Callaway Speed Step 85 vs. everyone

[TexasTom]

I am still trying to figure out why I can absolutely crush my XHot irons with REG flex stock shafts, and yet the same swing on other brands is short, and chunky. I have read that the Cally shafts plays soft... Has anyone proven that the 85 shaft actually plays DOWN a flex speed?

[SavvySwede]

An 85 gram steel shaft is pretty light compared to your average steel shaft so that could give you a little bit more swing speed. That shaft is also a high launching model made to help slower swingers get the ball up higher. (High launching = a softer tip section) so while the overall flex may be closer to other Regular flex shafts it will feel a lot softer because of the tip.

[WUTiger]

An 85 gram steel shaft is pretty light compared to your average steel shaft so that could give you a little bit more swing speed. That shaft is also a high launching model made to help slower swingers get the ball up higher. (High launching = a softer tip section) so while the overall flex may be closer to other Regular flex shafts it will feel a lot softer because of the tip.

Good points, SS.

I have tried 85-gram shafts, and have trouble feeling when I'm at the top. I tend to spray the ball a lot with 85s, and have more range dispersion.

I seem to be able to hit the 85-gram stiff OK, but stiff in midweight shafts is a bit much for me.

Part of the problem is my playing history. I played 130-gram steel driver shafts until the 1990s, so I'm just used to heavier shafts. But, my clubs have slowly "lost weight." Right now, R-flex steel shafts around 100 grams seem to work best for me in irons.