Iron shafts for the lowest possible ballflight

[Jul89]

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

What kind of swing speed do I need to load X7? I got an 111mph driver swing.

 

 

 

 

[PEI_Golfer]

Too many variables to just change a shaft and think it will fix a broken limb.  Sure, you can throw in some X7s, 130X C-Tapers or some rebars, but learning to flight shots if you have good speed is likely easier and make you a better player. 

[Zena]

42 minutes ago, Jul89 said:

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

What kind of swing speed do I need to load X7? I got an 111mph driver swing.

 

 

 

 

 

More than that. Unless you have an extremely aggressive swing (think Jon Rahm level of violence or more).

 

My experience:

I swing my driver 114mph and hit my MP18 blade 7iron with PX LZ 6.5 155-160yds with my course swing, and I have trouble loading X100s without a perfect full power swing. I can hit them, but I lose distance. X7s would be even worse.

 

Why would you want extremely low ball flight in your irons? More height = steeper landing angle = holding greens. Unless you’re constantly playing high wind courses or live in Scotland?

[RacineBoxer]

3 hours ago, Jul89 said:

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

What kind of swing speed do I need to load X7? I got an 111mph driver swing.

 

 

 

 

 

do you have any idea if you are delivering more dynamic loft than optimal? 

[Jul89]

38 minutes ago, RacineBoxer said:

 

do you have any idea if you are delivering more dynamic loft than optimal? 

That is my problem exactly. Its hard to fix.

[Drewhill44]

I have similar swing speed as you and I’ve played KBS C-Taper’s 130’s for the last 5 years.  I have a shallow angle of attack and these shafts are great for me to have a nice boring trajectory and no ballooning iron shots, even into the wind.  My iron approached are usually one hop and stop with mid and short irons.   

[dj6627]

C Taper 120

[ak90]

1 hour ago, Jul89 said:

That is my problem exactly. Its hard to fix.

How much time do you have to practice? If it’s something you intend to fix I wouldn’t change gear to mask the issue. Controlling dynamic loft at impact is much easier with a controlled swing, going super heavy and stiff will cause you to need to swing out your shoes to load the shaft and likely exacerbate your issue.

[Adam C]

Bend down the lofts if you want lower ball flight. That is the only way to ensure a lower ball flight. Trying to do it with shafts is a fools errand.

[Jul89]

I would rather fix my swing. I got time to practice

Edited October 1, 2022 by Jul89

[Stuart_G]

2 hours ago, Jul89 said:

That is my problem exactly. Its hard to fix.

 

Try increasing head weight/swing weight.  For some that can help delay the release and more likely to help than a shaft change.

 

Are you working with a pro to help fix it?

 

6 hours ago, Jul89 said:

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

Yes, there are graphite shafts that can easily keep up with the lowest launching steel - steelfiber i-series - for example.

 

But for most, shaft weight (as well as swing weight mentioned above) tend to have much more of an effect on the trajectory than the profile or launch characteristics of the shaft.  Stiffer shafts only reduce how much the shaft might add to the dynamic loft, they will never directly take away from or reduce what your swing is creating for dynamic loft.   The only exceptions to this is when the feel of the shaft actually causes the swing to change.   That's more common with weight changes than profile changes.  And when it does happen with profile changes, what you get is not necessarily going to be related to how the shaft characteristics change.

 

But what shafts are you using now?

 

Another possible band-aid is to just have the lofts bent stronger a few degrees.

Edited October 1, 2022 by Stuart_G

[mikey15]

I have a similar driver SS and am in X100s. Used to be high launch/high spin, but have been working on controlling my ball flight/spin more, and X100s make it easy. They feel great. In the beginning, X100s definitely took my launch/spin down a bit. The issue was me though, not the previous shafts, to be clear. Haha. 

[Sean124]

Your delivery issue could actually be made worse by going too stiff. 
 

I swing driver at 120+ and play X100s in my irons. 

[Trippels]

Since it's definitely a delivery issue given your speed, then it might be that softer/lighter shafts will bring the flight down by making you deliver the club better.

Best bet is probably a swing adjustment though.

And if you want to influence height/spin with equipment, then loft and head selection are more impactful than shafts.

Answer to the orginal question might be double hardstepped PX LS 7.0.

[Kale_m]

Sure x7 will lower your ballflight because due to the weight you won’t be able to swing them as fast, resulting in a lower ball flight 

[Straphael]

I launched low with kbs tour v and c taper 130 x. Both hit low bullets for me. I recently went to dynamic gold 120 x100 and am curious how much I gain if any in height. I’m swinging in the 120+ range and can make a seven iron over 100 if I want to step on it. 
 

low launching heavy shafts are great until you no longer want to go after every swing. Flighting Down c taper is possible but for me it’s messy and low spin knuckle balls. 
 

also I wouldn’t just look heavy shafts. I went to modus 105 x in my wedges and I can control the flight easy with them. We all respond to weight different so I think I’m giving the annoying advice of get fit

[Kenbone]

[TLUBulldogGolf]

If you can get your hands on them apparently the LA golf graphite cuts launch and spin way down. But it looks to be a swing issue given speed. 

[Trippels]

7 minutes ago, TLUBulldogGolf said:

If you can get your hands on them apparently the LA golf graphite cuts launch and spin way down. But it looks to be a swing issue given speed. 

