How do I determine best shaft for long irons when I can only test a 7 iron??

[nickosbad]

Hi all, had an indoor “fitting” for Ping i230’s today and I’m unsure which shaft choice to make.

 

Current clubs are T100 with AMT White and looking for more forgiveness and height in the longer irons.

 

Ended up as a shootout between the 6.0 PX iO and 6.0 PX LS, spin with the iO was 5900 and 5600 with the LS, we initially went with the LS due to the weight being closer to what I normally play, dispersion and distance was almost identical

 

The worry is that I don’t really fit the profile of an LS player…I hit my 9 iron 150yds and my 7 iron 170yds but longer irons with the T100/AMT could do with more elevation.

 

How am I supposed to decide on a long iron shaft when I can’t hit them??

[Cwebb]

You'll probably have to do your own testing with an independent club maker.  Not a bigger box store environment.

 

Keeping in mind that using a different shaft in a 4 iron in an attempt at extra height vs what fits you well in a 7 iron, may not be the best option for dispersion and shot shape consistency.

 

I always prefer going with a different head design for extra height longer irons, instead of a different shaft.  A head design with a lower Actual Vertical COG is the place to start

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

Wrist to floor measurements along with height are key indicators for shaft length.

For example, I'm 5'11" tall with a wrist to floor measurement (with shoes on) of approximately 35" +/- a touch. I would generally be fit with standard length clubs because of that. I'm probably borderline, but I've always been fine with the standard length.

This chart might be helpful for a general estimate.

 

https://honestgolfers.com/golf-club-length-chart/

[5hort5tuff]

It's a tale as old as time.  Get fit...dont trust results...seek answers. 

 

In this case, I think you should try to get your hands on a ping long iron do some testing.  Additionally, if you get alone well with your current AMT shafts, you could always go that route. 

Edited August 22, 2023 by 5hort5tuff

[Stuart_G]

On 8/21/2023 at 3:13 PM, nickosbad said:

The worry is that I don’t really fit the profile of an LS player…

 

That's not really any cause for worry.   Shaft selection is much more a subjective evaluation.   Those more objective based characterizations are really pretty unreliable.

 

On 8/21/2023 at 3:13 PM, nickosbad said:

but longer irons with the T100/AMT could do with more elevation.

 

Elevation is much more  a function of the head and loft (and the swing itself) than it is the shaft.   Shaft should really only be selected for the effect on consistency, dispersion, and shot shape control.    Tweak launch by bending lofts if needed.  Or alternatively, you might try a progressive swing weight or MOI matched set.  The swing weight gets lighter as the clubs get longer and for some that can help deliver a bit more dynamic loft in the longer irons.

 

On 8/21/2023 at 3:13 PM, nickosbad said:

How am I supposed to decide on a long iron shaft when I can’t hit them??

 

I certainly agree that fitting iron shafts with only a single mid-iron is not ideal - it usually does a pretty good job for most.  Of course there will always be exceptions.   But (unfortunately) the only alternative is really to buy a single long iron before you commit to buying the whole set with that shaft.  Then if it doesn't work out, you only have to replace a single shaft.  Or buy a single shaft and install it in one of your current irons to see how well it works.  Sometimes if I don't want to mess with my gamer set, I'll just buy a single cheap (on sale) component head from someplace like golfworks.com and use that to test the shaft.

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Stuart_G

[Ri_Redneck]

Yeah. If a shaft works fine for your 7i, odds are it will be fine for your 4i. Your generating good speed and should have no long iron problems unless you're trying to sweep them or something.

 

BT

[ShawLF]

I am relatively new to golf, so I can't say this is common, but a a month ago I was at a Titleist fitting event for the members of multiple clubs in the area. They had 4 fitters, each with their own selection of shafts, and about a dozen full sets of irons across the range of Titleist iron heads. A friend of mine was fit for the new T200. His fitter had him hit the longer T200 irons and from that they stopped at the 5i because with the 4i the landing angle was too shallow and ball speed was too close to the 5i.

 

Having said that, I got my current irons during COVID when Titleist wasn't holding fitting events. I had access to Titleist 7 irons from my club, and I borrowed longer clubs from other members to test. From this I ended up with MB (P-7), CB (6-5) and T100 (4i) so I could have around 5mph ball speed and ideal spin/ball flight between clubs.

[driveandputtmachine]

I discovered a long time ago through Dana Upshaw that head design and loft are your best bets for getting height with longer irons and not a shaft change.  I did a fitting with him and he brought the clubs in and then we did the "final" fitting.  Unbeknownst to me he did not bring in a full set of 3-PW, the 3 and 4 iron had a lower CoG, this was almost 20 years ago now and I do not remember what clubs they were.

 

When I got to his shop that day he had everything built and then I hit them, and he adjusted with lead tape and and bending and a sliding grip up and down the shaft for length.  Then I went back for the final final and had everything.  I have done something similar since, I have gone to a 5 wood to get rid of the old 2/3 irons, and before my hybrid was using a T200 or icrossover for my 4 iron.  5 iron I still have the speed for currently.