Driving Iron Shaft?

[BBousa]

I am changing the top of my bag. debating adding a driving 3i to the bag or doing a 3w and 5w. But in regards to the potential Driving Iron, is there any specific shafts I should be looking to try when testing in stores? 

Current gapping is as follows:
Ping 430 Max 9° w/ '24 Ventus Black 6x - 295y carry
Titleist Tsi 3 4w 15.75° w/ Fujikura Motore x F1 7x- 265 carry

Potential Driving Iron

Ping Blueprint S 4i w/ KBS $ Taper X - 225 carry

[Streuner]

Driving iron can be something really good or bad… you should try them out. It depends on what you are looking for. A driving iron only from the tee box or a utility iron that you play from various places. But I would go with a graphite shaft 10-15gr lighter than your iron shafts. 
if you like the ball flight straight forward penetrating, take some kind of tip stiff shaft like the Ventus Hybrid. If you want the ball lift a bit more, try the Tour AD DI as hybrid. Mitsubishi MMT could be the middle of the other two. 

[Stoc]

Venus black HB is a good place to start if you like vb in driver. Can try blue as well if you're looking for more launch. 

 

Hzdrus black HY will probably be widely available if you looking to try something at a retail shop. As mentioned, GD AD DI is a widely used shaft in the driving iron that has wide use on tour. AD VF HY is another option. I haven't tried it, but others have recommended if you like low / low shafts. 

 

Can always go with a x-stiff graphite iron as well. LA golf l - series, Steelfiber, MMT are all good options. 

[Rbsiedsc]

Do you like the kbs line? The PGH and prototype hybrid shafts are awesome and have similar feel to steel line

[Pepperturbo]

4 hours ago, BBousa said:

I am changing the top of my bag. debating adding a driving 3i to the bag or doing a 3w and 5w. But in regards to the potential Driving Iron, is there any specific shafts I should be looking to try when testing in stores? 

Current gapping is as follows:
Ping 430 Max 9° w/ '24 Ventus Black 6x - 295y carry
Titleist Tsi 3 4w 15.75° w/ Fujikura Motore x F1 7x- 265 carry

Potential Driving Iron

Ping Blueprint S 4i w/ KBS $ Taper X - 225 carry

All depends on desired length, and loft for gapping purposes.  There is no standard for DI/Utility, and could be difficult to find in LGS.  

 

A driving or utility 3i is 20' and standard 39.25".   A standard hybrid/DI shaft tends to be tip soft, while a regular graphite 3i shaft has more of a normal tip section.  

 

I am older and use a Fujikura Pro 95i Tour Spec "S" shaft cut to 39.75" in my T200 17' 2 iron (205+); don't let anyone tell you they are not good off the deck; I hit mine off the deck all the time.  My T100 20' 3i (195+) has a standard 39" length MMT 95S shaft.

Edited August 12, 2024 by Pepperturbo

[Phabs]

I love mine.  Either play a 5 wood or the driving iron depending on the course / wind prediction.   Driving iron goes less wayward on bad swings but the 5 wood has more pop to it 

 

I have a LAGP A Series X flex in Nike VR pro 3 iron - KBS Prototype 105x in a New Level 18* and a KBS Prototype 95x in a Hogan FTX 3 iron.  

Edited August 12, 2024 by Phabs

[Arlin964]

I’ll echo that KBS Proto Hybrid might work well. It’s not super expensive, and has plenty of weight/flex options. It was built from the same “platform” as the C-Taper, meaning a lot of the stiffness is toward the tip. That’s what I was told during a fitting at KBS in Carlsbad. 
 

Tour AD VF hybrid is another option that will be near the low/low side of the spectrum. 
 

One more option that could possibly work, but I don’t know if it’s available outside Titleist stock options - Tensei 1K Black Hy. 
 

 

[phizzy30]

My carry distances are similar to yours and I've had the OG/TR Black in driver.  Currently in the VF which is similar to the OG Black but with better feel.  I have the Ventus Black HB in hybrid and KBS proto in driving iron.  I recommend either shaft as both work well with aggressive transitions although the Ventus launches just a touch lower and spins less.  It's also a bit more anti-left as well for me.  

