What Flex Shaft Should I Use for Drivers?

When shopping for golf clubs there are a lot of factors to take into consideration because every golfer is different. Not one person’s swing is the same and that means finding the right build is paramount to making sure your time on the course isn’t cut short by your own frustration of never hitting like the way you’ve envisioned. 

The three biggest things to note when shopping for any kind of club, not just drivers, is:

• Club Length: or more accurately, shaft length, is the height of your golf club. Typically anywhere from 35ish inches for wedges, irons, and putters, and around 45 inches for drivers. Most clubs are constructed around the average build of a golfer’s wrist to ground.
• Lie Angle: is the measurement of the angle that’s formed when the head of the club is at the address between the center of the shaft and the ground. 

And what we’re here to delve into today,

• Shaft Flex: is how much the shaft of your golf club bends or flexes when you swing. 

Shaft flex is almost like a type of measuring device, taking a golfer's speed and strike into account when swinging the club to hit the ball. A golfer's tools are an extension of their abilities and there are different kinds of shaft flexors out there to match their specific needs. Today we’re going to be breaking down regular vs stiff vs senior so you can know what to look for when shopping for drivers or any kind of heavy hitter golf club. 

On today’s menu: 

• Regular vs Stiff vs Senior Shaft Flex Explained Simply
• What Flex Shaft Should I Use for Drivers?
• Driver Recommendations

• About StickHawk

Shaft flexes and their relations to ball flight is definitely good knowledge to have when shopping and swinging. Image courtesy of: GolfBalls.

Regular vs Stiff vs Senior Shaft Flex Explained Simply

As with most things in golf, as well as other sports, there are often subcategories for things, and there is for flexes. “Regular, stiff, and senior,” are the most common to refer to but there are actually five shaft flexes that are considered to be the most popular and manufactured:

• Regular - R
• Stiff - S
• Extra Stiff - X
• Senior - A
• Ladies - L

Before we get into the weeds, we’ll put it simply up front: the faster your swing is, the more the club will naturally want to bend. So those looking for more control over their fast swings, you’ll want a stiffer club; while those who need that extra help getting their ball to reach further distances will lean more regular or “more flex.” 

Now that we have a base understanding, let’s go over the differences between each flex type.

?️Regular (commonly abbreviated to R):

For the, excuse our unintended pun here, regular golfer, who’s swinging around 85 to 95 miles per hour, you’ll want to take a look at a regular flex shaft. It’s a very middle-ground shaft, giving you a mix of both bend and stiffness that doesn’t lean towards one lane of control or distance. If you're ever told you have a “moderate” swing speed, shop with regular flex in mind.

?️Stiff (commonly abbreviated to S):

We’re switching now to talk about our low-handicap golfers, the ones who have the strength and speed that rivals the pros. Averaging 95 to 110 miles per hour, a stiff flex is great for those who are consistently seeing distance off the tee. These shafts are great for reliable long shots that are based in control while still offering a very slight give that an extra stiff flex won’t have. Speaking of…

?️Extra Stiff (commonly abbreviated to X):

Extra stiff flexes are for those who are prioritizing speed with their swings, constantly hitting over 105 to 110+ miles per hour. These are best for professionals or amateurs who truly have a chance at making the big leagues. Almost zero room for give, you’ll get the most control out of this flex and how you’re hitting is exactly where it’s going, this is just a tool to get the ball there. 

?️Senior and Ladies (commonly abbreviated to A and L respectively):

Slower, more controlled, and less-distance seekers are made for senior and ladies flex shafts. Swinging under 85 miles per hour, you’ll get a bit more likeability back here. Those who are reaching closer to 200 yards will want to go for the seniors, while those under 180 should gravitate towards ladies. 

How to know what flex shaft I should use?

The best way to help you decide what shaft flex to go for is by getting fitted by a professional, they will be able to account for your speed and swing distance- (the two most vital parts of picking the correct shaft flex) along with other little things that can only be divided upon in person. 

What Flex Shaft Should I Use for Drivers?

When shopping for drivers, you’re going to want to look for the most ideal setup to gain the most distance.

