What is Hard/Soft Stepping?

Soft-stepping and hard-stepping are the terms used to indicate changing flex of shaft by adjusting the tip cutting of a shaft.
In the case of a soft-stepping, the shaft is tip cut less than the standard amount to give it more flex.
In the case of a hard-stepping the shaft is tip cut more than the standard amount to give it less flex.
This is a practice that is used to “fine tune” to a desired flex.