Are All Irons Shafts the Same?I spent a fair amount of time in golf retail, and I can tell you there’s one question I was never asked: “What’s the stock shaft on this iron?”Even among “educated” golfers on the forums, the Want To Buy ads for irons that specify a shaft is vastly outnumbered by those seeking a particular head on any long, round piece of steel.That’s because all iron shafts are the same, right? Regardless of the brand, weight, or bend profile, as long as you’re a good player, you can make them workright? Actually, no. If you really care about how your irons perform, you need the right shaft weight, as we found out in this test.The MythsMyth #1 – Shaft weight doesn’t matter for ironsMyth #2 – Lighter shafts always create more distanceMyth #3 – Heavier shafts are always more accurateHow We TestedWe brought together six golfers with handicaps ranging from scratch to the low teens for this test. Using the same six-iron, each player hit five shots at each of four different swing weights – D0, D3, D6, D9.
All the shots were recorded on Trackman.All testing was done at and with the help of.The ResultsYou don’t have to study the data for long to realize that picking the iron shaft with the correct weight has a huge impact on performance. On average, our testers gained 12.8 yards of total distance with their best-fit weight compared to their worst-fit, and one tester gained 21 yards!The benefits don’t stop at a greater distance, either. Every tester showed significant improvements in accuracy with their best-fit iron shaft. Soal geografi kelas x.
Our testers were anywhere from 4 to 26 yards closer to their target, on average, with their best-fit shaft. That can be the difference between a makeable birdie putt and a tricky two-putt or the difference between a GIR and a ball in the water.Finally, playing the shaft with the correct weight improves consistency. Even with our best players, we saw distance dispersions (distance between their shortest and longest shots) of 20 or 30 yards with badly fit shafts. With the correct shaft in hand, the gap between the best and worst shot shrunk to less than 10 yards. We hear this myth across the industry: “Lighter shafts are the guaranteed path to more distance!” Unfortunately, this isn’t true. While some of our testers did well with lighter shafts, particularly the 95 gram, not one of our testers posted his longest average with the lightest shaft. In fact, 3/7 testers recorded their worst total distance with the 85-gram shaft, and two of our players had their best average with the heaviest shaft.Make no mistake, light weight shafts are a great choice for many players, but they don’t guarantee longer shots.The “common sense” counterpoint to the idea that light equals long is that heavy shafts lead to straighter shots.
This idea is equally dubious. Over half of our testers posted their best dispersion range (distance between farthest right and farthest left shots) and average distance to target with the 85-gram shaft. To further cement this case, two players had their worst dispersion range with the heaviest shaft, and three had the largest distance to target with it.Tips from the MasterAre there any rules to fitting shaft weight? None that are set in stone, but, Nick Sherburne, Founder of and Master Club Fitter/Builder, offered this. 5) Faster transitions probably need heavy shafts, slower transitions probably can go lighter.ConclusionThe data from this test tells a very clear story: if you care about hitting your irons longer and straighter, picking the correct shaft weight is critical. Additionally, it shows that there are no simple, one-size-fits-all rules for selecting the right shaft. There is no substitute for working with a knowledgeable and builder to create the tools that will allow you to play your best golf.The DataSource URL:Matt Saternus.
Co-founder, Director of Instruction atMatt is a golf instructor, club fitter, and writer living in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Matt's work has been published in Mulligan Magazine, Chicagoland Golf, South Florida Golf, and other golf media outlets.
3 Wood Shaft Weight
He's also been a featured speaker at the Online Golf Summit and is a member of Ultimate Golf Advantage's Faculty of Experts.
Tiger Woods is a man of steel, but that doesn't mean you should be. What about amateurs? Are steel or graphite shafts better? There is not a clear-cut answer because both have advantages and disadvantages. In almost all cases, your driver and fairway woods will have graphite shafts.
The real question comes down to the irons. The status quo has always been that professionals and low-handicap golfers use steel shafts, while amateurs and beginners benefit more from graphite shafts. This is not necessarily the case these days. The main benefit of the steel-shafted club is it imparts more vibrations up the shaft to the player's hands.
Skilled players often desire this feedback. A skilled player can often tell what they may have done wrong or right by the feel of the swing and impact; more so than a beginner.
The steel-shafted club is heavier than the graphite club. Players with a high swing speed may find that this fits their swing tempo better and allows them more control. Players who tend to swing too fast also will benefit from heavier clubs. Steel-shafted clubs are less expensive than graphite clubs.
The choice comes down to what feels best for you and the skill level you have in your game. It is no longer true that steel shafts are more durable than graphite shafts. Either set will last a lifetime if your equipment is treated properly.
Graphite shafts get the edge in the 'last set of clubs I'll ever own' department because they tend to be easier to use for elderly golfers. Take time in deciding on your personal preference.
Try out a lot of clubs, a lot of times. Quality clubs are a significant investment and should last many years.
There's no doubt that getting the right shaft for each of your clubs can make a world of difference in your ballflight. But the process of finding the best sticks can be utterly confusing–even if you moderately understand shafts. You need to take into consideration make, material, flex, torque, kickpoint, frequency, length and tip stiffness. And your skill level affects all of these factors.
