TX but always preferred the S flex. My misses were also left so I started checking out stiffer flex shafts to minimze them. Had some success with premium TX shafts but didn't feel I was getting the results I wanted. Finally settled on a KK XT 60S (tipped 1") which has taken care of most of my hard lefts and a great mid to low trajectory. I've also had good results with my ATTAS 6star 7s (tipped 1/2") but not as good. Got my hands on a tour issued Tour AD GP-5x (untipped) which is my latest experiment. I'm amazed at how it doesn't want to go left. So much so I went from a soft draw to a fader.

Interesting, the GP and the KK xt are two shafts I have not tried, but have looked at. I did not know they made the GP 5 in x flex. I can't find one anywhere online. I will have to look harder, because I am a huge fan of tip stiff shafts and especially ones in the tour AD range from Graphite Design.

4rheel · June 26, 2017

Interesting, the GP and the KK xt are two shafts I have not tried, but have looked at. I did not know they made the GP 5 in x flex. I can't find one anywhere online. I will have to look harder, because I am a huge fan of tip stiff shafts and especially ones in the tour AD range from Graphite Design.

Yes, the GP-5x is a tour issued shaft and will be tough to find. It definitely has a higher trajectory than the KK XT 60s but not ballooning by any means. So far I do like it better than the GP-6s I had but have to see how it is over 18. If this doesn't work, I will stick with the KK XT 60s.

I forgot to mention, a close second to the XT was the KK Dual Core 60 TS Proto (tipped1/2"). Seems to be right in between the XT 60s and GP-5x in terms of stiffness and trajectory.

Stuart_G · June 26, 2017

Thanks for the response stuart. Can you speak to more of this tipping point. Another poster above you said that tipping a tip stiff shaft will actually weaken the shaft is that correct?

Generally, no, that's not correct. Doesn't matter how tip stiff the shaft is, the butt section that replaces the tipped portion is still going to be stiffer then the portion of the tip that's trimmed off so overall stiffness will still increase.

Now how much the stiffness might change is going to vary based on the exact profile so it can be more effective in some shaft then it is in others.

Juice1121 · June 26, 2017

Interesting, the GP and the KK xt are two shafts I have not tried, but have looked at. I did not know they made the GP 5 in x flex. I can't find one anywhere online. I will have to look harder, because I am a huge fan of tip stiff shafts and especially ones in the tour AD range from Graphite Design.

Yes, the GP-5x is a tour issued shaft and will be tough to find. It definitely has a higher trajectory than the KK XT 60s but not ballooning by any means. So far I do like it better than the GP-6s I had but have to see how it is over 18. If this doesn't work, I will stick with the KK XT 60s.

I forgot to mention, a close second to the XT was the KK Dual Core 60 TS Proto (tipped1/2"). Seems to be right in between the XT 60s and GP-5x in terms of stiffness and trajectory.

Oh ok, that makes sense as to why I could not find it. I tell you what, if you end up not liking it, let me know. I'll butt it off you or trade you something for it.

Thanks for the response stuart. Can you speak to more of this tipping point. Another poster above you said that tipping a tip stiff shaft will actually weaken the shaft is that correct?

Generally, no, that's not correct. Doesn't matter how tip stiff the shaft is, the butt section that replaces the tipped portion is still going to be stiffer then the portion of the tip that's trimmed off so overall stiffness will still increase.

Now how much the stiffness might change is going to vary based on the exact profile so it can be more effective in some shaft then it is in others.

Thank you for the info. This backs up what I had thought.