Shaft Weights

[RussUK]

I am considering putting together a half set of Acer XV irons and im wondering about what shaft to use.

I currently use a true temper 99g shaft in my current irons and it feels too light.

The 2 shafts im looking at (in budget) are 

Apollo Standard Stepped at 124g for the regular flex and Apollo Shadow Lite steel at 105g in regular.

How much if any with the 19g difference make (other than the price, shadow's are more expensive)

Would the 105g be that different to the 99g

What weight do you guys use and what are your experiences?

[WUTiger]

 

7 hours ago, RussUK said:

I currently use a true temper 99g shaft in my current irons and it feels too light.

If you want more weight, the 124 gr. would be a step in that direction. Most people can't tell a 6-gram difference between shafts.

But, the too light also might have to do with club balance. Before building Acers, try this low-cost test. Find a grip that you like and is lighter* than your current grip, and put it on your 5i and 7i. Try some test shots and see how it "feels." The lighter grip will increase the club's swingweight, and might give you better feel at the top.
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* A rough rule is that a 5-gram decrease in grip weight will increase the swingweight 1 point. So, if you get a grip that's 10 grams lighter, this would increase swingweight +2 swingweight points.
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If you build Acers: two options:

If you have local sourcing for Hireko, put the 124-gram shaft into the low # and high # Acer iron and test it out. If it works, put the heavier shaft in the remaining irons.

If you're getting a Hireko parcel from the states, order everything all at once and put the 124-gram shafts into the irons. Then live with it.

Next: What kind of tools do  you have?

• A swingweight machine?
• A vice and rubber cushion to steady the club for shaft-cutting, and grip installation?
• A clubsmith ruler for measuring final shaft length?

Your club-building will be pretty hit-and-miss without proper tools.

[RussUK]

10 hours ago, WUTiger said:

 

If you want more weight, the 124 gr. would be a step in that direction. Most people can't tell a 6-gram difference between shafts.

But, the too light also might have to do with club balance. Before building Acers, try this low-cost test. Find a grip that you like and is lighter* than your current grip, and put it on your 5i and 7i. Try some test shots and see how it "feels." The lighter grip will increase the club's swingweight, and might give you better feel at the top.
------------------------------------
* A rough rule is that a 5-gram decrease in grip weight will increase the swingweight 1 point. So, if you get a grip that's 10 grams lighter, this would increase swingweight +2 swingweight points.
------------------------------------

If you build Acers: two options:

If you have local sourcing for Hireko, put the 124-gram shaft into the low # and high # Acer iron and test it out. If it works, put the heavier shaft in the remaining irons.

If you're getting a Hireko parcel from the states, order everything all at once and put the 124-gram shafts into the irons. Then live with it.

Next: What kind of tools do  you have?

• A swingweight machine?
• A vice and rubber cushion to steady the club for shaft-cutting, and grip installation?
• A clubsmith ruler for measuring final shaft length?

Your club-building will be pretty hit-and-miss without proper tools.

I will either be "assisting" my Uncle in building them or getting Nordica Golf to build them. The 1st set of irons i used were Dunlop Maxflite's with bog standard True Temper shafts, they had a nice weighty feel to them.

They were really nice irons and i hit them well but is was persuaded to get rid of them, as they were kind of a semi cavity design, and get a full cavity like the Di9. 

Worst thing i did

[WUTiger]

@RussUK,

Wow... sounds like you've been taking notes on past club solutions.

The full-cavity + lightweight shaft would tend to cause a very high launch, and might cause you distance loss with inefficient energy transfer.

My X20 Tours have user-friendly GI heads; a couple of years ago I reshafted them from PX 5.0 Rifle Flighted to NS Pro 8950GH. (115 grams to 97 grams, and a softer tip). The lighter shaft plus the GI head produces a nice ball flight.

But, I'll be age 66 next week, and I've had a bit of falloff in brute strength the last few years. I sense you're younger, and likely could handle the heavier shaft (especially since you complained about "too light.") A heavier shaft in R.flex can work really well, give help on launch but enough weight feel to prevent overswinging, and help you "drop it in the slot."

