Why Soft Step Your Clubs?

[Tate24]

I have read some threads where golfers talk about having their clubs soft step. Can anyone tell me the reason why or benefits behinds this?

[Patch]

Only thing I can think of is they want to lengthen the shaft to make the club head feel some what softer , while retaining the same loft. It would be like inserting a 6i shaft into a 7i club head. The club head weight has to be factored in as well for the change in the shaft's play ability. (weaker or stronger) That's as much as I know about it, and I'm most likely wrong in my assumption.

Hard stepping would be just the opposite, as in putting a 7i shaft into a 6i club head.

Just guessing here.

[Club Rat]

I have read some threads where golfers talk about having their clubs soft step. Can anyone tell me the reason why or benefits behinds this?

Soft stepping has been used for years by club makers and individuals who fiddle with their equipment.

When a player elects to soft step their irons, they are typically electing to either achieve lower or higher launch from the club.

For lower launch, an example would be a strong player needing a stiffer tip to prevent shots from ballooning without going to X-Stiff.

Or, a player who uses standard shafts and would like just a slightly stiffness without using Stiff Shafts.

For higher launch, soft step a stiff shaft.

The increment is usually in between Stiff and Regular shafts.

Most club manufactures use 1/2" increments in shaft lengths.

Some players may prefer only 1/4" or longer 3/4" for taller players.

Many golfers like 1" over standard.  Using stepping methods, player can fine tune their clubs for personal preferences.

An example would be a player who would like to hit high shots with longer irons and lower shots with scoring irons.

Club makers tip trim and butt trim shafts for these reasons.

Club Rat

[Mulligan Jeff]

Soft stepping has been used for years by club makers and individuals who fiddle with their equipment. When a player elects to soft step their irons, they are typically electing to either achieve lower or higher launch from the club. For lower launch, an example would be a strong player needing a stiffer tip to prevent shots from ballooning without going to X-Stiff.  Or, a player who uses standard shafts and would like just a slightly stiffness without using Stiff Shafts. For higher launch, soft step a stiff shaft. The increment is usually in between Stiff and Regular shafts. Most club manufactures use 1/2" increments in shaft lengths. Some players may prefer only 1/4" or longer 3/4" for taller players. Many golfers like 1" over standard.  Using stepping methods, player can fine tune their clubs for personal preferences. An example would be a player who would like to hit high shots with longer irons and lower shots with scoring irons. Club makers tip trim and butt trim shafts for these reasons. Club Rat

I've tinkered with soft-stepping for some years - you make a good point by saying to soft-step the long irons and hard-step the scoring irons. That I have not done but I will do for next season. Let me ask you is there a big difference in distance from soft step to hard?

[Club Rat]

I've tinkered with soft-stepping for some years - you make a good point by saying to soft-step the long irons and hard-step the scoring irons. That I have not done but I will do for next season. Let me ask you is there a big difference in distance from soft step to hard?

For some players, hard step will increase yardage.

While for other players a soft step will benefit them.

A young player may hard step and increase shaft length for more yardage.

While an older player may soft step and benefit a few yards.

It's more about launch and ball flight trying to optimize the shaft performance to benefit any player.

Custom Club makers may refer to their process as "Frequency Matching Shafts" for the similar performance.

Granted factory clubs for the most do not have matched shafts, which most players would never notice the difference in "feel".

Some players will note they like the feel when club testing between shaft variance.

Club rat

[Sclaffer]

Now that I am over 60, I "believe" (but of course my senses could be fooling me) that a regular flex suits me better than a stiff flex and feels softer at impact. I hit the ball quite high enough. I have a spare set of irons with DG S300 shafts that feel a bit like fence poles. I would like to try soft stepping them twice, myself. What difference do you think I might be able to feel ? How much difference will it make to trajectory?

Thanks

[colin007]

http://www.golfshaftreviews.info/soft-stepping-and-hard-stepping-iron-shaft-sets/

[Club Rat]

1 hour ago, Sclaffer said:

What difference do you think I might be able to feel ?

I'll try to answer these two with brief explanations.
Feel will be how the shaft loads before impact and upon impact.

1 hour ago, Sclaffer said:

How much difference will it make to trajectory?

This will vary upon you AOA (basically your swing)
Most older players have a slightly upright posture and tend to pick the ball as opposed to 
taking a deep divot.

Other factors would be club head speed generated, strength of player, grip pressure, club head weight.

While it is fun to fiddle with clubs, it will also enlighten you about your equipment.
I would suggest finding another two club heads which match the clubs you intend to modify.
Either a 5 & 7 or 6 & 8. When you purchase additional shafts for these changes, install the shafts first to the other clubs.
Then compare the clubs either on the range, on course or indoor with a trackman would be better.

Changes you make will affect swing weight, shaft frequency, torque, and flex properties of these shafts.
SW & SF will change the feel, T & FP will change the flight / launch / spin characteristics. 

Have fun.