Graphite shafts for irons

[thecraw]

Can someone tell me what graphite shaft has the closest characteristics or has a similar profile to S300. S300 is a shaft I like and am comfortable with as a "stock" option.

 

Looking to change away from steel due to a arthritis in my fingers.

 

Steelfiber? Recoils? Aldila RIP? Xcaliber?

 

Sadly I don't have anywhere or anyway of trying these out. I have a fairly smooth tempo and have played stiff all my days. Not sure of my swing speed for 5 iron etc but my driver speed is about 98-103 on average.

 

Comfortable hitting 5 iron from 175 without going at it. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[pmcuk]

You must have demoed some graphite shafts in your life. What were your impressions of what you've tried to date?

[Golf64]

When I was fitted @ Titleist, the fitter told me the SF are close to S300s.

[TheBoomer]

SteelFibers are the way to go.

Try them soft stepped and hard stepped.

[CallawayKid86]

Steelfibers are solid. The Recoil Proto 125 F4 would be close as well. My experiences with the P130 from Matrix and the RIP from Aldila were that they launched higher for me. I went from X100 to the Proto 125 F5 and the retail 125 f5 hardstepped and loved the shafts. Currently using an older set of Matrix MFS 40+, but they are almost 30 grams lighter than the recoils.

[Mob]

I used to play S300 shafts and now play Recoil Prototype F4 110 shafts in my irons. Love them and thrilled that I changed to graphite.

[tbowles411]

[quote name='Mob' timestamp='1410893456' post='10127225']
I used to play S300 shafts and now play Recoil Prototype F4 110 shafts in my irons. Love them and thrilled that I changed to graphite.
[/quote]
Agreed. I had to switch from steel to graphite for health reasons. I started with the stock graph shafts and then went to Steefibers. THEN went to Recoils because the Steelfibers felt too boardy to me. The Recoils were absolutely perfect and had much tighter dispersion.

[thecraw]

[quote name='pmcuk' timestamp='1410891348' post='10127045']
You must have demoed some graphite shafts in your life. What were your impressions of what you've tried to date?
[/quote]

Well thanks for that insight. Just thought I'd ask for the fun of it.

[thecraw]

So Steelfiber and Recoils seem to be the popular way to go.

I have the Xcaliber in my driver and absolutely love that. Has anyone got any experience of the Xcaliber iron shafts?

[pmcuk]

If you're in Scotland you'll find Recoils and Steelfibres both hard to get and very expensive, unless Scotland becomes an independent nation and the new currency is staggeringly successful against the dollar......

[thecraw]

Hard to get possibly, possibly not.

Expensive yip, however its for my benefit so I don't mind having a wee outlay for my own benefit.

Easy enough to import if I have too.

[KARL M]

[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1410893743' post='10127247']
[quote name='Mob' timestamp='1410893456' post='10127225']
I used to play S300 shafts and now play Recoil Prototype F4 110 shafts in my irons. Love them and thrilled that I changed to graphite.
[/quote]
Agreed. I had to switch from steel to graphite for health reasons. I started with the stock graph shafts and then went to Steefibers. THEN went to Recoils because the Steelfibers felt too boardy to me. The Recoils were absolutely perfect and had much tighter dispersion.
[/quote]

TBowles411 : What steel shafts were you using ? Which steelfiber did you find boardy ? What version of the recols are you playing ?

[GLF4EVR]

There have been several posts on here about the Xcaliber iron shafts. I have read enough of these posts that if I switch to graphite for my irons they will be the ones I choose. Just checked GolfWorks website & it looks like they are on sale.

[Fore_Putt]

Are steel fiber shafts considered graphite? I've never hit them, but reading up on them it seems to be a steel/graphite hybrid shaft.

[michaelskivinis]

[quote name='thecraw' timestamp='1410884355' post='10126371']
Can someone tell me what graphite shaft has the closest characteristics or has a similar profile to S300. S300 is a shaft I like and am comfortable with as a "stock" option.

Looking to change away from steel due to a arthritis in my fingers.

Steelfiber? Recoils? Aldila RIP? Xcaliber?

Sadly I don't have anywhere or anyway of trying these out. I have a fairly smooth tempo and have played stiff all my days. Not sure of my swing speed for 5 iron etc but my driver speed is about 98-103 on average.

Comfortable hitting 5 iron from 175 without going at it. Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.
[/quote]I moved from S300's in my mizuno blades to regular graphite shafts in some x-14's and my game actually improved. They are far more comfortable to hit if there are health issues with the hands/arms. There was no loss of distance either thank god.

[Stuart_G]

[quote name='isis_akaduchess' timestamp='1410912799' post='10128809']
Are steel fiber shafts considered graphite? I've never hit them, but reading up on them it seems to be a steel/graphite hybrid shaft.
[/quote]

Yes and Yes. SF's are mostly constructed w/ graphite. They just have a very thin layer of steel fibers (~8 microns) in addition to the graphite fiber use.

[thecraw]

Is there one that will produce a significantly lower ball flight than the other?

[Stuart_G]

Strictly from the standpoint of the shaft bend profile, with iron shafts it's unlikely any shaft choice will produce a "significant" change in ball flight. And that's even if you have a late enough release of the wrist c0ck angle. mid and early releases will generally not see any changes.

