Women's irons recommendations for mid handicap player w 90 mph driver ss

[soundedgoodtho]

I'm looking for a good set of irons for a mid handicap female player with a 18 handicap with a driver ss of 87-92 mph. She currently plays irons with men's regular shaft and feels that they're too heavy for her despite a higher than average swing speed. I'd appreciate your help.

[NoTalentLefty]

Well I sure like the Mavrik irons with graphite shafts. 

[Titleist_PT23]

What shafts are in the men's clubs?  If they are already 90-100 gram R-flex steel shafts I'm not sure what else you can do?  Maybe the Nippon Zelos shafts or some mens R/S graphite shafts?  I think most women's clubs are going to have really light shafts and tiny swingweights.  I'd assume that wouldn't work great for her.

 

Tons of LPGA players with mens clubs and TT GS 85/95, Nippon 850/950GH, etc.  Some of the younger players are around 100 mph but many of the older ones are low to mid-90s with a driver.

[Argonne69]

 

Lydia Ko is now playing 80 gram KBS TGI graphite shafts in her irons. She used to play recoil 670's for a few years. One of the first high ranked players to use graphite iron shafts if I recall correctly.

 

If the shafts are 105+ grams, I can see them being on the heavy side. My driver swing speed is 93-95 mph, and I've played 95 gram shafts for years, i.e. Nippon 950GH, and TT XP 95.

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by Argonne69

[gvogel]

She should try men's A shaft, not R shaft.

[i*windows]

I have a set of Srixon 585 irons with Myazaki 50g shafts in the which are terrific, 1" short 3 flat, perfect!!

Edited August 26, 2020 by i*windows

[larryd3]

70 or 80 gram steelfiber shafts might be the ticket for her.  I wouldn't suggest going less than R flex.  My wife plays mens clubs, using the 70 gram steelfibers in R flex and they work fine for her.  

[Exactice808]

On 8/25/2020 at 5:39 AM, PushDrawFlush said:

I'm looking for a good set of irons for a mid handicap female player with a 18 handicap with a driver ss of 87-92 mph. She currently plays irons with men's regular shaft and feels that they're too heavy for her despite a higher than average swing speed. I'd appreciate your help.

 

Mens Regular shaft?   Please provide the detail of what shafts are in there.

 

Stock Dynamic golds? Regular is still 127grams?

Dynalite XPS 115 or 95 

 

Also are these mens original lenghts as well?  it might be too long? 

 

etc

etc

 

Gotta know what we are working with now to lighten the load. 
 

Many Graphite options in the 55gram range if she wants ultra lights, with controlled flex ranges (R,S,X).   But her swing speed indicates closer to a men's regular.  Is her tempo (Fast, medium or slow) could dictate overall shaft weight heavier for faster tempo, lighter for smooth or slower tempos.  Confirming how she transitions and how she loads the shaft.

 

 

 

Again basically what shafts in specificity does she have now?

Edited August 26, 2020 by Exactice808

[Argonne69]

 

Flex generally has little to do with swing speed or weight, but rather tempo. There are lightweight shaft in stiff flex. I play TT XP95 stiff shafts in my irons. If she's looking for a lighter shaft, there are plenty of lightweight options. The flex will have to be determined by a fitter.

 

[chippa13]

The Mrs. is actually finally getting ready to look at new clubs. She prefers irons to hybrids so we're thinking she might look at sets with Senior graphite shafts.

[soundedgoodtho]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. She's playing a 85 gram graphite shaft. Maybe swing weight due to increase in shaft length is an issue since she was using women's clubs before. I'll suggest shortening the clubs and see if the reduction in swing weight works better.

[Exactice808]

On 8/26/2020 at 11:11 AM, Argonne69 said:

 

Flex generally has little to do with swing speed or weight, but rather tempo. There are lightweight shaft in stiff flex. I play TT XP95 stiff shafts in my irons. If she's looking for a lighter shaft, there are plenty of lightweight options. The flex will have to be determined by a fitter.

 

I cant say for certain,  but personally I feel flex has to do with how you load the shaft in transition, rather than tempo.   