Keep us posted. Let us know how things shake out. 

[RussUK]

23 minutes ago, WUTiger said:

@RussUK,

Wow... sounds like you've been taking notes on past club solutions.

The full-cavity + lightweight shaft would tend to cause a very high launch, and might cause you distance loss with inefficient energy transfer.

My X20 Tours have user-friendly GI heads; a couple of years ago I reshafted them from PX 5.0 Rifle Flighted to NS Pro 8950GH. (115 grams to 97 grams, and a softer tip). The lighter shaft plus the GI head produces a nice ball flight.

But, I'll be age 66 next week, and I've had a bit of falloff in brute strength the last few years. I sense you're younger, and likely could handle the heavier shaft (especially since you complained about "too light.") A heavier shaft in R.flex can work really well, give help on launch but enough weight feel to prevent overswinging, and help you "drop it in the slot."

Keep us posted. Let us know how things shake out. 

Spot on analysis there. Even with good contact it goes stratospheric!

Im starting to think this whole "lightweight" shaft revolution isnt all its cracked up to be.

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how it all goes

[WUTiger]

2 hours ago, RussUK said:

Im starting to think this whole "lightweight" shaft revolution isnt all its cracked up to be ...

You're on-target there. A couple of years back, golfdom started to reconsider the lightweight shaft craze.

I got a clue to this circa 2012 when a Nike (RIP) rep told me his company was waiting a year to go with super-light driver-FW shafts because of concerns over stability.

Later on, Golf Digest reported that the players who benefit most from the lightweights (for woods or irons) were those with well-grooved swings. The average golfer, however, needs more weight to feel the club at the top. If you google around on our TST site, you should be able to find the items.

When I tested the 85-gram steel shafts, I tended to overswing and sprayed the ball quite a bit.

One confusion factor: When I used the superlight steel shafts, I could hit the stiff flex OK. But, I still sprayed the ball.

Back in the 1980s when Ping developed cavity-back irons, the Ping engineers favored fairly heavy shafts. The weight helped golfers get a smooth downswing and maximize the cavity element.

[RussUK]

On 10/28/2016 at 8:02 PM, WUTiger said:

You're on-target there. A couple of years back, golfdom started to reconsider the lightweight shaft craze.

I got a clue to this circa 2012 when a Nike (RIP) rep told me his company was waiting a year to go with super-light driver-FW shafts because of concerns over stability.

Later on, Golf Digest reported that the players who benefit most from the lightweights (for woods or irons) were those with well-grooved swings. The average golfer, however, needs more weight to feel the club at the top. If you google around on our TST site, you should be able to find the items.

When I tested the 85-gram steel shafts, I tended to overswing and sprayed the ball quite a bit.

One confusion factor: When I used the superlight steel shafts, I could hit the stiff flex OK. But, I still sprayed the ball.

Back in the 1980s when Ping developed cavity-back irons, the Ping engineers favored fairly heavy shafts. The weight helped golfers get a smooth downswing and maximize the cavity element.

I definatley lose the club at the top so to speak. The wilsons seem crazy light, not just the shaft but the head as well.

Being the crazy Brit i am i decided to do an experiment. Whilst "window shopping" on ebay i found a guy selling a full 3-sw set of Hippo (stop laughing at the back!) Bi Metal Beast cavity irons, circa 2007, in almost mint condition. Talked him down to £40 so should be good for a laugh.

Reason being they are fitted with a 117g True temper shaft and the heads are good ol' fashioned cavity so have a decent weight. If i hit these better than the newer Di9's then great, if not its only £40 and not £100+ for the Acer's. Plus i can shout "BEAST" when i hit the ball......win win situation! 

[WUTiger]

32 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Plus i can shout "BEAST" when i hit the ball......win win situation! 

Good move. Plus, maybe the Beast head will help scare the ball out of the rough!