Steel v. Graphite

**Fat Slice** · November 30, 2008

For irons I am thinking of going to a (stiff) graphite shaft. I want to do this so it will be easier to carry a bag around. Apart from weight, will there be any meaningful differences going to graphite? Is stiff = stiff?

**st0wgolf08** · November 30, 2008

For irons I am thinking of going to a (stiff) graphite shaft. I want to do this so it will be easier to carry a bag around. Apart from weight, will there be any meaningful differences going to graphite? Is stiff = stiff?

What? You mean your just switching so your bag is lighter? They have lighter steel shafts, also graphite will only be like 30 grams lighter, so it won't even amount to a pound. Seems like a hassle, consider a new lighter bag instead. I think for the same price you can shave more weight.

**walfice** · November 30, 2008

You won't notice a difference when carrying your bag just by switching to graphite shafts. I changed from graphite to steel this year and there was no noticeable difference. If you want your bag to be lighter make sure you carry only what you need. For example don't carry 20 balls in your bag, ditch the umbrella, waterproofs etc when there's no chance of rain. If you do change to graphite then you may gain a little extra distance but not a great deal.

**Fat Slice** · November 30, 2008

If you get more distance, do you lose accuracy or control?

**walfice** · November 30, 2008

There will be a small sacrifice with control/accuracy but only marginal.

**st0wgolf08** · November 30, 2008

If you get more distance, do you lose accuracy or control?

Idk about control loss, I just know they have less feel, so if your a feel player this could be a problem.

**ks8829** · December 1, 2008

Nippon golf shafts are under 100 grams compared to Dynamic Gold Regular at 127 grams.

http://www.nipponshaft.com/steel_950gh.html

Nippon 950GH regular is at 94.5 grams

**drewdown** · December 1, 2008

How much weight do you expect to save? Graphite irons are for old men and women. No offense to either.

**glebert** · December 1, 2008

I play graphite in my irons to minimize my tendinitis, but am thinking about going to steel in my fairway woods, so I can play them at shorter lengths without adding weight to the head.

**PiKapp23** · December 1, 2008

With the modern graphite shafts, there is not near as much difference in accuracy compared to steel as there was just a few years ago. As long as you get good quality graphite shafts, you probably wouldn't notice much difference accuracy-wise. Graphite shafts are usually as much as an inch longer than steel, so a little more distance will occur due to lighter weight and increased shaft length. Likewise, it's this extra length that will result in the loss of accuracy that might be noticed. A little loss feel and touch are to be expected, but when it comes right down to it it's more about your swing speed and preference in this decision. There are some pros (both regular tour and champions tour, as well as ladies tour) who play graphite and they continue to make money.

With that said, I don't know if I would make that switch unless your swing speed dictates it (and since you're playing Stiff Flex shafts now, I'm guessing this is not the case). True Temper Dynamic Gold SL as well as the aforementioned Nippon shafts are probably quite a bit lighter than your current shafts (especially if you happen to be playing Rifle shafts). TaylorMade just came out with a new shaft in some of their iron sets balled Black Steel with a weight around 90 grams.

**RMD** · December 1, 2008

I play graphite in my irons to minimize my tendinitis, but am thinking about going to steel in my fairway woods, so I can play them at shorter lengths without adding weight to the head.

I'm with glebert. A few years ago I switched from graphite to sttel on my irons. To this day, when I hit the ball well I have no problem. When I hit the ball poorly my elbow is really sore that night. I just got fitted for new irons and stuck with steel.

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Steel v. Graphite

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