Stiff vs. Regular Shaft: This Chart Makes it Clear

While there are plenty of variables to consider when choosing between a regular and stiff shaft, the most reliable way to select the best shaft flex is to start with your driver swing speed. The faster your swing speed is, the stiffer your shaft should be. 

While stiff and regular shafts fit the majority of golfers, Ladies Flex, Senior Flex, and X-Stff shafts are also common.

This golf shaft flex chart can help you find the appropriate shaft flex based on your driver swing speed.

The right shaft flex produces the longest, straightest shots.

More Stiff: 

• Using a shaft that’s too stiff leads to lower shots with a push tendency

Less Stiff:

• A shaft with too much flex becomes whippy, hindering timing and reducing your ability to square the face through impact resulting in a two-way miss

In addition to your swing speed, your tempo can impact which shaft flex is best for you. If you have a slower tempo, then you’re not putting as much load into the shaft, and therefore you could play a weaker flex. If you have a quicker tempo that puts more load on the shaft, a stiffer shaft could be a better option. 

That’s one reason why there is some overlap in the golf shaft flex chart above. Don’t overthink this, but if your swing speed could fit two different flexes, consider your tempo and Foy’s advice about favoring the weaker flex. 

Another reason for that overlap is that there is no industry standard in shaft flex. Instead, every manufacturer uses its own scale to determine which shafts are regular or stiff.

“There's no set scale to how you profile a regular, a stiff, or an X, or a ladies, or a senior,” Foy told GolfLink. “The main thing is understanding the feel of the shaft and how it can work for you in your swing, specifically in your down and through swing.”

That means that a Stiff flex from one shaft-maker might be labeled Regular by another, even if both shafts have the same flexion. That’s why it’s important to evaluate both how a shaft feels when you swing it, and what the ball does. 

The shaft is considered the engine of the golf club, and your shaft has a huge influence on trajectory, shot shape, distance, and consistency.

Using a shaft that fits your swing produces the best distance and accuracy possible. When you use a shaft that’s ill-fit for your swing, your game can suffer. 

There are several other variables in each shaft that impact performance. If you want to go beyond marrying your swing speed to the appropriate shaft flex for you, you can be selective of the weight, kick point, and length of your shaft.

This golf shaft chart shows how shaft flex, weight, kick point (also known as bend point), and length all affect ball flight and performance.

In addition to choosing your shaft flex, you may also have the option of different shaft weights.

Here's the impact of using a heavier shaft:

• Using a heavier shaft reduces club head speed and potential distance
• The heavier a shaft is, the more awareness you have of your club, which can create better and more consistent strikes
• As shaft weight increases, trajectory lowers
• Heavier shafts can lead to fatigue

Here's what to expect from a lighter shaft:

• A lighter shaft creates more speed and greater distance potential
• A lighter shaft makes it more difficult to feel and control the club head during the swing, which can hinder accuracy
• As shaft weight decreases, launch increases

The kick point of a shaft is the point where the shaft bends, and the area where a shaft may bend is relatively small. Within that area, the bend point can be higher or lower on the shaft, which influences trajectory.

Kick Point Influence:

• A higher kick point produces a lower trajectory
• A lower kick point produces a higher trajectory

The length of your shaft influences swing speed and control. Here's how.

Longer Shafts:

• A longer shaft creates more club head speed and greater distance potential
• A longer shaft is more difficult to control, which can hinder consistency

Shorter Shafts:

• A shorter shaft creates less club head speed
• With a shorter shaft it is easier to hit the sweet spot, increasing accuracy and consistency

There’s nothing wrong with selecting a shaft based solely on your swing speed. However, you can make it infinitely more complex than that if you choose.

As with most things in golf, there is plenty of give and take when selecting a shaft. If you want maximum distance, you might need to sacrifice some control and accuracy to get it, or vice-versa. 

It’s up to you to pinpoint your preferences. From there, you can pinpoint the shaft with the right profile for you. 

Of course, it’s always a good idea to see a professional fitter who is well-versed in the impact of every variable and can find the best setup for your swing.