Steel or Graphite?

[edingc]

I don't know how many people watch Golfholics on YouTube (while I'm stuck with snow, I live vicariously through everyone on YT), but Mike was fitted at Fujikura for the Pro 95 Tour Stiff shafts. That's what made me go down the route of researching graphite and ultimately my decision to want graphite in my next irons.

As far as I can tell, the Pro 95s and some of the Steelfibers are about the only graphite shafts currently on the market in near steel weights.

EDIT: I add this is anecdotal evidence that graphite is here to stay and will get more popular. Mike hits the ball a long ways and is in his mid 30s. At some point I'm sure we'll see it overtake steel on the lightweight end of the spectrum for a lot of players.

[fixyurdivot]

3 hours ago, 00sportsman said:

I had an elbow surgery several years ago and when I started to play more regularly, I noticed my elbow would start to get sore about 12 holes in.  That was with a set of Ping i20's with stiff steel shafts.  Went to C200's with Aldila Rogue shafts, and don't experience the soreness anymore.  

Your's and others experience with improved ergonomics are something I really hadn't considered much.  I sometimes get a bit of left elbow joint soreness and have considered wearing a pressure band. Now reading that a good many of the Champions Tour players have switched to composite shafts - definitely something to consider in my decision to change irons.

[RickyBobby_PR]

For hybrids I would say there are very few non tour level pros playing steel in them.

i have some recoils on the way to install in another set of irons. I want to get back to playing graphite from a long term health standpoint plus I’m a fan of ust as a brand and want to put as many of their shafts in play.

i look at t like this. You play graphite in your driver and woods why not the irons

[revkev]

23 hours ago, edingc said:

I don't know how many people watch Golfholics on YouTube (while I'm stuck with snow, I live vicariously through everyone on YT), but Mike was fitted at Fujikura for the Pro 95 Tour Stiff shafts. That's what made me go down the route of researching graphite and ultimately my decision to want graphite in my next irons.

As far as I can tell, the Pro 95s and some of the Steelfibers are about the only graphite shafts currently on the market in near steel weights.

EDIT: I add this is anecdotal evidence that graphite is here to stay and will get more popular. Mike hits the ball a long ways and is in his mid 30s. At some point I'm sure we'll see it overtake steel on the lightweight end of the spectrum for a lot of players.

There are several manufacturers that make Graphite shafts in heavier weights and in a broad price range.  We've reached a point where graphite can perform like steel and steel shafts can be quite light, as light as graphite quite frankly.  For me the switch was easy - my body doesn't do well with hitting a lot of shots.  While there are some steel shafts that mitigate against vibration they don't seem to do as good a job of it as the graphite ones - there's not really any difference in performance although I'm sure there's a difference in feel - I don't really care about that aspect as much as I do about feeling less pain in my joints so its graphite for me!

[patrickleeleep]

I recently did my iron fitting and be relatively new to golf and still working on my swing and flexibility, I cant produce a higher swing speed as easy. With my 7 iron I was getting 76-78 mph and decent distance on a few different steel shafts. I tried out some graphite shafts and was around 85-87mph and the dispersion was less as well. The flight was overall better, a little more spin and higher launch which helps me since I'm a bit of a picker that doesnt get it up in the air as well as I would like. 

So in my new irons I will be playing the Recoil 760 w/ smacwrap. 

[fixyurdivot]

On 3/12/2019 at 11:06 AM, patrickleeleep said:

I recently did my iron fitting and be relatively new to golf and still working on my swing and flexibility, I cant produce a higher swing speed as easy. With my 7 iron I was getting 76-78 mph and decent distance on a few different steel shafts. I tried out some graphite shafts and was around 85-87mph and the dispersion was less as well. The flight was overall better, a little more spin and higher launch which helps me since I'm a bit of a picker that doesnt get it up in the air as well as I would like. 

So in my new irons I will be playing the Recoil 760 w/ smacwrap. 

Wow, that is significant difference/improvement.

[fixyurdivot]

Well, thus far, steel is still favored but lots of love out there for composite.  As time rolls by this gap will undoubtedly close.  If choosing a new iron hasn't proven difficult enough (for me at least), have a peek at the shaft selection drop down menus when configuring a club on-line - mind numbing.  A composite shaft option wasn't even offered/discussed at my iron fitting... ohh, the horror of it all .

[patrickleeleep]

14 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Wow, that is significant difference/improvement.

I thought the same thing. I wasnt trying overly heavy shafts or anything either. Some 95, some 105. I do hear a lot about confidence when hitting different combinations. Watching TXG videos you hear it. Maybe that had something to do with it as well. 

[Jmikecpa]

I answered the poll as both as my two utility irons have AD DI graphite in them and I play light weight steel in my irons.  Over the past few years I switched from steel to graphite in my irons and have played Steel Fibers 110 and Recoil 110 both in X flex.  Both of these were great in the heads that I had them in and figured that I would be in graphite for the rest of my life to save my elbow from blowing up.  I ended up with XP 105s in my current set and had sensicore inserts installed and so far so good.  That being said I would go back to graphite tomorrow with no issue at all and honestly feel this will become the norm for irons over the next several years.

