Explain shaft performance

[1oldAC]

Single digit hcp with inconsistent iron play…slower swinger (88 mph driver and prefer a more controlled swing…140 7 iron ). I am really liking my 120 gram JZ stiff 6-pw ping zing 2s that I’m hitting straighter and as far as the same lofted clubs of Apex DCBs with 65 gr graphite shaft reg.  I don’t understand why or how. Have difficulty hitting the ping 4 and 5 with heavy shafts. I’m all over the place with dispersion on the Apex but they feel so much more comfortable to swing. Good strikes with Apex are amazing and high, but I don’t flush them nearly often enough. The pings 6-w are just so straight and easy to line up. For all the talk of forgiveness with new tech, I don’t see any except for thin shots. Hit the ping 6 iron to a 155 yard hole and hit it so far out on the toe that I almost missed it… and it fell about 3 yards short. That same toe shot would have hooked 20+ yards with the Apex.   Does the weight help my swing overall? Maybe the ping offset allows me to “cover” the ball like I used to?  

Edited December 27, 2023 by 1oldAC

[Stuart_G]

17 hours ago, 1oldAC said:

 Does the weight help my swing overall? Maybe the ping offset allows me to “cover” the ball like I used to?  

 

It's a very tricky subject - largely because it so very subjective.     But much more likely the weight.   There is a HUGE difference in feel between 120 gm and 65 gm shafts.    Which also means there are a LOT of other options between the two that might give you a better compromise between the feel and performance.   For some people weight can play a major role in things like rhythm and tempo and release timing and even just general sequencing of the body during the swing.   For some it can even effect the swing plane or path or face control.

 

And that's assuming shaft weight is the only variable - which is VERY unlikely.   There might be differences in MOI (swing weight) and also likely a big difference in the stiffness of the two shafts.    All of which can potentially effect how the club feels, and the swing and delivery of the club and therefore the results.

 

The short answer is that anything that we feel from the club during the swing - or even things we see at address (offset or topline or even lie angle) can effect the swing in a wide variety of ways - that can be completely different for different individuals.  While other people can get the exact same results from a wide range of equipment characteristics.   I believe it largely comes down to how much any individual might use external feedback (feel from the club - weight, stiffness) vs internal feed (feel of body position or motion) back to control the swing.

 

BUT the details of exactly how one is effected or what is a good range of shaft weight (or swing weight) or stiffness is something each person has to figure out for themselves through trial and error.   It's not something anyone else (here) will be able to predict.

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by Stuart_G

[1oldAC]

I agree… I guess I see so many opinions on how one stiffness or shaft fits a certain type of swing. I feel I can adjust to anything… but it’s so noticeable ( in shot quality and dispersion) that the heavier older pings are vastly better for me. I slowed down my backswing and transition because I didn’t want to swing harder to “make up” for the lofts… and I just started puring more shots. Later release and “finishing the swing” maybe.

Literally hit more irons inside 5 feet in five rounds than I did in 5 months. Thanks for the post

Edited December 30, 2023 by 1oldAC