Putter Shaft Flex

[brianf]

How many of you pay attention to shaft flex in your putters?

 

I have always liked a really whippy shaft in any type of putter.

 

I thought I was alone on this but when I attended a 2 day Pelz putting school a couple of years ago we spent about an hour discussing shaft flex.

 

Experiment a bit. You will be surprized.

 

The current batch of Camerons all have softer shafts in them.

 

 

brianf

[PINGWRXforeme]

My putter has a junior flex I was told.

[robbie91]

thats interesting. ive thought about putting a kbs c-taper in my cameron. what is the shaft flex in most putters?

[brianf]

[quote name='robbie91' timestamp='1332723136' post='4579406']
thats interesting. ive thought about putting a kbs c-taper in my cameron. what is the shaft flex in most putters?
[/quote]


I will put my putter in a frequency machine this week for you and let you know how many cpm it is.. I have a small collection (4 or 5) very soft shafts to go into any new ones I pick up.

brianf

[FuryofRich]

Didnt even know there were different flexes for putters.

[PutterHo]

I've always just stuck with tt ysc (stepped) and tt yst (unstepped) shafts regardless of the oem since most are usually either one anyway just with different shaft bands or "acetoned off and serial #'s stamped for hype). I messed with one of Pino's old frequency filtered ust shafts for a few weeks but still like the standard true temper. I remember back in the day reading about Ping Putters and stiff 3 iron shafts but really never noticed a difference with my shafts other than the stepped ysc feeling softer than the unstepped yst. I don't know if that also helps the actual feel of the putter head by sticking with just those 2 different shafts. I really only started doing that so I could keep all of my gamers at 33 1/4 and have the original shaft/grip when I reho'd them since I always change the grips, most buyers need a 34 or 35, and I dont care about shaft labels for the most part. I'm very curious on some of the input you guys throw out there. I sure hope this doesn't lead to more tinkering.

[JDorfler]

I personally use an Uber xxxx-stiff in my putter b/c I putt that freakin hard. My tempo is so quick all my putts would spin off right using a mere mortals shaft. The ball goes in the hole for fear of being hit again. Rock-flites feel like mushy grapes to me. I have to wear a glove on both hands, twice. I've got to change my putter grip every 3 holes. I use a tee to dig out ball shavings from the my putter's milling grooves. It sounds like a shotgun going off when I putt.

On a serious note. That's interesting that the shaft is only a junior weight for putters. Makes sense. You probably couldn't get a better feel with anything else.

[hebron1427]

shaft flex? really? what is flexing on a 4mph stroke?

[moocherpix]

Hebron, it is more of a question of how much vibration is transferred, versus "flex" so much. I have also read that Tad Moore used to get requests from Greg Norman that ONLY TT Dynamic 3-iron shafts be used in his putters. Once again, putters show that they are more personal than any other club in the bag.
I have tried everything from soft wedge shafts to 7.0 flex Micro Taper 2-iron shafts............I am too numb to feel the difference.
To each his or her own.
I say just shaft it up, roll some putts. If you don't like it, try something different.
Nick

[hebron1427]

[quote name='moocherpix' timestamp='1336078978' post='4842566']
Hebron, it is more of a question of how much vibration is transferred, versus "flex" so much. I have also read that Tad Moore used to get requests from Greg Norman that ONLY TT Dynamic 3-iron shafts be used in his putters. Once again, putters show that they are more personal than any other club in the bag.
I have tried everything from soft wedge shafts to 7.0 flex Micro Taper 2-iron shafts............[size="5"]I am too numb to feel the difference.[/size]
To each his or her own.
I say just shaft it up, roll some putts. If you don't like it, try something different.
Nick
[/quote]

maybe i am too. from personal experience, i have felt absolutely 0 difference of one shaft over another. i can tell a difference with graphite instead of steel, but even that's not a lot. to me, it has way more to do with the grip than the shaft.

