Recommend me a utility iron shaft...

[BBBlues]

This is my first post here, so let me know if this is in the wrong section... or feel free to point me in the direction of good online resources.

Background, based in the UK, play off 12... courses I play are parkland or links. Often tight fairways and windy conditions. Been playing hybrids, but now looking to replace for a utility iron for a lower more penetrating flight. Looking for the 210 - 220 yards carry club.

I moved away from the place I got fit and there's nowhere good around me now, so have to buy without being fit which is not ideal.

So, based on the Project X 6.0 LZ 105 what shafts should I be considering? Happy to look at steel, or graphite.

On the short list are Srixon ZU85, Callaway UT*, Mizuno HMB or Wilson Staff Utility.

Would be good if people could suggest mainly stock shafts, but don't mind looking at after market (will depend on availability here in the UK)*do I just go with the same shaft in the Callaway UT?

 

[Valtiel]

I would err towards forgiveness given your conditions. The Callaway UT is killer iron (obviously i'm biased) but someone playing off 12 will likely benefit from a little more forgiveness, and the Srixon U85 is a great option for that. Plus, the stock Recoil 95 shaft would be a perfect weight progression from your 105g iron shafts, which is important. The U85 is not the lowest launching, but you can easily make up for that with loft tweaking, or simply choosing a lower lofted model.

[SUPERG]

Callaway UT is awesome, even better if you can get the same shaft as your set. I play the UT sometimes depending on the course instead of my Hyb and the X forged is really hot and forgiving for it's size and appearance. Only complaint is off the deck the turf interaction is not ideal but I barely use it for that. Decent speed can make this club work for sure. For the carry you want maybe go with 21* loft

[Myherobobhope]

Proforce v2.

my favorite shaft

[manima1]

Unless you are searching for more distance, I recommend using the same shaft as your irons.

[BBBlues]

Thanks all for the feedback so far.

So I guess it comes down to either sticking with the Callaway so I can get the exact same spec shaft as my irons... or possibly going for something more forgiving like the ZU85. I have hit the ZU85 in the stock graphite Recoil 95. I liked the forgiveness in the head, but didn't particularly think much of the shaft.

Another thing I was wondering is my irons are 2deg upright. Not cause I'm especially tall, but this is just what came out of my iron fitting with the Mizuno swing DNA for the dynamic lie angle. It definitely worked out well with my irons, they're spot on. Do I need to consider this also if I went down the graphite route?

I'm just worried the Callaway UT in a steel shaft may not be as forgiving off the deck, say compared to the Srixon with graphite. I'd have no hesitation hitting the UT from the tee mind, which will be 75% of the time.

I do have the opportunity to pick up a ZU65 with an Accra Fx300H sh for a v decent price, but I believe this is an extra stiff? Too stiff for someone playing PX 6.0 LZ? - any experience with this shaft anyone? I carry my 5 iron around 190-200 yards (not sure on swing speed), although I'm off 12 my long game is decent... 100 yards in is my enemy... and usually playing tough courses over here.

[mgoblue83]

This.

Your shafts are already light weight and you shouldn't have a problem playing them in a utility club. You could also soft step them for a little more feel.

[dnash13]

Im also wondering about this, I purchased a srixon U85 21* with a DG 120 x100 shaft as a tester. Love the feeling off the face but wondering if the shaft is too much weight/stiff, have only hit it a handful of times.

 

currently have DG AMT white S300 shafts. The whole DI game is new to me but i love the control, flight and look of it compared to a hybrid, have plenty of distance and speed to get it to carry where i want but am i leaving anything on the table with that shaft setup.

Usually play tighter driving courses and can get a little wild with the driver/3w at times, i just know L/R will be less intense with a DI.

 

Fittings aren't available for quite some time where I am so im compiling the opinions of people who know more than I do on this forum.

[rsballer10]

I would highly recommend dropping down in weight for the driving iron. Initially, I matched the shaft to my irons and there is nothing wrong with that. You will probably get some distance in comparison to the iron it replaces, for me the flight is lower than the equivalent iron because of decreased spin.

I switched last year to 95g graphite shaft and added 1/2". Now the club is more useful in my opinion. It's still a fairway finder, just now it's 10 yards longer. I feel more comfortable hitting into greens with it because the flight is a little higher. What's nice is by playing the ball back I can still hit lower shots when I need to. To me it 'opened' the club up a little and made it less 1 dimensional.

Neither approach is right or wrong. I found that a little lighter and longer helps fill the gap between irons and fairway wood better than just having a long iron replacement.

[BBBlues]

An update... I’ve gone for a second hand Callaway UT 21 deg with Project X 6.0 Catalyst 100 shaft.

I hear great things about this graphite shaft, and it’s similartities to the PX 6.0 / LZ steel shafts. I’m hoping for a mid, but flat and piercing, flight. And will hopefully be a good weight progression into my hybrid / woods.

Its not landed yet, will give an update then!