If you get serious about custom pairings between driver shafts for sale and the clubs you outfit with them, it won’t be long before you learn about flex and tempo.
But the truth is that flex is a little better understood, at least by most golfers, than tempo is. This short post will break down some of the details.
The Importance of the Proper Shaft Flex
First, let’s introduce flex as an important metric that impacts and in part, determines the tempo rating of a shaft.
Stiffer shafts are generally better for players with faster swing speeds. This is because stiffer shafts flex less during the swing, which means it won’t store energy as effectively as a shaft that’s more flexible.
On the flipside, golfers with slightly slower swing speeds, as well as beginners, tend to benefit more from more flexible shafts. This is because the extra flex gives a little boost to the swing.
But let’s say you’re a golfer that has a fast swing speed, but you don’t have jerky mechanics – your swing sequence is very smooth and metered, from backswing to transition and downswing, through impact.
That’s where tempo comes in, and like flex rating, the tempo rating of many high quality driver shafts for sale is disclosed so that you can shop smart when you’re looking for new shafts.
Going a Layer Deeper Than Flex with Tempo
Without getting too caught up in the details, there are three basic swing tempos, which are fast, medium, and slow.
A fast tempo usually entails slightly harsher, jerkier mechanics, but not always, and not entirely. A medium tempo entails more fluid mechanics and a slow tempo is methodical, deliberate, and, to use the word, slow.
At the end of the day, think of tempo not as how fast you swing, but how you swing it fast (or slow).
Stiffer shafts are usually, but not always, aligned with fast swing tempos because they can stand up to the rigors and forces applied to them by a fast swing. There are, however, stiff shafts that are better suited for golfers that have more moderate, or even slow tempos.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have slow tempos. As a general rule, slow tempos are associated with more flexible golf shafts, but this is not always the case.
And then in the middle, of course, we have golfers that have more moderate, even, medium tempo swings. They don’t swing the club too hard, even though they might swing it fast, or slow. Obviously, the best driver shafts for sale for their needs will be optimized for an even tempo swing.
It is important to learn more about your tempo, as it is as unique as a fingerprint, just like your swing speed, before you custom pair a shaft to a club. If you’re only pairing based on swing speed, you’re missing a big part of the picture.
Learn More About Driver Shafts for Sale
Swing tempo is one of the more difficult aspects of shaft rating to understand, especially if you are new to the sport. One of the best things you can do is work with a professional club fitter.
A club fitter will watch your swing, can measure the speed, and will offer some insights into tempo. Then he or she can make personalized recommendations for what driver shafts you should be swinging with your clubs of choice. You might already have optimal pairings; and maybe not. But either way, working with a fitter can help clear up some of the questions you might have on swing tempo and how it impacts driver shaft and club pairings.
