Taylormade V-Steel: Band of Brothers

[stimpmeterp]

On 6/20/2022 at 9:24 PM, dmeeksDC said:

I’ve joined the Band. The V-Steel 7 wood is perfect for the distance I am seeking to fill. I like how the head is smaller than a lot of more recent 7 woods. Very nimble. As easy to hit as an iron. The sound and feel is as good as this thread says it is. 

 

Nice man.  Are you keeping the Maxtrix in there?  It was just too long for me.  I like the VSteels about 1" to 1.5" under standard length.  

[stimpmeterp]

If I could only carry one VSteel it would be the 16.5 cut to 5 wood length or even slightly less.  True utility at that loft.  

[eric61]

7 minutes ago, stimpmeterp said:

 

Nice man.  Are you keeping the Maxtrix in there?  It was just too long for me.  I like the VSteels about 1" to 1.5" under standard length.  

What shafts do you play in them? I know there's been some talk in this thread about people using DG S300s in theirs; I was considering going that route with higher-lofted ones.

[stimpmeterp]

When trimmed slightly at the tip the stock isn't so bad for a swing speed player in the 95-100 mph range.  Other shafts are choose your own adventure.  Had success with the new Project X HZRDUS red.

[Fuscinator]

1 hour ago, eric61 said:

Well, I'm here thanks to @Fuscinator, who posted in my thread yesterday about 7 woods for lefties. Since then, I've gone down the rabbit hole, and I have some offers in on eBay for left-handed V Steel 7 woods. Once I get one in, I think I'm going to put an old original Diamana Blueboard 103x in there. (Other option would be to put an S300 in it, and save the blueboard for the 3 wood or 5 wood that I'm also inevitably going to buy.)

 

How does the V Steel 7 wood play compared to some current 7 woods? Anything notably different about ball flight, forgiveness, workability, etc.? 

Well, how about that!😻 Welcome to the brotherhood. I can't compare it to current clubs (unless you can wait ten years). I was a longtime Callaway chauvinist (original Steelhead 3, 5, 7 and War Birds 3+, 4, 7, 9 and 11), but once I got my v-steel 7, it's been hard to go back. It's currently my only club between driver and 6-iron (I just treat it like a giant wedge).

 

I know it's harder to find lefty stuff, so I hope you can get one soon. 

Edited July 29, 2022 by Fuscinator
minor error

[eric61]

10 hours ago, Fuscinator said:

Well, how about that!😻 Welcome to the brotherhood. I can't compare it to current clubs (unless you can wait ten years). I was a longtime Callaway chauvinist (original Steelhead 3, 5, 7 and War Birds 3+, 4, 7, 9 and 11), but once I got my v-steel 7, it's been hard to go back. It's currently my only club between driver and 6-iron (I just treat it like a giant wedge).

 

I know it's harder to find lefty stuff, so I hope you can get one soon. 

 

Welp! I submitted several super lowball offers on eBay, thinking I might get lucky and one would hit. They all got accepted and I now, uhm ... have two V Steel 3 woods, two V Steel 5 woods and one V Steel 7 wood on the way. Oops. 

 

OK, so reshafting these things: I've never played a steel shaft in a fairway wood before, but want to try it. What specs do I need to look for? I think Dynamic Gold makes .335 wood versions of their steel shafts -- do you grab one of those and use a shim?

 

Edit: Nevermind, seems like those shafts are incredibly hard to come by these days. For those who play X-flex shafts at what we think of as standard weights in newer woods -- like 60/70 driver, 70 3 wood, 80 5 wood -- what are you using in your V Steels? No idea what the head weights are going to be and how these things will swingweight.

Edited July 30, 2022 by eric61

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

22 minutes ago, eric61 said:

 

Welp! I submitted several super lowball offers on eBay, thinking I might get lucky and one would hit. They all got accepted and I now, uhm ... have two V Steel 3 woods, two V Steel 5 woods and one V Steel 7 wood on the way. Oops. 

 

OK, so reshafting these things: I've never played a steel shaft in a fairway wood before, but want to try it. What specs do I need to look for? I think Dynamic Gold makes .335 wood versions of their steel shafts -- do you grab one of those and use a shim?