Now, different shaft weights and different feels from the bend profile can potentially influence the swing, which in turn could cause various changes but that's something you have to explore individually, it can not be accurately predicted. The most effective way to increase launch angle is to change the actual lofts of the heads or change to a head that promotes higher launch (includes moving to hybrids for longer clubs).

[Hurley77]

I just switched to Recoil Prototype 110 F4 hard stepped once. I was fitted on trackman and have played S300 my whole life. For me, the steelfiber fiber had very similar spin rates as the S300 (within 150 rpm). I also tried the non proto recoils, but the recoil protos just shocked me with happiness. The recoil prototype 110 lowered my 6 iron spin rate on average by 900 rpm vs S300. I'm a high ball/spin player. Not only is there great fill with the recoils, but it's lowered my spin to where I feel i can combat texas winds now. I've always thought the S300 was lowest spinning shaft for my game, but boy was I wrong. I've also tried the aldila tour 115. These would be my second choice behind the recoils. The dispersion of these are awesome. Spin was between S300 and recoil prototype for me. I would say try and get on a launch monitor, as I'm so happy I did. Here are some average numbers from my fitting with a 714 AP2 6 iron:
S300 7100 rpm 168 carry
Steelfiber I95 7000 rpm 169 carry
Recoil 95 6750 rpm 173 carry
Recoil Proto 110 6200 rpm 177 carry
Aldila 115 Tour 6550 rpm 174 carry

[charliebrown]

[quote name='thecraw' timestamp='1410899656' post='10127809']
So Steelfiber and Recoils seem to be the popular way to go.

I have the Xcaliber in my driver and absolutely love that. Has anyone got any experience of the Xcaliber iron shafts?
[/quote]

I just installed 4 in a set of irons (7-PW). Playing them today and will report back.

[seifer248]

I went from C taper 130x's to 110 Steelfiber and couldn't be happier. Strong when you want to play a full shot but so much easier to play a 60-70% shot. Plus after breaking two metacarpus in my hands it's gotten so much easier to play golf in the colder weather.

[thecraw]

[quote name='charliebrown' timestamp='1412009451' post='10206145']
[quote name='thecraw' timestamp='1410899656' post='10127809']
So Steelfiber and Recoils seem to be the popular way to go.

I have the Xcaliber in my driver and absolutely love that. Has anyone got any experience of the Xcaliber iron shafts?
[/quote]

I just installed 4 in a set of irons (7-PW). Playing them today and will report back.
[/quote]

Any updates?

[chch3]

I made the switch this year. I hit 3 different graphite shafts and ended up with 2 different sets. I have two sets of clubs currently.

I have Apex with Recoil 110 F4. Smooth as butter and so much better on my hands and wrists.

I have a set of MP32's that I am rebuilding and I put Steelfiber 110 in them. Really like them also.

I also tried the Aldila 115 in the MP32 and I had to soft step them once to get them in the flex that I like. Didn't like them as much as I liked the Recoil or Steelfibers.

I found that the ball flight was slightly higher with the Recoils than the Aldila and Steelfibers.

[cardoustie]

I switched not long ago and have a thread on it .. search it up sir

Lucky to get some 125g Aldila proto's in X from a member here. THEY ARE AWESOME. Feel and performance is great

I found the steel fibre feel not to be to my liking

[mikah]

I went from Dynalite Gold S300 tipped an inch
to Nunchuk Xi iron shafts.(100 gram)

Totally dampens vibration, without feeling boardy.

zero droop, zero kick, so you get true loft; recent price decrease to $50.00
Retief Goosen and John Daly play these.


.

[ccorrada]

[quote name='mikah' timestamp='1414425865' post='10357421']
I went from Dynalite Gold S300 tipped an inch
to Nunchuk Xi iron shafts.(100 gram)

Totally dampens vibration, without feeling boardy.

zero droop, zero kick, so you get true loft; recent price decrease to $50.00
Retief Goosen and John Daly play these.


.
[/quote]I'm very intrigued with the Nunchuk. I just got one to put in a TM Stage 2 Tour Issue 20* hybrid and have been stalking the iron shaft. Just curious if you still like them and what you swing speed is.

Thanks!

[Nessism]

Steelfiber i95 are an almost perfect match to DG S300. I have a set of MX25's w/i95's and love those clubs.:D

 

 

[Colej]

I've hit the recoil 125 and the steelfiber 110. Neither of those are as smooth as the axe tour x 105. I'm hoping that they come out with a heavier wedge shaft. It's been in the works.

[Stuart_G]

[quote name='Colej' timestamp='1417903978' post='10553875']
I've hit the recoil 125 and the steelfiber 110. Neither of those are as smooth as the axe tour x 105.
[/quote]

The x-stiff or stiff steelfibers?

[Colej]

Stiff on both the recoil and steelfiber.

I will also add that I have tried the Wishon red iron shaft 110 stiff. Pretty nice shaft. I think it's built to be compared to the recoil. Stiff tip and butt but soft middle. Compared to the axe tour the balance point on the axe is lower.

I currently have them both shafted in the same 7 iron heads.