golfergray

Wow, thanks, very helpful. It's looking like the Project X Flighted 5.0 will be the best match, surprised that my pro shop recommended the 5.5s if they play 0.5 firmer. Also considering the S300 but soft stepped to bring it back to 5.5. Any drawbacks to doing this?

Another of my Rifle Flighted 5.5 shafts has bitten the dust and I need to find a suitable replacement, the original shafts are no longer available. Fortunately last time I had to replace a shaft I was able to replace it with a non-flighted rifle, which as it was in the 8 iron wasn't a big problem, however I don't think I'm going to be that lucky again. My pro shop is advising a Project X Flighted or non-flighted 5.5 or an S300, any advice on which will be closest to the original Rifle Flighted 5.5? I'm not sure the flighted / non-flighted is a big issue as I'm replacing the 7 iron shaft, i.e. in the middle of the set. My understanding of the flighted shafts is that the long irons and short iron shafts have different kick points to 'normal' shafts to promote different ball flights, so the kick points in say a Rifle Flighted and an S300 7 iron shaft would be similar and have similar ball flights? Onto flexes. I've read that the Project X Flighted 5.5 will be similar to a Rifle Flighted 5.5 but that a Project X (non-flighted) 5.0 would be closest to the Rifle Flighted 5.5. Any thoughts on this? I've also read that an S300 would play about 5.7? Finally, weight? I was originally fitted for the Rifle Flighted 5.5s over S300s as they are a bit lighter, does this sound about right? Can anyone shed any light on whether the Project Xs (flighted or not) are similar weights to the Rifle Flighted? In summary, I'm trying to choose between the Project X Flighted 5.5 or S300, which will be closest in terms of flex and weight, or is there not much in it? Cost is also a concern as the S300 will no doubt be significantly cheaper. Or should I be looking at something entirely different, say a KBS R+ or something? Thanks for reading!

I remember when sets came with a PW and a SW, custom wedges didn't exist. In the mid 90's I got a set of Petron Boss GB100s that came with an XW, i.e. an early gap wedge. I now carry my R7 TP PW, a Titleist 52.08 gap wedge and 56.14 sand wedge. I find I can hit most shots with my 52 and can open up the face quite reliably and hit any shot inside about 110 yards. My 56 has lots of bounce and is primarily used as a sand wedge, I rarely use it from the fairway or round the green. Given a 70-80 yard shot I'd rather hit an easy 52 than a hard 56, I find I can control the distance better.

Well, I'd pretty much decided on the KBS Tour R+ (FCM 5.6) as the closest match, however the shop have just rung me to say they've 'found' a non-flighted rifle 5.5, which has to be the best compromise. Getting the club back tomorrow and will be interested to see the results. No more club throwing for me!

Thanks for the reply, are you saying my front (left) leg should be bent or straight at impact? I've also been told to try and clear my left hip out of the way rather than sliding it towards the target, would this also help?

Having struggled for a few years and seen my handicap rise to 8 I bit the bullet and had a few lessons last year. Having sorted out my alignment, posture and swing plane I'm now back down to 6 and things are looking good! I'm hitting the ball consistently straighter and finding more fairways off the tee. My big problem now is ball striking from the fairway, possibly caused by a change to my posture last season (more upright) and not helped by lack of practice and dodgy course conditions over the winter. My biggest problem is catching the ball a bit thin, although I do hit the occasional fat when trying to dig out of a nasty winter lie. Does anyone have any good drills to improve ball striking? I'm a fairly steady swinger, no overswing and am definitely in the 'slider' camp and not a 'digger'.

Thanks for the responses all very useful, I should probably have said that I'm in the UK. I've been in touch with the UK distributors for Precision Rifle today and they've both confirmed that the Rifles have been discontinued :-( Which leaves me with a bit of a dilema. I was fitted for these clubs and seem to recall that the Rifles were recommended because they were light and offered a high launch angle which suited my slower swing speed. Required specs for the R7 TP would be .355 tapered. I'm therefore reluctant to go for the S300's as the high weight and low launch goes against what I need. I'm therefore thinking the Dynamic Gold SL S300's, KBS Tour R+ or Project X 5.0. All seem to have similar weights and flex (the S300s would be slightly stiffer I believe). Any thoughts on the above? Any other factors I should be considering?

So the shaft in my 8 iron (Taylor made r7 tp) snapped last week and i'm being told by all the local pro shops that the rifle 5.5s are no longer available. What would be the closest match in terms of weight and flex? I'm thinking project x 5.0 or s300s? Thanks in advance.