Shaft guidance

[HGLucky13]

Long story short 4 months ago I started using DG 120 X100 shafts in my irons and now I have a slight pain in my lead elbow. Similar to tennis elbow. Looking for something that will lesson that pain, but keep same flight path/ feel characteristics.

 

Background for those interested. early 50's playing at a 13-15 handicap (only have a Garmin watch to tell me, do not have a GHIN). Started playing summer of 2020, and been taking lessons for almost 2 years now. 6i SS is low 90's measured on my little Mevo. Aggressive tempo, ex hockey defenseman.  I was playing G425's with Nippon Pro Modus Tour 105 in stiff.  In December I bought a set of I230's with DG 120 X100 shafts in them. Then the pain started. It is pretty mild, doesn't affect my swing, but it wasn't there before, so it shouldn't be there now. Amount of playing/practice time is the same, 2-3 2hr practice sessions a week, along with 1-2 rounds a week. I am liking the X100's, dispersion is much better and flight path is more what I want to see. My coach agrees. Spin numbers are good, height is good. All of which could be contributed to better technique, and maybe have nothing to do with the new shafts. I did try to go back to my old clubs to see if it would help, but they now feel too light and whippy for me. Like I do not have as much control. Timing felt off. Not likely to go back to the 105's now. Though if I had to I would likely get used to them again. 

 

I will likely have a club built to practice with to see if it helps before committing to a whole new set of shafts. What should I be looking for? Will going to carbon really lesson the pain while keeping the same swing feels? Or do I just need to get used to a lighter more flexy shaft?

[Pepperturbo]

Regardless of what you're told by others, sounds like X100 flex is too much for your game.  It's likely your misses with X flex and heavier shafts are behind the pain.  Going to lighter weight shafts have many people going to stronger flex shafts, only to incur some form of consequence.

 

Years back I played X100, then 6.5, then 6.0 for fifteen plus years before switching to composite five years back.  Even though my shafts then were 125g, they were "S" flex when I could have easily played "X". 

 

I play 1–2 times per week, but sometimes every day, to every other day, do the annual math.  I've purposely stayed with "S" and composite, now 105S to lessen the wear and tear on my body; it's worked nicely too.  I am in my early 70s and still playing to index of 4.  

[phizzy30]

Switching to composite/graphite will help lessen vibration therefore would help to a certain degree in terms of joint health.  I played the X100's for a long time and now in the MMT 125TX.  I can play and practice more nowadays as a result because they don't beat up my elbows, wrists and hands.  It's pretty much the same EI profile and launch/spin are similar.  If anything MMT launches just a touch higher and spins less so it's a good alternative to X100 if you decide to go that route.  Axiom 125X would be another good alternative as well but I found it to spin more than MMT with better dispersion.  L-Series will play and feel more like C-taper/PX. 

[Ri_Redneck]

Before changing shafts, I would try the Prosoft Inserts and see if the do the trick.

 

If not, graphite is the way to go. I have been playing composite in my irons for over a decade and am delighted with the performance and pain relief.

 

BT

[HGLucky13]

Thank for the input @Pepperturbo. I am not driven by ego. I could care less what the shaft says on it, I just want it to work the best it can for me. Seems like these have better control for me. But again, it could be a reflection of my skill getting better and not the shafts themselves. I still have my old set of irons maybe i'll revisit them for a round or 2 to see what happens. 

 

 

[HGLucky13]

@phizzy30 I like the idea of the MMT 125. If this would get rid of my pain, but keep the same feel. Sounds like a perfect switch. Just need to find a club with this shaft to try out.

[Pepperturbo]

13 minutes ago, HGLucky13 said:

Thank for the input @Pepperturbo. I am not driven by ego. I could care less what the shaft says on it, I just want it to work the best it can for me. Seems like these have better control for me. But again, it could be a reflection of my skill getting better and not the shafts themselves. I still have my old set of irons maybe i'll revisit them for a round or 2 to see what happens. 

 

 

A few buddies and my wife cope with elbow issues, not fun.  Due to the latest research on painkillers, each became concerned about their painkiller intake.  But my wife is the only one that switched to composite, and her problem eventually went away.  

 

Watching them, as I do, divots and shaft material are the cause.  My buddies don't play enough to want to spend the money on new shafts.  They also think I am borderline nutso for playing as much as I do. LOL 

 

I played MMT 125S for two years before switching to MMT 105S.  Outstanding shafts.

