Am I really a regular shaft? Or is it an illusion?

[JT41L5d3]

I had been using Mizuno JPX 800s with PX 6.0s in them for a little bit and I definitely thought those were too stiff for me @ 6.5 FCM.

 

I took a few swings with a friend's Nike VR Pro Cavities with DG Dynalite Regular shafts and I could not believe the results. My shots were penetrating, long, and felt sooooo smooth!

 

Now I do agree that the shafts basically felt like linguine, but at the top of my backswing I really had to let the shaft load and came through with my swing as smooth as I could.

 

I just got a set of B'stone J38 DPCs with X100s that I plan on reshafting with soft stepped KBS tours.

 

My question then becomes:

 

Am I truly a regular shaft if I was hitting home runs with those Dynalite Regs? Or will I be able to achieve the same flight/feel with a stiffer shaft such as the KBS tours?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Ri_Redneck]

I would compare the bend profiles on the Dynalites and the KBS before committing. One R is another OEMs S.

BT

[dbogeyguy75]

[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367430936' post='6952011']
I had been using Mizuno JPX 800s with PX 6.0s in them for a little bit and I definitely thought those were too stiff for me @ 6.5 FCM.

I took a few swings with a friend's Nike VR Pro Cavities with DG Dynalite Regular shafts and I could not believe the results. My shots were penetrating, long, and felt sooooo smooth!

Now I do agree that the shafts basically felt like linguine, but at the top of my backswing I really had to let the shaft load and came through with my swing as smooth as I could.

I just got a set of B'stone J38 DPCs with X100s that I plan on reshafting with soft stepped KBS tours.

My question then becomes:

Am I truly a regular shaft if I was hitting home runs with those Dynalite Regs? Or will I be able to achieve the same flight/feel with a stiffer shaft such as the KBS tours?

Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

Yes, it is entirely possible. I had the same Nike clubs last year and switched to Mizuno 825 this season. I swing a driver between 99 and 105 consistently. I was fitted for regular flex dynalite gold Xp in the irons. I was skeptical and ego bruised. Then, they arrived and I used them. Bingo! Works great for me. Longer, I can load them, dispersion is equivalent. Don't let your ego trump the science. We all swing differently. Go try the Mizuno shaft optimizer. You might be pleasantly surprised. And, you just remove the shaft bands and tell your buddies they are soft steped x100's with an active tip. ;-). They don't know true temper from true value hardware, anyway.

[JT41L5d3]

[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367447629' post='6953657']
[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367430936' post='6952011']
I had been using Mizuno JPX 800s with PX 6.0s in them for a little bit and I definitely thought those were too stiff for me @ 6.5 FCM.

I took a few swings with a friend's Nike VR Pro Cavities with DG Dynalite Regular shafts and I could not believe the results. My shots were penetrating, long, and felt sooooo smooth!

Now I do agree that the shafts basically felt like linguine, but at the top of my backswing I really had to let the shaft load and came through with my swing as smooth as I could.

I just got a set of B'stone J38 DPCs with X100s that I plan on reshafting with soft stepped KBS tours.

My question then becomes:

Am I truly a regular shaft if I was hitting home runs with those Dynalite Regs? Or will I be able to achieve the same flight/feel with a stiffer shaft such as the KBS tours?

Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

Yes, it is entirely possible. I had the same Nike clubs last year and switched to Mizuno 825 this season. I swing a driver between 99 and 105 consistently. I was fitted for regular flex dynalite gold Xp in the irons. I was skeptical and ego bruised. Then, they arrived and I used them. Bingo! Works great for me. Longer, I can load them, dispersion is equivalent. Don't let your ego trump the science. We all swing differently. Go try the Mizuno shaft optimizer. You might be pleasantly surprised. And, you just remove the shaft bands and tell your buddies they are soft steped x100's with an active tip. ;-). They don't know true temper from true value hardware, anyway.
[/quote]

Ha! I love your suggestion to remove the shaft bands.
This was more of an answer I was waiting to hear.

My question wasn't very clear as it is hard to ask (even in my own head), but it was along the lines of:

I think I'm a ~stiff flex user (about to shaft my J38 DPCs with KBS stiffs soft stepped)
I tried a friend's regular flex clubs, [b]but changed my swing to adapt.[/b]
I hit them further, longer, and straighter than ever before with nice penetrating flight.

