Senior Flex Shafts, advice

[PhilTheFragger]

As many of you know, I did a proper job on my back in May, spent 12 days in Stoke Mandeville and about 2 months out of the game
Been slowly getting back in and managed to scrape buffer a couple of weeks ago in a club comp, but generally my golf has been all over the place,whereas before my back problem I was in the hunt for a cut having played a round with 9 pars

What is clear is that i dont have the flexibility in the swing that I had before and as a result, im all arms. Im occasionally hitting a straight shot, but most are a push right with the odd mahosive hook, Feel that im not able to square the clubface and my swing speed is slower than before.

Imurg suggested looking at senior flex shafts and wondered what the opinions of those in the know were.

I currently have Graphite regular shafts and am used to the "banter" surrounding this

Over to you lot...be kind

 

[Hacker Khan]

If it makes the game easier and more enjoyable then use them. Why make it harder for yourself?? Anyone who thinks they are superior to anyone else because they have a stiffer shaft is a bit sad. As long as we are talking golf.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Not quite what im looking for hacker, If after anyone who uses them, did they work for you, do the experts think they may work for me in my circumstances.
cheers

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Can't remember if you have a pro shop attached to your place or not but sure has to be worth asking a pro (local range, another club, high street retailer) what the options are for these nowadays. I'm sure there's something to suit but like most of these things, it'll take some time and some trying out

 

[Blue in Munich]

Phil, have you considered trying to get a trial club via eBay to try & see how it suits? Something like these maybe;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CALLAWAY-...237217?hash=item2a5cd74121:g:J3EAAOSwsFpWTPfC

Worth a punt and relishing if they don't suit?

As far as actually using them, timing & tempo will be everything. If you're confident that you can do that then there's no reason why they shouldn't work, but if you do tend to jump at them a bit then it could potentially make the dispersion issue worse would be my advice.

 

[Ads749r]

I have a senior flex 18 degree hybrid and enjoy using it. It gives me confidence getting the ball up in the air and I don't have to swing hard with it to get good distance. I can feel it's nicer on my wrists too as its a softer feel on impact. I'd recommend them if you can't go full power at the ball.

 

[garyinderry]

Have you had a lesson recently?


Something is telling me its not the shafts causing this and a change will make next to no difference.

 

[3565]

If I was yourself I'd find an independant club fitter and have him assess your swing, how fast you swing it, if your loading the shaft or not, how forceful your transition is, how early or late your release is, all of which he can suggest the relative shaft for you. I've personally gone to a light weight steel shaft and they shouldn't be discounted.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

One of the guys i play with recently went and got himself a new set of clubs

He has been fitted with senior flex shafts in the G30's

New lease of golf life for him and the last 3 months he has played some of his best golf for years.

Pop to a fitter.

 

[Imurg]

Pop to a fitter.

Or to a Pro.
It's obvious to me that your unable to swing like you were before your back went.
You need to find a way to swing a club with what your back will let you do.
That may or may not include different shafts

 

[williamalex1]

I feel your pain Phil, I've had a bad back and carbon shafts for years. Just try and hit as straight as possible, better 200 yards straight than 250 into the bundie. Lay up then depend on your magical short game. I've beat a few young guns this year that hit the ball for miles [ you know who you are ] :whoo:
You'll cause yourself more damage trying to keep up with the young guns.

If you do find a shaft that gives you extra 30 yards or more , please let me know immediately :thup:.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Or to a Pro.
It's obvious to me that your unable to swing like you were before your back went.
You need to find a way to swing a club with what your back will let you do.
That may or may not include different shafts

Will you be so accommodating when he's whopping you on a regular basis with these new magic bats? Fair points well made though

 

[Old Skier]

I have serious back problem which required me learning to walk again and found that turning to a more flexible shaft helped but I did have to reduce my swing speed and only use a 3/4 swing. Gave me the confidence required to know I wasn't going to end up on the floor howling in pain.

I also binned the hybrids and went for a trusty 5 and 7 wood and have been reducing my handicap ever since.

In all though I think it's about confidence, once you have that back you most probably could carry on with what you have.

