Aerotech Steelfiber Iron Shafts - what about wedge shafts?

[TCMuc]

So a little bit of background information:

 

I used to play Srixon Z545 with NS Pro 950 regular shafts along with RTX3 wedges with Modus3 Tour 105 in regular based on the recommendation to go up in weight a little from your iron shafts in you wedges.

 

Always struggled a bit with the gap between the Z545 PW (44*) and the gap wedge (50* bent to 49*), since the distance gap of >20m seemed to be bigger than the 5* difference in loft would suggest. I always attributed this to the difference of the game improvement iron compared to the bladed wedge as well as the slightly heavier shaft.

 

I got fitted for a combo set of ZX5/ZX7 recently, and since I experienced some elbow/shoulder problems I decided to switch to graphite and ended up in the Aerotech Steelfiber 95 in regular. Part of the reason for switching into the combo set was to narrow the gap at the bottom end of the bag by going from a 44* game improvement iron to a 46* players iron.

 

Now I need (want) new wedges as well and am wondering what shafts to put in them. Unfortunately I don't think I'll find a place to try the wedges (probably Cleveland Zipcore) with different shafts. 

 

From a weight perspective, staying with the Modus3 105 would make sense. However, looking at various iron shafts comparison charts (e.g. from Titleist https://rifom.unionadfp.org/titleist-fitting-chart/titleist-custom-fit-golf-clubs-provided-by-golfsupport-com.html or Srixon/Cleveland https://www.srixoneurope.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog_ClevelandGolf/default/dwf347dc03/pdf/Srixon_Custom_offering_Oct20.pdf) the Modus3 105 seems to be higher launching/spinning than the Steelfibers, which is definitely not something I'm looking for in my wedges.

 

I tend to hit my irons and especially wedges quite high and with a lot of spin. My swing speed with a 7i is around 82 mph, so I was somewhere between stiff and regular in my iron fitting for the Steelfibers.

 

 

So theres a few ideas I've had, and I would greatly appreciate any feedback or alternative suggestions.

 

1. Stick with the Steelfiber for the gap wedge (which is the one most used for full shots) and an switch to the Modus for SW and LW.

2. Go with Modus 105 in regular 

3. Go with Modus 105 in stiff (even though going up in flex for my wedges doesn't seem to make sense)

4. Go with completely different shaft (though the choice in the 105g range seems to be limited and I don't know if going up more that 10g in weight ist a good idea).

 

 

[Stuart_G]

13 hours ago, TCMuc said:

So a little bit of background information:

 

I used to play Srixon Z545 with NS Pro 950 regular shafts along with RTX3 wedges with Modus3 Tour 105 in regular based on the recommendation to go up in weight a little from your iron shafts in you wedges.

 

Always struggled a bit with the gap between the Z545 PW (44*) and the gap wedge (50* bent to 49*), since the distance gap of >20m seemed to be bigger than the 5* difference in loft would suggest. I always attributed this to the difference of the game improvement iron compared to the bladed wedge as well as the slightly heavier shaft.

 

Lots of possible reasons.  I'd be more inclined to blame the swing weight than the shaft weight but it's certainly possible the shaft weight was contributing.  Which if true would mean you likely shouldn't be going up in weight for the wedges.   Those types of recommendations are just based on generalizations, they should always be verified with actual performance and never be followed blindly.  Sure it's true that some people do like to go a little heavier with the wedges - but there are also many who get their best performance by sticking to the same weight and same shaft as the rest of the iron set.   So don't get overly fixated on the idea that they must be heavier.

 

 

13 hours ago, TCMuc said:

I got fitted for a combo set of ZX5/ZX7 recently, and since I experienced some elbow/shoulder problems I decided to switch to graphite and ended up in the Aerotech Steelfiber 95 in regular. Part of the reason for switching into the combo set was to narrow the gap at the bottom end of the bag by going from a 44* game improvement iron to a 46* players iron.

 

Now I need (want) new wedges as well and am wondering what shafts to put in them. Unfortunately I don't think I'll find a place to try the wedges (probably Cleveland Zipcore) with different shafts. 

 

 

The safest best is always going to be to just stick to the same shafts in the wedges that you use in the rest of the set.

 

 

13 hours ago, TCMuc said:

From a weight perspective, staying with the Modus3 105 would make sense. However, looking at various iron shafts comparison charts (e.g. from Titleist https://rifom.unionadfp.org/titleist-fitting-chart/titleist-custom-fit-golf-clubs-provided-by-golfsupport-com.html or Srixon/Cleveland https://www.srixoneurope.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog_ClevelandGolf/default/dwf347dc03/pdf/Srixon_Custom_offering_Oct20.pdf) the Modus3 105 seems to be higher launching/spinning than the Steelfibers, which is definitely not something I'm looking for in my wedges.

 

In the wedges, the stiffness profile effect on the launch and spin is pretty trivial.  So it's not worth it to pay much attention to those charts.  The key to launch/spin will always be the dynamic loft delivered by the swing and the shaft weight and swing weight will always be dominant for that in the wedges.  They are just too short and swing speeds too low for the shafts to bend all that much and effect the dynamic loft.   The pros might have to worry about it a little - but not the vast majority of amateurs.

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Stuart_G