DGA3

Great article. Thanks!

Good point that I found to be true. I used the Winn Excels all season and, while they are great at absorbing shock, they do wear out quickly (you should see my driver grip!). I am going to have my clubs regripped before this season, and will probably go with either the Winn Driver Tac (standard or wrap) or the Golf Pride CP2 (wrap or pro).

Not selected again. Oh well. It's kind of the feeling I get every year when the Masters tells me I didn't win the ticket lottery.

I looked him up. Very qualified and an award-winner! He's about an hour away, which wouldn't be too bad, especially since golf season does not start around here until the Spring. I'd have plenty of time to meet with him and get the proper graphite shafts for my Pings.

I see. The Recoil 65's have taper tips. They would work with my G425's. Got it. Nice suggestion!

So - with a request from UST - I could get the 760's with a taper tip that would fir my G425's. Thanks.

My current choices would be Golf Galaxy or the PGA Superstore. I'm guessing that they have some experienced fitters and some hacks. How does one go about finding a reputable fitter? I am in central Ohio.

How do I go about that? I know that Ping offers the Alta CB Slate as the stock graphite shaft with the 425's. Are there other choices? If so, what are they?

This is great information - some of it above my head! Are you saying that due to size differences in the hosel diameter of my Ping irons, I cannot have the Recoil 760 ES Smacwrap shafts installed? Or are you saying that they can be installed, but in a way that is different than the tip trimming that is recommended by UST? I also understand that shafts are tapered, but if some are parallel, does that mean they are the same diameter for a certain length down on the tip end (as opposed to getting smaller/tapering)? Layman's terms please, and have patience with me. I am a fast learner.

Thanks. I am currently learning all that I can about graphite shafts, and am seriously considering swapping out my current steel shafts for graphite. It would be nice to play pain free and not have to worry about re-injuring my tennis elbow again (lateral epicondylitis).

I mean, I know that it means cutting a portion of the shaft off of the tip end, and the result is stiffer shaft (the more you cut off). Because of tennis elbow in my left arm, I am considering switching the steel shafts on my Ping G425 irons to graphite. After lots of research, the UST Recoil 760 Smacwrap seems to be a good choice for my ever-slowing (with age) swing speed and tender elbow. According to the UST website, the tip trimming for my irons would range from 1.5" on the 5-iron, to 4" on my pitching wedge. 4"??? That seems like a lot. Wouldn't it make the shaft in my PW much, much stiffer than the one in my 5-iron? Any information you could pass my way would be greatly appreciated!

Another vote for graphite shafts. Thanks!

That is very encouraging, especially the fact that you hit off of mats, which I was going to try and avoid (if possible) this year. I used a cheaper brace last year (something my wife had once), and I think it helped. I just ordered a more expensive one that my Ortho doc recommended. Maybe - if I switch to graphite - I won't even need it! BTW - what graphite shafts did you go with, and why/how did you choose them?

I am recovering from tennis elbow (left arm) and - after some research - have learned that graphite shafts do a great job of absorbing the shock of club/ball contact. Unfortunately, my Ping G435 irons have steel shafts. One choice for me would be to pay to have them all switched over to graphite. I am considering that. Another more affordable solution would be have some shock-absorbing grips installed in place of the Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvets that came with these irons. My question is: what grips are the most shock absorbing? Brands names and models would be very helpful! I will then check them out at Golf Galaxy and the PGA Superstore. Thanks in advance for your help.

That may have been the cause of my second bout with lateral epicondylitis. After the first time, I did all the rehab and strengthened my tendons in the elbow area with a squeeze-grip device and the green Theraband Flexbar. I worked my way back into golf slowly, to the point where I was playing about 3 times a week. I also started wearing a forearm brace, because I read all about how it "takes the pressure off of the tendons at the attachment point," and therefore helps prevent tennis elbow. As the weeks wore on, I continued to use the brace, and - thinking that more is better - started tightening even more and more . . . as tight as physically possible! Of course, after a golf shot, I would loosen it or even take it off if I were chipping or putting, but for every shot: extremely tight. Then - without warning - after about a month and a half of playing injury-free golf (I even joked that I was just wearing the brace as a "security blanket"), when I made contact with the ball on the first tee of a round . . . SNAP! It felt like a guitar string had broken, and the injury was back. That, despite my thinking that I was protected from any damage because I had the strap on so tight that it was probably cutting off my circulation. RollingGreens - I think your warning to not over-tighten the brace is valid, and that my doing so contributed to me re-injuring my elbow. Thanks for the additional information on the subject and the links you provided.