When is it time for graphite iron shafts?

[Middler]

I’m 66 and still playing stiff shafts, my swing speed is low/mid 90’s with driver and low/mid 80’s with mid irons - so kinda between stiff and regular from what I’m told. But I’m starting to feel it in my wrists and elbows, its hard for me to play two days in a row any more, without a recovery day. Of course with no grass, I’m hitting from very tight lies and mud a lot in winter - that can’t help with my old joints. [I can’t wait to hit off grass again] 

Would graphite iron shafts make a night and day difference? I wouldn’t want to make a change for a subtle improvement. Thought I’d ask people who’ve made the transition already...

[cnosil]

I switched to graphite the end of last year due to pain in my fingers and some golfers elbow. I knew graphite shafts were getting better based on seeing and trying the shafts that MGS Harry and Phillip have in their irons. I’d say I have less than a dozen or so rounds with the clubs and the pains are better and I have seen no loss in performance.

Although they are more costly I think graphite iron shaft can be better performers than steel and they are available in all weight categories

[RickyBobby_PR]

There’s really no right or wrong time to switch. There are young kids playing graphite these days. But going to them sooner than later will benefit your joints.

Due to the technology available today each of the brands offering graphite have lots of options to make them perform as good or better than steel and they can manipulate the profile a lot more so that even lightweight shafts can be stable and if need be even stiffer than steel.

Many times they will swingweight out the same or even slightly heavier.

I switched to graphite in 2016 for a season then again last year in a set. I may end up at some point reshafting my pxg to graphite 

[russtopherb]

Switched to graphite maybe 4 years ago and immediately noticed a difference. Went back to steel for a bit and then tennis elbow hit, and it hit HARD. Right back to graphite again and I really don't see myself switching back to steel save for a few exceptions. 

[edingc]

I am in my early 30s and switched to graphite this offseason. Thanks to our wonderful Michigan winters, I hit off mats at the heated range from November to March. Last winter I dealt with a lot of pain in my right shoulder, and this winter my elbows and wrists started to ache after range sessions before I made the switch.

I don't miss my steel shafts at all. I picked up a few more MPH in club speed, my wrists and elbows don't ache after a range session, and (in my case) the Mitsubishi MMTs look really sharp in the bag. Anecdotally, my dispersion seems to have improved some as well.

There are a ton of graphite options out there now, in various weights, prices and bend profiles. As @cnosil said, price can be a detractor, but I felt like the reduced pain was well worth it. The MMTs set me back $750 to do 4-AW and both numbered wedges, but they are worth every penny I paid for them. I enjoy the profile so much that I've put the MMT hybrid shaft in both of my hybrids and built a Cobra driving iron with the MMT Utility shaft.

[dlow206]

I am planning to make the switch for the next set of irons i purchase when i have a chance to get fitted. Hopefully that will not be for a while, i dont need to purchase another set of irons.

The one thing I will miss is from a club building perspective, just have to be more careful with graphite shafts. Can't just heat it super hot with a torch and twist the heads off. 

[fixyurdivot]

I know absolutely nothing about this subject and question you ask... but will provide some real time feedback soon .  PM sent

[ACA_619]

made the switch at end of 2019 back to steel from catalyst 100g to PX IO 6.0 110g and just got fit back into graphite again last week. Going MMT 95s. Body just feels better after round of golf with the graphite in the bag as well I personally dont feel like I have to swing harder to get the type of launch and window I prefer. Good luck with the switch but I have a feeling you might just enjoy your time on the course a little more once you switch.

[revkev]

@Middler, you and I are similar in age and have very similar driver SS.  Of course there are tons of other variables but I've been in graphite in my irons for at least 10 years.  A lot of shots hit off of frozen turf up North has left me with a bad back and arthritic fingers, although there are ways to mitigate some of the sting of steal the graphite is much easier on the body.  

 

I remember going to a driver fitting at the Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass.  My fitter had fit tons of big time players, Garcia, Furyk, Vijay, guys like that, his prediction then was that about 30 percent of the guys on tour would be gaming graphite in their irons in a decade - that was a little more than 10 years ago - I don't know that his prediction came true but there are certainly enough young tour players gaming graphite that you can see where it's doable for anyone.

 

Good luck

[Thin2win]

IMHO the only reasons not to switch are cost and stigma.

Graphite is a superior technology, for all ages, for all swing speeds. If you trust a graphite shaft in your driver with higher swing speed and more load, why wouldn't you trust one in your 7i?

But cost and stigma are real, even on tour where cost isn't an issue the stigma keeps them out of bags. But from a performance stand point, I don't know of any argument to play steel over graphite. 

Also +1 to joint pain relief. 

[JDHolmes]

I've used thrm in the pastbehen i got pain from hitting off mats. They helped a lot. I also built a set of irons this winter on some aftermarket heads I had. They wete forged so I had them bent to my specs (3 degrees upright), tipped the tegular shafts .75 inches and added 1 inch to the clubs.

