Is graphite effectively as consistent as steel?

[Solidstrike]

Being an equipment nerd for many, many years I had been of the mindset that graphite always performed less consistently than steel. These days the tech seems to be so good that my mindset has become outdated.

 

Do you think this is correct, that graphite is as consistent as steel... if not better perhaps in some cases?

[chisag]

... Absolutely better in some instances, equal in others and not as consistent for some. Aldila NV Tour shafts at 130gms and only 1.5* of torque were even more consistent than the DGS300's they replaced while a 65 gm soft tipped shaft is less consistent. For me at least, my Recoil Prototype 95's are the most consistent shafts I have ever played in my irons because they fit my swing perfectly and I have complete confidence in them. Fwiw, I have not played steel since DGS300's and some elbow tendonitis forced me into using the NV Tours. Since then I have played 105gm Aldila NV Pro's, 100gm VS Proto's, Steelfiber 95's, Recoil 95/110's and Recoil Prototype 95's.

[BYK]

DIdn't believe until I got into my steelfibers

i'll never go back

[i*windows]

definitely my steelfibers are wonderful, and the recoils I have tried have also been great.

[kizdoc]

I’ve switched from modus steel shafts to steelfiber i95 shafts and the its just as accurate with less elbow discomfort. So far, so good.

[Big Ben]

Graphite is like a fine tuned race car. If it fits then yes all day long. It’s fussy however and you need to find the proper setup.

[spring70]

steelfibers, better in every way, for me!

[sdandrea]

It doesn't matter to me anymore. I am a committed to graphite until death do we part. Steel is too heavy and hurts too much for this geezer.

[larryd3]

Really happy with my steelfibers. As noted above it’s all about finding what’s best for you.

[Longballjock]

Yip project X 95g in my irons and aldila NV pro 105g in the wedges and it's the flattest my ball flight has ever been

[FirePro]

for those that have gone to graphite, are you playing them at the same length as the steel they replaced? I ask because I found the SF 110's to be harder to swing weight. I feel thats why a lot of people go with the i95 as it balances better than the i110's. and this is more of an assumption based off of hitting the i110 in my irons and a buddy hitting the i95's in the same head. the only difference was that I had the x and he had the S which also could have played a part

[p3ga]

My swing is more inconsistent than the graphite shafts I play.

[Longballjock]

for those that have gone to graphite, are you playing them at the same length as the steel they replaced? I ask because I found the SF 110's to be harder to swing weight. I feel thats why a lot of people go with the i95 as it balances better than the i110's. and this is more of an assumption based off of hitting the i110 in my irons and a buddy hitting the i95's in the same head. the only difference was that I had the x and he had the S which also could have played a part

 

Yeh I'm straight in at the same length , my 95 felt a little light to start with and came out at D2 , and my wedges 105 came out at d5 , but the engage heads are really heavy , all in all it took a bit of getting used to the overall lighter weight , but I won't be back to steel

[BWTgolfer]

Kind of a mixed bag for me. I play Recoil in my irons and steelfiber in my wedges.

[BYK]

Kind of a mixed bag for me. I play Recoil in my irons and steelfiber in my wedges.

 

curious, how come?

have ya ever had the chance to match them up head to head in a fitting?

 

I can't hit the recoils worth beans

[Chuck905]

What a thread !!!

 

Just finished a range session with my new 110 recoil in my Srixon U45 18*, honestly, it’s definitely ahead of steel in terms of performance.

 

Going to order the 3 iron version for my 20*.

 

Somebody asked about length, generally, you go an extra 1/2” in length to maintain the swing weight and flex.

 

I’m weird, I go an extra 1/2” in my steel irons but choke down a 1/4”, it works for me.

 

Personally, I cannot go below 110 grams in steel or graphite, it’s pushing it for me in terms of control, strength and feel. Everybody is different.

 

My personal opinion is steel loses out at the 95 grams and below category. I have hit the recoil 95 grams and could see the advantages graphite I’m the irons/wedges down the road as my body slow downs and losing my strength.

[Mikey5e]

It doesn't matter to me anymore. I am a committed to graphite until death do we part. Steel is too heavy and hurts too much for this geezer.

Same here, I'll never go back. I even have graphite in my sand and lob wedges.

