Graphite Iron Shafts, Comparisons

[27x10.5]

Coming from C taper do not consider NON Prototype Recoils for one second. Cross those off the list. Very spinny and very high.

 

Agree with previous post. Recoils have a nice lively kick to them. Steelfiber feel kind of dead. Perhaps My least favorite feeling graphite but a lower trajectory that many stronger players look for.

 

I second this. I played C taper 120s for many years but needed to go graphite for elbow issues. I had hit recoil protos in 125 in F4 but wanted to go lighter. Ordered a set of i200s with regular Recoils 110 in F5 thinking they might play similar to the heavier protos. Big mistake. They spin way too much. Now playing 95 protos in F4, so much better for my swing.

 

Well to confuse you more, I don't agree with either of these...it has to be pretty individual.

 

I came from C taper 120S and settled on Recoil 125 F5 and they are amazing. I do fine into the wind, balls don't back up like crazy, my accuracy seems the same and distance vs C taper is the same. If there is a lot of spin going on then it isn't hurting me.

 

I will say that I tried the non-prototypes and they were horrible. Extremely high flight and about a full 1 to 1-1/2 clubs short.

 

Thanks, I think. ;)

 

Do you know your 7 iron swing speed? Trying to compare apples to apples. :D

 

Honestly no clue what my 7i swing speed is but it is my 180 club under a no wind no elevation shot w/ Fly-Z+ irons

[DaveMac]

I just noticed no one has mentioned Mistubishi’s OT and OT Tour, if vibration dampening is a primary goal, the OT is the smoothest feeling shaft I have ever hit. The Tour version has taper tip and a more tip firm profile (Standard Steelfiber, Recoil 95 / 110), the standard OT is parallel and a little more linear in bend profile.

 

Expensive but very nice.

[Big Ben]

I haven't seen anyone toss Paderson in the mix. I personally love there shafts very consistent.

[wrmiller]

I haven't seen anyone toss Paderson in the mix. I personal love there shafts very consistent.

 

Now there's one I've never heard of. Will investigate, thanks. :)

[poppman2142]

Diamana Thump 105 stiff for me. They play like steel feel like butter. They are the lowest torque graphite iron shafts I have found. They feel heavier than the listed weight. I have tried them all and these have been the best for me so far.

[geochitown]

Anyone interested in recoils and wants to keep the spin and flight down a bit need to go with the Prototypes. It’s well worth the extra few bucks. I like the standard ones but they go to the moon for me.

 

Contact Will Peoples for a good deal on a set. He will give you a nice discount from retail on a full set. And beware of fakes. There are fake prototypes all over the Bay now. If they seem too cheap to be true....they are!

 

Gegolf out of aledo Texas has been making a killing selling fakes for a couple months now. Peoples and UST both know about it. UST is too lazy to do anything about it legally. The guy is flooding the market with fakes. UST Wood shafts as well.

 

$190 for a set of 7 protos and he’s even encouraging best offers?!? They wholesale for $30-40 a shaft. And he has a seemingly endless supply at $25 a shaft?? Less eBay fees for him??? I don’t think so. Total epic scam. He’s probably getting these knock offs for $10 bucks a piece.

 

At this point I would never consider buying used “Prototypes” off the Bay because they may have originated with that guy.

 

I offered him less than 190 but he’a Holding at 190 for 4-pw

 

No way to spot a fake?

 

I did buy a recoil hybrid prototype shaft from him

[wrmiller]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their comments.

 

I just ordered a set of Paderson KINETIXX TS-I and am looking forward to giving these a go.

[NRJyzr]

I spent a couple years testing graphites, somewhat sporadically. I built demo clubs with the retail version of the Recoil 125, the XCaliber TourX 105, and finally the Aldila NV105. The NV105 has been said to be d/c for a rather long time, but you can find them at Hireko; I'm not sure of the particulars, but I did get a full set, plus a couple individual shafts.

 

The Recoil went far too high for me. I'd hit that same clubhead with C Taper, the difference was stark. The TourX seemed fine, but they're no longer around, not much point in talking about them. The NV105, I'd read, was likened to DG in terms of trajectory, and I'd have to say I agree. My demo 8 iron had a good trajectory, and I found it worked well into headwinds. Because I've been something of a higher trajectory player, upwind shots have been a problem for me.

 

I went full set with the NV105, installing them in a set of Golden Rams. As with my demo club, I had no issues with winds, and would say my wind play improved with the NV shafts. I even saw a few yards of distance increase with these shafts (no data on exactly why, I'm afraid).

 

I did have occasional hook problems with the long irons, but after a while, it became apparent it was related to the lighter weight. I've always been a heavy shaft player, with my irons at D5 even with Super Peening Blue shafts. Dropping this much weight was a fair adjustment.

 

After a month or two of use, I noticed a lessening of an ache in my elbows, and my wrists to a lesser extent. I wasn't even aware of the ache until it disappeared, apparently having gotten so used to it being there.

 

I've been playing steel shafts in irons again this year and the elbows have begun to complain a bit. I'm looking at going back to the NV shafted Golden Rams, and will probably shaft up another set of irons with RIP Tour 115 shafts I'd picked up over the winter.

[Colej]

The thing with the steelfibers is getting the right fit. You may have to soft step them a couple times.

 

Shafts I would look at:

Paderson IMRT 95

Matrix Program 95

Maltby Pro series (.370 tip but can be sanded to .355)

Paderson Kinetixx (Golfworks carries).

 

[GSDriver]

Tried a few before deciding on, and lovin', Recoil 110s. Steelfiber felt somewhat boardy, the Recoils are really close to my Tour Vs.

[wrmiller]

Paderson Kinetixx (Golfworks carries).