Edited April 26 by Pepperturbo

[HGLucky13]

8 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

A few buddies and my wife cope with elbow issues, not fun.  Due to the latest research on painkillers, each became concerned about their painkiller intake.  But my wife is the only one that switched to composite, and her problem eventually went away.  

 

Watching them, as I do, divots and shaft material are the cause.  My buddies don't play enough to want to spend the money on new shafts.  They also think I am borderline nutso for playing as much as I do. LOL 

 

I played MMT 125S for two years before switching to MMT 105S.  Outstanding shafts.

Luckily it is not bad enough to require me to take pain pills. It is pretty, mild, but it is a new thing so I do not want it to get bad. When I was younger I was the kind of kid to damage myself for the good of the game. So I am very familiar with overuse of pain pills. Pain pills and hockey tape could get me through a hockey game every time. Nowadays, I prefer to not use anything if I can get away with it.

 

I do tend to lean towards steeper and deeper in my swing. That is likely not helping the situation. I have no intention of cutting back on my golf game, more likely that I will increase the amount of time playing. Th cost doesn't necessarily bother me if it will be good for me. I can afford it, but at the same time I would rather not buy a bunch of different equipment just to add it to the pile.  

 

I am very interested in trying the MMT shafts and see how they feel. 

 

[phizzy30]

19 minutes ago, HGLucky13 said:

Luckily it is not bad enough to require me to take pain pills. It is pretty, mild, but it is a new thing so I do not want it to get bad. When I was younger I was the kind of kid to damage myself for the good of the game. So I am very familiar with overuse of pain pills. Pain pills and hockey tape could get me through a hockey game every time. Nowadays, I prefer to not use anything if I can get away with it.

 

I do tend to lean towards steeper and deeper in my swing. That is likely not helping the situation. I have no intention of cutting back on my golf game, more likely that I will increase the amount of time playing. Th cost doesn't necessarily bother me if it will be good for me. I can afford it, but at the same time I would rather not buy a bunch of different equipment just to add it to the pile.  

 

I am very interested in trying the MMT shafts and see how they feel. 

 

I get steep and take bigger divots as well and of course we both know how taxing that can be on the elbows and wrists.  I highly recommend your idea of buying one MMT shaft just to test in let's say your 7 iron and see how you like or dislike it, lol.  Good thing is that nowadays, there's a lot more graphite options to choose from and you don't need to sacrifice feel or performance anymore like you had to with the graphite iron shafts of yesteryear. 

Edited April 26 by phizzy30

[HeftyLefty5]

I just got back into golf about 2 1/2 years ago after being out of regularly golfing for like 15 years. My first set of pxg's had steel shafts and even after the half season and a couple range sessions my wrist and elbow which I've had previous injuries to were in quite a lot of pain. The next season I switched to graphite and now about 2 years of golf with no pain in the wrist and elbow. Graphite has been a way to keep golfing when the body did not like it. 

[byoshio82]

4 hours ago, HGLucky13 said:

Long story short 4 months ago I started using DG 120 X100 shafts in my irons and now I have a slight pain in my lead elbow. Similar to tennis elbow. Looking for something that will lesson that pain, but keep same flight path/ feel characteristics.

 

Background for those interested. early 50's playing at a 13-15 handicap (only have a Garmin watch to tell me, do not have a GHIN). Started playing summer of 2020, and been taking lessons for almost 2 years now. 6i SS is low 90's measured on my little Mevo. Aggressive tempo, ex hockey defenseman.  I was playing G425's with Nippon Pro Modus Tour 105 in stiff.  In December I bought a set of I230's with DG 120 X100 shafts in them. Then the pain started. It is pretty mild, doesn't affect my swing, but it wasn't there before, so it shouldn't be there now. Amount of playing/practice time is the same, 2-3 2hr practice sessions a week, along with 1-2 rounds a week. I am liking the X100's, dispersion is much better and flight path is more what I want to see. My coach agrees. Spin numbers are good, height is good. All of which could be contributed to better technique, and maybe have nothing to do with the new shafts. I did try to go back to my old clubs to see if it would help, but they now feel too light and whippy for me. Like I do not have as much control. Timing felt off. Not likely to go back to the 105's now. Though if I had to I would likely get used to them again. 

 

I will likely have a club built to practice with to see if it helps before committing to a whole new set of shafts. What should I be looking for? Will going to carbon really lesson the pain while keeping the same swing feels? Or do I just need to get used to a lighter more flexy shaft?

Take a look at the Axiom 105X or DG 105X, or try the Nippon in a 105X. Lots of 95-105 gram options that could help.