So what's a golfer to do? You can always try shafts by trial and error, but experts say the answer is to leave the details to someone knowledgeable and simply get fitted by a professional clubfitter.Just so you're armed with savvy when you head into a clubfitting session, shaft manufacturers offer some basic suggestions to bring you up to speed. There's actually a golden rule that they propose you live by, when buying shafts: Play the lightest shaft and softest flex that you can control. With driver shafts, for example, some golfers may find this to be a stiff 50-gram model, while others might discover that a more flexible 75-gram shaft does the trick for them. 'Ultimately, it's all about maximizing ball speed–not clubhead speed,' says Chad Hall, True Temper's director of product marketing and global Tour operations, referring to the fact that ball speed directly enhances your shot distance.
'If you just increase clubhead speed by using a lighter shaft but reduce consistent center-of-the-face impacts, the net result is less ball speed. The ultimate solution is finding the intersection of clubhead speed and consistent clubhead delivery–maximizing both.' In other words, you want to find the shaft that helps you generate the fastest clubhead speed while letting you hit the sweet spot most often.NEW AND AVERAGE GOLFERSIf you're a relatively new golfer, that means getting fitted for shafts that help you learn correctly, have fun and get the ball airborne. 'Generally speaking, most beginners and average players will typically benefit from shafts that assist them in launching the ball a little higher,' says Hall. 'This would mean a lower kickpoint shaft with a more flexible/active tip section.' As far as shaft lengths go, beginners and newer golfers probably should stay away from longer driver shafts. 'It might be important to start shorter for control and then go to a longer shaft as your swing develops and becomes more consistent,' advises Tim Gillis, director of sales for Miyazaki Golf.
'In many cases, mere confidence can help clubhead speed for beginners.' Iron shafts are more standard in length for most golfers, so you needn't worry about those.BETTER PLAYERSAs you become a better player, your ballflight will become more consistent, and your swing will likely generate more power. And that's when you can upgrade your shaft. Stronger swingers and more advanced players tend to need shafts with a stronger tip section and higher bend point, bringing the ballflight down.You may have noticed that many PGA Tour pros play shorter, heavier shafts because, for their high-speed swings, Tour-caliber shafts offer a lethal combination of consistent distance, control, feel and ideal ballflight. That said, things are changing out on Tour, where players are beginning to apply that previously mentioned golden rule. 'Most advanced golfers play heavier shafts because they're used to them,' says Gillis.
'We're seeing more of them gravitate to lighter shafts because of improvements in composite materials. They won't necessarily go to ultralight, sub-50-gram models, but many have gone from 80-gram driver shafts to those below 60 grams. The importance here is keeping the stiffness in lighter shafts and having the shaft balance correctly to give it the playability that better players want.' Hall agrees, saying, 'For many advanced players, maximizing ball speed and consistency is found in Tour-weighted shafts. However, there have been several players on the PGA Tour who have used superlight driver and iron shafts over the past several years.
Tempo plays a role, as well. Many quick-tempo players use heavier shafts to enhance the transition at the top of the swing. In the end, due to the individuality of every golfer, we make shafts that cover all weights and trajectory profiles. While there is no one shaft that fits everyone, there is certainly one shaft that is best for you.'
Shafts Played on TourWhat shafts are being played on Tour? Well, it is a very eclectic set of shafts but I can say that players are winning with what works for them. The brands vary significantly from the PGA Tour to the LPGA, Champions and Web.com.
Each week we get a peek into the bag of the winner of the most recent tournament. For example, the had a wide variety of shafts from Aldila, Aerotech and True Temper. On the PGA Tour, representatives from every major shaft manufacturer working closely with the equipment companies like Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, etc.
To offer their latest shaft offerings. After having conversations with several of my shaft manufacturer contacts, and reviewing the WITB and media posts, here are my observations:.
No shaft manufacturer sponsors a tour player. Simply, it is too costly as the majority of the tour players get paid more to play a particular brand of equipment than the shaft. Players play close attention to ball flight monitor results when making their equipment and shaft decisions. With the wide spread use of TrackMan and FlightScope on tour, players can easily compare launch, peak height, spin, carry distance and attack angle from one head/shaft combination to another. Fallout 4 romanceable companion mod.
This is exactly what we do in our club fittings. Tour presence carries over to consumer sales. There is a reason that shaft companies have very identifiable markings on their shafts as well as colors. What is seen on TV gets a lot of hype and questions on golf blogs on Monday. What shaft was Phil playing?
Golf Shaft Weight Calculator
Did you see that drive DJ hit on 16? Several shaft models have gone on to become “franchise makers” like the Aldila NV, Fujikura Speeder 757, True Temper EI-70, Graphite Design Tour AD DI, OBAN Kiyoshi, True Temper Dynamic Gold, Project X steel, KBS Tour, etc.
These shafts got a LOT of play on tour and the various complementary models that came out created a strong consumer following. The average amateur should NOT play the same shaft as the PGA Tour players. In fact, Trackman statistics show that the average male golfer would be better served to play what shafts the players on the LPGA tour play! Now the make may be fine(Graphite Design, Fujikura, True Temper) but the model, weight and flex are something that should be determined in a fitting.
The lightest shafts are in the driver and heaviest in the wedges with a heavier weight progression from longest to shortest club. This is true for every WITB I have looked at. We have been following this fitting formula with our own proprietary twist for over 18 years. If it works on tour, it has to work for amateurs, right? Yes, it really works, but each golfer will have a different weight progression depending upon strength, tempo, transition, release and feel.So who has the highest representation on all of the tours? That is a tough one as it varies from year to year and depends upon the tour. Golf Datatech actually surveys the tours and publishes a count for each tournament to its subscribers.