Will my normal swing with a stiffer shaft produce the same effect? Or am I better off changing my swing to accomodate for a regular flex shaft?

[avgjoe]

start w SS... what is it?

[JT41L5d3]

My driver SS was ranging from about 88-93 a few weeks ago.

[dbogeyguy75]

[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367470392' post='6955755']
[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367447629' post='6953657']
[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367430936' post='6952011']
I had been using Mizuno JPX 800s with PX 6.0s in them for a little bit and I definitely thought those were too stiff for me @ 6.5 FCM.

I took a few swings with a friend's Nike VR Pro Cavities with DG Dynalite Regular shafts and I could not believe the results. My shots were penetrating, long, and felt sooooo smooth!

Now I do agree that the shafts basically felt like linguine, but at the top of my backswing I really had to let the shaft load and came through with my swing as smooth as I could.

I just got a set of B'stone J38 DPCs with X100s that I plan on reshafting with soft stepped KBS tours.

My question then becomes:

Am I truly a regular shaft if I was hitting home runs with those Dynalite Regs? Or will I be able to achieve the same flight/feel with a stiffer shaft such as the KBS tours?

Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

Yes, it is entirely possible. I had the same Nike clubs last year and switched to Mizuno 825 this season. I swing a driver between 99 and 105 consistently. I was fitted for regular flex dynalite gold Xp in the irons. I was skeptical and ego bruised. Then, they arrived and I used them. Bingo! Works great for me. Longer, I can load them, dispersion is equivalent. Don't let your ego trump the science. We all swing differently. Go try the Mizuno shaft optimizer. You might be pleasantly surprised. And, you just remove the shaft bands and tell your buddies they are soft steped x100's with an active tip. ;-). They don't know true temper from true value hardware, anyway.
[/quote]

Ha! I love your suggestion to remove the shaft bands.
This was more of an answer I was waiting to hear.

My question wasn't very clear as it is hard to ask (even in my own head), but it was along the lines of:

I think I'm a ~stiff flex user (about to shaft my J38 DPCs with KBS stiffs soft stepped)
I tried a friend's regular flex clubs, [b]but changed my swing to adapt.[/b]
I hit them further, longer, and straighter than ever before with nice penetrating flight.

Will my normal swing with a stiffer shaft produce the same effect? Or am I better off changing my swing to accomodate for a regular flex shaft?
[/quote]

My advice, based on what you suggest - and your swing speed, is that you would fall into the range between regular and stiff. I am being diplomatic - you probably don't need a stiff shaft at all. For instance, Mizuno optimizer doesn't recommend stiff until you reach about 90 mph [i][b]with a 6 iron[/b][/i]! Of course, it all depends upon your transition, etc. However, the way you describe it, there is no benefit to the stiffer shaft. The ball flies shorter, and more offline with the stiff shaft, if I am reading your comment correctly. I would suggest that you are swinging better with the regular shaft because you can load it. Feeling it load is not a bad thing, but a good thing. It helps your brain develop tempo. When the shaft is too stiff, you will not feel it, and may have a tendency to rush down, which reduces club speed, distance and causes off line shots. Think SMOOTH. Then, as I mention, remove the shaft bands and tell the guys to pay up. That is, after you win all their money.

[JT41L5d3]

[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367512839' post='6958245']
[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367470392' post='6955755']
[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367447629' post='6953657']
[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367430936' post='6952011']
I had been using Mizuno JPX 800s with PX 6.0s in them for a little bit and I definitely thought those were too stiff for me @ 6.5 FCM.

I took a few swings with a friend's Nike VR Pro Cavities with DG Dynalite Regular shafts and I could not believe the results. My shots were penetrating, long, and felt sooooo smooth!

Now I do agree that the shafts basically felt like linguine, but at the top of my backswing I really had to let the shaft load and came through with my swing as smooth as I could.

I just got a set of B'stone J38 DPCs with X100s that I plan on reshafting with soft stepped KBS tours.

My question then becomes:

Am I truly a regular shaft if I was hitting home runs with those Dynalite Regs? Or will I be able to achieve the same flight/feel with a stiffer shaft such as the KBS tours?

Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

Yes, it is entirely possible. I had the same Nike clubs last year and switched to Mizuno 825 this season. I swing a driver between 99 and 105 consistently. I was fitted for regular flex dynalite gold Xp in the irons. I was skeptical and ego bruised. Then, they arrived and I used them. Bingo! Works great for me. Longer, I can load them, dispersion is equivalent. Don't let your ego trump the science. We all swing differently. Go try the Mizuno shaft optimizer. You might be pleasantly surprised. And, you just remove the shaft bands and tell your buddies they are soft steped x100's with an active tip. ;-). They don't know true temper from true value hardware, anyway.
[/quote]

Ha! I love your suggestion to remove the shaft bands.
This was more of an answer I was waiting to hear.

My question wasn't very clear as it is hard to ask (even in my own head), but it was along the lines of:

I think I'm a ~stiff flex user (about to shaft my J38 DPCs with KBS stiffs soft stepped)
I tried a friend's regular flex clubs, [b]but changed my swing to adapt.[/b]
I hit them further, longer, and straighter than ever before with nice penetrating flight.

Will my normal swing with a stiffer shaft produce the same effect? Or am I better off changing my swing to accomodate for a regular flex shaft?
[/quote]

My advice, based on what you suggest - and your swing speed, is that you would fall into the range between regular and stiff. I am being diplomatic - you probably don't need a stiff shaft at all. For instance, Mizuno optimizer doesn't recommend stiff until you reach about 90 mph [i][b]with a 6 iron[/b][/i]! Of course, it all depends upon your transition, etc. However, the way you describe it, there is no benefit to the stiffer shaft. The ball flies shorter, and more offline with the stiff shaft, if I am reading your comment correctly. I would suggest that you are swinging better with the regular shaft because you can load it. Feeling it load is not a bad thing, but a good thing. It helps your brain develop tempo. When the shaft is too stiff, you will not feel it, and may have a tendency to rush down, which reduces club speed, distance and causes off line shots. Think SMOOTH. Then, as I mention, remove the shaft bands and tell the guys to pay up. That is, after you win all their money.
[/quote]

Great answer. Thanks for the time you put into that response!

I really wanted to be reassured that the loading I feel will be beneficial and your response has brought that confidence.

Will I feel the "load" at all with soft stepped KBS tour stiffs? I definitely don't feel it as much, if at all, with the Project X 6.0s that came stock with my second set of irons.

[dbogeyguy75]

Possibly, but the stepping only has the effect of softening or hardening the tip, if I am correct. If someone has a better explanation, please offer it. The overall flex profile would still be stiffer. I say try a few options and then trust your eyes and hands and go with what works.

[marshvegas]

I just switched to regular flex. I'm a true inbetween-er but I'm not going to gain any more clubhead speed so I figured why not!

Regular flex feels softer and easier to load for me. When compared to stiff flex in the same head, numbers were identical so why not go with what feels better.

[avrag]

[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367512839' post='6958245']

Mizuno optimizer doesn't recommend stiff until you reach about 90 mph [i][b]with a 6 iron[/b][/i]!

[/quote]

Sorry, but this is not true.
The MIzuno shaft optimiser uses not only swng speed, but other parameters as well. Somebody who has numbers like 83 7 7 6 3 will be fitted into a stiff shaft every time. Maybe a lightweight shaft, or with an earlier release (last number) a tip soft shaft. But it is simply not true that S-Flex depends on a clubhead speed of more than 90 mph.

[HackerD]

With irons you also want to think about which flex gives more consistent distances not just more distance.

[dbogeyguy75]

[quote name='avrag' timestamp='1367660306' post='6968644']
[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367512839' post='6958245']

Mizuno optimizer doesn't recommend stiff until you reach about 90 mph [i][b]with a 6 iron[/b][/i]!

[/quote]

Sorry, but this is not true.
The MIzuno shaft optimiser uses not only swng speed, but other parameters as well. Somebody who has numbers like 83 7 7 6 3 will be fitted into a stiff shaft every time. Maybe a lightweight shaft, or with an earlier release (last number) a tip soft shaft. But it is simply not true that S-Flex depends on a clubhead speed of more than 90 mph.
[/quote]

Thanks. You are probably correct, but I was referring to the mizuno software graphic at the end of my fitting that indicated swing speed range. I must have misinterpreted my results for general results.

Thanks

[bennyblanco]

I'm a firm believer in going for softer iron shafts and stiffer wood shafts. Torque is so low in steel that unless you are an extremely high ss player or have a explosive transition from the top, most should be able to control a regular or firm flex iron shaft without issue.

