Shaft Help

[Hogan9]

Can anyone help me identify this shaft? I just bought a used set of Mixuno JPX 900 irons (4-GW). I thought I was getting a regular graphite shaft. The shafts are True Temper Project X LZ 4.5 R  70g. Are they regular or senior flex? Their web site doesn't list them.  I haven't played them but a few times, but so far I'm not thrilled with their performance. I've been playing JPX 850 with steel XP 95 R300 shafts. They work fine. However, I'm 71 with a torn rotator cuff and thought switching to graphite might help with the wear and tear. 

[Fredrik-C]

I think 5.5 is regular, 6.0 is stiff. So 4.5 is definitely softer than regular.

/F 

[Hogan9]

That's what I thought, but there is an "R" on the shafts and the description on the site where I bought them said regular. I've looked all over the web and cannot find the answer. One thing I did learn is apparently Mizuno no longer offers this particular shaft in their irons. If they are in fact senior flex, I may just put them in my garage until I age into them.

[PEI_Golfer]

NEW Individual Project X LZ 4.5 Regular 70g Graphite Iron Shafts – Choose Shaft – .355 Taper Tip – Pro Golf Products Ltd

 

Yeah, not on the TT website anymore, but found this one.  Agree, 4.5 would definitely be on the softer side of 'regular' flex.  More Sr to Ladies flex.

[LUXOR54]

From what I've heard project X typically plays stiff to flex. 5.5 being "R+" 5.0 being regular. I don't have any experience with the 4.5 but I wouldn't think it would be a direct comparison to senior, but more of a "R-" flex

[Hogan9]

Well, it is confusing. I haven't had much experience with graphite shafted irons. I only bought these irons because I thought they would play similar to my JPX 850s with steel shafts. So far, that hasn't been the case. Of course I haven't played them off normal fairways. We're still playing dormant Bermuda that is usually both thin and wet here in Charlotte. I'll give them another look when our course finally comes back from Winter. 

Thanks to all that tried to answer my question.

[Stuart_G]

10 hours ago, Hogan9 said:

Well, it is confusing. I haven't had much experience with graphite shafted irons. I only bought these irons because I thought they would play similar to my JPX 850s with steel shafts. So far, that hasn't been the case. Of course I haven't played them off normal fairways. We're still playing dormant Bermuda that is usually both thin and wet here in Charlotte. I'll give them another look when our course finally comes back from Winter. 

Thanks to all that tried to answer my question.

 

Just realize that at 70 gm they are not going to play similar to any steel regardless of the stiffness.  And weight is generally much more important than stiffness in terms of what shaft will be a good fit or how they perform.

 

But, don't focus on any flex rating, there is no standard for flex.   Just because the flex label says they are softer than those steel doesn't mean they really are.    How they feel to you and perform that matters.  If they feel too soft, like they are loading too much, then they probably are too soft.   If they don't' feel too soft, but the clubs don't perform well, then the problem might be something else other than the stiffness (like the shaft weight or swing weight, etc...).

 

[Hogan9]

12 hours ago, Stuart_G said:

 

Just realize that at 70 gm they are not going to play similar to any steel regardless of the stiffness.  And weight is generally much more important than stiffness in terms of what shaft will be a good fit or how they perform.

 

But, don't focus on any flex rating, there is no standard for flex.   Just because the flex label says they are softer than those steel doesn't mean they really are.    How they feel to you and perform that matters.  If they feel too soft, like they are loading too much, then they probably are too soft.   If they don't' feel too soft, but the clubs don't perform well, then the problem might be something else other than the stiffness (like the shaft weight or swing weight, etc...).

 

Thanks. You're right. I think it's a weight problem. I feel like once I work with these shafts I'll be more comfortable with them.

[Stuart_G]

11 hours ago, Hogan9 said:

Thanks. You're right. I think it's a weight problem. I feel like once I work with these shafts I'll be more comfortable with them.

 

Sometimes it's possible to get used to something that isn't the greatest fit, but there is no guarantee.  I struggled for almost 2 years with a set of shafts that were both too light and too soft.  It drove me crazy.   It's usually better to identify the problem (either stiffness, weight or both) and fix it than it is to just try to get used to it.

[Hogan9]

4 hours ago, Stuart_G said:

 

Sometimes it's possible to get used to something that isn't the greatest fit, but there is no guarantee.  I struggled for almost 2 years with a set of shafts that were both too light and too soft.  It drove me crazy.   It's usually better to identify the problem (either stiffness, weight or both) and fix it than it is to just try to get used to it.

I think you're right.  The graphite shafts are both too light and too flexible for my swing right now. My pro just confirmed that for me.  Luckily I kept my steel shafted set. I'll be playing them until I age into the graphites. Unfortunately, that may be sooner that I might hope. 

[Stuart_G]

20 minutes ago, Hogan9 said:

I think you're right.  The graphite shafts are both too light and too flexible for my swing right now. My pro just confirmed that for me.  Luckily I kept my steel shafted set. I'll be playing them until I age into the graphites. Unfortunately, that may be sooner that I might hope. 

 

If you there really is some concern with the wear and tear on the shoulder,  I'd look at reshafting them with a heavier graphite.  Maybe the 95 gm UST recoils F3 (reg) might be worth trying.   If you can't find one to demo anywhere nearby (they might find them in some OEM fitting carts at retails stores or pro shops), you can always just buy one first and test it out before committing to a whole set of them.

 

Then if you do get to the point down the road where they start to get too heavy and/or stiff, you can always but the orig shaft back in.

Edited March 18, 2021 by Stuart_G

[Hogan9]

1 minute ago, Stuart_G said:

 

If you there really is some concern with the wear and tear on the shoulder,  I'd look at reshafting them with a heavier graphite.  Maybe the 95 gm UST recoils F3 (reg) might be worth trying.   If you can't find one to demo anywhere nearby (they might find them in some OEM fitting carts at retails stores or pro shops), you can always just buy one first and test it out before committing to a whole set of them.

 

Then if you do get to the point down the road where they start to get too heavy and/or stiff, you can always but the orig shaft back in.

Great idea. I might just give that a try.