Ping Eye 2 with ZZ Lite Shafts

[golferdude]

They shouldn't work for me but they do

With all of the really positive buzz about the old Eye 2's with the ZZ Lite Shaft, I purchased a set cheap and I'm hitting them pretty well and fairly high.
Here's my confusion.

I am looking to get a higher ball-flight. Before the Eye 2's, I was playing a set of clubs with DG S300s. It gave me a low/mid ball flight which I am looking to go higher.

I recently attended a show and got fitted by the good folks at Mizuno with their amazing shaft fitting device (forgot what it was called)
Long story short, I got fitted for R flex, soft stepped, so really, I am moving towards A-flex.
With that setup, I was hitting the ball much higher.

My understanding is that the ZZ lite shaft is actually between a S and an X flex. On the course, the shaft doesn't feel too stiff at all, but according
to my fitting, I should have no business hitting that shaft.

What gives? If I were to reshaft them with DG R300 softstepped would the gains be noticeable or significant?

[EmptyWallet]

Could this have something to do with different manufact's referring to different flexes even though they might be labeled "stiff", "regular, etc? One company's stiff is another's regular?

There's also a time gap there as well. Stiff today might not be the stiff of yesterday. Not saying the shaft weakened...but the classification.

[DaveMac]

Your experience shows that swing speed is not the most important factor in shaft fitting. I guess that your swing speed on the Mizuno shaft analyser was in the 70 - 73 MPH range? I would also expect your tempo to be on the quick side (6-9) and the release to be late (1-4)?

While you are not generating a lot of club head speed you are still applying a lot of load to the shaft.

All of the shafts you mentioned (DG S300, ZZ65 and Mizuno Dynalite gold XP!) have similar bend profiles, so match how you apply power during your swing.
The XP and ZZ lite will change your launch angle a little but the eye 2 head is probably having a greater influence.

DG R300 softstepped would not make a significant difference in flight but this shaft would feel slightly more responsive (soft).

[golferdude]

@DaveMac - Thank you! Thank you! I don't know how you did it but you correctly deduced my numbers (Notice I didn't say 'guess' since you obviously know what you are doing).
Swing speed 73, Tempo - 7, Release - 4.

So from what you are saying, reshafting to a DG R300 won't really do much for me.

Knowing my numbers, what would be the ideal shaft for me?

Let's modify this, knowing my numbers. My goal is a higher launch.
What iron/shaft combo would you put me in?
I don't need the latest and greatest.

Thanks!

[The Golfing Boy]

First off that device that you are probably talking about would be the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer.

Secondly, I do not believe that the DG R300 would be giving you that high of a ball flight. You are probably better off going with the DGXP R300. That will give you a higher ball flight because of the lightness and flexibility in the shaft.

[DaveMac]

Glad to be of help. In a way nothing is going to be a perfect fit, it is about balancing the compromises. My advice would be to select a high launch iron head which suits your eye and budget. Then match it up with the shaft which allows you to make your most repeatable swing.
If launch is still a problem with the longer irons then replace them with hybrids, perhaps even the 5 iron. For example the Mizuno JPX Fli-Hi is available with all Mizuno’s iron shaft options and reasonably priced in steel.

Iron Type
The iron type has a greater influence on launch than the shaft so you need to be looking at irons in what is known as the super game improvement category. This [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vHqyELVb0k&feature=plcp&context=C3eb5361UDOEgsToPDskJyB2mvQKqLyLGPqObh13PJ"]MX 100 review video[/url] shows the difference that an iron in this category can make (from 1 min 30 on). You have already discovered this for yourself using the Ping eye 2’s.

Shafts

The shaft optimizer recommends the Dynamic Gold because it is a heavy weight shaft which matches your tempo. It also recommends the Project X 5.0 and KBS Tour regular.
The Dynalite Gold XP R300 would be a recommendation if your tempo factor was 6 rather than 7. This is classed as a high launch shaft so is worth checking out as The Golfing Boy said.

Models to consider include (new and old):

Ping: G20, G15, K15, Rapture, Rapture V2
Best stock Ping shaft in the older models would be the AWT stiff (the regular would be too light for your tempo). You might just get away with the CFS in the G 20 but it is a little light and soft in regular flex. The majority of the shafts recommended by the optimizer are available custom order from Ping so you might find a suitable set pre owned.

Callaway: Razr
Best shaft option is the project x flighted 5.0, Dynamic Gold R300. (The stock uniflex is too soft)

Mizuno: MX1000, JPX 800 HD
Best shaft options: Dynalite Gold XP R300, Project X 5.0, Nippon 1150 Regular, Dynamic Gold R300, and KBS Tour regular.

Hope you get sorted out.

[golferdude]

[color=#1C2837][size=2]@DaveMac - Thank you![/size][/color]
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[size="2"][color="#1c2837"]I learned a lot from this. I had bought a set of TA-5's off eBay which had S300 shafts (this was before the fitting) and while it was in transit,[/color][/size]
[color="#1c2837"][size="2"]I was really worried that the S300 would be disastrous given my fitting results.[/size][/color]
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[size="2"][color="#1c2837"]I think all of the information that you gave me eased my mind and gave me a good perspective on things.[/color][/size]
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[color="#1c2837"][size="2"]I played a round with the TA-5's yesterday and hit them fine. The shafts don't seem too stiff and the ball-flight is what I was looking for.[/size][/color]
[color="#1c2837"][size="2"]I had twice as many GIR's yesterday just because the ball is coming in at a different angle and not rolling off.[/size][/color]
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[color="#1c2837"][size="2"]In fact, I think the TA-5's go higher and longer than the eye 2's.[/size][/color]
[color="#1c2837"][size="2"]If it were not for a few errand wood shots and some missed putts, I was easily in the high 70's[/size][/color]
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[size="2"][color="#1c2837"]Thanks again![/color][/size]
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[golferdude]

[color=#1C2837][size=2]@DaveMac - One more quick question.[/size][/color]
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[size="2"][color="#1c2837"]One of the sets of irons that I am looking at have "uniflex" shafts. [/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1c2837"]Do you think a uniflex shaft would work for me?[/color][/size]
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[DaveMac]

golferdude, I thought you had settled on a set of clevelands? I am not a fan of uniflex shafts, the only manufactures routinely offering this lazy compromise are Callaway and Wilson Staff. If the uniflex is a standard Callaway I don't think they would be a great match.
Try to make the time to try some of the models I have mentioned even if you can't buy new it will help you shortlist some combinations to keep an eye out for at the right price.