Stiff vs. Regular Golf Shaft

Use a stiff shaft on your golf club if you are satisfied with your distance but you want more control over your shots. Accuracy is what you are looking for and you are much more likely to get it with a stiff-shafted club that is not going to have the movement during the backswing, impact and follow-through that a more flexible shaft will have. The golfer using a stiff shaft has plenty of power on his own and does not need the added benefit that might come from a shaft made with graphite. A club with a steel shaft will be made of stainless steel or a steel alloy.

If you need more distance on your shots, you might want a shaft that is made out of graphite. Graphite is a much more flexible material than stainless steel and the shaft of the golf club will bend much more as the swing is in progress. This will give the ball more power and the ability to fly higher than its steel counterpart. With the benefit of added distance comes the issue of accuracy. Timing and mechanics are essential. If the golfer rushes his swing with a more flexible shot, all mistakes will be exacerbated.

Many golfers think they need to replace their shafts every 18 months or so. This is not accurate. Shafts only have to be replaced if they are damaged. A dent is an obvious flaw that will impact a golfer's result on the course and would call for a new shaft. Also, a golfer may choose to replace the shafts if he feels that his game is changing. As a golfer gets older, he may have a harder time generating distance. In that case, a golfer would want to consider trading stiff shafts for more flexible shafts in order to get more distance.