Aside from numbers, the most important thing is "are you acheiving the feel, ballflight, and distance/dispersion you'd want?" When you describe your experience with your friend's shafts, it sounds like a YES.

[jontyrees]

I once read somewhere you should be swinging the least stiff shaft you can control. With a driver SS of around 90mph, even if there are other factors, I'd be amazed if you aren't much happier with a Reg shaft, not S and certainly not X. I was using too stiff shafts, and developed nasty golfers elbow in both arms, so I got more flex. Don't make it so hard on yourself! The ball will go further, you won't have to swing so hard, you'll relax - all good results.

[gvogel]

The good news: you are thinking about going to a softer shaft in your irons.

Your swing speed - high 80's, low 90's, would indicate something less than stiff in the irons. Lots of lady professional players, with more swing speed than low 90's, play the Nippon 950 GH iron shafts in Regular flex.

My swing speed is pretty close. I can play the Titleist Nippon 105T shaft in stiff - but that shaft plays like a "firm", not a stiff. In Dynalite Gold XP, I am definitely a R300. IN PXi, I am currently trying to decide whether to play 5.0 or 5.5. Or something in between.

One of the advantages of playing a softer shaft in your irons is that you don't have to swing flat out all the time. Playing a shot with a 3/4 swing makes a lot of sense for a lot of sitiuations.

[Pack7483]

I second the going a flex down. I went from s300 to the new PX 95 5.5 in my xhot pros and love them. I missed left for a few rounds at first, but now I can make a smooth swing and focus on nothing but releasing towards the target. I can get the same distance out of my 7 iron with a 3/4 swing as I could going all out with s300. My irons worked so well I traded in my xhp hybrid and woods with 6.0 for 5.5s. I have lost no dispersion, and gained feel and better work ability. Now this isn't for tour speed swingers, but I have an 86 mph 6 iron swing and regular works fine for me. My buddies don't say a word when they are over swinging a 6 iron with stiff to reach par 3s I can attack with a 7 iron. I do play stiff in driver still.

[BlkNGld]

[quote name='JT41L5d3' timestamp='1367509883' post='6957927']
My driver SS was ranging from about 88-93 a few weeks ago.
[/quote]

I'm 95-98. When I got on the Mizuno optimizer, they recommended stiff in their stock Dynalites, regular in KBS, PX, etc. Same with Ping - CFS stiff, regular in the others.

I'm basically a tweener, where I can play stiff in shafts that play soft (usually stock ones) but tend toward regular in many of the aftermarket ones.

When I have a shaft that's too stiff I find myself overswinging to try to load it. Bad things happen.

Is there anything besides ego that makes you think you need to stay in a stiff flex?

[golfer75]

[quote name='avrag' timestamp='1367660306' post='6968644']
[quote name='dbogeyguy75' timestamp='1367512839' post='6958245']
Mizuno optimizer doesn't recommend stiff until you reach about 90 mph [i][b]with a 6 iron[/b][/i]!

[/quote]

Sorry, but this is not true.
The MIzuno shaft optimiser uses not only swng speed, but other parameters as well. Somebody who has numbers like 83 7 7 6 3 will be fitted into a stiff shaft every time. Maybe a lightweight shaft, or with an earlier release (last number) a tip soft shaft. But it is simply not true that S-Flex depends on a clubhead speed of more than 90 mph.
[/quote]+1

[trhode]

[quote name='Ri_Redneck' timestamp='1367432687' post='6952221']
I would compare the bend profiles on the Dynalites and the KBS before committing. One R is another OEMs S.

BT
[/quote]

+1

[12tamale]

I'm a fanboy of the dynalite gold shafts, had a couple sets of mx 23 with them in regular flex, still have a Maxfli tour ltd combo set with them, and there spectacular.
Thought about hard stepping a set in some ap2 I have. Such a sweet shaft. The only shaft I like as well is a rifle 5.5.

[tntgolf]

[quote name='Ri_Redneck' timestamp='1367432687' post='6952221']
I would compare the bend profiles on the Dynalites and the KBS before committing. One R is another OEMs S.

BT
[/quote]

BT is right. The Dynalites and the KBS shafts have a very different bend profile the Dynalites are designed for a higher ball flight. They are also much lighter weight shafts. Shaft weight can be more important than flex. The weight of the shaft is the main contributing factor of the total weight of the club.