 

They are on the way. Will be building them this weekend. :)

[golftech]

KBS now offering graphite shafts. I haven't hit them, so I can't offer an opinion. Seen a few on the LPGA Tour so far.

 

Who has tested KBS graphite? Haven’t seen a review of the 90 to 110 gram versions.

[TheBIIgCat]

Currently playing steelfiber i95 Stiff. I have had great luck with them but have a set of irons coming with the OTi 105 and I cannot wait to hit them. Will post once I get some time with them

[coops]

Paderson Kinetixx (Golfworks carries).

 

They are on the way. Will be building them this weekend. :)

 

If they don't work out, get a Nunchuk XI to try out in your favourite short/medium iron.

 

I used to use C-Tapers also, and way back when it was True Temper or Rifle and that was pretty much about it, I loved Rifle 6.5's... don't think the Nunchuk will launch too high, is 100gm and very tip stiff without being boardy.

[Colej]

KBS now offering graphite shafts. I haven't hit them, so I can't offer an opinion. Seen a few on the LPGA Tour so far.

 

Who has tested KBS graphite? Haven’t seen a review of the 90 to 110 gram versions.

 

The only thing that concerns me is they’re supposed to be just like the steel shafts. I never liked the steel shafts in the KBS Tour. I did like the C Taper though.

[8iron175]

Easy on hands is jdm roddio...by far

[Singapore Joe]

Coming from C taper do not consider NON Prototype Recoils for one second. Cross those off the list. Very spinny and very high.

 

Agree with previous post. Recoils have a nice lively kick to them. Steelfiber feel kind of dead. Perhaps My least favorite feeling graphite but a lower trajectory that many stronger players look for.

 

I second this. I played C taper 120s for many years but needed to go graphite for elbow issues. I had hit recoil protos in 125 in F4 but wanted to go lighter. Ordered a set of i200s with regular Recoils 110 in F5 thinking they might play similar to the heavier protos. Big mistake. They spin way too much. Now playing 95 protos in F4, so much better for my swing.

 

Well to confuse you more, I don't agree with either of these...it has to be pretty individual.

 

I came from C taper 120S and settled on Recoil 125 F5 and they are amazing. I do fine into the wind, balls don't back up like crazy, my accuracy seems the same and distance vs C taper is the same. If there is a lot of spin going on then it isn't hurting me.

 

I will say that I tried the non-prototypes and they were horrible. Extremely high flight and about a full 1 to 1-1/2 clubs short.

Very much what's happening to me. Really like the Recoil 110 F4 feel but the ball goes crazy high. And I'm not a particularly big hitter. When I crank up the swing the ball goes higher but not further. Overall, I am also a club or more short on these shafts.

 

Are you able to comment in any numerical terms the launch vs. spin difference between Recoil vs. Recoil Prototypes? Might get rid of the Recoil 110 and replace with Prototype 95 or Prototype 110 but there's no chance I'll get a chance to try so have to fly by the meters here.

 

For the record, steel is not an option given various joint health issues.

 

Edit: There's a number of threads about Prototype vs. non-Prototype and the opinions are very divided. Some say there's no difference and some say there's a clear difference. Kind of hard to figure it out with no chance to try the Prototypes.

[Singapore Joe]

KBS now offering graphite shafts. I haven't hit them, so I can't offer an opinion. Seen a few on the LPGA Tour so far.

 

Who has tested KBS graphite? Haven’t seen a review of the 90 to 110 gram versions.

There's a thread with some testing info on the heavier versions. Apparently very similar to Steelfibres.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1580668-kbs-graphite-iron-shaft/

[mcs4]

I have a mixed bag due to switching to graphite shafts all at once and looking for deals, including Steelfiber 110 stiff (in Mizuno MP25 4-PW), Steelfiber 95 stiff (Mizuno MP-H4 4 iron/utility, replaces the MP25 4i currently), Aldila Tour Green 85 stiff (Mizuno MP-H4 3 iron/utility), Recoil 110 stiff (Ping i GW), and Recoil 95 stiff (Nike Engage SW and LW). I also bought a relatively cheap set of Cobra F6s with Recoil 110 regular flex that my wife sometimes usues.

 

I like the Steelfiber 110s a lot, as they give me reasonably comparable performance to my old S300s. The Steelfiber 95 stiff works well enough in the 4 iron/utility but it feels a bit light overall (mainly because I'm coming from S300s) and I wouldn't want to have them throughout the bag with my current game.

 

The Tour Green is even lighter and probably launches a bit higher than the Steelfiber 95, but then it is more of a hybrid shaft.

 

The Recoils are definitely "softer" and "smoother" overall compared to the Steelfibers, and seem to give me a higher trajectory. I don't really mind this for wedges, as I rarely swing full speed on them, but I wouldn't trust them over the long term for full swings on most irons. They'd probably be great for most any golfer looking for maximum smoothness who is not worried about hitting high balls.

[Big Ben]

How are we feeling about the Fujikura Pro Tour 115’s? I think that’s my next project. BB

[css34]

bump

[95124hacker]

Easy on hands is jdm roddio...by far

 

Agree 1000%

I have 2 sets of Pentacross I-10’s and 1 set of I-8’s.

[cardoustie]

man I have a few sets of graphite on the go :

 

matrix hq3, nv105x, steelfiber 110/125 combo

 

But really want to try the new Fuji, new KBS and the Thump 105's have my attention

[css34]

Strongly considering the Fuji pros.. would love to try before I buy, not sure if I want to go with the 75 or 95. Coming from a 128g stiff steel.

[tphilp]

I have the Accra 95 CW and those thing are amazing. When I switched iron head the shaft stayed! Can’t say enough good things about them