When you’re looking into shaft flex, you’re going to be looking at it for drivers, irons, fairway woods, and wedges mainly. Since we’re in the restaurant for drivers this time we’re going to talk about what you should be on the look out for regarding the favored distance club.

Drivers are all about hitting as hard and as fast as you possibly can, no messing around, which means you’re always going to want to align yourself with a stiffer flex for more control considering the longer shafts used to make the club. 

Driver shafts are also normally longer and lighter than any other kind of club, this emphasizes how much the shaft “loads and releases.” The best way to determine what kind of shaft you need is measured by your speed when it comes to determining drivers.

But obviously that all depends on your swing, if you find yourself measuring your swing speed and tempo and are falling short of the markers we listed above for a stiff flex then no worries, slowly work your way up there!

All driver shafts work with any kind of club head, so once you find a club that works best for you, you can then change out the shaft to be the type of flex you need to swing your best. It’s good to note though that the tip that connects the shaft to the heads might not work together, so going to a professional at a repair shop is the best way to construct your driver.

Driver Recommendations

We know now that the best support a driver is going to have is by leaning more stiff, so here are a couple driver recommendations for those looking for the optimal set up:

Ping G430 MAX:

A beginner-friendly model that can carry you past those awkward learning stages.

A well-rounded club that’s great for beginners but doesn’t hold back a more experienced golfer. This is Ping G430 Max 5 Fairway Wood 18* Alta CB 65g Stiff Graphite Mens RH HC which was $281.30 and is now $280.99. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Loft: 18 Degrees (5 Wood)
• Club Length at address: 42.00"
• Shaft Flex: Stiff
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Ping
• Shaft Model: Alta CB
• Shaft Weight: 65g
• Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover IS included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max:

A well loved, and frequently recommended driver.

We’re heading into popular territory, this one is a frequent flyer on a lot of “best driver” lists and for good reason. Offering a forgiveness that can’t be beat, the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Driver 9* Tensei White AV XLink Tech Stiff RH HC which was $599.99 is now $304.99. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Loft: 9 Degrees (Adjustable)
• Club Length at address: 45.00"
• Shaft Flex: Stiff
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Mitsubishi Chemical
• Shaft Model: Tensei White AV Series XLink Tech 
• Shaft Weight: 75g
• Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Standard Grip in Good condition
• Headcover IS included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

Titleist GT3:

For those looking to upgrade from their old driver into something a little more…their level.

The driver that all other drivers think is the “cool kid,” this driver is for those who are looking to match their confidence on the greens. This is the Titleist GT3 Driver 9* Project X HZRDUS 6.0 Black 60g Stiff Graphite Mens RH which was $649.00 is now $371.19. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Loft: 9 Degrees (Adjustable)
• Club Length at address: 45.75"
• Shaft Flex: Stiff
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Project X
• Shaft Model: HZRDUS 6.0 Black  
• Shaft Weight: 60g
• Stock Titleist Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover not included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

About Stick Hawk

Our story is a simple one, what started out as a side-venture in the highs and lows of selling shoes on eBay, has now turned around to be a business with 20 full-time employees, a 15,000 square foot warehouse, and relationships with private golf courses all over the U.S. At StickHawk you can make your putting dreams come true as we sell quality drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, iron sets, single irons, wedges, putters, complete club sets for those who need the basics to play today, and accessories.

We want to match you with the golf club(s) of your dreams. You can take our “Club Decider Quiz,” which is clickable on the bottom right hand side of our website, and it will help you decide the exact right make and models you need to feel good while you’re on the course. 

One aspect, amongst many, that makes us stand out from the crowd is our fast and reliable shipping. There’s no need to worry about finding the right club and then not getting it in time to go on the greens. We want you to get out and play just as much as you do, that’s why we offer free shipping on all domestic orders, (unless you choose expedited shipping at checkout).

Find your used golf clubs here at Stick Hawk!

When we’re talking about what flex shaft you should use for drivers, always try to go on the stiffer side, but if you need to adjust, don’t worry there are plenty of shafts and clubs out there to match your skill level including ones in our shop!