 

[Imurg]

If Evie's there in the morning, get her to knock you up a 6 iron XR or Apex - I'm sure they'll have a Senior graphite shaft in the bag....worth a try and can't make things worse..

 

[bobmac]

Definitely give one a try.
The softer shaft will come into impact much squarer and will give you back a bit of distance too.
Any of the following will help..........
Seniors shaft
A shaft
Soft regular

 

[evahakool]

I've been using senior shafts for a couple of years now and they have been a benefit to me.

I went to a pro at Paul Lawries range in Aberdeen and got the fitter to put in a senior shaft in a 7 iron, and used that as a comparison to my 7 iron,got a bucket of 50 balls and the senior shafts came out better with no loss of distance.

This might be the best way for you to tell if the shafts suit without shelling out on a complete set.

 

[DCB]

12 days in Stoke Mandeville, I was just getting to know all the staff names by that time, I'll raise you ....


I bought a set of seniors shafted GI irons shortly after I got our of hospital after my accident last year. Having thought things through with the physios at the hospital I thought that this was my most likely option to be able to hit the ball again. having lost mobility and hence flexibility, the swing is nowhere near what it used to be, so it seemed like a good idea. Took me until this past summer before I was ready to try hitting the short irons, but, it is a decision that I'm happy I made. Still not worked through to the longer clubs yet, need some warmer weather for that, but what I've been able to do with the shorter clubs (-SW has shown that I can still get the clubhead onto the ball in a reasonable fashion. The flight is what I'd expect and the dispersion isn't too bad, so far. I think you have to forget where you have been and just set a target to get the best you can get out of your current physical ability. Think about grip size as well as shafy flex. I puton midsize grips to help me stop gripping too tightly, seems to have worked and helps me keep the wrists in play as I amn't too tense in the forearms.

It's a long road, but, take small steps Phil and see what happens.

 

[Alex1975]

Or to a Pro.
It's obvious to me that your unable to swing like you were before your back went.
You need to find a way to swing a club with what your back will let you do.
That may or may not include different shafts

I tend to agree with Ian here. In fact even before a golf lesson I would be looking for something like for a professional assessment of what your range of motion is and perhaps how you can work on that over time. (I'm sure you have been doing lots of physio)

As for shafts, I'm not sure it's about the material it's made of. The weight, flex and torque are what's important. A graphite shaft might take some vibration out of your wrist and arm joints but I'm not sure that's what your protecting.

Find out what your range of motion is. See if your putting your body in a position where it wants to (subconsciously) protecting its self, find a way to get to where you can get back to the ball and then maybe look at lighter softer equipment.

 

[the_coach]

As many of you know, I did a proper job on my back in May, spent 12 days in Stoke Mandeville and about 2 months out of the game
Been slowly getting back in and managed to scrape buffer a couple of weeks ago in a club comp, but generally my golf has been all over the place,whereas before my back problem I was in the hunt for a cut having played a round with 9 pars

What is clear is that i dont have the flexibility in the swing that I had before and as a result, im all arms. Im occasionally hitting a straight shot, but most are a push right with the odd mahosive hook, Feel that im not able to square the clubface and my swing speed is slower than before.

Imurg suggested looking at senior flex shafts and wondered what the opinions of those in the know were.

I currently have Graphite regular shafts and am used to the "banter" surrounding this

Over to you lot...be kind

sorry to hear

presume you got the all clear from the specialists to go ahead - can they point you in the direction of a sports physio with specialist golf experience - similar to Dr Greg Rose one of the guys who set-up TPI ? - ignore if you have already

would say at least for a good while for sure you have to look at having some more 'help' from the shafts
wouldn't delay that at all
good Pro fitter with a LM is for sure going to be able to put something in the hands that will make the game a little ways easier given the loss of range of motion so naturally less clubhead speed

go for it

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Thanks guys
Played this morning and the club let me borrow a Callaway XR 7 iron with an A flex shaft
Got on really well with it and was hitting it nicely

So I am booking in for a LM session with Alex at Orka next week to see what he can do