To upgrade or not?

[advancinggolfer]

I currently have the taylormade speedblade set. There graphite nice condition and have treated me very well. However my distance is lacking.  For example I only hit my 7 iron about 150 yards.  My 9 iron is only about 115-120 on better days. Even my 4 iron is only going about 200 yards. Yet I have graphite shafts. Now my 3 iron is steel and I hit it an easy 230-235. I'm debating on upgrading to the steel shafts or if it's just something in my head. Your opinions on graphite versus steel shaft please. Ty 

[cooke119]

If I had your distance I would stay with graphite, it seems to suit your game. I like graphite better than steel, I like the softer feel. I think both are good, it is more a matter of feel rather than distance.

 

[vangator]

What's wrong with those distances?  How accurate are you?  That's the answer.

[advancinggolfer]

15 minutes ago, vangator said:

What's wrong with those distances?  How accurate are you?  That's the answer.

Fairly accurate On perfect shots I'm 10ft or less on better days. However my main concerns are that I want to continue to improve. Believe it or not but I 2 years ago I was a bad habit golfer shooting 126 on average, with practice and work I'm shooting 80 and continually dropping. My goal is to compete in the US Amateurs open and go professional. But to do that I need to be hitting my 9 iron 145 I believed. Are those good distances to have? I'd have to say on a really good day I hit a lot of greens in regulation. Closer to 75% maybe higher lower on my bad days. 

[SavvySwede]

1 minute ago, advancinggolfer said:

Fairly accurate On perfect shots I'm 10ft or less on better days. However my main concerns are that I want to continue to improve. Believe it or not but I 2 years ago I was a bad habit golfer shooting 126 on average, with practice and work I'm shooting 80 and continually dropping. My goal is to compete in the US Amateurs open and go professional. But to do that I need to be hitting my 9 iron 145 I believed. Are those good distances to have? I'd have to say on a really good day I hit a lot of greens in regulation. Closer to 75% maybe higher lower on my bad days. 

If you were hitting those numbers you'd be scratch already. Also, everyone's "perfect" shots are 10ft or less.

[vangator]

12 hours ago, advancinggolfer said:

Fairly accurate On perfect shots I'm 10ft or less on better days. However my main concerns are that I want to continue to improve. Believe it or not but I 2 years ago I was a bad habit golfer shooting 126 on average, with practice and work I'm shooting 80 and continually dropping. My goal is to compete in the US Amateurs open and go professional. But to do that I need to be hitting my 9 iron 145 I believed. Are those good distances to have? I'd have to say on a really good day I hit a lot of greens in regulation. Closer to 75% maybe higher lower on my bad days. 

Sounds like you're a youngster.  There's no magic number for any club, but the farther you can hit the ball under control, the better.  Technique is the key, not swinging harder or faster.  A fast swing takes a lot of practice to maintain.

You've made some tremendous strides.  Keep up what you're doing.  One thing I'll mention is that I don't know of any pros that play graphite in their irons.  Someone will probably post someone that does.  Point is, graphite is there for flexibility to increase distance.  That usually comes at a cost of accuracy.  Irons are about accuracy.

There are lots of charts on the web that indicate a preferred shaft flex wrt swing speed.  Go to a golf retailer.  You may just find the right combo that you just hit really well.