They were so perfect, I had my regular irons rebent to the same. Very satisfied with both. I alternate the sets with no loss of performance.

Handicap down more than a stroke in 2 months and highest score has been 84 (I'm 11.7 cap).

Sent from my SM-G950U using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[Middler]

I very much appreciate the insights I’ve gotten here, thank you all. Now how to proceed, first I have to convince the warden I really need this...

[RickyBobby_PR]

4 hours ago, Thin2win said:

But cost and stigma are real, even on tour where cost isn't an issue the stigma keeps them out of bags.

I don’t think it’s stigma on tour. When it comes to iron play these guys have homes their game with a certain shaft and head style. They have windows they want the ball to be in and the know how far they hit club with different swings and speeds. To switch to graphite it would change their feels and for some there will be some impact to the windows.  Some won’t even switch to new iron models or wedge models and just get new heads of their current because they want to keep everything as is. Tommy fleetwood was buying Nike clubs to have backup sets
 

Kuchar tried graphite then went back to steel. Snedeker is still using graphite.

15 minutes ago, Middler said:

I very much appreciate the insights I’ve gotten here, thank you all. Now how to proceed, first I have to convince the warden I really need this...

Are you looking to reshaft your current set or to buy new with graphite in them?

 

[fixyurdivot]

1 hour ago, Middler said:

I very much appreciate the insights I’ve gotten here, thank you all. Now how to proceed, first I have to convince the warden I really need this...

Just tell her that if you don't, you'll be home more often nursing aches and pains, and being more of a nuisance than usual... worked for me... your welcome.

[Shapotomous]

I guess I am the outlier for the steel to graphite switch.  I went from steel to graphite when i upgraded to new iron heads many years ago and developed extreme elbow pain, so bad I couldn't take a divot without lingering pain.  It killed my game, I tried changing to being a sweeper because I'd be flinching at impact waiting for the shot of pain.  It didn't work and I pretty much quit playing for a couple years only going out for scramble fund raisers.  Even with the layoff I'd still have the pain if i took a divot.  For some reason I got out the old set one time with steel shafts and had zero pain when taking divots.  I changed out the graphites for steel with sensi core in those same iron heads and never had a problem since.  I hit a lot of mat shots and still no pain in the elbow. 

[mr.hicksta]

What a timely topic . I recently switched to PX LS 6.0s in my irons and have TI S400s in my wedges, but I'm considering switching to graphite eventually. With so many graphite iron shaft options I think there's something for everyone, and to echo many others I think the 'right' time to switch is when you're ready to make the move! I'm most intrigued by MCA MMTs and the ACCRA iSeries. It'll be interesting to see if PX gets into the graphite iron shaft game as well!

[Middler]

8 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

IAre you looking to reshaft your current set or to buy new with graphite in them?

I’m happy with my Miz heads so I’ll check into reshafting vs new irons/shafts. What I do will depend on what the difference in cost is...

7 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Just tell her that if you don't, you'll be home more often nursing aches and pains, and being more of a nuisance than usual... worked for me... your welcome.

That’s the plan. In all fairness she’s more than understanding, and it’ll probably cost me a paddleboard for her...

[RickyBobby_PR]

5 minutes ago, Middler said:

I’m happy with my Miz heads so I’ll check into reshafting vs new irons/shafts. What I do will depend on what the difference in cost is...

That’s the plan. In all fairness she’s more than understanding, and it’ll probably cost me a paddleboard for her...

When I had 4-p and 3 wedges reshafted it cost me about $250 and I provided the grips so another $100 for those. That included pulling the shafts from the irons.
 

The cost of the shafts will vary depending on which brand you go with. Recoils are $40/shaft iirc from golfworks. Steelfiber is about the same. The mmt ones run higher. 

[mr.hicksta]

11 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

When I had 4-p and 3 wedges reshafted it cost me about $250 and I provided the grips so another $100 for those. That included pulling the shafts from the irons.
 

The cost of the shafts will vary depending on which brand you go with. Recoils are $40/shaft iirc from golfworks. Steelfiber is about the same. The mmt ones run higher. 

The MMT offerings are interesting, particularly the wedges. Only one S option and two TX? Weird. And then the jump from 113 to 125 in S on the MMT Tapers. Just seems odd. 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, mr.hicksta said:

 It'll be interesting to see if PX gets into the graphite iron shaft game as well!

Project X is in the game.  They have 2 graphite shafts;  the Catalyst is the line offering the heavier weights. 

42 minutes ago, mr.hicksta said:

The MMT offerings are interesting, particularly the wedges. Only one S option and two TX? Weird. And then the jump from 113 to 125 in S on the MMT Tapers. Just seems odd. 

I haven't dived down into their offerings but had an opportunity to hit the MMT shafts and they are really good.