Was a video with drew cooper comparing the LAgolf l series to px ls, and they cut massive amounts of height and spin. But wasn't clear if they meant the l series were actually softer, and just made him deliver the club better.

[jomatty]

3 hours ago, TLUBulldogGolf said:

If you can get your hands on them apparently the LA golf graphite cuts launch and spin way down. But it looks to be a swing issue given speed. 

I was also going to suggest the L series if money is no object and op wanted to try graphite.

[phizzy30]

Steel: PX LS, C-Taper, X7

 

Graphite/Composite: LAGP L-Series, MMT

 

 

Edited October 1, 2022 by phizzy30

[rgk5]

11 hours ago, Jul89 said:

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

What kind of swing speed do I need to load X7? I got an 111mph driver swing.

 

 

 

 

Why do you want the lowest possible ball flight?  Any numbers to illustrate?

[MountainKing]

9 hours ago, Jul89 said:

That is my problem exactly. Its hard to fix.

 

No shaft is going to fix the swing fault that does this unfortunately.  It's tough to fix but it can be done, and will give you much better results than dumping money into shafts...

[lowlofted]

13 hours ago, Jul89 said:

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

What kind of swing speed do I need to load X7? I got an 111mph driver swing.

 

 

 

 

I currently just switched to X7's and like them alot. Came from project x 7.0's. I like them both but the X7's feel more stable to me. Ball flight may have lowered a touch but I don't notice it too much as I can still hit anything very high if it want to. Driver swing speed can go into the 140's but I wouldn't use that as your main comparison. I would test it out in one club a least and see if it suits you. With irons I think it's all feel and preference sometimes.

[Trippels]

13 hours ago, Jul89 said:

Hi Guys,

 

which are the shafts that produce the lowest possible ballflight and launch? Are there any graphite ones that can keep up with steel (for example Dynamic Gold X7) in terms of low ballflight?

 

What kind of swing speed do I need to load X7? I got an 111mph driver swing.

 

 

 

 

I have a similar issue with balls going too high with the irons, also due to swing faults. I've gone with the PX LS 6.5 in my mizunos, which was the stiffest/lowest launching shafts available from mizuno. And sure, they helped a bit. However, on full shots I hit my 7 iron almost as high as the Mizuno swing DNA shaft tester club they have on demo days. Which just has a flimsy graphite shaft.

So, try and fix the swing instead.

[eugkim]

C taper

[Jul89]

On 10/1/2022 at 4:57 PM, Stuart_G said:

 

Try increasing head weight/swing weight.  For some that can help delay the release and more likely to help than a shaft change.

 

Are you working with a pro to help fix it?

 

 

Yes, there are graphite shafts that can easily keep up with the lowest launching steel - steelfiber i-series - for example.

 

But for most, shaft weight (as well as swing weight mentioned above) tend to have much more of an effect on the trajectory than the profile or launch characteristics of the shaft.  Stiffer shafts only reduce how much the shaft might add to the dynamic loft, they will never directly take away from or reduce what your swing is creating for dynamic loft.   The only exceptions to this is when the feel of the shaft actually causes the swing to change.   That's more common with weight changes than profile changes.  And when it does happen with profile changes, what you get is not necessarily going to be related to how the shaft characteristics change.

 

But what shafts are you using now?

 

Another possible band-aid is to just have the lofts bent stronger a few degrees.

I am using nippon modus 3 tour 120 x shafts in wishon 565 mc irons. The shafts are new. They balloon. The Swingweight is at C9-D0. I play shorter length. Not entirely sure how much shorter.

 

Previously played the Wishon S2S Red 110g Stiff shafts, they ballooned less.

 

Swing speed currently averaging 111

 

The clubbuilder said he made the swingweight as heavy as he could. Does that make sense?

 

I am working with a pro. I will see what he has to say. I have been trying to hit lower shots with pros for years so my guess is that I need both more shaft lean and a lower launching/spinning shaft because it doesn‘t seem realistic for me to get an ideal amount of shaft lean.

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2022 by Jul89

[dbornack]

On 10/2/2022 at 11:19 AM, Jul89 said:

I am using nippon modus 3 tour 120 x shafts in wishon 565 mc irons. The shafts are new. They balloon. The Swingweight is at C9-D0. I play shorter length. Not entirely sure how much shorter.

 

Previously played the Wishon S2S Red 110g Stiff shafts, they ballooned less.

 

Swing speed currently averaging 111

 

The clubbuilder said he made the swingweight as heavy as he could. Does that make sense?

 

I am working with a pro. I will see what he has to say. I have been trying to hit lower shots with pros for years so my guess is that I need both more shaft lean and a lower launching/spinning shaft because it doesn‘t seem realistic for me to get an ideal amount of shaft lean.

 

Depending on your transition, etc., Modus 120 might be a terrible shaft profile for you.  Try C-Taper Lite, but IMO those feel like crap.  

 

 

[Jul89]

I was thinking to try Project X LS 6.5

[LongShanks42069]

X7 is a really stout shaft for that swing speed. I have the same swing speed as you and when I recently when to a new set of irons that had stronger lofts than what I was used to and half a flex stiffer my ball flight went higher not lower.

 

if you do see a lower ball flight with the stiffer flex the quality of the flight is likely not good and could hurt performance