Graphite or Steel

[gas_can]

gas_can

Graphite Designs International's YS series are consistently tops in terms of overall wood counts.

These guys could play anything, yet most of them play shafts in the $60-$100 range.

[wachesawgolfer]

Steel shafts will probably be out of irons as they are in drivers at some point in the not too distant future. As more tour players use them, the bias will fade away. The modern graphite like the MFS 115s are exceptional products unlike the old graphite shafts of a few years ago. Cost is still the big factor to broader market growth. MFS 115s are about $70+ a shaft, which is okay for one driver but stings for a full set of irons.

[georgep]

I've hit graphite shafted irons, and they were OK ... a little difficult to adjust to the weight difference. It's definitely a different feel, but I can see why some people like them.

For me, I like the extra weight / lower cost of steel in general over graphite. I haven't seen enough of a benefit yet to spend $50 a club in order to upgrade to a premium graphite iron shaft. I emphasize "yet." I think shaft preference will change like everything else. It might be graphite or it might be a new metal composite. Eventually, we'll laugh that we ever played steel shafted clubs.

And if Tiger puts graphite in his irons next year, there will be a serious backlog at all the service shops!

[670forged]

I just recently installed the Grafalloy Blue (not prolaunch) in my Titleist 670 forged blades and won't go back to steel. Just a 1/2* higher in torque then the DG's I was using. Use to have the Aldila NV multi and they were great shafts too. I am 48 and have hip and elbow problems and now am able to play 36 a day and not hurt anymore. Don't knock graphite until you try a top quality shaft, you just may surprise yourself.

Mike

[aquacooled]

well I really like the feel of steel, the feedback and the weight of irons with steel shafts.. I installed some Aldila NV multi and then had the chance to hit a few balls with them, they were great nice just not what "I" like.. when back neck knee problems start bothering me trust me I will make the change to enjoy the game longer..

[Konrad]

Too bad that all these advances in technology won't help half of the male golfing population because they can't check their ego's at the door.

[oct411]

Steel is still better than graphite in irons and will probably always be true.
Why?
Cause even if you put the most expansive and best performing graphite in irons you still won't get better distance in irons and you don't need to, it's not the purpose of the irons. Unless you are a senior, lady, or kid, graphite might benefit.

You can get better distance with graphite in drivers and woods. Moreover it's unnecessary as irons should not hit as far as woods since that's their purpose.

So distance is not an issue, and steel has lower torque and better control than graphite anyways.

[RickRevue]

Graphite will someday replace steel and here's why I think that is.

With advancements in nano technology, soon we will be able to cutomize graphite shafts in a way that can't be done with steel. Not only will overall flex be much more precise ...and varied, but flex point will be able to be fine tuned based on ball flight requirements. High, mid, low and all flex points in between. Stiffer for accuracy clubs and flexible in just the right way to launch the ball for more distance... much like a pole vaulter is launched.

We do it now with weight ports and drivers. Soon shafts will be able to be chosen to fit our games precisely. It's gonna be fun, as long as you understand your own game.

[oct411]

Graphite will someday replace steel and here's why I think that is.

Yea someday...

It will be a long way trust me and we don't really need it. Again, unless you a senior, lady, or kid. Aldila VS shafts has nanotube tech in it. Retail for about $175 per shaft vs thier NV shaft which is still $99 without nanotube. I don't see any reason for it to cost cheaper to make nanotube shafts in the near future unless they figure a way to manufacture it faster and or cheaper somehow which is unlikely. Just imagine putting $175 shaft in everyone of your irons though rofl... Like I said, a long way and I do just fine with my Ping Eye 2 with 15+ yr old ZZ lite TT shafts on them... 4 iron around 220 yds is pretty good I think, do I need graphite, I don't think so.

[Everardo]

Yea someday...

I don't want to assume that you have or have not read this whole thread but we've already dispelled the only reason you need graphite is because of age and needing distance

Like I said, a long way and I do just fine with my Ping Eye 2 with 15+ yr old ZZ lite TT shafts on them... 4 iron around 220 yds is pretty good I think, do I need graphite, I don't think so.

It's not how far its how many

[670forged]

Yea someday...

I thought you said irons aren't for distance but yet you hit your 4 iron 220???

