What Would You Do: Shaft Selection

[erwintrace08]

Hi Guys,

I went to RD Golf today and tried out the MP57's. Amazing club and I'm decided on the head, but not the shaft.

On driver, I fit the Stiff Shaft with my swing speed. On irons, I'm about 83-90 MPH which is on the threshold of Stiff. The reason I'm swinging slower now is that I'm my 4th day of the Stack and Tilt. As I get used to the swing, I'll be able to swing a quicker with more repetition and confidence.

I'm thinking about the MP57s with a Rifle Project X 5.5's as I love the feel and ball flight.

What I am concerned about is getting Regular Flex irons and then getting used to my new swing and growing out of them quick. If I'm investing in player's irons and my swing is about 50% effort right now (will go up to 75-80%), would you guys get a regular shaft (which can be grown out of quick) or a stiff shaft which is better in the long run?

Thanks,
e

[Dent]

I always fit myself for the future, if you know your swing speed is going to be faster, than it is obvious to choose the shaft that will greater benefit in the long run.

Plus you know your swing is going to be faster, so get the stiff.

[glebert]

I wouldn't buy new irons so soon into a swing change. Are you having problems controlling your G5s?

[erwintrace08]

I wouldn't buy new irons so soon into a swing change. Are you having problems controlling your G5s?

Thanks guys! Actually, I love the G5s, but I'm getting the MP57s at a "great deal" per my friend who owns a Mizuno distribution company in Asia. They said I can't say no, so I wanted to get an iron that is not like my G5s since the G5s are more of a game improvement iron. It would be a waste of money to buy another game improvement iron.

[erikpmort]

too stiff is usually worse than the opposite. thats my experience and my opinion

[The Golfing Polack]

I would go with the project 6.0. That should give you enough stiffness once you come into your full swing. What's your driver swing speed?

[mikelaw]

too stiff is usually worse than the opposite. thats my experience and my opinion

I couldn't disagree with this statement more. I feel the exact opposite in the case of irons. Graphite I agree but with iron shafts, the weaker the shaft the worse off IMO. To me there is nothing worse then an iron shaft that is too weak.

[grantc79]

If you have a shaft that is too stiff you will naturally try to swing harder to adequately flex the shaft which is IMO a bad thing if you are developing your new swing.

If you have a shaft that is too whippy you will naturally try to swing slower as to not overcook the shaft which is IMO a good thing if you are developing a new swing.

IMO, pick the shaft on the shaft that is good for you now and use them now. Or pick the shaft that is good for you a short time from now and don't use them until you are 100% ready for them.

[Dub]

too stiff is usually worse than the opposite. thats my experience and my opinion

I agree completely.

[erwintrace08]

Thanks again guys! OK. Just to toy with the idea. If I got them in Regular DGs and improved significantly, how much in general does it cost and install Project X Shafts? Any ideas or do I just check Golfsmith online?

(Lucky we can all play golf in this economy)- The terminator is proposing a Golf Tax to help the budget because they assume we will play no matter what...

[grantc79]

Thanks again guys! OK. Just to toy with the idea. If I got them in Regular DGs and improved significantly, how much in general does it cost and install Project X Shafts? Any ideas or do I just check Golfsmith online?

Depends really.

To buy the shafts new costs around 240 bucks on Golfsmith or 175 bucks on Ebay. However, you might talk to your local club maker and they might have some pullouts that you could get pretty cheap that would work as long as you don't need a longer length or whatnot.

[erwintrace08]

Thanks Grant! That's 240 for new estimated for the total cost of all irons I assume. Much cheaper of course than driver graphite shafts which can go like $200+ each, right?

[The Golfing Polack]

A weaker flex shaft will give you more distance with less consistency and accuracy. With a too-stiff shaft you will lose some distance but keep a better accuracy. it's up to you to decide which way you'd like to lean. if it was my money and game I would get the stiff to start out with.

[erwintrace08]

A weaker flex shaft will give you more distance with less consistency and accuracy. With a too-stiff shaft you will lose some distance but keep a better accuracy. it's up to you to decide which way you'd like to lean. if it was my money and game I would get the stiff to start out with.

Thanks! What made you choose your MP57s with the DGs rather than the rifles? Ball Flight?

[The Golfing Polack]

I got my 57s with the DGs because they were $250 off and he didn't have the rifles on sale. I was speaking about stiff shafts in general. I should probably be playing X-stiff shafts, and when I start my lessons next week I'll probably end up reshafting. But if I had the option of getting them with any shaft I wanted I would err toward stiffer.

[grantc79]

A weaker flex shaft will give you more distance with less consistency and accuracy. With a too-stiff shaft you will lose some distance but keep a better accuracy. it's up to you to decide which way you'd like to lean. if it was my money and game I would get the stiff to start out with.

I would in general agree but it really just depends here.

It also depends on what type of swing you have and what type of swing you ultimately want to have. If you have a rhythmic transition from your back swing to front swing then I would recommend going a bit weaker. If you have more of a violent transition from back swing to front swing then I would recommend going a big stiffer. Also, if you got one flex too strong then in the end you will lose a little distance and you might be a bit more accurate IF AND ONLY IF you don't try to ramp up your swing speed to flex the shaft. The vast majority of people get a stiffer flex shaft in their hands and immediately they will swing harder to try to flex the shaft more which will ruin your swing. Conversely, most people with a whippier than necessary shaft will tend to slow their swing and their rhythm improves and everything just looks more effortless which is in the end a good thing. The downside here is you won't be quite as accurate but the upside is your swing should become more fluid. At the end of the day its personal preference and everyone wants to play a stiff flex shaft. I personally am 6'5 295, lift a ton of weights, and hit my 11.5 degree driver about 275, carry my 6 iron 165 in the air, and I'm playing slightly stiffer regular flex irons (basically imagine Project X 4.75's). According to the Royal Precision site I should be using 5.5's. I can understand going both ways and it is personal preference, but if you go stiffer than you should go I definitely wouldn't go much stiffer or you will definitely regret it.

[bradpet]

If you have a shaft that is too stiff you will naturally try to swing harder to adequately flex the shaft which is IMO a bad thing if you are developing your new swing.

I agree with much of the above. I'd go with the regular flex shaft. With due respect to all, I think swing speed often has a heavy tinge of macho to it, therefore, I find that many persons naturally exaggerate the 'size' of their swing (if you get the double-meaning). Don't forget, you're only 4 lessons into a new swing. Therefore, (whilst it might be nice to dream) don't automatically assume you'll be swinging at the speed of a plane's propeller in a few months (or even next year). Go with what suits you now. In fact, I have an iron swing speed similar to yours & I've just changed from stiff to regular flex in my irons because I was incorrectly fitted in the first instance.

Hope this helps.

[grantc79]

In fact, I have an iron swing speed similar to yours & I've just changed from stiff to regular flex in my irons because I was incorrectly fitted in the first instance.

Same thing happened to me.

I walked into Edwin Watts when I decided I wanted to learn to play and they looked at me and saw that I could probably swing for the fences like no other and decided I needed a Stiff flex shaft. Then I started seeing a pro and learning to actually swing and realized you get A WHOLE LOT more distance by swinging properly than by swinging forcefully.