Shaft dilemma

[CDG]

So I’ve a set of Mizuno JPX900 hot metal irons 6-PW which were fitted for me with KBS Tour 90 Regular shafts. 
 

I’m 50, 24 handicap and my ball striking ranges from great to not so good - typically erratic. 
 

I bought a matching 5 iron off eBay but it came with a KBS Tour 130 XStiff tapered shaft which so should not be for me but I hit it flush out the middle almost every time and it goes like a rocket!!!!

What should I do? Changing all the shafts of the rest of the clubs is a big risk. 

[Adam C]

Sounds like the 90s may be too light although I don't know that you need to jump all the way into the 130g range. My suggestion would be to reshaft a 7 or 8 iron with either the x or just the s which is 120g more or less. You can just buy a single shaft and install it, the cost and effort would be minimal and then you can decide if you really like the heavier shaft.

[TourSpoon]

21 hours ago, CDG said:

I bought a matching 5 iron off eBay but it came with a KBS Tour 130 XStiff tapered shaft which so should not be for me but I hit it flush out the middle almost every time and it goes like a rocket!!!!

First of all, @Adam C has some sound advice. I would just add to make sure this wasn't a one range session fluke and you consistently hit it that much better before you go investing in shafts. 

For funsies, I would like to have you quantify the "goes like a rocket" statement. Just how far are you hitting it compared to your 6 iron? 

[knott]

Could you temporary use some tape on the shaft to add weight that you later can remove to see if it´s the swing weight?

[Bonvivant]

22 hours ago, CDG said:

So I’ve a set of Mizuno JPX900 hot metal irons 6-PW which were fitted for me with KBS Tour 90 Regular shafts.

How in depth was the fitting? Did you try heavier and stiffer shafts during the fitting? Some places/fitters will just lump you in based on swing speed/age/whatever else.They may go 1 stiffer or heavier but they are unlikely to have you try something like this during the fitting.

 

1 hour ago, knott said:

Could you temporary use some tape on the shaft to add weight that you later can remove to see if it´s the swing weight?

I like this idea, but it doesn't address flex, and it can also be hard to get the swing weight comparable to a different shaft (decent amount of tinkering with lead tape).

On the flex front, you may be Brysonesque. His new stuff has basically been designed to flex as little as possible. This could be making it easier for you (as it probably does for him) to square the face and find the center of it.

[CDG]

On 7/22/2020 at 7:33 PM, Bonvivant said:

On the flex front, you may be Brysonesque. His new stuff has basically been designed to flex as little as possible. This could be making it easier for you (as it probably does for him) to square the face and find the center of it.

I'm not sure I am quite in Bryson's league! But I do have a lot of lag in my swing, so maybe a stiffer shaft helps with that. I may experiment with another iron, but I will also have a chat with my instructor when I see him in a couple of weeks.

On 7/22/2020 at 7:33 PM, Bonvivant said:

How in depth was the fitting? Did you try heavier and stiffer shafts during the fitting? Some places/fitters will just lump you in based on swing speed/age/whatever else.They may go 1 stiffer or heavier but they are unlikely to have you try something like this during the fitting.

 

It was at a American Golf store and they used the Mizuno DNA swing analyser to come up with a range of options, but as I remember it was KBS 90 stepped or tapered it recommend, and I liked the feel of the stepped shaft better. I don't remember it suggesting a heavier shaft.

Curiously I have a Ben Hogan Apex Edge Pro 6 iron in my shed with a 4 (stiff) flex and I seem to hit that pretty well in practice too.

[Adam C]

That Hogan shaft I am pretty sure is in the 125g range so I am thinking you really might like heavier. Here is the one thing I would recommend about weight changes. I would again first recommend reshafting one iron just to have another sample to measure. But beyond that, I would go to the range and hit a bucket of balls with your clubs and then bring out the heavier shafted 5 iron and hit that last. Many golfers can really play into a wide range of weights but the question then becomes will you still be able to handle that weight on the 16th, 17th, 18th hole as you could when you started the round fresh. That would be my biggest warning about jumping 40 grams in weight.