Types of Golf Shafts

The most flexible shaft available is designated by the letter "L" and it stands for ladies. While women usually want clubs with the most flexibility, because the clubs will flex the most during the swing and provide the greatest distance, older men may want this designation as well. In some cases, older golfers who have lost distance over the years want clubs with maximum flexibility in order to regain lost distance. These clubs can cause problems for golfers who struggle with accuracy. These shafts are usually made of graphite.

This is the second-most flexible shaft and it used by many senior golfers who are looking to bring more distance to their game. This shaft, made primarily from graphite, will also help men who are looking for a little extra distance from their tee shots and fairway shots. Most golfers who use these shafts, which are designated by the letter "A," are accurate hitters.

This is the most common shaft that is used in the game. It is usually made from a combination of steel and titanium or steel and graphite. Regular shafts, designated by the letter "R," are basically neutral. They are for the average golfer who is satisfied with accuracy and distance and who does not want to take a chance on losing either characteristic in order to benefit the other.

These clubs are for the golfer who may struggle a bit with accuracy. The flex of the shaft will be limited because the golfer does not want to take a chance on hitting the ball out of bounds or lose accuracy. The golfer may have decent distance off the tee but the lack of accuracy has been a problem, and that's why a stiff shaft made out of steel is necessary. The stiff shaft is designated by the letter "S."

These clubs are for golfers who may be the biggest hitters around. Stiff shafts will limit the amount of flex in the shaft during the middle of the swing and extra stiff shafts will take that to the next level. The extra-stiff shafts usually work best for the longest hitters who have significant accuracy issues. If a golfer with average distance used them, he would not get enough flex in the club to get the ball far enough down the fairway to play the game consistently. The extra stiff shafts are designated with an "X."