I personally feel (and some generic rules of thumbs that I understood over the years) that tempo is affected by the weight of the shaft as to me it directly correlates to control of club.  If a person with an extremely fast tempo used a light shaft they may have issues controlling the club to the ball.  In comparison having a heavier shaft with an extremely fast tempo to slow and control the club to be more efficient on strikes.

Flex to me is how hard someone transitions and "Flexes" the club, if they are not loading the shaft at all even with a fast tempo,  bumping around shaft flex does them no justice?  

 

again just my humble opinion.

 

On 8/26/2020 at 5:18 PM, PushDrawFlush said:

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. She's playing a 85 gram graphite shaft. Maybe swing weight due to increase in shaft length is an issue since she was using women's clubs before. I'll suggest shortening the clubs and see if the reduction in swing weight works better.

 

85gram graphite shafts in mens regular,

 

YES absolutely different feel due to swing weight, Most women's shaft are C2 and most men shaft are D2 .  Thats 11 steps different if you dont believe me just think what swiging a D2 driver vs E2 driver would be like LOL! that E2 is like a sledgehammer LOL.

 

As for length,  that could also be a learning curve,

 

Mens PW starts at 35.75",  7iron = 37.25"

 

Womens PW 34.75", 7iron = 36.25"

 

Thats a 1" difference which is HUGE.    

 

Couple thoughts;

1)  She can try do the Brooke Henderson/Anthony Kim and Choke up on all the clubs.  Or Put a piece of Tape to simulate the cut clubs

If not you can take to a fitter to do a counterbalance on the irons to get the swing weight back closer to C2?

 

Anyways that could be a reason as well! Thats pretty decent in difference!

 

 

 

[chocolate_rehab]

On 8/25/2020 at 11:35 AM, gvogel said:

She should try men's A shaft, not R shaft.

 

No she shouldn't.

 

OP - you can get the correct stiffness at lighter weights these days. I've played Oban graphite iron shafts that were in the 65 gram range and were between regular/stiff, and I've also played Steelfiber i80 shafts in stiff. So you can definitely find light in a true R-flex. The Steelfiber i70 shafts might be a good place to start, but definitely in R flex (ignore the people telling you to go A-flex) as they play a bit soft. Accra is also one that can hit a number of flexes in any weight range. Same with some other graphite companies - I believe KBS TGI has some flexibility in the stiffness they can hit, but not 100% sure about that one.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2020 by chocolate_rehab

[ThinkingPlus]

My swing speed is in the same neighborhood.   High 80s to low 90s with the driver.  I play R-flex in the irons with no issue (I play KBS Tour 110s, but I load hard at the top and like the extra mass to smooth out my transition).  She shouldn't have any issue with R-flex especially in a lighter shaft.

[Exactice808]

The consensus sounds like the flex is not the issue.  Light weight shafts are highly available.  It really sounds like a swing weight issue.  C2 vs D2 and overall Length of shaft.

 

 

I would highly suggest trying to counter balance one of here favorite irons' with something temporary,  to test the theory?

 

"An accepted rule of thumb is that increasing or decreasing the weight of the clubhead by 2 grams will increase or decrease the swingweight by 1 and the same impact would be achieved by adding or subtracting 5 grams to or from the grip and 9 grams to or from the shaft. Altering the length of the shaft by 1/2 an inch will move the swingweight +/- 3."
 

If your wife is used to the length of shaft, you need to move her 11 points,  thats 55grams  (1.9oz)  (Generically) added to the grip end, grab some lead weights from your tackle box, tape it securely to the end of the shaft, and have here swing that to see if it makes a difference.

 

The other option is to cut down the shaft to womens specs, since they are assuming 1" over, cutting it would bring the swing weigh down 6 points (per above) still leaving about 5 points or 25grams to be added to the back.  But not sure if its worth cutting things down yet?

Anyways,  cant be too hard to grab say her 7iron,  tape about 2oz of fishing lead to the back and let here swing away and see if the head doesnt feel like a sledgehammer any more! LOL

GL OP!

 

Edited October 14, 2020 by Exactice808