Iron shaft selection

[2717B]

I’ve been trying some new irons (Srixon 785’s). The stock offering is a Modus 120 s flex. After comparing the ball flight, dispersion etc. to my 105g R Dynamic Golds, I don’t see much difference in ball flight, dispersion etc. In short, I felt like I hit the stock club just fine. I’m sure I could try another dozen shafts, and at the end of the day, a fitter would recommend a couple, and tell me to go play and get used to them. I have heard good things about so many shafts. That said, I recall that the Modus has more flex in the butt end. I have a feeling that one could second guess their decision with so many choices. Is the Modus 120 s too much for someone with a 95 mph driver ss (fairly smooth tempo). My HCP is a 4. Perhaps Srixon feels that that shaft just fits the head well.....and I should take their word for it? I bought stock irons last time and that turned out pretty good. Interestingly, I got fit for a driver a few years ago, but do better with a stock offering that was a gift. What to do.....ugggggh.

[MattGolfs]

I went to a demo day a couple weeks ago and got fit by the Mizuno swing DNA to the Modus 120s. I was playing mp64s with DGS300s and after the fitting ended up finding the Srixon z785 with the Modus 120 S shafts at a killer deal so I bought them. I was a little nervous about how much lighter the modus 120s. My driver swings is 95-105 and the modus don’t feel too soft and I prefer their weight now to the DGs!

 

 

[Golfrnut]

> @2717B said:

> I’ve been trying some new irons (Srixon 785’s). The stock offering is a Modus 120 s flex. After comparing the ball flight, dispersion etc. to my 105g R Dynamic Golds, I don’t see much difference in ball flight, dispersion etc. In short, I felt like I hit the stock club just fine. I’m sure I could try another dozen shafts, and at the end of the day, a fitter would recommend a couple, and tell me to go play and get used to them. I have heard good things about so many shafts. That said, I recall that the Modus has more flex in the butt end. I have a feeling that one could second guess their decision with so many choices. Is the Modus 120 s too much for someone with a 95 mph driver ss (fairly smooth tempo). My HCP is a 4. Perhaps Srixon feels that that shaft just fits the head well.....and I should take their word for it? I bought stock irons last time and that turned out pretty good. Interestingly, I got fit for a driver a few years ago, but do better with a stock offering that was a gift. What to do.....ugggggh.

 

The 120 S and the 105 R aren't that far apart. I don't think I have numbers for the 105 DG shaft, but would not be surprised in the lower/tip is stiffer in the 105 R than the 120 S. IIRC the standard weight DG R flex is. The 120 is not that stiff a profile, they are softer than their DG counterparts. There is going to be about a 10 gram weight difference between the two.

 

Don't overthink things too much.

 

[Stuart_G]

> @2717B said:

> Is the Modus 120 s too much for someone with a 95 mph driver ss (fairly smooth tempo). My HCP is a 4. Perhaps Srixon feels that that shaft just fits the head well.....and I should take their word for it? I bought stock irons last time and that turned out pretty good. Interestingly, I got fit for a driver a few years ago, but do better with a stock offering that was a gift. What to do.....ugggggh.

 

Stock offerings are selected for a lot of different reasons - but how well they fit the head model isn't one of them - or not one that anyone should take seriously. The shaft needs to be a good fit for the player and their swing - the head doesn't care what shaft is swinging it - and the shaft doesn't care what head is on the end of it. And stock shafts are not necessarily inferior just because they are the stock offerings (particularly with irons) so that's not a valid reason to shy away from them.

 

The concept that a shaft can be "too much" or "cant handle" a particular swing speed is a very common misconception. From the shaft's standpoint - there is very little requirement as far as how much loading there should be or too much loading. Or to put it another way, there is no actual objective "ideal" as to how much loading there should be in the shaft - and therefore how much stiffness a particular individual should play.

 

The only concept that really matters or makes a big difference for stiffness comes from the perceptions from the player as to whether it's too much or not enough. If a player develops certain expectations (usually based on past experience) on how much loading/unloading they should feel, and a particular shaft does not meet those expectations - then problems in the swing can be a result.

 

Shaft weight is generally a much more important spec to consider - and how well the heft feel matches with your particular tempo and rhythm.

 

So simply put - with your skill level and experience - put a little faith in your perception of how the shaft feels (both for stiffness and weight). If it feels good and performs well, then that's almost the best you can ask for. If it doesn't feel quite right and/or you think it might take some time to adjust to the different feel, then I'd say move on to a different selection.

 

 

[mogc60]

The above post should be in the holy book of golf. If all shafts were blank and unmarked or labeled we would all use what feels and works best without the stigma of flex being too much or too little. Awesome post and well explained.

[avguy]

Starting in 2008, I began playing more than 1x/mo., and acquiring many golf sets. At times, I had 4 iron sets to rotate in. This diseased approach is required for me to keep interested in golf, as it was never my fav. outdoors hobby. ;)

 

So, now down to 3 sets of irons, shaft weight and feel is an item I can notice. My current sets are all rated at stiff or firm flex steel, with the range going from 107>110>115g. They are also different OEMs for the shafts. I think the key is staying so spec close. In the past, I played all heavier shafts with 115g at the bottom end going up to 128g. Again, close enough for rotation in same month. YMMV