Brians hmmmm there shows there are differing opinions on this topic. The rule of thumb is to fit people with the lightest most flexible club THAT THEY CAN CONTROL.
For some that might need stiff stiff stiff. Lynn correct me if I have the wrong end of the stick but Homers idea was to have as stiff a shaft as you can (control)?
Hittes need stiffer shafts because of the way they load the shaft. Swingers have much more choise in the matter.
Steel shafts have not changed much in decades (OK OK its a rule of thumb statement) but graphites now have many of the NASA composite fellows working in the design teams allowing many more types of loading actions to be dealt with. I truely believe that Homer would have been hugely interested in the techinical evidence of what shafts can now be made to do
"alongside players release mechanisms". Shock horror even Tom Wishon has come out with a 'theory' on that side of things now....wonder where the conversation started him thinking about that one
For an average player the lightest most flexible shaft will help more than hinder. As you get better then the loading of the shaft differs and so the need to change shafts becomes an issue to get the most out of the tool in hand.