Opinions On Iron Shaft Options for P790's

TheUnseenHand · October 28, 2020

Hello all! I'm looking for some help.

I'm in the process of finally getting new irons. I have had Taylormade R7 TPs for a long time now. I haven't golfed nearly as much as I used to over the last 4 or 5 years or so and just find the R7s not forgiving enough and not long enough. Also, too heavy. I tested several irons out and am in love with the P790s. Now I just need to decide on a shaft.

It seems I've lost swing speed over the years. Golf apparently isn't like riding a bike. While testing I was averaging between 78 and 81 mph with a 7 iron and around 148 average carry, though taking out the terrible shots it was around 152. My swing tempo I would say is moderate, though my backswing is relatively short. I tested several shafts, stiff and regular flexes, and really didn't see huge differences in distance, shot shape or ball flight. But it was kind of overwhelming with all the choices. I've researched a lot, but think I've basically buried myself in the research and it's making it harder to choose rather than easier. Not being able to take all the options out on the course, I'm looking for opinions from other golfers about their P790 shaft choices, what they like and dislike, and maybe, hopefully that will finally allow me to make a decision.

TheUnseenHand · October 28, 2020

Perhaps this was entirely too broad.

One shaft I was able to hit that I liked was the Nippon 950GH Neo. I really like the lightweight, but the regular felt a bit whippy. Unfortunately they did not have the 105T to try. How does the 105T compare to the 950GH Neo?

Another shaft I wanted to hit that they didn't have was the PX LZ 5.5. Any opinions on that shaft relative to the 105 and 950 Neo?

MisterT · October 29, 2020

I play the Nippon 950GH stiff flex (not the Neo as it is too light) and have found it to be a great shaft for a swing speed lightly above yours. I tried it in a set of clubs I bought and then went to Club Champion for a fitting where it won the shootout among the shaft options available there. I ordered new irons with it and have played them for about four years now.

TheUnseenHand · October 29, 2020

3 hours ago, MisterT said:

I play the Nippon 950GH stiff flex (not the Neo as it is too light) and have found it to be a great shaft for a swing speed lightly above yours. I tried it in a set of clubs I bought and then went to Club Champion for a fitting where it won the shootout among the shaft options available there. I ordered new irons with it and have played them for about four years now.

I appreciate the response! I do feel like I'm on the edge between regular and stiff flex shafts. I think I'm leaning regular because I tend to strike my irons better with a slower, more deliberate swing. I start missing the middle of the face when I speed up too much.

jomatty · October 29, 2020

8 hours ago, TheUnseenHand said:

I appreciate the response! I do feel like I'm on the edge between regular and stiff flex shafts. I think I'm leaning regular because I tend to strike my irons better with a slower, more deliberate swing. I start missing the middle of the face when I speed up too much.

If your in between you can always hard step a regular or soft step a stiff. Or use something like the project x 5.5 that plays fairly stiff. What exactly are you looking to accomplish with the shaft? Are you set on steel? Are you looking for more distance? More or less height? More or less spin? I’m no expert but that may help some of the more knowledgeable posters make good suggestions...

TheUnseenHand · October 29, 2020

20 minutes ago, jomatty said:

If your in between you can always hard step a regular or soft step a stiff. Or use something like the project x 5.5 that plays fairly stiff. What exactly are you looking to accomplish with the shaft? Are you set on steel? Are you looking for more distance? More or less height? More or less spin? I’m no expert but that may help some of the more knowledgeable posters make good suggestions...

Fair questions!

I do think I'd prefer steel. I want a lighter shaft than my current 130g shafts, but I do not believe I need to go to graphite. I never liked the feel of graphite on an iron.

What I want to accomplish is something that is easier on my body, gives me a bit more height and more distance. I have so much more confidence in my lower irons than the longer irons, so gaining a club length would be huge for me. The P790s will pretty much do this on their own for me over the R7 TPs, so for the shaft I'm just looking for a bit higher ball flight, a bit more spin, and a smoother feeling in the swing. One thing I'd like to feel is actual loading of the shaft. I never felt like I was getting that in the R7 shafts. It was like swinging an iron pipe. I'd like some feedback as I think it would also help the tempo of my swing. As I mentioned, I have a moderate to deliberate swing with my irons. When my tempo gets too quick, I lose the middle of the clubface.

The idea of stepping is interesting. I think possibly hard stepping a regular would be a good option. That would essentially bring the length of the entire set down one club, correct? It doesn't look like this is an option on the Taylormade site, though. Just tipping, which is actually cutting the shaft if I'm reading correctly. Not sure how that might impact the feel.

TheUnseenHand · October 29, 2020

I should add the R7s are stiff flex, I think DG300s. Pretty sure that was the stock shaft for that iron.

jomatty · October 30, 2020

21 minutes ago, TheUnseenHand said:

Fair questions!

I do think I'd prefer steel. I want a lighter shaft than my current 130g shafts, but I do not believe I need to go to graphite. I never liked the feel of graphite on an iron.