[majic]

I can tell you from 50 years of experience the shaft in your putter makes a difference. Regular putter, Belly putter or Long putter. WhenI designed the Maxfli putters in 1989 i found that the putter shafts available ranged in flex, weight and balance point all over the place. Putter shafts and i still assume today are made as a "commodity" item. Cheap. You as a maker can set standards and that is what I did. Bob Bush at True Temper developed for us three shafts. We had the first weight sorted or frequency matched.
With regards to Greg Norman I used many shafts for him but one of the last projects we worked on was loft of 3 to 7 degrees on the stainless PRO 1 putter head and Rifle shafts from around a 4 to a 7.0 flex. Greg agreed that the shaft was very important part of the putter.
I can go into a lot of things but if you have a strong desire to work on this feel free to PM me. Tad

[hebron1427]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1336247166' post='4855258']
I can tell you from 50 years of experience the shaft in your putter makes a difference. Regular putter, Belly putter or Long putter. WhenI designed the Maxfli putters in 1989 i found that the putter shafts available ranged in flex, weight and balance point all over the place. Putter shafts and i still assume today are made as a "commodity" item. Cheap. You as a maker can set standards and that is what I did. Bob Bush at True Temper developed for us three shafts. We had the first weight sorted or frequency matched.
With regards to Greg Norman I used many shafts for him but one of the last projects we worked on was loft of 3 to 7 degrees on the stainless PRO 1 putter head and Rifle shafts from around a 4 to a 7.0 flex. Greg agreed that the shaft was very important part of the putter.
I can go into a lot of things but if you have a strong desire to work on this feel free to PM me. Tad
[/quote]

thanks for your insight. clearly, i'm not a pro.if the guys who do it for a living can tell a difference, there must be a difference.

[timmyj]

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1336247166' post='4855258']
I can tell you from 50 years of experience the shaft in your putter makes a difference. Regular putter, Belly putter or Long putter. WhenI designed the Maxfli putters in 1989 i found that the putter shafts available ranged in flex, weight and balance point all over the place. Putter shafts and i still assume today are made as a "commodity" item. Cheap. You as a maker can set standards and that is what I did. Bob Bush at True Temper developed for us three shafts. We had the first weight sorted or frequency matched.
With regards to Greg Norman I used many shafts for him but one of the last projects we worked on was loft of 3 to 7 degrees on the stainless PRO 1 putter head and Rifle shafts from around a 4 to a 7.0 flex. Greg agreed that the shaft was very important part of the putter.
I can go into a lot of things but if you have a strong desire to work on this feel free to PM me. Tad
[/quote]
very little info online I am looking for a softer flex shaft for my yes putter cant even get YES to return emails
installed a junior shaft but it is too soft Any help would be apprieciated
Tim

[finchi5]

I've used anything from ladies flex to x100 DGs. I've found I like an r300 7 iron shaft works great for me, plus they are abundant unlike most putter shafts over here in the UK. Still nothing feels better than a fluted bullseye, head speed or pencil shaft though.

Which type of shaft do you need by the way re tip size?

[chipaputt]

Just checked a couple of putter shafts using Mitchell Digi-flex.
YSC at 35" with 350g head was 311 cpm's
YST at 35" with 350g head was 302 cpm's

[ccorrada]

So what would be the stiffest shaft you could put in a putter? A PX 7.0 PW shaft?

[oneaugusta]

[quote name='ccorrada' timestamp='1431363792' post='11538640']
So what would be the stiffest shaft you could put in a putter? A PX 7.0 PW shaft?
[/quote]No way I would want that stiff, would lose all feel. Maybe a 5.0 if your talking a frequency close to what a putter shaft should be, maybe best to buy a good putter shaft?

[ccorrada]

[quote name='oneaugusta' timestamp='1431365686' post='11538864']
[quote name='ccorrada' timestamp='1431363792' post='11538640']
So what would be the stiffest shaft you could put in a putter? A PX 7.0 PW shaft?
[/quote]No way I would want that stiff, would lose all feel. Maybe a 5.0 if your talking a frequency close to what a putter shaft should be, maybe best to buy a good putter shaft?
[/quote]I'm having an issue with a heavy head Kombi and have been through two putter shafts. I can actually see the shaft flex on the through swing. Head is only 365 but I can notice it. Any advice?

[oneaugusta]

[quote name='ccorrada' timestamp='1431365945' post='11538898']
[quote name='oneaugusta' timestamp='1431365686' post='11538864']
[quote name='ccorrada' timestamp='1431363792' post='11538640']
So what would be the stiffest shaft you could put in a putter? A PX 7.0 PW shaft?
[/quote]No way I would want that stiff, would lose all feel. Maybe a 5.0 if your talking a frequency close to what a putter shaft should be, maybe best to buy a good putter shaft?
[/quote]I'm having an issue with a heavy head Kombi and have been through two putter shafts. I can actually see the shaft flex on the through swing. Head is only 365 but I can notice it. Any advice?
[/quote]Honestly have never seen a putter shaft flex but I use a 350 gram putter. Maybe have a look at the heavy Nippon putter shafts, I've heard they are a bit firmer than some or talk to Chip Usher, maybe he could custom cpm you one that is a little stiffer in flex.

