It used to be that graphite shafts felt whippy and were mostly for older people with hand problems but the technology has improved to where graphite is now on par with steel, if not slightly better. IMO, in the not so distant future, steel shafts in irons and wedges will be a thing of the past.
Theres really no downside to graphite and all upside. I tend to think the only reason we have this attachment to steel is because that's what we've played for most our lives. I have a young nephew who was raised on graphite. As more players come around that are more like him, I wonder what the sentiment towards steel will be then. Different graphite iron shafts are like driver shafts.
They have different bend profiles so one may not work for your swing while another may. Recoil's did not work for me but Steelfiber did. Steelfiber Regular and Stiff Steelfiber 95 and Best fit for my swing was the Steelfiber 95 Regular. I played ZZ65 shafts for tens years and then the last few years got fit into PX 6. All these shafts were terrible for me on the course probably due to weight. Did a Club Champion fitting at the beginning of the year and tried a bunch of different shafts including graphite.
This shaft is light, stable and smooth for me. Really, the only downside that I see with graphite is cost. I actually made the move 2 years ago doing exactly this. Obviously they do feel completely different. By feel, to me it was "softer" meaning less vibration, definitely feel the clubhead, lighter overall, etc. I also found that I got a slightly higher ball flight when I struck the clubs well than I did with my steel shafts.
Now , I could have gotten this by just changing to a different steel shaft profile as well. What I did not get, was an immediate increase in distance which somewhat surprised me from this video given the swing speed was not drastically increased. All in all, I do like the graphite now. I went from X to Recoil Proto F5. Also went from S in wedges to Proto F4. My dispersion is tighter but I think it may have to do with finding the right weight for my swing more than going steel to graphite.
Love the feel of graphite though. No hesitancy when I swing thinking I may hit a rock. The one downside to graphite is swingweight. Never tried adding tip weights to graphite irons so I'm stuck with lead tape on my beautiful Ps. Ah, ok. The video was pretty painful, I so I missed read: skipped over that part. But it seemed pretty clear that the comparison was a "random" not specifically fitted to the guy graphite shaft to a steel one, and so that could certainly be one of the results, especially given that the guy had never hit a graphite shaft before.
Graphite used to be an "old man's" shaft, to provide whip and easy distance. Though some people still erroneously think of graphite that way, graphite has come a loooooong way. The biggest problem I have with graphite iron shafts is the selection of heavier weights. I've always tended to have better results with heavier shafts, whether that be driver, irons, or wedges. I installed NV's in a set of Golden Rams, and had great success with them, but the lighter weight took some adjustment, especially in the long irons.
Even found I was getting better wind performance with the graphites, go figure. Overall, I consider the "experiment" a success, in spite of my weight preferences.
Here are a few categories where the graphite and steel shafts will differ. Some new steel shafts on the market will rival the graphite when it comes to speed, but for the most part, if you need a lightweight golf shaft, you will want to go with graphite. Lightweight golf shafts help players that need extra swing speed. With the graphite shafts being a bit easier to swing, you can gain extra speed and hit the ball with more force.
One great thing about graphite shafts is that you can also get them in heavier weights. Even though most golfers assume that steel golf shafts will be the only heavy choice on the market, this is not the case. Golfers need to consider how the weight of the shaft impacts them on the first hole and the eighteenth hole. The ball flight of your golf shot will be impacted by the type of golf shaft that you use. Graphite shafts allow for a higher ball flight, where steel shafts create a slightly lower, more controlled flight.
The only problem with the higher ball flight is that it can be challenging to control this ball flight for fast swing speed players.
When you get the ball on too high of a launch angle and the vertical launch is a bit much, you can start to lose both distance and control. Many mid to high handicap golfers struggle to get the ball up in the air.
Without this launch, shots tend to run through the green, making it difficult to be an accurate player. The lower handicap player typically likes to control ball flight and hit high and low shots on demand. Steel golf shafts are a better choice for being able to control the flight of your golf ball. Both graphite and steel golf shafts are offered in a variety of flexes.
