The shaft of a golf club is often referred to as its "engine" and has a great impact on the distance and accuracy that the club can deliver with a correct swing. Most male amateur players play either regular or stiff shafts and many play with the wrong type. If you're not a touring professional or low-handicap player, you should make sure your clubs fit your game.
Importance
To hit a golf ball straight and long, the club's face has to hit the ball in the center, with the club head square to the target. Because golfers' swings differ in speed and tempo, the flex of the shaft needs to be fit properly. A club that doesn't flex enough could deliver an open face at impact, sending the ball off to the right. A shaft that is too flexible could bring the club head into the ball with a closed face, sending the ball to the left.
Types
Men's golf clubs are rated in four classes: Senior, regular, stiff and extra-stiff. With such classifications, it might seems that the shaft manufacturers have set standards, but that's not the case. A regular flex shaft by one company may feel stiffer than one by another manufacturer.
Swing Speed
Club fitters can tell you, in general, whether you need a regular or stiff shaft based on swing speed or the distance you normally hit particular clubs. Stiff shafts are normally for golfers who swing a driver at 105 mph or an 8 iron at 150 yards. Test the results of your shots by getting measured with a launch monitor, which can tell you specifically differences on your shots between shaft flexes in the irons and woods.
Distance
Most golfers make the mistake of playing with too-stiff shafts, overestimating their ability and cutting their distance. The flex of a shaft stores then releases the energy of the downswing, providing a whip-like effect. So the more flexible shafts rated regular can provide more distance than stiff or extra-stiff shafts.
Control
Going to a more flexible shaft can have a trade-off in accuracy. The tempo of the swing and the speed of the club head could throw the face of a too-flexible club off at impact. Scott Hennessy, president of shaft maker True Temper, says to "play the most flexible shaft you can control."
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