What I want to accomplish is something that is easier on my body, gives me a bit more height and more distance. I have so much more confidence in my lower irons than the longer irons, so gaining a club length would be huge for me. The P790s will pretty much do this on their own for me over the R7 TPs, so for the shaft I'm just looking for a bit higher ball flight, a bit more spin, and a smoother feeling in the swing. One thing I'd like to feel is actual loading of the shaft. I never felt like I was getting that in the R7 shafts. It was like swinging an iron pipe. I'd like some feedback as I think it would also help the tempo of my swing. As I mentioned, I have a moderate to deliberate swing with my irons. When my tempo gets too quick, I lose the middle of the clubface.

The idea of stepping is interesting. I think possibly hard stepping a regular would be a good option. That would essentially bring the length of the entire set down one club, correct? It doesn't look like this is an option on the Taylormade site, though. Just tipping, which is actually cutting the shaft if I'm reading correctly. Not sure how that might impact the feel.

Done correctly the shafts should be whatever length you want them to be. If you were repurposing used shafts it would effect the length but using new shafts they will just butt trim them to spec.

I took a long time away from the game and when I came back had lots of new back, hand and elbow problems. I didn’t want graphite because I thought that they would not feel good But graphite iron shafts have come a long way. Steelfibers worked out great for me. Recoils really seem nice as well, especially if you want to feel the club load. Saved my back and hand. Others that know more can give you better suggestions on steel though. I would think a regular modus 3 105’s would be a good option though...

TheUnseenHand · October 30, 2020

I do really like everything I'm reading about the Modus 3 105. The 950GH Neo I was swinging felt super smooth. The regular was just maybe a bit too light, but I definitely felt it load. A little less loading with the stiff, but a little. The weight of the stiff felt better. If the regular 105 is a bit stiffer and heavier than the regular Neo, that could be a winner.

TheUnseenHand · November 1, 2020

Went with the regular flex Modus 105 T. Now for the wait while they are built.

nsxguy · November 1, 2020

4 hours ago, TheUnseenHand said:

Went with the regular flex Modus 105 T. Now for the wait while they are built.

I saw this thread earlier but didn't answer. Perhaps it was because you said your current irons "weren't long enough". That immediately makes me smh.

But you've never said what kind of player you are. Handicap ? How often you played (or will be playing) going forward.

Personally, when "in between" flexes I'd always go with the stiffer shaft. Usually a tad more control and/or a tad straighter. But I firmly believe that weight is more important than flex (so long as flex is "in the ballpark"). Going from 130 grams to 105 could be a problem.

And now you're interested in soft stepping or hard stepping ?

Well, no matter. The die is cast.

Good luck with your new sticks. Don't know where you're from but hope you can use 'em when you get 'em. 👍

TheUnseenHand · November 2, 2020

4 hours ago, nsxguy said:

I saw this thread earlier but didn't answer. Perhaps it was because you said your current irons "weren't long enough". That immediately makes me smh.

But you've never said what kind of player you are. Handicap ? How often you played (or will be playing) going forward.

Personally, when "in between" flexes I'd always go with the stiffer shaft. Usually a tad more control and/or a tad straighter. But I firmly believe that weight is more important than flex (so long as flex is "in the ballpark"). Going from 130 grams to 105 could be a problem.

And now you're interested in soft stepping or hard stepping ?

Well, no matter. The die is cast.

Good luck with your new sticks. Don't know where you're from but hope you can use 'em when you get 'em. 👍

Haha yeah bit late now, but I could realistically cancel the order. But I'm quite comfortable with my choice. You're right to shake your head I suppose. It's not the irons that aren't long enough, but the player that isn't consistent or good enough.

I play to about a 10 handicap. But I always hated the idea of handicaps, so I'll say I generally shoot in the low to mid 80's. I used to play at least once a week, but the last few years feels like I'm lucky if I get out once a month. My driver, woods, wedges and putter are generally realtively consistent. My achilles heel has always been second shots between 120 and 180 yards. I rarely end up on in regulation, and at times get myself in a lot of trouble. My irons don't help me in this case. At all. If I'm not dead center of the face, I'm loosing 20 yards of distance. I'm just not consistent enough to always hit the dead center of the face. I wanted something with more forgiveness on miss hits, and the P790s were giving me that on testing.

The weight I get as a legitimate concern. That said, I was able to test several weights, down to the GH Neo regular at 94.5 grams. I absolutely felt a difference, but results weren't showing that I was any more offline or inconsistent with the lighter shaft. And it felt better to swing than the heavier shafts. That's something I have to consider too. I've now got back issues (multiple herniated discs) and started to develop some elbow pains. I wanted something easier on the body too.

All in all, I don't necessarily want something that will take my game to the next level. That's not the goal. I mean sure, I'd love to get better, but I also know my limitations. The real goal is to be able to continue having fun playing the game while playing less often and generally getting older and dealing with the body starting to break down a bit.

My hands are still buzzing from my last range session with my R7 TPs lol.