Do shafts go "dead"?

[GolfBear]

I had a very weird experience yesterday while playing the course at Saratoga Spa State Park. I was hitting the ball pretty well (shot a 76) but was getting really bizarre distance variations with some of my clubs. Most notably, my 8 iron was producing variations of as much as 30 yards. One one swing it's going 130 and on the next it's going 160. The lie and contact appeared to be virtually identical and I believe the swing speed was pretty close. I've notices some other variations this year but I thought they were an anomaly, now I'm not so sure.

I've had these irons for almost 11 years but the shafts are probably closer to 15 years old. They're stiff Rifles that I had in my old Nicklaus irons and I just pulled them and re-shafted when I moved over to my KZG CB's.

[sean_miller]

I had a very weird experience yesterday while playing the course at Saratoga Spa State Park. I was hitting the ball pretty well (shot a 76) but was getting really bizarre distance variations with some of my clubs. Most notably, my 8 iron was producing variations of as much as 30 yards. One one swing it's going 130 and on the next it's going 160. The lie and contact appeared to be virtually identical and I believe the swing speed was pretty close. I've notices some other variations this year but I thought they were an anomaly, now I'm not so sure.

Was it just the 8-iron? I had a round a week ago with similar 8-iron phenomena. On a 162 yard par 8 I hit one "pure" that came up short into the creek. Then I hit another from the tee that was a similar strike, but went 20 paces long - into the trees. It only happened on one hole, so I chalked it up to playing blades or that perhaps that hole is built on a hellmouth.

Anyway, my irons are ~ 20 years old with original shafts, so maybe there's something more to it than an erratic swing?!?!?

[DavidFehertysBike]

Its possible, i guess. But ive never heard about shaft degradation before. Players don't usually keep a particular club (or clubs) long enough to find out.

[colin007]

i love that course. great place, good score!

[Tiger Spuds]

From about.com, so I'm not sure how reliable this is..

Question: Can Long-Term Use Affect the Flex, or Other Characteristics, of My Shafts? Answer: Repeated, long-term use of a golf shaft does not affect its playing characteristics, so long as the shaft is not damaged (i.e., no kinking or pitting/rusting of steel shafts, and no chipping or delaminating of graphite shafts). The idea that an undamaged shaft will "wear out" or suffer from "fatigue" to the point that it no longer performs the same after long-term use is a myth.

I guess to be really certain you'd have to ask an experienced clubmaker.

[Zeph]

As long as you got the human factor in all of this, I guess there is no way to tell for sure. Doesn't take a lot of miss from the sweetspot before you drop a lot of distance though.

[bigoak]

Pros and top amateurs have worn out iron heads. They kept the shafts and had them installed in the new iron heads. Unless you had Aluminum shafts, it is unlikely they punked out.

[saevel25]

Shafts can go, i know two guys who have broken shafts in the grip end of the club, just snapped or bent ;b, think about that grip pressure man.

Shafts can go, my ping eye 2's shafts were a bit rusty on the inside, that is damage.

[GolfBear]

i love that course. great place, good score!

I love the course and the the new pace of play program is fantastic. We finished 18 in 4.5 hours, last time I played there it took 6!

I was a bit dissappointed with the conditions though. The greens were solid but the tee boxes were a disgrace. I don't mind the divots but the weeds everywhere was just lack of effort on the crew. As to my OP, it may in fact just have been personal variances. Either that or I'm trying to convince myself that I really need those new AP2's, S57's or S2's!

[colin007]

yeah, the conditions leave a lot to be desired, but the layout is awesome.

what is the new pace of play program? i have never played during track season.

[MikeLowry5]

I had this problem yesterday with my driver. I was hitting it better than ever and it was 50 yards short on 2 holes from where I would normally be with a good drive. Then it happened with an iron. I looked up and the trees were blowing at the very tops, however it was not windy on the ground.

[ronaldkuntoro]

Is it the shaft or your swing that went inconsistent?

[GolfBear]

yeah, the conditions leave a lot to be desired, but the layout is awesome.

It's a new program that strives to make the rounds 4.5 hours. The rangers are everywhere and they do a great job keeping everyone moving. If you fall too far behind they'll ask you to pick up the pace, use a more forward tee or they may ask you to skip to the next hole. Considering that it used to take 6 hours to play a round there its a welcome change! ESPECIALLY during track season :)