lighter weight shafts for improved tempo

[Louis_Posture]

I've played iron shafts ranging from 98 to 128 grams. And wedge shafts ranging from 110 to 128 grams. My observation is that lighter weight shafts do promote swinging within yourself. 

If you struggle with sometimes going too hard at the ball and would like to find a more relaxed, easier paced, better looking tempo, consider trying lighter weight iron shafts.

[KMeloney]

Lighter shafts have worked for me lately. I've been in graphite for a handful of years now due to elbow issues. Was in SteelFiber 110s previously, but have been using Recoil DARTs for the past couple. Test-hit a couple 7-irons I still had shafted with the SFs against my Recoils recently (just to see if I was missing anything with the Recoils), and I was SO inconsistent with the SFs that I traded in those sets for pro shop credit right after, convinced I'd never hit them again. They were heavy, required so much more effort, and had my swing completely out of whack. The Recoils are so much better for me -- and at least part of it is their lighter weight.

[GoGoErky]

Not the case for everyone. For some it throws off the timing, others the heavier shaft helps improve things by causing better movement patterns and they actually swing faster and better 

 

below 64g in driver and I can’t swing it properly, and in some shafts 67-72 is a better fit.

 

Below 110 in irons the same way. Tried 95g recoils and the weight and balance was off compared to 110g recoils. 120g in steel is better option over the 105s

Edited September 5, 2023 by GoGoErky

[SNIPERBBB]

7 minutes ago, GoGoErky said:

Not the case for everyone. For some it throws off the timing, others the heavier shaft helps improve things by causing better movement patterns and they actually swing faster and better 

Lot of it has to do with where you are on the swing speed spectrum. I would say more people are over shafted than under. When you're in the grey area between weights/stiffness it gets tricky.

[Louis_Posture]

1 hour ago, SNIPERBBB said:

Lot of it has to do with where you are on the swing speed spectrum. I would say more people are over shafted than under. When you're in the grey area between weights/stiffness it gets tricky.

The theme of this thread is to consider trying shafts that promote the swing a player wants to have. In other words a player who wants to slow down the tempo of their swing may benefit from trying shafts 20 grams lighter than his/her current iron set.

Often  players who do try significantly lighter weight shafts find the lighter weight harms the swing rhythm they're accustomed to and they abandon the idea. For some players it can take dozen (s) of rounds of golf, plus hundreds of range balls, to get comfortable swinging at the easier paced tempo that lighter shafts may require.

[sjn1]

I found a long time ago  that moving to lighter (by 25gm or so)  iron shafts completely screwed my timing , particularly  on partial shots.  Helped by a knowledgeable Wishon club fitter  and a role of lead tape , the issue was sorted by the addition of  around 5gms of extra weight to the heads . The amount was decided by trial and error on the practice ground , until we found the weight that resulted in the most consistent strikes. I now  think the testing of  swing weght variations on ballstriking should be part of any good club  fitting 

Edited September 13, 2023 by sjn1
typo

[getitdaily]

Lighter TENDS to promote less natural shaft shallowing. You can use weight to help the club want to shallow on its own. So be careful going too light...can exacerbate steepness. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Personally count me in the group that can't swing light because it really screws up my tempo. I'm a big guy at 6'5" and 260#. If something is too light, it feels like I'm swinging air, and like I can't feel anything about where the club is or what it's doing. And that throws me completely off. 

 

And don't get me wrong... Not like I'm swinging 130g X100's here. I'm comfortable enough in my own skin to admit that I don't have WRX speed. My irons are 115g shafts and 70g in a driver. So even the irons are more "middleweight" than heavy. 

 

But anything lighter than that feels wrong. 

[Zitlow]

I recently purchased a new driver, instead of a 60g shaft they sent it with a 50g shaft. I emailed them and they sent out the 60g shaft. So I got to compare them and actually like the 50g shaft better. 

 

 

[Louis_Posture]

49 minutes ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

My irons are 115g shafts and 70g in a driver. So even the irons are more "middleweight" than heavy. 

 

But anything lighter than that feels wrong. 

I started this thread to suggest that someone who wants to slow down their swing tempo might consider trying lighter weight shafts.

If someone is satisfied with their current swing tempo-rhythm then I would not suggest trying lighter weight shafts.

My experience is that it takes me a few hundred range balls and about a dozen rounds of golf to get comfortable with iron shafts that weigh 20 grams less than my previous set.

[slytown]

Generally speaking, players swinging a heavier shaft will swing more inside and use their lower body more to get the club moving. Players swinging lighter shafts will swing more outside the target line and use their arms/upper body more. If you swing better with a lighter shaft, go for it. Lighter shafts aren't just for kids, ladies, and older players. Most professionals would say swing the lightest shaft you have control over because it will give you the most speed and keep you from getting tired quickly.

 

However, I think the large shaft weight options are too much for fittings, especially for players that have experience with a certain shaft weight. Usually the shaft weight you start with in adulthood you will stick with.

[SNIPERBBB]

14 minutes ago, Louis_Posture said:

I started this thread to suggest that someone who wants to slow down their swing tempo might consider trying lighter weight shafts.

If someone is satisfied with their current swing tempo-rhythm then I would not suggest trying lighter weight shafts.

My experience is that it takes me a few hundred range balls and about a dozen rounds of golf to get comfortable with iron shafts that weigh 20 grams less than my previous set.

You're unfortunately, or fortunately depending how you're looking at it,in the minority. Most ams tempos are way too slow, sick butterflies have faster tempo than most of them.

[Louis_Posture]

16 minutes ago, SNIPERBBB said:

. Most ams tempos are way too slow, sick butterflies have faster tempo than most of them.

Forgetting about average or higher cap amateurs for a moment......among better skilled amateurs and professionals I believe the technology of modern heads and shafts has allowed faster tempo players the opportunity to be competitive or so than ever before.

For example, decades ago at Tour event driving ranges it was very rare to see a player with a fast paced tempo. In recent years faster paced swings are more common, but easy tempo swings still dominate Tour event driving ranges.