[mikekim251]

AMT shaft worked well for me. the fewer grams make it perfect and doesn't feel as much as a slog to swing it

[Phabs]

KBS Prototypes are just made for driving irons.  I swung the 95x tonight and it was smooth as hell with perfect launch.  

[M.golf]

i use hulk driver shaft in my di, 90g 6.5tx hzardus green good results

[opensupoverthere27]

If you go the AD DI route, be sure to get the HYBRID version of the shaft, not the "driving iron" version. One is $250 and one is $100

[NMarko]

On 8/14/2024 at 10:25 PM, mikekim251 said:

AMT shaft worked well for me. the fewer grams make it perfect and doesn't feel as much as a slog to swing it

My numbers and fits seem similar to yours, OP. Similar to mikekim251, I’ve found a little lighter weight steel shaft works best for me in a DI. HZDUS black and KBS Proto 105s have been ok but not as accurate. Haven’t tried ventus in a DI, but have a blue 9x in my hybrid. Love that setup. Would give those a try and see what clicks. Good luck!

[NMarko]

One thought regarding your 5 wood comment in the question… Given your gaps you might also have good luck with turning down a 7 wood instead of a std. 5 wood, depending on if left is your typical miss. (Assuming based on your turned down 4 wood.) I’ve found most 5 woods these days tend to be closer to 3 wood than I prefer, which would create too much space between that and 4 iron. I’m learning to love my 7 wood as I can hit my normal window at 245-250 but then also flatten it out or cut it up into the air and get closer to my 4 iron. Great option for versatility and attacking par 5s and long par 3s.

[Pepperturbo]

Here's a shaft we don't hear about much, the Nippon NS Pro Modus GOST Hybrid 91g, which has a very different feeling at impact.  Now I know why Scotty has it in his 3 iron.

[semarlor]

2 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

Here's a shaft we don't hear about much, the Nippon NS Pro Modus GOST Hybrid 91g, which has a very different feeling at impact.  Now I know why Scotty has it in his 3 iron.

I wanted to try this when I got a ZXi Utility from Srixon last month but they didn't have X available, only S. So I stuck with the same Modus 130x as my irons. GOST is really high on my list to hit. 

[Pepperturbo]

14 hours ago, semarlor said:

I wanted to try this when I got a ZXi Utility from Srixon last month but they didn't have X available, only S. So I stuck with the same Modus 130x as my irons. GOST is really high on my list to hit. 

It's not a common shaft; it's quite unique in how it's made and has more of a high bend at the grip. For that reason, "S" flex feels stout to me. I didn't give it much of a chance. So likely to put it in another 2 iron to get a better feel of it's performance. Hope you find one.

[Birdieputt19]

I have a ZX utility 4i that built up with a KBS Tour prototype hybrid in 95x. It’s got a nice penetrating flight but still gets a good amount of spin. Very nice feel through the swing. I’m a Tensei 1k player in my 3h and really like the KBS

[phizzy30]

23 hours ago, NMarko said:

My numbers and fits seem similar to yours, OP. Similar to mikekim251, I’ve found a little lighter weight steel shaft works best for me in a DI. HZDUS black and KBS Proto 105s have been ok but not as accurate. Haven’t tried ventus in a DI, but have a blue 9x in my hybrid. Love that setup. Would give those a try and see what clicks. Good luck!

You should've tested the KBS proto 105X instead of S.  Much firmer feel and way more stable.  I love mine and my only complaint is that it lacks a bit of feel.  

[NMarko]

57 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

You should've tested the KBS proto 105X instead of S.  Much firmer feel and way more stable.  I love mine and my only complaint is that it lacks a bit of feel.  

For sure. Sorry for the confusion. Meant that comment to be plural between the HZDUS black 6.5 and KBS 105x. Definitely agree 105s would likely not have been my best bet.