 

Edit: Welp, nevermind, seems like those shafts are incredibly hard to come by these days. For those who play X-flex shafts at what we think of as standard weights in newer woods -- like 60/70 driver, 70 3 wood, 80 5 wood -- what are you using in your V Steels? No idea what the head weights are going to be and how these things will swingweight.

 

5 V-steels on the way? If you're going to go, go large!

 

I thought the V-steel shaft tip diameter was .350? 

 

As for shafts, I've a Graphite Design GT6X in my V-steel 4-wood (which I don't play the much), a Tensei Orange Ck 70TX in my 7-wood, which I love, and a GT7X in my 9w, which I put back in the bag recently in place of my 23: hybrid.

 

The 7-wood is probably my favourite club in the bag. I grew up playing persimmon, so I like the small heads of the V-steels.  Not only does it give me more confidence off the turf, I also find it easier to work the ball with a smaller head.

 

Before the Tensei Orange, I had a Quadra Fire RB 6SX shaft in the 7-wood. Now, I hit some bombs with that, but it ballooned a bit too much into the wind and had a tendency to turn over on me. Reshafting with the heavier and stiffer Tensei Orange was one of my best tinkering choices ever.

 

The 9w is OK with the GT7X, but a heavier shaft (GT8X?) might help keep the ball flight down a little. Still, the high ball flight is one reason I like it. If there's little or no wind, it's a great club. It's like a long range wedge.

 

The V-steels are great heads with great feel, but it's important to find the right shaft to get the most out of them.

[eric61]

19 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

5 V-steels on the way? If you're going to go, go large!

 

I thought the V-steel shaft tip diameter was .350? 

 

As for shafts, I've a Graphite Design GT6X in my V-steel 4-wood (which I don't play the much), a Tensei Orange Ck 70TX in my 7-wood, which I love, and a GT7X in my 9w, which I put back in the bag recently in place of my 23: hybrid.

 

The 7-wood is probably my favourite club in the bag. I grew up playing persimmon, so I like the small heads of the V-steels.  Not only does it give me more confidence off the turf, I also find it easier to work the ball with a smaller head.

 

Before the Tensei Orange, I had a Quadra Fire RB 6SX shaft in the 7-wood. Now, I hit some bombs with that, but it ballooned a bit too much into the wind and had a tendency to turn over on me. Reshafting with the heavier and stiffer Tensei Orange was one of my best tinkering choices ever.

 

The 9w is OK with the GT7X, but a heavier shaft (GT8X?) might help keep the ball flight down a little. Still, the high ball flight is one reason I like it. If there's little or no wind, it's a great club. It's like a long range wedge.

 

The V-steels are great heads with great feel, but it's important to find the right shaft to get the most out of them.

I think .350 is right. 

 

I have an original Diamana Blueboard 103X that I'm going to put in the 7 wood. The 7 wood is the one I'm most excited about -- I think it might go straight in my bag. I'm a lefty, and most manufacturers aren't offering their current lineups' 7 woods for lefties ... and those that do are very flat, like the Ping G425 and the Callaway Rogue ST Max. I was looking for something with a little more of a classic shape, and think the V Steel just might be exaclty what I had in mind. 

 

For the others, we'll see. I think I'm just going to scour eBay for cheap, used X-stiff 80/90g shafts that are somewhat smoother profiles. Seems like I've seen some Riptide MX and LX 80TX protos floating around out there for cheap.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

3 hours ago, eric61 said:

I think .350 is right. 

 

I have an original Diamana Blueboard 103X that I'm going to put in the 7 wood. The 7 wood is the one I'm most excited about -- I think it might go straight in my bag. I'm a lefty, and most manufacturers aren't offering their current lineups' 7 woods for lefties ... and those that do are very flat, like the Ping G425 and the Callaway Rogue ST Max. I was looking for something with a little more of a classic shape, and think the V Steel just might be exaclty what I had in mind. 

 

For the others, we'll see. I think I'm just going to scour eBay for cheap, used X-stiff 80/90g shafts that are somewhat smoother profiles. Seems like I've seen some Riptide MX and LX 80TX protos floating around out there for cheap.

 

103X? Hurts my back just thinking about it😱

 

The 7w has been a great club for me. It's versatile: I can use it off the tee, off the deck, in the rough, and even in some fairway bunkers (actually, the 9w is best for those). As it goes the distance I want, I see no reason to replace it with anything newer or shinier.

