Even if all your shafts are labeled with the same flex, there may be variations from one to the next. This can have a subtle but meaningful impact on your game, and it makes golf shaft “frequency matching” an important aspect of shaft selection.
In short, a golf shaft’s frequency refers to the amount of oscillation that occurs when the head end is pulled, then released. The stiffer the shaft, the faster it will oscillate (higher frequency). Likewise, shaft frequency increases as length decreases.
Frequency matching tunes each golf shaft so that the increment of frequency increase is exactly the same from one to the next. This eliminates slight differences in flex that can crop up within a set that isn’t frequency-matched.
If the concept is confusing, think of it this way: Say your clubs’ shafts are all the same brand and model, and all rated “Stiff.” If they aren’t frequency-matched, your 5-iron may actually be more (or less) flexible than your 6-iron. That means an identical swing with each club could produce different results.
In other words, frequency-matched shafts are recommended. Clubmakers including Thomas Golf (www.thomasgolf.com) offer them at no additional charge.
