graphite or steel irons?

[GolfClubbas]

what type of shaft do you use for your irons graphite or steel, and how does it do for distance

i have steel shafted irons and cannot compare to graphite irons because i have never used them

[BigUnit68]

Stay with steel. Unless you're a senior player with low swing speed, stay away from graphite in Irons.

[arturo28mx]

Yes, stay away from graphite in irons. My opinion.

[dkolo]

4 hours ago, GolfClubbas said:

what type of shaft do you use for your irons graphite or steel, and how does it do for distance

i have steel shafted irons and cannot compare to graphite irons because i have never used them

The advantages of graphite iron shafts is that they offer greater swing speed for players who need that kind of help, both through weight reduction as well as, often, higher launching characteristics. What do you feel draws you to graphite shafts? Is it the allure of the fancy tech or do you think you are the kind of slower swing player who could benefit from them? We would love to know to offer help!

[GolfClubbas]

i just like the look of graphite better and thought it would perform better because of the higher price 

[arturo28mx]

I have two sets of Ping i20 irons, one with steel shafts and one with graphite shafts. By the way, I'm 58 average build.

For me the graphite shafts were too light. I simply could not produce a good swing or a good tempo. I went back to the steel shafts and my swing was back. For many people the weight of the club helps a lot with rythm and tempo.

I have the feeling that even as I get older and weaker I will stay with steel shafts. They just feel a lot more natural to my swing.

[WUTiger]

7 hours ago, arturo28mx said:

... For me the graphite shafts were too light. I simply could not produce a good swing or a good tempo. I went back to the steel shafts and my swing was back. For many people the weight of the club helps a lot with rythm and tempo. ...

I didn't care much for graphite shafts in irons until a couple of years ago. During January 2014 I tried some irons with graphite shafts. I was surprised to find the shafts felt more balanced and solid than earlier offerings. And, the weight still came in about 70 grams. The Mamiya Recoil 95 and 110 shafts (numbers indicate approximate shaft weight) are as one of the stock offerings Callaway Apex Pro 16 iron sets this year. CF16 and Big Bertha irons also offer Recoil shafts as graphite options.

Note: This is Year of the Upgrade, so press the reps to learn the different upgrade shafts available for no upcharge. 

Also, give the steel fiber shafts a try. I hit a couple of irons with the Aerotech SteelFiber 95 shafts, and got pretty good feel.

I still play steel-shafted irons, but would consider graphite or steel fiber in the future.

[Mr. Desmond]

On April 26, 2016 at 7:20 PM, GolfClubbas said:

what type of shaft do you use for your irons graphite or steel, and how does it do for distance

i have steel shafted irons and cannot compare to graphite irons because i have never used them

I've read a couple of ignorant posts above as to graphite. Pay no attention to the naysayers.

Graphite comes in weight that is as heavy as steel and heavier steel - see the Aerotech Steelfilber 125g as evidence. In general, graphite offers the advantage of less wear and tear on the body -- think about the shoulders, hands, fingers, elbows, etc., and what a shaft does when it hits ground, and what that shock does to the body after 20-30 years of steel.  It screws with your body. For many golfers, steel eventually wears them down, and they consider graphite or lighter steel to help their body and to take away the pain so they can play the game and avoid surgeries.

In layman's terms, graphite offers less vibrations being absorbed by the body.

A lighter shaft also helps with speed, and steel also comes in lighter weight - see Nippon and 70g weights. When I had issues with steel, I went with ligher weight Nippon and it helped me. Eventually, I went with graphite in Aerotech, and currently with Recoils.

Up until several years ago, you had issues installing graphite into your formerly steel shafted heads. The balance of the club was thrown off and you needed a longer shaft or a heavier head -- that is no longer the case with the heavier graphite shafts and/or the manner in which they are balanced in manufacturing. You still need a knowledgeable club maker or need to pay attention to the OEM specs on the balance and length of the club with graphite v. steel.

PGA Tour Pros play graphite -- See Kuchar and Snedeker and their 95g Steelfiber shafts.

There is a lot of bad graphite out there as well as poor steel. Beware of inconsistencies within a set.

Popular graphite is Aerotech Steelfiber, and UST Recoil, which have many weight options - the Recoils offer a bit more "feel" and steel-like trajectory, whereas Aerotech tends to launch higher and feel a tad firmer. Some think the Accura i Series and Mitsubishi OT 85 and 95g shafts are the only ones worth considering, and they have added expense.

If you want to reduce the probability of injuries over a long period of time, open yourself to graphite options.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Mr. Desmond

[iacas]

9 hours ago, Mr. Desmond said:

Graphite comes in weight that is as heavy as steel and heavier steel - see the Aerotech Steelfilber 125g as evidence.

Yeah, if you count that as a graphite shaft. It's got metal fibers in it to make up the weight.

[Jeremie Boop]

I used graphite shaft irons years ago, had problems with them breaking near the hosel and they felt much more "whippy" to me. I returned those and got another set, also with graphite shafts, these were much more stiff in the flex and I played pretty well with them from what I remember. Those were stolen so I ended up playing with an old set of titleist blades until I could afford a new set. From then one I've been using steel. I don't know that I'm against using graphite shafts in irons, they've just never been an option in the irons I bought the last three times. I've always associated graphite as something that will promote a higher launch though, and I don't really think that I need to launch my irons any higher.

[Mr. Desmond]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

Yeah, if you count that as a graphite shaft. It's got metal fibers in it to make up the weight.

Oh, yes, it has microstrands of steel that make up the exterior of the shaft. Good point. At the same time, I played them for 7 years without injury.