On a related not the oTI shafts are the best that I have hit.  Buddy of mine has them in his irons and they were head and shoulders above anything else I have hit in terms of feel and dispersion.

[PMookie]

I tried i95 Steelfiber in some Srixon z545 irons I had, and I liked the feel, but the dispersion wasn’t very good. I bought a couple Recoil shafts in different weights and flexes and tried them in a couple irons, but saw the same thing. I’ve heard great stuff about Program shafts, and other exotic versions, but I’ve not tried them in fittings, and I just didn’t see a dispersion advantage when I did try them on my own.


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[dmarch]

I’ve just started my experiment with graphite.  Replaced my Cobra Fly-Z Plus w/ KBS Tour 120’s with Fly-Z Plus with UST Mamiya Recoil 110 F4.  Only three rounds in, but so far, so good.  I’ve been able to control ball flight as needed and dispersion seems fine.

I had gotten fitted this winter and the fitter suggested Nippon Modus 3 105’s in stiff flex and said he felt the shaft would reduce vibration enough to alleviate my tennis elbow.  I have not bought in to his opinion on this.  If anyone has any input on this, I would love to hear.

 

[fixyurdivot]

Interesting reports from those of you who have tried/switched from steel. My last couple of fittings list the Project X 5.5 as a good match for me. I haven't started looking on-line for this answer, but does anyone know a good database showing comparative options between steel and composite shafts?  

[Jmikecpa]

Interesting reports from those of you who have tried/switched from steel. My last couple of fittings list the Project X 5.5 as a good match for me. I haven't started looking on-line for this answer, but does anyone know a good database showing comparative options between steel and composite shafts?  

This is a basic chart from Callaway for just launch and spin. At least it is a start.




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[RickyBobby_PR]

38 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Interesting reports from those of you who have tried/switched from steel. My last couple of fittings list the Project X 5.5 as a good match for me. I haven't started looking on-line for this answer, but does anyone know a good database showing comparative options between steel and composite shafts?  

Golfworks.com has specs on shafts 

[Bosox04]

How do steel shafts with Pro Soft inserts compare to graphite for shock absorption?

[fixyurdivot]

52 minutes ago, Bosox04 said:

How do steel shafts with Pro Soft inserts compare to graphite for shock absorption?

Yet another permutation... this is going to take WAY longer than I thought. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, Bosox04 said:

How do steel shafts with Pro Soft inserts compare to graphite for shock absorption?

I haven’t tried them but know others who have and they notice a difference in vibration with them in their steel shafts. 

Compared to graphite I don’t thibk the feel of the steel shaft changes it’s just dampening vibrations in contact so I’m guessing the feel between the two materials doesn’t change. Personally I don’t necessarily feel a difference in how the shaft loads and such between steel and graphite

[Jmikecpa]

I haven’t tried them but know others who have and they notice a difference in vibration with them in their steel shafts. 
Compared to graphite I don’t thibk the feel of the steel shaft changes it’s just dampening vibrations in contact so I’m guessing the feel between the two materials doesn’t change. Personally I don’t necessarily feel a difference in how the shaft loads and such between steel and graphite

I play the inserts in my current set and have played them in pretty much every set for the last 8 or so years. No difference in the shaft’s playing characteristics just a bit easier on the hands and elbows. Wouldn’t even consider a steel iron shaft without them.


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[deejaid]

I think the biggest difference for me is the difference in feel when loading the shaft. I had Recoil graphite shafts in my Hogan Ft. Worth Hi irons and while the light weight allowed me to generate more club head speed, my tempo felt off during my swing. I realized I liked the weight of heavier shafts, so I got rid of the Ft. Worth Hi irons stayed with steel in my KZG’s.

One thing to also think about is the kick point of the shaft. For my long backswing, a heavier weight shaft with an active tip section has added yards to my irons while keep my tempo.


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[fixyurdivot]

13 hours ago, deejaid said:

I think the biggest difference for me is the difference in feel when loading the shaft. I had Recoil graphite shafts in my Hogan Ft. Worth Hi irons and while the light weight allowed me to generate more club head speed, my tempo felt off during my swing. I realized I liked the weight of heavier shafts, so I got rid of the Ft. Worth Hi irons stayed with steel in my KZG’s.

One thing to also think about is the kick point of the shaft. For my long backswing, a heavier weight shaft with an active tip section has added yards to my irons while keep my tempo.


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I really need to trial a few irons with composite shafts.  I've hit a couple over the years as friends have acquired them, but never in a focused/comparative review.  How are you liking the KZG irons?  My fitter in Bozeman just added them to his inventory of mfg's.  I plan on testing them later this spring.