 

Hope yours works for you as well as mine does for me👍

[Fuscinator]

8 hours ago, eric61 said:

 

Welp! I submitted several super lowball offers on eBay, thinking I might get lucky and one would hit. They all got accepted and I now, uhm ... have two V Steel 3 woods, two V Steel 5 woods and one V Steel 7 wood on the way. Oops. 

 

OK, so reshafting these things: I've never played a steel shaft in a fairway wood before, but want to try it. What specs do I need to look for? I think Dynamic Gold makes .335 wood versions of their steel shafts -- do you grab one of those and use a shim?

 

Edit: Nevermind, seems like those shafts are incredibly hard to come by these days. For those who play X-flex shafts at what we think of as standard weights in newer woods -- like 60/70 driver, 70 3 wood, 80 5 wood -- what are you using in your V Steels? No idea what the head weights are going to be and how these things will swingweight.

Fantastic! I'm the wrong person to ask about shafts (the only times I've had a different shaft put in is when I busted the old one). I'm sure you'll get it figured out, especially with two 3s and 5s.

I'm looking forward to hearing about how these work for you. 

[meliaant]

This thread hot me all hot & bothered enough to throw my VSteel 7w back in the bag for next round, and pull my M4 hybrid...I also have a tour issue 3W with the paint break sitting in my basement I might need to slap around, too.

[AP76]

So what is so good about the v steel fairways guys and which model is best? I really don't see eye to eye with fairway woods generally but I do prefer older models. I realise they have a real cult following and are always in the conversation when it comes to the goat fairway woods. I probably wouldn't take much convincing to buy one but would be interested to know what spec works best for you guys? My driver swing speed is around 110mph and have a gap between driver and 3 iron which I can never seem to fill with any real confidence or conviction. Cheers 

[stimpmeterp]

1 hour ago, AP76 said:

So what is so good about the v steel fairways guys and which model is best? I really don't see eye to eye with fairway woods generally but I do prefer older models. I realise they have a real cult following and are always in the conversation when it comes to the goat fairway woods. I probably wouldn't take much convincing to buy one but would be interested to know what spec works best for you guys? My driver swing speed is around 110mph and have a gap between driver and 3 iron which I can never seem to fill with any real confidence or conviction. Cheers 

IMO.  Sits square.  Not low profile but not deep faced.  Cuts through turf very well.  Hot face.  The right size - not just front to back but also heel to toe.  Just the old standard yet new standard from the tiny heads of yesterday.  If only they weren’t made stock with the shiny black heads!  They look real good when stripped or painted matte!

[eric61]

20 minutes ago, stimpmeterp said:

IMO.  Sits square.  Not low profile but not deep faced.  Cuts through turf very well.  Hot face.  The right size - not just front to back but also heel to toe.  Just the old standard yet new standard from the tiny heads of yesterday.  If only they weren’t made stock with the shiny black heads!  They look real good when stripped or painted matte!

Is there a DIY for stripping the paint off? Saw somebody post one like that earlier in this thread and it looked super sharp.

[stimpmeterp]

paging @HoosierHacker89 I reckon you were able to DIY right?

[HoosierHacker89]

4 hours ago, stimpmeterp said:

paging @HoosierHacker89 I reckon you were able to DIY right?

I took them to my father in laws shop and sand blasted all of them! 

[eric61]

Just got the first couple of the V Steels I bought on eBay in! When these came out, my golf purchases were limited to discount bins, so I've never actually had a really close look at them until now. 

 

LOVE the shape. They just sit perfectly. These have the stock stiff graphite shafts in them, the M.A.S.2 Ultralights. I'll very likely reshaft them at some point, but will give the stock shafts a try first.

 

Thought I'd post some pictures as comparisons to "modern" fairway woods, in case anybody's interested. 

 

First is my Rogue ST LS 3 wood and the V Steel 3 wood. 

 

Second is my TSi2 5 wood and the V Steel 5 wood.

[BIG STU]

13 hours ago, eric61 said:

Just got the first couple of the V Steels I bought on eBay in! When these came out, my golf purchases were limited to discount bins, so I've never actually had a really close look at them until now. 

