Need direction please

[Nordy55]

Hello I am on the ever attempt to improve at this game. I am 40 now and have back issues from car wrecks and work. I use to hit a lot further then now due to the back and age. So here is my questions.. am I playing the right clubs? I use to hit 9iron 145-150 in my younger days 20-24yrs of age.  Then it was a 8,7 and now it is a 6 iron. Ball flight with irons is a lower ball flight as well. I ve played stiff flex set and have changed to uni flex in the irons and still use stiff in the driver,wood hybrids. But my drive is all over the place at times. Most hits are balloon drives at about 200-230. The 3wood is similar and my 19 degree hybrid is 190-200, 21 degree hybrid is 170-190. Am thinking of trying Cleveland hb hybrid iron set since I can hit the hybrid I have good.. so am I in need of regular shafts or should I try soft regular or senior? Graphite? Tired of the inconsistency as of lately.  Thoughts?

irons are ft irons from Callaway with uni flex steelshafts.

Edited September 3, 2018 by Nordy55

[Vinsk]

You would benefit from a fitting to see which shaft performs best for you. Regular/Stiff/Senior all vary from one manufacturer to the next. If you aren’t going to be fitted then you should at least see what your swing speed is to start you off somewhere. There’s a lot more to shafts than just stiffness and it can make a substantial difference having the proper one for you. Welcome to TST and glad you’re able to play again. 

[Adam C]

Fitting is never a bad idea. Definitely look at graphite. First it will give you more distance with lighter weights. Second it dampens out more vibration which is always good for any sort of golf related pain. More flexible shaft will help close the face at impact if you are losing the ball to the right. Flex usually does little to actually help with distance other than squaring the face easier. It might give you a little more height but hard to say without knowing your swing.

The stock graphite shafts in the type of clubs you are looking at (hybrid sets) should all have the launch characteristics you are looking for regardless of brand.