[natep]

I think the cushioning is probably was happens most of the time. Have you ever hit a drive flush and had the sensation that the ball stayed on the face a little longer than usual? I think that sensation might be a result of the forward stressed shaft hitting the ball and bending the shaft back into a lagging clubhead orientation.

It might also be possible for an extremely strong individual to load the shaft in such a way with a particular acceleration profile so that the shaft never bends toward the target before impact.