[noGIRs]

never considered the flex, but if you are changing the shaft for a different flex, be aware that you most likely are changing swing weight as most lighter flex shafts are lighter weight than a stiffer shaft.

[j.a.]

I read in another thread that something as a 7 iron senior flex shaft works well. I'm also too numb to feel the difference between the YSC and the YST which are the shafts on most of my putters.

[Skhacker]

Most Bettinardi putters are a KBS Tour x pw shaft. FYI.

[oneaugusta]

[quote name='Skhacker' timestamp='1431751830' post='11567932']
Most Bettinardi putters are a KBS Tour x pw shaft. FYI.
[/quote]Surely your joking, where in the world did you hear that? I have had a golf shop for many years and have never heard of Bettinardi using an x flex pw shaft in a putter.

[Skhacker]

All 4 of my Bettinardi tour stock studio stock putters have had x flex KBS Tour in them. 3 direct from Bettinardi and the tour issue one has a black nickel x flex. Never thought anything of it, thought that's how they all were. Read it on several forums. .355 tip. Labels were still on under the grips when I pulled to put custom grips on. I suggest trying them in your putter they feel fantastic. Probably find a lot of them on tour for the heavier feel.

[oneaugusta]

Wow, never would have guessed. Haven't worked on any of the newer Betti's, things have changed, will have to think outside the box in terms of putter flex.

[Skhacker]

I find the stiffer shafts give instant and crisp feedback, especially on blades. Not an expensive experiment to try either.

[mtrinske]

Thanks for your comments on the site!

I have a Ping Anser Ti4 Wrx putter. It now has a 38" (plugged) shaft and is [i]very[/i] flexible.
I am looking to install a one piece 40" shaft (I'm tall) and still keep it a bit stiffer for better feel.
Any suggestions on a shaft for this putter which will maintain stiffness and feel at 40"?

Thank you.

[cwglum]

If you've ever added lead powder down the shaft of a putter to add weight, you'll get very familiar with the flex of putter shafts. I have an old ping zing 2 that I added about 20 grams of lead powder down the shaft, putter felt like a fly fishing rod on any putt outside of 10 feet. Exaggerating a bit but you get the drift.

Was never aware of that even being a factor until then.

I've read posts of Tiger being very partial to shafts pulled from 8802 heads for his putters. I can't speak to the truth of that but I know I've read posts on here or elsewhere before.

[golfluvzme]

It is odd that Tiger would have the Head Speed shaft as a favorite, when his putters have been about 95% plumbers necks for most of the past 20+ years and require a totally different tip than the 8802's. Rumors start and if there is never a question put to them, they grow like weeds.
Personally, I really like the old school Bullseye shafts for flare tips and .395 Over the Hosel set-ups. As a general thought, I have done a ton of sampling with everything from a 1-iron TT Black Gold X-Flex to an R-flex TT Speed Step wedge shaft in various builds and have only had one putter brought in for shaft replacement. The funny part? The shaft that was rejected by a former mini tour player is the exact same shaft that another customer demands that I use in every one of his putters........and HE buys his Mann•Mades 2 at a time.
Putters are indeed the most personal, intimate club in the bag and when it comes to shafts, it can get just as confusing as when it comes to grips.
Don't be shocked if you see a new, putter-dedicated shaft come to market or testing by KBS Shafts. Mr. Kim Braley is very away of the lack of research into putter shafts and has a few very cool thoughts about what might really make a better product. Also, the design guys at True Temper are listening to a lot of putter makers, even the smaller ones, and making an effort to create a shaft that will do the best job of giving the golfers the best feel/weight that can be produced.
It won't happen overnight, but please know that the guys who are responsible for creating new designs are not resting on their laurels.
Fingers Crossed,
LaMont in AZ

[TPDawnPatrol]

A nice choice is a KBS black nickel or C-Taper X flex 2, 3 or 4 iron shaft. Gives you a bit more weight with some nice flex, and a choice of finishes other than standard shiny chrome.

Both are available in .355. C-Taper is available in parallel .370, as is KBS Tour (shiny chrome).

Could also try dynamic gold, nippon, or other conventional iron shafts for that matter.