Do I need different shafts?

[nickel_aTm]

Recently I was in the TrackMan hitting my driver (Cobra S3 9.5* with stiff flex Fujikura Blur).  Approx. average stats were:

Swing Speed: 94-97

Spin Rate: 3000-3200

Launch Angle: 13*-13.5*

Carry: 210-215

Total 220-225

My irons are Titleist AP1's with Dynamic Gold S300 shafts and here are some distances I hit them:

5-iron: 165

7-iron: 145

9-iron: 125

Clearly, I don't have serious club head speed, but it's not super slow either.  My question is, based on the swing speed and details from hitting my driver, are my distance with irons about right or should they be going a bit further?

[Rick Swartwood]

The distances you cite reflect a swing speed about 10 MPH less than you indicate for the various clubs mentioned. Nevertheless, shaft flex should be determined by two items, the directional dispersion you have in your game and your swing tempo. If you are hitting the ball on line almost all the time, then go for weaker shafts to enhance distance. Shaft  flex is also determined by the load you put on your club during the swing. A quick swing like a Nick Price requires more shaft stiffness than an easy swing like David Toms. I know of golfers that swing 85 with a  quick swing and use stiff shafts to enhance directional control. Likewise, I know of guys with smooth swings that use regular or senior flex to enhance distance with a 95-98 MPH swing  because they always hit the fairway. My approach is to use the most flexible shaft possible that I can hit straight without the ball going too high in the air.

[nickel_aTm]

Thanks for the info, Rick.  When I bought the irons, I hit a regular and stiff shafts (was at a range and hitting outdoors).  For whatever reason, I was hitting the stiffs straighter, more consistently, and a little lower than the regular shafts.  And your explanation tells me why.  Though I've tried to slow it down, my natural swing is compact and quick -- much closer in tempo to Nick Price than a guy like Toms.  Based on your assertion, that's why I was straighter with the stiff shafts.  So ultimately, I'm sacrificing some distance for better accuracy.  Thanks for helping me understand.

[WUTiger]

As Rick S noted, swing tempo is definitely part of the equation. Likewise, shaft weight is a factor.

If you wanted to pick up a little iron distance, you might consider the DG S300 SL (superlight). S300 SL is only 106 grams, while standard S300 is 127 grams.

Less weight would increase your clubhead speed. Just make sure it's not too light, or you lose the feel of the club at the top.

My current irons have PX 5.0 rifle flighted, average 115 grams. At the St. Louis Golf Expo I tested out some 95- to 105-gram shafts, and got really good action through the ball. Anything lighter, however, and I overswing big-time.

Not sure if I want to dump 5.0 or not...

[Harmonious]

I think Rick S hit it right on the head. If I were you, I'd ditch the stiff shafts. They have to be costing you a lot of yardage.

[Sacman]

Another thing that I would think about is if the AP1 may be hurting your distances. I have an older set of nike nds irons that I hit for a long time. When I switched to my mizuno mp-53's I gained 20 yards on my irons. I threw me off for awhile getting used to the yardage change. I would recommend taking your irons in and hitting them along with the ones you want. Then see the readings you get. If you don't improve then there is no reason to change what you are doing.

Another thought I just had was if you are releasing the club to late you probable aren't getting the full yardage you could.

[NuclearMike]

Hell of a first post, Rick.  Very informative.  I went to a more flexible shaft that I hit pretty straight and just as you said I got more distance.  Tempo is everything, though.  Keeping my swing under control gives me better ball control and better distance, when I concentrate on just staying within myself and taking the right club for the yardage.

[glock35ipsc]

I too just went to a lighter shaft (from a TT Lite XL 128g raw to Apollo Phantom 105g raw) and slightly more flexible shaft in my irons, and my accuracy increased dramatically while gaining some yardage at the same time.

[IrishRover13]

Thanks for some of the insight you guys just provided, I too have similar stats in swing speed although a little faster, and use the PX 5.5 in my Mizuno MP68 and absolutely love the feel, the weighting, it all makes it easy for me to swing at about 70% for a smooth slow takeaway, rather paused at the top to load up, and transition strong with my legs and hips- the club just drops and goes through impact perfectly with that soft feeling like you didn't even swing hard.

My problem though, is I don't have this same feeling with my driver at all. I tend to take the club back too far, over swing my downswing and feel like the club is "lost" and don't have much feel through impact zone. Results tend to be divots behind the ball, tops, or if i made impact, tends to be a long 275 yd slice not finding the fairway and usually OB.

I have resorted to using my 909 21 degree hybrid in the Diamana Blue 80s 80g shaft feeling comfortable and confident with that club as I do my irons with the weighting feeling perfect for my easy tempo-not quite to parallel swing, hitting that club about 235 yards. I should also mention that I just purchased and am awaiting the new Titleist 910D3 9.5 degree with mitsubishi Kai'li 64g shaft in hopes of it being a miracle club, but I think all my problems are due to the shaft weight and lack of feel to make a consistent, same feeling swing from irons to hybrids to woods...

Some stats of my swing:  6 iron- 84 mph , driver-105 mph, Current drivers i switch back and forth- Titleist 905R(pro force V2, stiff, 66g) and 905T (graphite design, stiff, 64g) both 9.5 degree. I'm 5'8, 180lbs, pretty athletic and in shape, and can shoot from a "good" round in the mid 80s to over 100 if driver is really not working and taking lots of OB penalties. Like I said, I love my irons, my 21 degree have a very good short/wedge game and putting- just trying to find an answer to the Driver issue.

any thoughts or suggestions anyone can offer as to what manufacturer, swing weight, and shaft weight I should try out would be greatly appreciated, and if anyone could provide any correlation or standard fitting of shaft weights between irons, hybrids, and woods, i'd be stoked! Sorry for the long post, but I'm desperate to try some new things and see if anyone else experienced similar issues and found something that worked.

Thanks!!