Ping Shafts

[southpaw59er]

Why only stiff flex in older iron models ?

Ok we all know that Karsten was a pretty bright guy and he probably forgot more about golf clubs than most of us will ever know. Why were all the ping shafts in older model irons such as the EYE 2 only made in stiff flex. I think ping probably had a half dozen or so shafts such as ZZ lite, Z65, KT, KTM etc and none of them offered a regular flex.

I question what his reason for this was, did everyone have a fast swing speed before 1990 ?? It is said that he even fit his wife who was a beginner with a stiff steel shaft.

He must of had a reason for this, I know he valued accuracy over distance. What am I missing here?
This logic does not seem to apply today, is shaft flex over rated??

Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks

[dlygrisse]

I read somewhere once that testing done with the Pingman testing machine showed that stiff shafts were more accurate for all swing speeds. I always found it a bit strange especially since they have always prided themselves for being the best at custom fitting.

 

I don't think they changed this until Karsten Solhiem died, I could be wrong, but I personally don't think there is any doubt a softer shaft works better for slower swings and allow you to get the ball in the air easier, and improve tempo. JMO

[avrag]

He must of had a reason for this, I know he valued accuracy over distance. What am I missing here?

This logic does not seem to apply today, is shaft flex over rated??

 

Thanks

 

 

I read somewhere once that testing done with the Pingman testing machine showed that stiff shafts were more accurate for all swing speeds.

 

From my personal experience, I think it makes a lot of sense. And the labelling on the shafts (r or s) says little about how the particular shaft performs for a particular person.

I got fitted for irons this year, using a Trackman. The distance loss and the lower flight with s-flex shafts was only marginal, compared to r-flex shafts, but the dispersion was so much better. And my swing speed is very pedestrian. My 6iron flies only 160 yds. It did so with r-flex steel shafts, with r-flex graphite shafts, and now it does so with s-flex steel shafts. I have one set with Z-Z65s and one set with TT DG S-300. I also got fitted for a driver this year and now have an r-flex shaft in that, because in the driver, this worked best for me in terms of both distance and dispersion.

[turnbowm]

Karsten Solheim always maintained that irons were the "accuracy" clubs and the stiffer the shaft, the better. Had a set of Eye2s with ZZ-Lite shafts and they checked out slightly stiffer than X-flex! WAY too much shaft for my "pedestrian" swingspeed.