The complicated thing about golf club flex is that it can vary from one manufacturer to another. A Fujikura Stiff shaft may be a bit different than a True Temper stiff. This is partly why custom club fitting has gotten so much more popular.
As a general rule, a regular steel shaft will play a little stiffer than a regular graphite shaft. Part of this has to do with other factors like weight and kick point.
The flex of the club that you play should directly correspond to your swing speed. The faster you can swing the club, the stiffer the golf shaft that you should be playing. Certain golfers are going to fit into the graphite and steel category very clearly.
Golfers that play graphite shafts typically do it to get extra ball speed. And I now have a 64 degree wedge in the bag which I love around the greens, so I feel like I have perfect set comp right now. Before his experiment during the break, we actually softened his graphite shafts at Honda because he was looking for more of that steel shaft feel.
Jimmy is very knowledgeable about equipment and enjoyable to work with because he knows what he wants. It was the way the shaft flexed into the ball. It was just like a whip at the bottom.
And it had a heavy hit on it. The Stealth and Stealth Plus were extremely forgiving and consistent on the range. With an elevated focus on customization and club fitting, women golfers can find a full array of components in the Custom Shop at TaylorMadeGolf. Via the MyStealth program: In the Stealth Plus model, golfers can choose from various options to create a driver look and feel to match their personal style.
MyStealth is offered in the Stealth Plus model, with various cosmetic combinations. MyStealth will be offered in 9 and TaylorMade has today introduced its all-new Stealth Plus and Stealth fairway woods along with expanded hybrid offerings with the Stealth Plus Rescue and Stealth Rescue.
Carbon is at the heart of the new Stealth fairways, hybrids and drivers, which are all linked by the multi-material construction that is designed to provide higher MOI, faster ball speeds and greater playability. The new Stealth Plus fairway is constructed of Zatech titanium, which is made in small batches using a process that allows engineers to improve the strength of the face while still maintaining a high level of ductility. The ultra-thin construction is designed to promote fast ball speeds while allowing for greater face flexibility.
These changes have resulted in a club with the lowest CG in company history yet in an adjustable TaylorMade fairway. The infinity-edge carbon crown creates a 12 percent larger carbon surface area compared to the SIM2 Titanium fairways, which allows the redistribution of more weight lower in the clubhead.
Mass from the heavy 80g V Steel sole has been re-engineered in pursuit of forgiveness while still maintaining its core purpose of improving turf interaction and versatility. In addition, the Stealth Plus and Stealth fairways contain a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket designed to increase face flexibility, and preserve ball speed and distance, especially on low-face strikes.
The new Stealth Plus comes in a cc profile, with the address area of the Stealth Plus being only two percent larger than SIM2 in design to maintain versatility. The face area is 12 percent larger than its predecessor in a bid to provide improved performance on off-center hits. The Stealth fairway features a larger profile compared to Stealth Plus cc vs cc while also containing an all-new 3D carbon crown that allowed engineers to shift weight lower and deeper in the clubhead.
The new additions feature C Twist Face, which is designed to deliver added speed, with the V Steel Sole working in conjunction to promote versatility and reduced turf drag. As with the Plus fairway, the Stealth features an advanced laser alignment aid that stretches across the top of the face. The laser-etched pattern was designed using optical engineering and player testing to deliver visual cues that influence alignment at address and how the club is delivered at impact.
The Stealth was long as well and launched a little higher than the Plus model. Forgiveness was really good as shots that were off center stayed on line really well. The Stealth Plus rescue contains an iron-like high-toe profile and overall compact footprint in a bid to provide controlled trajectory and shot shape while maintaining added forgiveness.
In the Stealth Rescue, the new carbon crown construction allows for the relocation of 7 grams of weight which has been transferred lower in the head to better position CG in design for easier launch, optimal forgiveness, and better stability through impact. In addition, the Speed Pocket design is engineered to maximize ball speeds and produce greater forgiveness on low-face strikes.
Shape is very similar to last year and that is a good thing, most golfer like it!
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