 

LOVE the shape. They just sit perfectly. These have the stock stiff graphite shafts in them, the M.A.S.2 Ultralights. I'll very likely reshaft them at some point, but will give the stock shafts a try first.

 

Thought I'd post some pictures as comparisons to "modern" fairway woods, in case anybody's interested. 

 

First is my Rogue ST LS 3 wood and the V Steel 3 wood. 

 

Second is my TSi2 5 wood and the V Steel 5 wood.

Can tell you from experience those Stock MAS shafts can vary greatly. I still have the stock shaft in the 9 wood. On the CPM machine it is between a regular and stiff even though it states it is a R. I have had the 7 wood since it is new and played the stock shaft for years until it broke and I never ran the CPM on it but it was marked stiff. Had to go to a UST 65 stiff to match the feel and flight. All I can say is try them and see

[HoosierHacker89]

[Frank_Kasule]

7 hours ago, HoosierHacker89 said:

Wow those look fantastic! 

[HoosierHacker89]

I sand blasted all of my papa’s woods. 3/5/7/9. He’s been playing them since like 2005. 

[SUITS]

Dipping my toes back into the V steel pool. Found a good condition lefty 7 wood with the stock steel shaft. Hope to fill a 210-220 carry number with it. 
 

what has been everyone’s favorite shaft for the higher lofted models to control spin? Is the stock steel going to be low spin as is?

[NRJyzr]

8 minutes ago, SUITS said:

Dipping my toes back into the V steel pool. Found a good condition lefty 7 wood with the stock steel shaft. Hope to fill a 210-220 carry number with it. 
 

what has been everyone’s favorite shaft for the higher lofted models to control spin? Is the stock steel going to be low spin as is?

 

I'm a fan of the good old NV shafts.  If they suit you, could be worth a shot.  That said, just about any good graphite that suits you will get the job done.

 

I used to play with steel shafts in metal woods quite a bit, I found they were actually higher spin than the graphite I've used, and ultimately switched to.  Maybe it was just me, but it happened quite a few times over the years.  Watching a 3w zip back in the fairway was "interesting"

 

[SUITS]

1 hour ago, NRJyzr said:

 

I'm a fan of the good old NV shafts.  If they suit you, could be worth a shot.  That said, just about any good graphite that suits you will get the job done.

 

I used to play with steel shafts in metal woods quite a bit, I found they were actually higher spin than the graphite I've used, and ultimately switched to.  Maybe it was just me, but it happened quite a few times over the years.  Watching a 3w zip back in the fairway was "interesting"

 

I had the NV75 in a 3 and 5 previously. 

[azgreg]

10 hours ago, SUITS said:

Dipping my toes back into the V steel pool. Found a good condition lefty 7 wood with the stock steel shaft. Hope to fill a 210-220 carry number with it. 
 

what has been everyone’s favorite shaft for the higher lofted models to control spin? Is the stock steel going to be low spin as is?

I have TT DG S300's in all my V-Steels.

 

[dhappy42]

11 hours ago, SUITS said:

Dipping my toes back into the V steel pool. Found a good condition lefty 7 wood with the stock steel shaft. Hope to fill a 210-220 carry number with it. 
 

what has been everyone’s favorite shaft for the higher lofted models to control spin? Is the stock steel going to be low spin as is?

TT DG Lites in all my V-Steels. Used to play a 5W with a NV75 and that worked too. 

 

[SUITS]

55 minutes ago, dhappy42 said:

TT DG Lites in all my V-Steels. Used to play a 5W with a NV75 and that worked too. 

 

What type of yardage difference and spin between the stock DG and NV?

[dhappy42]

On 8/19/2022 at 8:23 PM, SUITS said:

What type of yardage difference and spin between the stock DG and NV?

NV was 10ish yards longer, but the shaft was 1” longer than the steel. No idea about spin. 

[SUITS]

My 7 wood arrived, it’s the TT lite stiff. Just waggling this thing it feels like a noodle. I am an x100 iron player so I was expecting it to feel similar to a DG. Did they make a x100 wood shaft?

[Bogeygolfisfun]

Looking for some V Steel insights.  What year is the V Steel with the weight screw and Taylormade written on the bottom.  Also what is the difference between those heads and the ones most pictures on this thread?