A flexible tack guide includes a tube with a wall thickness and having a distal end and a proximal end. A threaded insert is joined to an inner perimeter of the tack guide. The threaded insert includes an internally threaded section formed by helical members spaced axially from one another. The tack guide is more flexible towards the distal end and stiffer towards the proximal end. A portion of the guide between adjacent axially-separated cuts defines a link and each of the cuts serves as a joint between adjacent links.