Was told my swing speed was too high for graphite shafted clubs?

[xlayedoutx]

Got into golf back in 97 and played a few years with a used set of no name clubs I bought for $40 . In 2002 I picked up a set of Callaway Hawkeye VFT's for $1200. When getting fitted the store at the time told me I needed Graphite shafts. Clubs came in and I instantly dropped about 10 strokes off my game. I gave up golf for awhile and just recently decided to get back into it. Talking to one of the pros at the pro shop the other day he asked why I was playing with graphite shafts. I told him while getting fitted thats what I was told I needed. He explained to me that graphite shafts were normally for players with slower swing speeds and had me hit a couple balls with a Diablo Edge steel shafted Iron. The Diablo felt great and I hit it really well while at the same time being told I had a very fast swing speed and should consider having my clubs reshafted with iron shafts. I asked him why the other store sold me graphite shafted clubs if I didn't need them and he said to be honest probably "because they are more expensive and you didn't know any better". He said I probably paid about $400 too much for them.

Being somewhat knew to the game still I was wondering if this was true or if this was just a sales tactic. Granted he didn't try to sell me anything just said I should think about it. At the same time he never told me my swing speed other then it was very fast.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by xlayedoutx

Being somewhat knew to the game still I was wondering if this was true or if this was just a sales tactic. Granted he didn't try to sell me anything just said I should think about it. At the same time he never told me my swing speed other then it was very fast.

Well, first, there isn't a such thing as too fast for graphite.  Matt Kuchar, who was last year's leading money winner on the PGA Tour and is one of the most consistent players this year, plays a semi-graphite shaft in his clubs.  Without seeing your swing (or any numbers), I'm going to guess that you don't swing faster than he does.  And I'm pretty sure that the LDA guys have graphite in their drivers.

Second, graphite sells for more, so it may or may not have been a sales pitch.  Maybe you were swinging slower then for whatever reason.  Maybe your previous cheap set had very whippy shafts, and you (consciously or not) slowed your swing to make the shafts work for you.

My suggestion (and I say this so often on this type of threads that I must sound like a broken mp3) : see if your shop has Mizuno's shaft optimizer.  Ask if you can have a few swings with it.  It will tell your 6-iron swing speed (and, with a few other readings, will suggest various shafts for you).  That's a big starting point.  If your 6-iron swing speed is, say, 100 mph, then they probably don't make graphite iron shafts that will work for you.  However, very few (if any) people have a 6-iron swing speed that high.

[xlayedoutx]

Think you for the reply. I went in today and had my swing speed looked at by another store. They gave me a diablo 6 iron to hit since thats what I'll be playing with. Results came back at 86mph.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by xlayedoutx

Think you for the reply. I went in today and had my swing speed looked at by another store. They gave me a diablo 6 iron to hit since thats what I'll be playing with. Results came back at 86mph.

Nice choice in iron.  Are you going Diablo Edge or Diablo Forged?

Also, 86 mph... nice.  While there are still graphite iron shafts you can hit, you'll be just fine with steel.  You might have the "I want more distance" bug that infects all of us, but your distance will be the envy of much of your group.

[xlayedoutx]

Just the standard Diablo's. Killer deal on Ebay. Yeah I'm sure some days I'll want more distance but I'm pretty happy with what I've been able to hit.

[Shindig]

Originally Posted by xlayedoutx

Just the standard Diablo's. Killer deal on Ebay. Yeah I'm sure some days I'll want more distance but I'm pretty happy with what I've been able to hit.

What did you end up with, shaft-wise?

[xlayedoutx]

Stock shafts for now.