Shaft Options for borderline players (85-90mph ss)

[David Miller]

Hey guys, I've read tons of articles on here but haven't exactly found what I've been looking for yet. I'm planning on reshafting my current set of irons that I currently play. Playing the 2019 T100 with DG x100 shafts. After playing about 10 rounds with them I've come to the conclusion that I should really be in stiff iron shafts. I play x-stiff in my woods and those have been totally fine (numbers match up). My numbers for driver has been consistently around 110+ the last two years or so. However, after hitting my irons in a sim, found out that my 6 iron swing speed is only around 85. I definitely don't swing Fairly certain that this would put me in a stiff iron shaft. 

 

Again, the X100's were an experiment. They felt alright, but don't feel a huge connection down the shaft to the clubhead as I would like to. I'm thinking I can also gain some distance. I'm really trying to keep my ball flight down (partially a swing problem, but I do hit the ball high). Currently gaming a SZ head with low launch/spin head. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm looking into the PX 6.0, DG S300, or maybe the DG 120's. Anything would be appreciated. I know the best option would be to just go get fitted but I have too much fun tinkering around and trying to find what's best for my game (without having a fitter tell me what to do haha) 

 

 

[Stuart_G]

16 hours ago, David Miller said:

Fairly certain that this would put me in a stiff iron shaft. 

 

Flex is about a LOT more than just swing speed.  How smooth or aggressive the transition plays a big role as well as personal preferences for how much loading/unloading you want to feel.   On top of that, there are no standards for flex so it can vary depending on what particular make/model shaft you're testing.  e.g.  many who fit into a stiff for TT will typically fit into an x-flex for many of the nippons - although not always.

 

 

16 hours ago, David Miller said:

Again, the X100's were an experiment. They felt alright, but don't feel a huge connection down the shaft to the clubhead as I would like to.

 

Unfortunately that could mean anything - but best guess is that it means the fit for swing weight is not good if you're not getting a good feel for what the head is doing.   less "connection" can sometimes mean too soft - but I doubt that's the case for you.

 

16 hours ago, David Miller said:

I'm really trying to keep my ball flight down (partially a swing problem, but I do hit the ball high).

 

That's another indication that the swing weight might be too light.  But there are other possibilities as well.    TT DG's are not high launching shaft - so it's not the shaft profile that's causing this - at least not directly.

 

16 hours ago, David Miller said:

Currently gaming a SZ head with low launch/spin head. Any advice would be appreciated. I'm looking into the PX 6.0, DG S300, or maybe the DG 120's.

 

There is so much about choosing a shaft that is very subjective.  So the only way to do this is to get out there and try different options and see how your swing and ball flight results change with different options.

 

But usually the first and most important thing to get figured out is what is a good fit for shaft weight and swing weight (really head weight).   Those two aspect of the build are generally much more important and influence the results more than stiffness does.    Then once you have that figured out, make sure all the testing of different shaft models and flexes and stiffness profiles are done at the same  weight and swing weight.  You want to make sure what you see can really be attributed to the different shaft model - and not something else.

 

 

 

16 hours ago, David Miller said:

Anything would be appreciated. I know the best option would be to just go get fitted but I have too much fun tinkering around and trying to find what's best for my game (without having a fitter tell me what to do haha)

 

Nothing wrong with that - what's important is the process.  If you learn enough around here, there is no reason you can't do a decent job of fitting yourself.

Edited April 29, 2022 by Stuart_G

[David Miller]

On 4/29/2022 at 8:21 AM, Stuart_G said:

Unfortunately that could mean anything - but best guess is that it means the fit for swing weight is not good if you're not getting a good feel for what the head is doing.

Is there any good way to test swing weight? And also, is this in reference to the shaft not being the right weight, or the swing weight not being right? How correlated are those? For example, could I just throw on some lead tape or a weight somewhere or would it be better to get a heavier shaft?? Wouldn't more weight down the shaft feel different than additional weight in the head?

 

On 4/29/2022 at 8:21 AM, Stuart_G said:

Flex is about a LOT more than just swing speed.  How smooth or aggressive the transition plays a big role as well as personal preferences for how much loading/unloading you want to feel.   On top of that, there are no standards for flex so it can vary depending on what particular make/model shaft you're testing.

 

You're entirely correct. I hit some Callaway TCB's the other day and they felt unreal. I was swinging them with the PX 6's which is why was planning on starting there for a reference point. Also probably the shaft I'll buy for my first test run to get the X100's out of there as they feel a little too boardy for me. 

 

Again, thank you for all your help! Super appreciated. 

[Stuart_G]

9 hours ago, David Miller said:

Is there any good way to test swing weight?

 

Playing around with different amounts of Lead tape on the range.

 

 

9 hours ago, David Miller said:

And also, is this in reference to the shaft not being the right weight, or the swing weight not being right?

 

It was about the swing weight.  But, playing length, shaft weight, and swing weight (really head weight) all have to work together.  So only way to find out what's right and what's not is to test different combinations.

 

 

9 hours ago, David Miller said:

How correlated are those? For example, could I just throw on some lead tape or a weight somewhere or would it be better to get a heavier shaft?? Wouldn't more weight down the shaft feel different than additional weight in the head?

 

Shaft weight and swing weight are two different aspects of the weight feel of the club and can have different effects on the results for different individuals.    In some cases one can help offset or compensate for the other being not ideal.  e.g. if shaft weight is too light, going heavier on swing weight can still help.  But they really aren't the same thing.  

 

For more details on how to test and check those two aspects, this tutorial will help.  It's written for drivers but really applies to all clubs.  For irons, just ignore the parts about playing length.

 

 

 

 

 

[David Miller]

1 hour ago, Stuart_G said:

It was about the swing weight.  But, playing length, shaft weight, and swing weight (really head weight) all have to work together.  So only way to find out what's right and what's not is to test different combinations.

 

Awesome. All of the above is extremely helpful. Thanks again! I'll be sure to test is out and let you know how it goes. 

 

David

[mcounci2]

Possibly an overly simple approach but one that could yield you some results, and what I would do for me-

 

Figure out whether the flex or the weight, or both, is your problem.

 

Build three irons- get three identical Maltby 7i heads,  and do the following combos, at the same length/lie/weight/grip

 

DG S300

DG120 X100

DG120 S300

 

I feel that would let you know where your preferences truly lie, and would give you a good shaft choice going forward, or at least a start to where you could go to a fitter with a pretty narrow set of choices, for example "I want to swing everything you have in X flex between 115g and 125g"

 

Re: swingweight- don't measure it.  Go by feel with lead tape, then, when you've got what you like, measure it, and match that through your set or whatever you like.  I stagger mine- wedges are D5, 8i-P are D4, 5i-7i are D3, D-4i are D2