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, mr.hicksta said:

The MMT offerings are interesting, particularly the wedges. Only one S option and two TX? Weird. And then the jump from 113 to 125 in S on the MMT Tapers. Just seems odd. 

Yeah they mmt are an intriguing option and how they designate flex and their weights have me puzzled on what I would consider going with if I went blind buy. You know I’m kinda partial to UST recoils which is what I have in my miuras so will always be hard to move away from them but I do see a run of some kind with mmt. Will be something I look at testing during demo days this year

[edingc]

1 hour ago, mr.hicksta said:

The MMT offerings are interesting, particularly the wedges. Only one S option and two TX? Weird. And then the jump from 113 to 125 in S on the MMT Tapers. Just seems odd. 

I would say the TX is just a designation, they are probably similar to an X in other shafts. My opinion, of course.

I chose the 105 TX based on being fit for 110-115 gram shafts in the past. Seems to be working out OK so far.

[mr.hicksta]

5 hours ago, cnosil said:

Project X is in the game.  They have 2 graphite shafts;  the Catalyst is the line offering the heavier weights. 

I haven't dived down into their offerings but had an opportunity to hit the MMT shafts and they are really good.

Ahh right, totally overlooked Catalyst! Just took a gander and I think something a little heavier would suit me.

5 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Yeah they mmt are an intriguing option and how they designate flex and their weights have me puzzled on what I would consider going with if I went blind buy. You know I’m kinda partial to UST recoils which is what I have in my miuras so will always be hard to move away from them but I do see a run of some kind with mmt. Will be something I look at testing during demo days this year

So chatting with my guy who builds a lot of my stuff, he just suggested putting the 125 S PW shaft in all the wedges, which makes sense to me. But the spec sheets are really laid out in a strange fashion!

4 hours ago, edingc said:

I would say the TX is just a designation, they are probably similar to an X in other shafts. My opinion, of course.

I chose the 105 TX based on being fit for 110-115 gram shafts in the past. Seems to be working out OK so far.

Interesting. My PX LS 6.0s are 120g and the TI S400s are 132g so I’d be splitting the difference at 124g. 
 

Ultimately if it’s easier on the joints and performs the same I’ll be a happy golfer!

[dalejbrass]

I was fitted into a set of Accra graphite iron shafts in December and I’m 50 and still swing my driver at 115 mph. I switched because I hit a lot of range balls and was starting to get joint pain in my shoulder, arms and hands (mainly fingers). We hit off the mats a lot at my club (don’t ask me, they can’t seem to keep grass alive on the range).

If you are properly fit into them.....I don’t think you’ll regret it. Today’s graphite shafts are way better and different than they were 10-20 years ago. Just take a look at the LPGA tour (probably the closest comparison to male amateur golfers in terms of swing speeds, etc)....there’s a LOT of ladies playing graphite iron shafts. They wouldn’t be playing them if steel was “always” better.

I love mine.....my dispersion and distance (meaning I hit them the actual yardage intended more often) have improved. Can’t beat the feeling when you flush one!

 

[HardcoreLooper]

I was fitted into Recoils for my Wilson D7 Forged irons and I love them.  Another vote for graphite here.  They're much easier on my back and left wrist.  I only wish I'd changed sooner.

[Golfspy_CG2]

Graphite MMT 70 in Gen4 XP’s

ooops, wrong thread..kinda

[SlowNLow]

13 hours ago, Middler said:

I very much appreciate the insights I’ve gotten here, thank you all. Now how to proceed, first I have to convince the warden I really need this...

Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?  

Re-shafted a 3 iron with graphite once, got it used off ebay, could definitely swing it faster it was like 85 grams.   A used set of graphite shafts might be easier to get approval for.

Edited March 11, 2021 by SlowNLow

[Middler]

In all fairness I talked with the warden last night and she went silent for a few seconds (uh-oh) and then said “you play 3 times a week, if you need them you should get them.” I’m still pretty sure she’ll be looking at paddleboards in a few days knowing I can’t say anything, but all’s fair...

Funny coincidence, yesterday I played with a guy who had PXG 0311XP’s with MMT 60 iron shafts (full set, new bag, new Odyssey putter, etc.). He didn’t know it, I had to show him he had MMT’s (he’s a guy with with more money than knowledge), but he really liked them. I asked him about joint pain and he said they we great. At any rate I don’t doubt graphite could reduce pain and extend my “playing career.”

[MattF]

10 hours ago, mr.hicksta said:

Ahh right, totally overlooked Catalyst! Just took a gander and I think something a little heavier would suit me.

I love the 80's I got in the Wilsons, more than the Recoils I had in the Bridgestones.

[cnosil]

Graphite MMT 70 in Gen4 XP’s
ooops, wrong thread..kinda

I’ve been hitting the gen 4s with steel fiber; guess those are available this year and it is a great feeling combo.