[chisag]

It doesn't matter to me anymore. I am a committed to graphite until death do we part. Steel is too heavy and hurts too much for this geezer.

Same here, I'll never go back. I even have graphite in my sand and lob wedges.

 

 

... I have always felt that wedges should be the first clubs to install graphite shafts. They take the most pounding as far as divots and anyone suffering any joint pain will feel relief from graphite shafted wedges. Many go heavier in their wedges, so consider that before trying some out. I have Recoil 95's in my irons and Recoil 110's in my wedges.

[tareatingrat]

Love my Steelfiber's 110's. Put the 125's in my wedges.

 

Massive pain to swingweight if you like a heavier club.

 

I didn't build them any longer than standard, but I did put fairly heavy tip weights in them and still needed some lead tape.

[golfschnell]

You can no longer make a distinction of quality about golf shafts based on their material of construction. There are great steel , graphite/composite shafts out there and both categories have garbage as well.

 

 

I have played graphite for 20 years, at first because i preferred the feel and performance, just not the cost. Now as i get older i prefer the easier on the joints aspects as well and high quality graphite is not always dramatically more expensive than steel shafts of similar quality. I think my original graphite speeder iron shafts were 10 times the cost of the steel Rifles they replaced. Now you can get sets of Steelfibers and Recoils for about twice the cost or lower than similar quality steel.

[I_HATE_SNOW]

How many steel shafted drivers are on the tour?

[sdandrea]

It doesn't matter to me anymore. I am a committed to graphite until death do we part. Steel is too heavy and hurts too much for this geezer.

Same here, I'll never go back. I even have graphite in my sand and lob wedges.

 

I do have steel in my wedges, however. One day soon, probably...............

[Ghostwedge]

if i played bentgrass fairways every day i’d never switch to graphite. But since i play everything from soft/wet to rock hardpan fairways i’m starting to think about graphite iron shafts, they have to be easier on the joints. I’ve played stock Ping steel shafts for years, guessing they weigh 95-100gm (?). Have tried friends graphite's they are in the 65-75gm range, they feel like feathers.

Is there a graphite iron shaft out there in the 95-100gm range that doesn’t cost $ 45-50 per ? Thanks.

[4rheel]

Definitely 0.5" longer than steel when I had my set built. That way the SW is a lot closer to original too.

[ChaosTheory]

A big part of the reputation of graphite being wilder is that people went from 115-130 grams in steel to 75 grams in graphite. At some point, a shaft is too light for you. If the 75 gram one is below that point, it's going to be wilder. I suspect most average strength golfers are more accurate with something 95-115 grams, no matter what it's made of.

[chisag]

A big part of the reputation of graphite being wilder is that people went from 115-130 grams in steel to 75 grams in graphite. At some point, a shaft is too light for you. If the 75 gram one is below that point, it's going to be wilder. I suspect most average strength golfers are more accurate with something 95-115 grams, no matter what it's made of.

 

... I think so too. I started with 130gm graphite iron shafts and then went to 105's, then 100's and finally 95's. They all worked well so I tried some VS Proto 85's and they were just too light and my tempo suffered. Lesson learned and 95gms is as low as I want to go for now. I held on to the 85's because in the next 5 years or so I imagine the 85's might be OK, but at 65 I still work out, lift weights and keep my strength up so I want to hold off as long as possible before dropping down to 85gms.

[wrmiller]

Loved my C-tapers, but needed something that didn't punish my hands/joints as much. Paderson Kinetixx TS-I shafts to the rescue. Love them.

[Stuart_G]

Is there a graphite iron shaft out there in the 95-100gm range that doesn’t cost $ 45-50 per ? Thanks.

 

Not as easy to find since they are older - but you can still find some Aldila VS Proto 100's or NV 105's around. Also can occasionally find some UST Rv2 95's.

 

Another option would be to wait and see what Robin Arthur has coming. Before his problems AXE (Arthur Extreme Engineering) used to have one that was bit more reasonably priced.

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1664850-axe-shafts/#entry17751298

[Pigems]

Isn’t graphite more prone to twisting than steel?

[Stuart_G]

Isn’t graphite more prone to twisting than steel?

 

Not in a way that will have any effect on the ball flight. Only really potentially impacts the feel of the shaft at impact for most and the feedback you get concerning off center hits.