The uniflex shaft is a relatively new invention and a product of the ever-evolving golf industry. Every manufacturer continuously improves their technology, leading us to this unique shaft.
So, what’s a uniflex golf shaft? The uniflex golf shaft is stiffer than a regular shaft and will adjust your speed based on your swing. It’s the best choice for golfers with fast swing speeds (around 90 mph) but who swing inconsistently.
There are many reasons to use the uniflex shaft, but they’re not for everyone. Read on to learn if this new type of shaft can help take your game to the next level.
What Is a Uniflex Shaft Used For?
Manufacturers made uniflex golf shafts to yield the maximum distance for golfers with inconsistent swing speeds. Beginners tend to do the best with this golf shaft. For example, the shaft increases flexibility with slower swing speeds and stiffens with faster swing speeds.
The shaft serves golfers until they become more consistent with their swings. How long this takes will depend on the golfer, but even intermediate golfers struggle with swing consistency, so you can expect it to take at least a year. Golf is a marathon, not a race.
Uniflex Shafts: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great choice for beginners
- Good for golfers between stiff and regular shaft
- Normally a forgiving golf shaft
- Helps with inconsistent swing speeds
- Good middle-of-the-road shaft
Cons
- High variability of performance
- Steel material makes it heavier than graphite
- Not as easy to swing fast
- Not good for slower swing speeds
Who Should Use Uniflex Shafts?
Beginners and those with inconsistent swing speeds will benefit the most from uniflex shafts, but intermediate and recreational golfers will also see improvements on the golf course.
Ultimately, the purpose of the uniflex golf shaft is to adjust to the swing and speed of the golfer and bend at the right time to yield the most distance.
For slower-swinging players, you get more forgiveness which can help give more distance and speed. You will rarely see this golf shaft included in premium-tier packages because the custom fitting makes the speeds more specific.
We wouldn’t recommend this choice to senior or women golfers because it can hurt your golf game at much slower swing speeds. Anything over 85 mph and under 95 mph is best for this golf shaft.
For those asking, “Are uniflex shafts any good?” The uniflex shaft makes perfect sense for golfers between the stiff and regular category.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Golf Shafts
The Best Uniflex Golf Shafts in 2023
Most of the time, when you buy a uniflex golf shaft, you buy it as part of a beginner golf set. Rarely will you buy uniflex golf shafts individually. The two big brands that produce uniflex golf shafts include:
- Callaway
- Wilson
Whatever brand you buy from, keep in mind that each brand will look and feel different.
Callaway Uniflex Shaft
Callaway designed their uniflex golf shafts to allow for high launch. This shaft makes perfect sense for golfers who want a higher golf ball flight. You can check out a complete list of Callaway shafts in this pdf.
Wilson Uniflex Shaft
The perfect choice for beginners, this golf shaft performs closer to regular than stiff. These shafts are mostly lightweight, giving you a greater yield on distance. In terms of uniflex vs stiff shafts, uniflex offers you the middle ground between regular and stiff.
Uniflex Shaft Swing Speed Information
| Flex | Swing Speed | Carry Distance |
| Ladies and Seniors | Less than 75 mph | Under 200 yards |
| Uniflex and Regular | 75 to 95 mph | 200 to 240 yards |
| Stiff | 95 to 110 mph | 240 to 275 yards |
| Stiff or Extra Stiff | 110+ mph | Over 275 yards |
Swing Speed: How to Know the Shaft You Need
Knowing the velocity that you can swing the club is the starting point for deciding what shaft will fit the game. We highlighted the swing speeds above so that you can choose the right shaft for your golf game.
Most male golfers will fall under the uniflex shaft.
To learn your swing speed, you can either use a launch monitor or head to a golf shop and request a test on your swing speed.
Clubhead Speed: What is It and Why It Matters
Different from swing speed, clubhead speed measures the speed at contact with the ball.
Most golf retail stores and coaches will have the equipment to measure the speed at contact. You also want to know this when you look for a shaft.
What Do Golf Club Shafts Do?
Looking at it simply, golf club shafts are like a car’s engine.
Various capacities produce more or less power depending on how hard we press the throttle. Which one you choose, however, largely depends on swing speed. You want to choose the right one for your speed because it will improve your golf game.
Having the wrong golf shaft for your swing speed will impact spin rate, launch and speed. Using the wrong shaft can make the ball launch too high or too low. Ultimately, the right shaft will give you greater distance. Just keep in mind that the performance also depends on the brand.
Other Factors That Influence the Type of Shaft Required
Kick-Point: What is It?
Simply put, this is where the shaft flexes the most during the swing. It can be high, mid, or the tip of the shaft.
High kick-point shafts will have a low launch. That proves most beneficial to golfers with a faster swing speed. A low kick-point will make the golf ball go higher. Check for a white line on the shaft because they often mark the kick-point.
