golf/tennis: stiff/flexible, power/control

[tom-selleck]

i have a question about tennis and golf, although mostly interested in how it relates to tennis.

i read that a stiffer tennis racquet = more power and a more flexible tennis racquet = more control.

it seems the opposite is true for golf clubs. the best pro's like tiger woods use very stiff shafts because they have so much power but want more control, whereas older golfers who can't hit the ball far are encouraged to go for a very flexible shaft to maximize distance.

can someone explain this difference??? could be i'm wrong in my assumption, or maybe the tennis ball just weighs so much more, or that you have to keep the tennis ball in the court.

i know golf gets into torque and flex point which tennis doesn't get into although tennis has balance issues (HH/HL) and swingweight (as does golf actually).

thanks as usual in advance.

 

[thejackal]

Golf shaft stiffness = string tension

That's the best way I can put it. In tennis it's different because there are 2 elements, the strings and the frame, whereas in golf or ice hockey there is only the shaft that contributes to the shot.

 

[tom-selleck]

jackal, thanks!

 

[NoBadMojo]

right, but there is also a head to golf club like in tennis, a grip, and a shaft, and the opposite IS true in golf..stiff=control. i think it has something to do with the length of the shaft along with spins generated but i'm not sure, but a more flexible shaft hits the ball in golf with a higher launch angle than a stiff shaft and that may give you more carry (power) and if you want more control from golf shaft, you tip it (cut some off the tip) also a higher bend point gives more control)

 

[Puma]

Golf Club flex

Flex in a golf shaft should be "fitted" to the player. This fitting would be based on the individuals ability level and or preference of launch angle etc.

Basically, most club head speed is generated from hip pocket to hip pocket, so a player who generates more club head speed needs a stiffer shaft to maintain control of head angle at impact. If a more novice "handicapper" player were to attempt to play with a really stiff shaft like Tiger, Els, Love, Couples uses, the novice would find it difficult to get the ball airborne very high and he would hit it dead right a lot due to not being able to flex the shaft. Thus, flex in a shaft is a necessary thing for every golfer. The question is the right amount.

I don't know just a whole lot about racket flex in tennis, but I do know and understand shaft flex in golf. I am not really sure there is a fair comparison. A stiffer shaft does not equate to more power or control if the user doesn't have enough power to flex it. Conversely, too much flex in the hands of a strong player will equat in a lack of control.

 

[TennsDog]

Could it be that the flex comes into play at the beginning of the swing where the club head bends back (inertia), and then at the bottom of the swing catches up to the handle/shaft and actually whips through the contact zone with slightly more velocity, similar to how a loose arm/wrist will produce more power for a serve?

 

[Puma]

Dog,

That is almost exactly correct. The shaft may bend somewhat during the takeback etc, but the real torque on the shaft is created from hip pocket to hip pocket. The shaft torques and springs back, "as you say", into impact. The shaft should be deflected backward at impact, not forward believe it or not. This is why a shaft will "fit" a certain player based on his swing speed. Too stiff and a player cannot get it to bend enough backward to have enough spring forward, resulting in somewhat of an uncontrolled dead shot lacking power and control.

I am not sure how this relates to tennis racket flex, but it is a response to the post........

While I am at it a couple of more things-

Higher flex point = lower launch angle The opposite applies as well

Tipping a shaft is cutting off some of the tip end. This makes it stiffer and raises the flex point higher in the shaft resulting in a lower lauch angle.

A higher flex point is more difficult to hit due to it takes a better swing path to get the ball up. High flex points are usually used by better players

A low to mid flex point is more standard for the normal player

Many handicap players attempt to play with too stiff shafts in there long clubs. Thus, when they hit it bad, they really hit it bad......

 

[TennsDog]

It is opposite in tennis because the forward swing in tennis does not provide enough torque to bend the racket head back, so the only torque applied ends up being the ball. When the racket flexes, it absorbes energy from the ball. More flex = more energy lost during impact and slower ball speed.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

i have a question about tennis and golf, although mostly interested in how it relates to tennis.

i read that a stiffer tennis racquet = more power and a more flexible tennis racquet = more control.

it seems the opposite is true for golf clubs. the best pro's like tiger woods use very stiff shafts because they have so much power but want more control, whereas older golfers who can't hit the ball far are encouraged to go for a very flexible shaft to maximize distance.

can someone explain this difference??? could be i'm wrong in my assumption, or maybe the tennis ball just weighs so much more, or that you have to keep the tennis ball in the court.

i know golf gets into torque and flex point which tennis doesn't get into although tennis has balance issues (HH/HL) and swingweight (as does golf actually).

thanks as usual in advance.

Well Puma and others are getting into a sport I know little about - golf.

The flex in the racquet will give a player better depth control but not as good directional control (side to side). These racquets are usually for players with high swing speeds who do not need extra "power" from the racquet.

On a flexible racquet, the racquet absorbs the impact as it bends back. Hence more control especially in the depth area.

On a stiff racquet it transmits the impact back into the ball and it pops off the frame.

A stiffer racquet has better directional control then it has depth control because it doesnt bend as much. So finding a racquet with just the right "flex" takes time.

Beginners tend to get racquets that are stiff. There swings are not developed and they usually have slow swing speeds as they concentrate on just making clean contact.

Stings will have the opposite effect as a frame. Looser strings will create a trampoline effect and tighter strings will press into the ball more and provide more control or more dwell time. Mind you, we are talking about milliseconds here.

Advanced players with strong swings can generate their own power. They will migrate to "players" racquets which have more flex in them, tend to have thinner frames and will string on the high end or over the high end for further control.