The right shafts and irons

Looking for a little help. I’m currently in the market for some forgiving players irons.

I went to a specialist fitting centre and trialled the apex forged, Mizuno 919 forged and T200. I tested a variety of shafts, the best feel for me was the apex forged with Aerotech steel fibre 95 stiff shafts. My issue is this, fully Built this set will cost me $1,400 more than the apex forged with the stock true temper elevate shafts at my local big box store. The stock set will also be fitted with custom loft, lie etc

So: is the shaft that important?

Two things I’ve found. 1. Yes the shaft is important but (and take no offense) but at your level will it make enough of a difference to justify the cost? Only you can answer that. And 2. Once you’ve gotten fit, if you don’t go with what was proven to work better for you via the fitting if you’re like me and most anyone else in this forum (and you probably are cause you’re here) you will second guess every bad shot you hit if you don’t get the fitting recommendation. Then I turn will spend more money because you bought the cheaper stock configuration only to sell it for half of what you paid 3 months down the road and then pay full retail for the fitting recommendation. Ha

The clubs will last A long time. I say spend the extra money by what you got fitted for and that way you’ll have no questions as to whether or not your equipment suits you.

$1400 more doesn't sound right. You can buy a set of brand new SF 95 shafts and have them installed for about $500.

Regarding performance differences between SF and the Elevate shafts, for most people the real world performance difference would be negligible. Both are about the same weight, which is the most important shaft fitting element. Yes, there will be differences in feel, and there may (not will) be slight differences in flight, but that doesn't mean the Elevate shafts are bad.

Sounds like you went down the "fitting rabbit hole" and now got stuck.

RE: Is shaft important - Yes.

Save your pennies and get this set. You can save some $$ by buying the parts used and building yourself or paying a little more and giving to a golf shop to do it for you. I've built pretty much every single club in my bag expect the putter.

Only you can answer whether a 1400 premium is worth it (in your own financial situation/game/etc).

There are plusses and minuses to premium custom fitting shops. Most have a guarantee period (some even lifetime of the club). That alone could be worth a couple hundred over the course of the clubs getting lie angles checked and readjusted every year.

But if you're looking to get the best price, you should be able to get the specs from your fitter then take it to a big box store and have them custom order it from callaway. You'd still pay a premium for the shaft up charge, but not 1400.

Or just order it yourself from callawaygolf.com...4-pw with SF i95s are $1645 total (vs 1200/1300 stock steel/graphite). You can order a custom lie angle, but it's the same for the entire set. You can probably call them for individual lie angle adjustments. Not sure if that's a different price.

TGW is $40/club up charge. That doesn't sound too bad. OP, try the Catalyst shaft in 95g. Pretty stable shaft, won't cost you an arm and a leg!?

Yeah, calling Callaway directly, they can make any adjustments that you'd like. I've ordered directly from them and they have great customer service. You're talking to someone in San Diego I believe and they will work with you.

If you can't tell a noticeable enough difference in how they felt, I'd save the money. Unless, and this is big, your numbers showed a noticeable difference. Say, the dispersion circle was half the size, or the distance was a full club different, stuff like that. If the numbers/results are pretty similar and the feel wasn't anything you can't live without, it's an easy answer. Save your money for a couple years until you've really cut down your handicap and dialed in your iron game a little more. Than spend the premium for something that will take your game another level.

Thank you all for the feedback. I didn’t realise custom orders from Callaway was possible (I’m in Australia) but will price it out. Unfortunately I don’t know if I hit the elevate shaft or not. I was really intentional in this fitting about having no preconceptions, so I didn’t look at any of the shafts during the fitting. In hindsight, pretty stupid but I do know the steel tech felt best! As did the apex.

decisions decisions.

Did you hit 919t irons?

not sure your ability but I love my set in UST recoils

A decent fitter should have given you more than one recommendation. My fitter and I talked about the steelfibers. his opinion was they are nice shafts, made by a small shop, with some QC issues. So...they are expensive, long leadtimes, and honestly there are so many other graphite options that give you the stiffness and benefits that the steelfibers were known for.

he should have also given you some other options for shafts that were at different price points. I always ask for the following recommendations. a) best option with no budget b) 2nd best option no budget c) best results with stock options. I can usually figure out what works best from there.

Thanks Cardoustie, I didn’t try the 919s but I can say with certainty I’m not able to game the same irons as you being a 1.6!

thanks Naws. Those are some great questions. I’m going to another fitter next week, I felt this guy was a little bit too much of a salesman for my liking.

will report back after the next fitting. Interesting to see if the results vary!

As promised, an update on my latest fitting. I tried the apex forged, srixon 585 and Mizuno hmb with stock shafts.

Again, the Callaway just felt far and away the best to me, for whatever reason that head and I get along. I hit the stock elevate stiff shaft and my results were as good or better as the aerotech I tried previously.

order placed.

And thank you to everyone for your comments and thoughts- really appreciate them.

I'm in Oz too ... Care to share the places you were fitted at?

The $1400 extra sounds like cool clubs.

Plenty of good fitters here in Oz. Plenty of sales based sharks too.

Where are you based? I'm near the Gold Coast.