Reading a Shaft the Way We Do
Flex tells you roughly how much a shaft bends. Kick point tells you where. Neither one alone is the full picture — here's how we read both off the deflection board before a fitting even starts.
What the Board Actually Measures
A deflection board clamps the butt end of the shaft and applies a fixed weight near the tip, then measures the resulting deflection at multiple points along the length. The point of maximum bend is the kick point — and it's a physical measurement, not a marketing category.
Low Kick Point
Bend concentrated in roughly the bottom third of the shaft. Tends to help the head square up earlier through release, launching the ball higher with more spin.
Mid Kick Point
An even load spread across the middle third. The broadest-fitting profile, suiting the widest range of swing speeds and release timings.
High Kick Point
Stiffness held in the upper third, closer to the grip. Produces a flatter, more penetrating flight and a firmer feel through impact.
Two "Stiff" Shafts Can Play Nothing Alike
Flex is an average of stiffness across the whole shaft. Two shafts can carry an identical flex rating while one has a distinctly lower kick point than the other, which is exactly why a golfer can switch to a shaft labeled the same as their old one and feel like they're swinging something completely different.
"Regular," "Stiff," and "Extra Stiff" also aren't standardized across manufacturers — a Stiff from one brand can measure closer to a Regular from another once it's actually on the board.
Torque, Weight & Frequency, Plainly
Torque
Measures how much a shaft twists around its own axis under load. Lower torque generally feels more stable for faster, more aggressive swings; higher torque adds feel and a softer release for smoother tempos.
Shaft Weight
Interacts with both flex and kick point more than most golfers expect — a lighter shaft at the same flex rating will generally play softer and add clubhead speed, while a heavier shaft plays firmer with more control.
Frequency (CPM)
The number of oscillations per minute when a clamped shaft is set vibrating. In a well-built iron set, frequency should step up by a small, consistent amount from longest club to shortest.
Spine Alignment (FLO)
Every shaft has a slightly stiffer side from manufacturing. Flat-line oscillation testing finds that plane and orients it consistently in the head, which can otherwise quietly affect start line.
See Your Own Board Reading
We run a full deflection-board scan on every shaft in your bag during a fitting, cross-referenced against your own launch numbers.