Frequency is a measure of the flex of a shaft, and it is determined by how many times per minute a shaft oscillates. The units of frequency are known as cycles per minute, or
CPM. A shaft with a higher frequency number is stiffer than one with a lower frequency number.
It is important to realize that there is no flex standard in the golf shaft industry. One company’s stiff may be another company’s regular. By using frequency as a method of comparing two different shafts, it is obvious which shaft is stiffer and by how much. Typically, there will be 10 cycles difference between shaft flexes.
Frequency offers the ability to duplicate the specific shaft flex of a favorite club or a friend’s club that a player hits well. Another important use of frequency is to check the shaft flex consistency in a set of irons. A frequency matched set of irons will provide the player with the same “flex feel” in each club.
At Kirkpatrick Golf we use our Maltby Frequency Analyzer for all the above-mentioned jobs. If you have any clubs that you are not certain about the flex, bring them in and we will be glad to check them.