Flexpoint
The flexpoint is the point on the shaft where it bends the most during the swing.
The flexpoint is also called bend point or kick point and, depending on the shaft, sits rather low (near the head), in the middle or high (near the grip). Its position influences the start of the ball: a low bend point lets the ball start higher, a high bend point keeps the trajectory flatter and more penetrating. The flexpoint is thus a fine adjustment of ball flight height, while the flex governs the overall stiffness. Both properties work together but are two different things.
In practice the flexpoint plays a role above all in shaft selection. An example: your drives fly low by nature and run out a long way after landing — on soft fairways little of that remains. A shaft with a low bend point launches the ball more steeply into the air, the landing becomes softer, the carry distance grows. Conversely, a player with a very high flight benefits from a high bend point in the wind, because the ball stays flatter and more controlled. The fitter makes this adjustment on the basis of your measured ball flight.
The most widespread misconception: many believe the bend point completely transforms their shot. The effect is real but clearly smaller than that of flex, length and the overall weight of the club. Whoever plays with a wrong flex does not correct that via the flexpoint. The order is what matters: first find the right stiffness, then fine-tune the ball flight via the bend point. Without a measuring device on the range this can hardly be judged — here testing beats guessing.
FAQ
How does the flexpoint influence my ball flight?
Via the position of the bend point you control the height of the start: a low flexpoint near the head lets the ball climb higher, a high bend point keeps the flight flatter and more penetrating. If your drives fly low by nature, a shaft with a low bend point can noticeably increase the carry distance.
Is the flexpoint the same as flex?
No, those are two different shaft properties. Flex describes the overall stiffness of the shaft, that is, how strongly it bends overall. The flexpoint determines where along the shaft the strongest bend happens. The two work together but must be tuned separately.
Can I compensate for a wrong flex via the flexpoint?
No, the bend point is a fine adjustment, not a correction. If you play with a fundamentally wrong stiffness, no flexpoint in the world will rescue you. The right order is: first find the right flex, then tune the ball flight via the bend point — best with a measuring device at the fitting instead of by feel.