Intentionally slowed swing -- new shafts?

[rustyredcab]

Was fitted for new JPX-800 Pro clubs in June. Mizuno optimizer said SS was 80-84 MPH. XP S300 shafts. I have been really loving hitting the sweet spot and controlling my distances. To that end, I have slowed/control my swing and gained control. I hit my irons much better but shorter. Happy with the results. Ball flight is straight and I like the height. I don't need to hit a PW 140 any more to consider it a good shot. A nice 140 yard 8-iron or a choked up 7-iron are fine with me.

On a lark, I went to Golfsmith and checked out my swing on the optimizer again. My SS was 74 on every single swing -- very consistent. I don't recall the other numbers but they were consistent too. The optimizer suggested a XP R300 or PX 5.0. I have a few questions:

1. Should I consider new shafts? What would/should they do for me if I dropped to a regular flex?

2. Am I likely to increase my swing speed as I get even more confidence with these irons or is intentionally slower speed my new reality? Anyone gone through this?

3. If my current shafts are too stiff for my new SS, what should I be seeing or experiencing?

[mvmac]

First off don't be so sure this is your "new" swing speed. Could be many factors why it was different that day. I'd give it another try and see what the numbers are again. Is there is any way you could take a demo with an R-300 out to hit? Can't hurt to hit some balls comparing the two.

[Mr. Desmond]

First, what iron are you using for these SS?

1. Slower swing and moving to a less firm flex -- you should see higher and longer ball flight - better carries. If shaft is lighter, you may see higher swing speed.

2. If shafts are too stiff - feel may be off (not as smooth feeling), inconsistent flight pattern, lower ball flight.

If your swing gets more technically correct and ball contact, path, etc. are higher quality, you may grow in confidence and swing speed may change a couple of miles per hour.

For example - my old, heavy, 120g shafts in a 6i, were like 68 mph - senior flex - my club fitter put me in a 80g Aerotech Shaft in senior flex - and I went up to 74-75 mph. Over the weekend, I worked on more technical aspects of the swing to simplify and improve contact, and hit with the right arm/hand, and with the heavy shafts, I gained about 2 mph (4-5 yards) and higher (better) ball flight. With the 80g shafts, I might have gained a bit more. So confidence doesn't always mean a lot more SS, it might mean a more efficient and slightly faster swing.

[rustyredcab]

Used the Mizuno DNA optimizer iron which is a 6-iron for swing speeds.

Originally Posted by mvmac

First off don't be so sure this is your "new" swing speed. Could be many factors why it was different that day. I'd give it another try and see what the numbers are again. Is there is any way you could take a demo with an R-300 out to hit? Can't hurt to hit some balls comparing the two.

Thanks for the reply. I understand that SS can change from day to day. My distances getting shorter at the same time my ball striking is getting better, seem to suggest that my "on-the-course" swing is slower than it was.

As for playing outside with a demo -- great idea that will need to wait until spring. I think our season (golf weather) ended last weekend here in Chicago.

My normal flight is plenty high with the XP S300's. It was high in my old Fusions with DG S300's too but may have been mostly the head.

[1par2win]

I did just this and funny, it was with a set of Mizunos too! I was playing stiff flex shafts in my Titleist's prior and felt like I had to work too hard to load the shafts properly. Since then I had found a set of MP-30's that had Rifle 4.5's in extremely good condition so I decided to try that out. Man, what a difference! After getting the feel of the irons on the range I decided to hit 3/4 irons shots just to facilitate better contact out on the course. Well, I shot an 80 the first time around and then a 78 with playing a more "controlled" game.

Granted, something clicked in my swing about 6 weeks ago and have been striking the ball ball much more solid so I know my swing is better but switching to an R flex really helped my overall flight. It's a little tough to really get a feel for distance since it's getting cold and been windy as all get out lately but right now I am about 1.5 to 2 clubs shorter than before but my GIR's have dramatically increased. Like I said a lot of things are at work here but taking the step to a R flex shaft really did help. I also experienced a higher than normal ball flight but it's not difficult to flight the ball down a bit with these MP-30's.

The one thing I should point out to the OP is that swinging slower as you put it isn't necessarily what's happening. I like to think of it is properly loading the shaft with a smoother swing, not slower. I suspect my distance will return with warmer temps (in about 8 months from now!) with the continued solid contact but for now my buddies can give me all the crap they want about hitting a 6 iron 150 yards but I have been the one making birdies.

[rustyredcab]

Thanks for the feedback. A few points of information:

1. The distance change is not due the difference in clubs. Before and after distances are both with the JPX-800 Pros. The change in clubs has me wanting to feel the sweet spot more and with the Mizunos I think I can control distances because of these clubs. Those beliefs and desires have me wanting to slow things down.

2. I can still hit the clubs as far as I used to. I just choose not to. I do need to take a full, fast (but hopefully not hard), swing when I have 170-180 yards. That is a full 5-iron and I have a bit of a gap between an easy 5-iron (165) and my 4-hybrid (195). I cannot control the 4-H when I ease up enough to hit it 175 even after choking up.

3. My current ball flight is high. Plenty high enough with my new easy swing and, if anything, I work to bring it down. (Played with a guy from Scotland last Saturday and boy did he have a beautiful and controlled low ball flight. Tour Striker should help me but that is another thread.)

[Mr. Desmond]

Originally Posted by rustyredcab

Thanks for the feedback. A few points of information:

1. The distance change is not due the difference in clubs. Before and after distances are both with the JPX-800 Pros. The change in clubs has me wanting to feel the sweet spot more and with the Mizunos I think I can control distances because of these clubs. Those beliefs and desires have me wanting to slow things down.

2. I can still hit the clubs as far as I used to. I just choose not to. I do need to take a full, fast (but hopefully not hard), swing when I have 170-180 yards. That is a full 5-iron and I have a bit of a gap between an easy 5-iron (165) and my 4-hybrid (195). I cannot control the 4-H when I ease up enough to hit it 175 even after choking up.

3. My current ball flight is high. Plenty high enough with my new easy swing and, if anything, I work to bring it down. (Played with a guy from Scotland last Saturday and boy did he have a beautiful and controlled low ball flight. Tour Striker should help me but that is another thread.)

Tour Striker should help keep the shaft ahead of the club head, but hitting down on the ball also increases spin - and height.

Check your ball position and try some lynn blake videos on hinging - youtube

[WUTiger]

One thing to consider is the actual weight of the shaft. I have PX 5.0 rifle flighted in my irons, and these come in about 115 grams on average.

I tried some of the new True Temper GS85 (gram) shafts on Cleveland CG16s, but tended to overswing going back, and tried to kill the ball on followthrough. The Dynamic Golf SL (SuperLight) are about 106 grams, and I had a smoother swing with the extra weight.

Couldn't feel much weight difference between my PX and the DGSL, but SL shots clocked a couple MPH higher in clubhead speed.