Help with Iron Shaft Decision

[siagolf]

Hi All,

Hoping y'all can help/provide advice with my iron shaft decision! :) I recently went to a fitting at GolfTEC and have attached the results to this post. Some background/context:

1. This data was all from a Mizuno MP53 6-iron head.

2. The Mizuno shaft optimizer rated my tempo as a "3" which I believe says that my transition is "deliberate/moderate". In viewing my swing, the fitter said I was more of a "hitter" than "sweeper". Loft, length, and lie are all standard based on fitting results.

3. The shafts I tested (as you'll see from the pic) were: PX 5.5 and 5.0 (both non-flighted), PX 5.5 graphite, KBS Tour-Stiff, and Aerotech Steelfiber i95 Stiff.

4. I currently play TM TP CB's with Aerotech Steelfiber i80 reg-flex shafts...they worked well last summer, but as I've been working on maintaing lag, I find them to be too light. I also can't feel where they are duing the swing and tend to come up and out more often resulting in horrible thin/skull shots.

Although I'm happy with most of the results from the fitting, I'm concerned with the weight of the steel shafts I tested (fatigue), and the potential "harshness" on thin mis-hits (left elbow slight tendonitis). I also know that subconciously, I don't swing as hard when I'm out on an actual course, so I'm expecting swingspeed and ball speed to drop slightly when I'm actually playing rather than just hitting balls at a range or fitting center. The graphite shafts showed large gains in terms of yardage, but were also not as consistent/accurate in terms of dispersion.

Would love to hear your thoughts, comments, questions etc. I'm open to shafts beyond the ones I tested...I'm also considering the NSPRO 1050GH in stiff, and MODUS-3 in stiff -- how do these shafts compare to the ones I tested based on the results?

Thank you all for your time! :)

[WUTiger]

slagolf,

Consider reloading this post with the launch monitor data as an attachment of some kind (maybe PDF?). In your current embedded image, the figures are illegible and I can't tell what the numbers and headings are.

[siagolf]

Weird it was a .jpg image -- i've reloaded it to this post...please let me know if it works now?  Alternatively, if you don't mind, I can email you the actual .jpg file for review?

[WUTiger]

I copied your .jpg and pasted it into MS-Word, and was able to read it.

First of all, what kind of ball did you use? In iron fittings, you get the best info if you use the ball you play on the course. This may mean bringing a couple of sleeves with you to GolfTEC.

For vibration dampening, the composite Aerotech shafts should help. Also, consider Sensicore shaft inserts for the full-steel shafts.

Also, here are some performance specs on the shafts:

Shaft	Weight (grams)	Torque	Ball Flight	Spin
PX 5.0 (non-f)	115	Low	Quick lift and flattens	Low-Mid
PX 5.5 (non-f)	115	Low	Quick lift and flattens	Low-Mid
PX 5.5 graphite	91-93	?	?	?
KBS Tour Stiff	120	2.0	Medium	Low-Mid
KBS Tour 90 Stiff	102	2.3	Mid-Mid.Hi	Mid-Mid.H
AeroT i95 Stiff	95	2.4	Low-Medium	?
NS Pro 1050GH Stiff	109	1.8	Medium	Mid
NS Pro 950GH Stiff	98	1.9	Medium	Mid

I'm no expert on reading launch monitor data, but here are some patterns I noticed:

With the exception of the PX steel shafts, most of your shots averaged about 10 yards roll after the carry. That's why I asked about the ball you were using.

The lighter the shaft, the greater the ball speed tended to be.

Aerotech and PX graphite had the most shot-to-shot peak height variation.

My Driver clubhead speed is about 87 mph. I use PX 5.0 rifle-flighted shafts in my irons, and am trying to decide if I need something lighter. Anyway, a guy I know let me hit his J36 6i with NS Pro 1050GH stiff shaft. Although I play regular shafts, his stiff shaft felt easier to hit than my 5.0. A 6-gram weight difference should be negligible.. it may have something to do with NS shaft dynamics.

Also, you didn't tell us what you want as far as spin goes. With your launch-monitor distance - if it is the same in the open air - you could probably go with a ball that gives you more spin.

Maybe others can give more advice.

[Precis1on]

I have the 1150 GH, a heavier version of the 1050. They give me great spin and the added weight helps me locate the clubhead in my swing.

[siagolf]

thanks for this! the ball used was a pro v1 but i normally play e6's which i understand to launch a touch higher but spin less. i like the distance of the graphite shafts but if you look at the offline numbers, they were just too inconsistent. question for the group: what wedge shaft should i go with? i,ve ruled  out the dg spinners as i spin th ball enuf and not looking to add anymore.

[WUTiger]

sia,

You might want to get your iron model and shafts straightened out before worrying about wedges. It you get an iron shaft that will allow you to stop the ball quickly, this might get you to single-digit HDCP.

Wedge shafts: Most people link their wedge mix into how far their 9i and PW shots go. Then, they add two or three more wedges, selected in part by the distance gap between the clubs.

Also, in fine-tuning their wedge shafts, some people take into account the type of shots they hit. Someone who only hits partial shots with the GW, SW and LW may want different shafts than someone who also hits full shots with them. The spinner-flex wedges, both old style and DG spinner, are designed for people who mainly hit partials; TT competitors have some similar wedge shafts. Also, some systems offer different shafts for PW and GW than for SW and LW. The guys at GolfTEC should be able to help you with this.

One thing I found out last year: While the shaft length difference in numbered irons is usually in half-inch increments, wedges are often less. Look at the specs sheet for your wedges to see how long the shafts actually are. If you have a 52* GW and a 56* SW, but the shafts are only 1/4" different, you may have less distance difference between the two than you might think.

Trust me, re-doing your wedge mix and shafts could take just as long as selecting irons + shafts.

[x129]

Do you know how they compute the average? It sort of looks to me like the summed up all the scores and divided by the number of shots. The probably isn't what you want for offline. Taking the absolute value of the offline and then summing up and dividing is probably what you want. I.e. it is better to be 5 yards on every shot (5 yards) than alternating 40 yards left and right (0 average)

In general, I am a bit suspect of most of these type of fittings for measuring things like accuracy. In addition to questioning their math, the sample sizes are just to small and going from a 120g to 95g shaft can also mess up your timing.

The numbers do make me want to go try some aerotech shafts though.

[Harmonious]

Before you make a decision, you may want to check out True Temper's (TT) other shafts.  I spent about 20 minutes at the PGA show today with their steel shaft designer, specifically asking why I could never get comfortable with their Project X shafts (I have the old Rifle shafts in my irons). I thought I was missing out on something.

He said that the Project X's were designed for a more "violent" or aggressive swing.  People with a smoother transition generally do not do well with them.  However, the good news is that TT is coming out with a new Rifle shaft (phasing out the old Rifles) that is made specifically for the aftermarket, as opposed to the tour market.  I hit the new Rifle shaft and, with my swing, found it to feel much better.

Of course, TT also has stepped shafts in mid- and light-weight versions, as well as their Dynamic Gold.

Since TT covers about 90% of the market, I'd suggest checking them out more fully, not just the Project X line.

[LBlack14]

PX play more stiff than what their Rifle flex designation is meaning a 5.5 PX actually plays to a 6.0 Rifle. A 6.0 PX plays to a 6.5 Rifle etc. Stiffer butt section and overall total profile.