Soft Stepping

[CaseyD]

Question for you clubfitters, using standard men's length irons, if a taper tip 5i shaft has been trimmed to length but then I decide to soft step the set I will need to retrim the that shaft after I insert it into the 6i head correct?

[Shindig]

Pinging @WUTiger ... there was a point where I would have known the answer to this question, but this guy knows a ton about club fitting and building. 

[WUTiger]

14 hours ago, CaseyD said:

... if a taper tip 5i shaft has been trimmed to length but then I decide to soft step the set I will need to retrim that shaft after I insert it into the 6i head... correct?

Yes, this is correct. Remember, you should trim from the butt end after insertion.

Softstepping basically gives you a half-inch more of the flexible tip end of the shaft in the club, which softens the shaft about 1/3 a flex.

(For hardstepping you go the other way, and end up using a half-inch shaft extender - because a 6i butt-cut shaft will be too short in a 5i.)

[arturo28mx]

Yes you are correct. A word of caution. Trim the shaft AFTER it has been put into the 6i head to make sure you trim it the right length.

I made the mistake of trimming my XP95 shafts before installing them into my AP2 irons. I figured half an inch difference from one to the other. Guess what, the hosels are not the same length. Shorter irons have longer hosels than longer irons (at least in my AP2). So you really need to install the shaft first, then measure and  trim it to proper length.

By the way, for me soft stepping the XP95 once hardly made any difference. I think some shafts respond more noticeably to softstepping than others.

Edited June 20, 2017 by arturo28mx

[CaseyD]

Thanks guys there was a great deal on some tour issue x100. Wanted to soft step and the guy already had so I was a little cautious, didn't want to end up with my 6i too short being different heads and all. Missed out on the deal but I appreciate the replies. Thank you. 

[CaseyD]

School me, is the 1/3 softer/ harder depending on hard or soft stepping the shafts a known amount or is it a guestimation?  Trying to learn all I can. My grandpa was small time club builder in his little town building clone sets for all the older guys. I e messed around with it a little and now getting a little more serious about it. 

[WUTiger]

I haven't seen the mathematical calculations on this, but the 1/3 softer-harder is the value always given.

I suspect it's a fairly accurate average. If you wanted to do a before-after, you could chart the effect by measuring club-by-club difference in cycles per minute (CPMs).

Edited June 20, 2017 by WUTiger

[CaseyD]

Ok I'll trust ya. Hahaha. I'm actually surprised the industry hasn't got away from R S X flex designation and went to CPMs. I used to mess around in long drive for a couple years and CPMs were way more consistent for feel. But one companies x flex would end up being another companies S flex according to the numbers.  The only issue there is making sure everyone clamps the butt end the at the same distance. Like everyone either clamps at 4" or everyone clamps at 6"