| The flex in your golf club can affect your game. Flex | | | | shot is one in which the club face squarely hits the |
| is your golf shaft's ability to bend when you apply | | | | ball upon impact. If you use a golf club with a flex |
| force as you swing your club. Your golf swing can be | | | | that does not match your swinging power, your odds |
| fast or slow, rough or smooth. | | | | of making good contact with the ball go down. |
| Golf club shafts are rated according to their flex. | | | | To control the flex in your shaft, you can purchase a |
| There are five shaft flex ratings: extra stiff, stiff, | | | | shaft that is stiffer or softer, depending on your |
| regular, senior and ladies. A club with a shaft flex | | | | need. But how do you determine if you need a |
| rating of extra stiff is denoted by "X"; for stiff, "S"; | | | | stiffer or softer shaft? Your driver can help you. If |
| for regular, "R"; for seniors, "A" (because this shaft | | | | you can hit the ball to 250 yards or more with your |
| flex rating was previously called "Amateur"); and for | | | | driver, you need a shaft with a flex rating of "stiff"; |
| ladies, "L". If you use a club with a shaft flex rating | | | | a "regular" when you hit 230-250 yards; a "senior" at |
| that does not match your swing, you will end up | | | | 200-230 yards; and a "ladies" at 200 yards or less. |
| angling the club face wrong when it comes into | | | | Shafts with flex rating of "extra stiff" are usually |
| contact with the golf ball. The result? Your shot will | | | | used by professional golf players who are able to |
| be way off. | | | | drive the ball farther than 250 yards. |
| The flex of your club has a direct as well as an | | | | How you swing also helps you determine the flex |
| indirect impact on your shot. Simply put, flex can | | | | you need for your golf club. For instance, if your |
| affect your accuracy, the distance of the ball and | | | | swing is smooth and good, or if your driver tends to |
| how it will land. Thus, you can see just how flex can | | | | veer to the right, a club with a softer flex will work |
| affect your game. It is important that you use a golf | | | | well for you even if you swing fast. On the other |
| club with the shaft flex that matches your swinging | | | | hand, a stiffer flex is recommended if you have a |
| power. | | | | jerky swing or if your driver tends to veer to the |
| Keep in mind that when you swing, the golf shaft | | | | left. |
| flexes, changing the position of the club head. A good | | | | |