open position at impact

If a golfer is using a shaft that is too stiff for his swing mechanics and swing speed, any or all of the following may result:
1. The shot will probably feel less solid and harsh, even when impact occurs in the center of the face, because of the different impact vibrations transmitted up the shaft to the golfer's hands.
2. The ball flies lower for any given loft, and possibly shorter in distance, because the golfer's best launch angle for maximum distance cannot be achieved.
3. The ball may tend to "leak" to the fade side of the target because the golfer cannot cause the desired forward bending of the shaft at impact, which helps bring the face back around to a less open position at impact.