Torque: How It Impacts the Shaft
Another word for torque is the twist or its ability to resist the twisting. On the downswing, the shaft twists due to the force applied. You have low-torque and high-torque shafts. You want to pay attention to torque because it will impact the feel of the shaft even more than the flex.
High torque shafts feel whippy in some cases, or they may feel smooth.
On the other hand, low torque shafts can feel like swinging a board. Golfers who swing faster need a lower torque and vise-versa for slow-swing golfers. Remember that you don’t have easy rules to follow here.
Graphite shafts have become very popular due to their lightweight, allowing for increased clubhead speed. It offers an easy launch with less effort. Graphite is good for slow swing speed and suits senior golfers and women. A downside of graphite can be high torque (twist) and too much flex on faster swings.
The uniflex steel shaft is probably the most used steel shaft in the game. Steel shafts usually have less torque because of the material, but it’s a healthy middle ground at the same time.
Types of Shafts Available
Over the years, the manufacturers have sought to build a range that will accommodate every golfer that takes to this game. Regardless of build, size, height, sex, flexibility or age, a game-improvement shaft is available.
Currently, steel, lightweight steel, and graphite shafts are the most popular. It must be emphasized that the information below is a guide and manufacturers all have slightly different specifications, which can change depending on the composition.
Shaft Flex
- XXS – Extra, extra stiff for golfers who swing the club over 115 mph.
Many professional golfers use this flex in the driver and irons, but they are extremely difficult to control.
- XS – Extra stiff for golfers with a swing speed of 110 mph to 115 mph.
The young and strong golfer who lets it rip without compromise.
- S – Stiff shaft for swing speeds of 100 mph and 110 mph.
Physically strong players who seek control within the game.
- U – Uniflex shafts are for golfers who swing the club above 90 mph.
Ideal for most men and those tending to lose their strength.
- R – Regular flex for swing speeds from 75 mph to 90 mph.
The slow swinger relies on the shaft kick to get the ball out there.
- A – Soft regular or senior shaft for a swing speed below 75 mph.
A perfect shaft for the aging player and many women golfers.
- L – Ladies shaft.
Manufactured for women and ideal for the beginner who struggles to get the ball airborne.
FAQ
Are Uniflex Shafts Good for Beginners?
Uniflex shafts can help new golfers lower their scores by making their swing speeds more consistent. In fact, many of the complete golf sets for beginners feature uniflex shafts, but they can also work for intermediate golfers.
Uniflex shafts are also easy to find in most sets of golf clubs, and they’re budget-friendly.
Why Does Uniflex Use Steel?
- Heavier than graphite
- Easier to control during the swing
- Low torque (less twist) than graphite during the swing
- More accuracy
A normal steel shaft weighs 115 to 125 grams.
The powerful golfer with a high swing speed can control the heavy shafted irons and use the stiffness to hit the ball farther.
Lightweight steel shafts can weigh anywhere from 95 to 110 grams. A lightweight steel shaft can help you swing faster and hit the ball farther. You can improve your accuracy and balance as well.
Why Should You Choose Uniflex Shaft for Irons?
We all like to smash the golf ball as far as possible, but without control—distance might mean farther into the woods! Most male golfers overestimate their strength or swing speed with the irons. As a result, the steel shaft is either too heavy or too stiff to maximize distance and control.
Instead of hitting the golf ball farther, they hit it short and thin. Golf manufacturers introduced the uniflex shaft to cater to the golfer with a swing speed between regular and stiff. In other words, the speed will be between 85 and 95 mph.
Swing speed inconsistency between shots is a reality, and most manufacturers tend to rate this shaft as more regular than stiff.
This shaft has become a game-changer and the most popular iron shaft for men. The shaft is also good for the beginner due to their inconsistency on swing speed. The weight of shafts differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, influencing how it performs. The shaft’s flex is also manufacturer-specific and should be checked before you buy.
Before purchasing a set of irons or new shafts, many factors should be considered. No two people swing the same or want the same result.
Final Thoughts
Retail stores and professional golf coaches have the skill and equipment to test your swing speed and all the other attributes to find the right uniflex shaft. Take the guesswork out of play and trust the people who know what flex shaft you should play.
I encourage all golfers to get tested to choose the right shaft for their swing speed. Use your “winnings” from your next few games to pay for the test! You can also buy a launch monitor to check your swing speed and learn other flight data like launch angle and the trajectory of your clubs. All of this helps you to improve your golf game at the end of the day.
Related Articles
- How To Pick The Right Shaft For Your Driver?
- Do I Need Longer Golf Clubs? Reasons To Increase Shaft Length
- Is Your Golf Club Shaft Too Stiff? Symptoms & Solutions
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
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