Also, talking about torque, have you checked out the specs lately in graphite iron shafts? .2 (yes,point 2 degrees differance then Dynamic Gold) is not noticable to 99.999% of golfers. Not to argue but my Grafalloy blue (not pro launch) has 1/2* lower torque then your ZZ Lite shafts. Graphite is not just made for ladies or seniors anymore, they are for everyone. Please let John Daly and Rich Beem know that they are too old to play on tour cause they use graphite. Edit: Just double checked and TT Dynamic Gold steel is 1.7* torque and Aldila NV tour 130 iron shafts are 1.5* Pretty impresive for graphite to be lower then steel without nano tube technology!

[oct411]

I thought you said irons aren't for distance but yet you hit your 4 iron 220???

lol...

I have no idead what the hell you are talking about... I SAID whether or not you use steel shaft or graphite shaft on your irons doesn't matter much in distance. (i.e. even if some new bad ass techno advance graphite shaft was developed for irons you wouldn't want more distance on your irons because each iron is used for a specific distance and steel shafts serves its intented purpose just fine, not like a driver or wood that's used to gain more distance which is perfect for graphite shaft, that's why graphite shafts company started poping up in the 1990's and Pros started to use them in driver and woods.) FYI only recently in 2003 did Tiger Woods switch from steel to graphite shaft on his driver and alot of PGA Pros still play TT or Rifles steel shaft on their woods. The comment I made about using my old set of Ping Eye 2 is to say that the old TT Stiff ZZ-lite steel shafts that are 15+ yrs old are still doing it's intent job just fine, now why would I go with graphite shaft on my irons when clearly there isn't a need for it? In regards to torque and control, the original TT Stiff ZZ-lite steel shafts on my Ping Eye 2s irons are Weight: 115.0g Torque: 1.9, they only hit slightly higher than TT DGS S300. READ: http://community.pinggolf.com/commun...owledge_id=431 And your Grafalloy blue shaft probably on your driver has: 2.8 torque and a weight of only 63g CHECK: http://www.titleist.com/golfclubs/dr...hash=1#pagebot If John Daly and Rich Beem plays graphite shafts on their irons that's great for them, but I have no problems using 15+ yr old steel shaft on my irons, it serves its purpose just fine. It's a matter of choice and I don't see in the near future that graphite shafts are going to replace steel shafts on irons, more over steel shafts are cheaper for everyone and us common folks that pays for their golf clubs. Cheers!

[670forged]

I wasn't talking about my driver or fairway wood shafts, I was talking about the Grafalloy blue's my irons and wedges. Anyway, enjoy your steel and i'll enjoy my graphite. To each his/her own.

[oct411]

I wasn't talking about my driver or fairway wood shafts, I was talking about the Grafalloy blue's my irons and wedges. Anyway, enjoy your steel and i'll enjoy my graphite. To each his/her own.

Agreed, but I still don't know what the hell you are talking about... ROFL!!!

Goto Garfalloy's website and look under iron shafts, there are only: http://www.grafalloy.com/grafalloy/products.asp Prologic 3.8 - 3.0 torque ProLaunch 3.3 torque ProLite 3.3 torque No Blue. I'll stick to my steel shaft and you to your w/e Garfalloy blue crap

[670forged]

No sh1t dumbass, they're not available to the public is why you don't see them on there website. Your're the f--cking loco.

[oct411]

No sh1t dumbass, they're not available to the public is why you don't see them on there website. Your're the f--cking loco.

ROFL!!!

You must be very special to have those aren't you? How far are you hitting with those in your irons? And if you perfer those on your irons what is so great about them as compare to steel shaft like DGS or Rifles? I have no doubt everyone on this forum would love to know the answers. So let us know

[670forged]

ROFL!!!

1-Yes I am special!

2-does it really matter? 3-I like them better! 4-Figure it out for yourself

[oct411]

1-Yes I am special!

Sorry, didn't know you are 48 and have elbow and wrist problems, if I were you I probably get the some thing too...

Just glad I'm still young playing and enjoying this game. Yea I explained earlier that golfers that are healthy and in the age of 18-45 should be using steel shafts in irons, they are cheaper, works just fine and most stock shafts on brand name irons are steel, unless you go to the local Wal-Mart and buy a set that's $199 or less they often have cheap graphite shaft for the whole set ROFL!!! And if you can't swing a golf club more than likely you will break one of these at the hosel within a few outings to the range... I have seen tons of people do that before. Nice graphite shaft ehh? As for the more expensive graphite iron shafts, I don't doubt they work good or as good as DGS or Rifles. As they say, you get what you paid for and that's alot of $$$ for iron shafts. The disadvantage here is cost, again most of us aren't pros that gets sh1t for free and steel is just as good as graphite so why bother? Cheers