TheBlade Can this be done? I feel like it can because it is clear to me when I line up the first step in two different irons, the tip section (into the hosel) is a lot longer in the 7 iron compared to that of a PW... just like it would be in non-tapered shafts. This is a first for me.
DonM Absolutely. It’s done all the time. If you are pulling an existing set and re-using the shafts to soft step, you’ll just have to trim the excess length off the butt ends. Easy peasy.
sdandrea1 I've done it many times in my PING projects. Just stick the 8i shaft in the 9i, etc., and butt trim accordingly.
fatshot sdandrea1 Just curious.....Does anybody know how much this softens a shaft? Does soft-stepping by ONE club equal to one flex? Soft-stepping by TWO...??? I wouldn't think one club would soften it by much. I would guess that you'd have to soft-step by at least two to notice the difference, but just a guess.
KCee fatshot Wasn't it like 0.30? I thought soft stepping Rifle 6.0 once got you to 5.7 or so? That's on Rifle's scale though so I'm not sure how that compares to another model's R vs S.
sdandrea1 fatshot Soft stepping unitized parallel shafts is usually 1/2", but how much it actually changes the shaft behavior (CPMs), I dunno. @scotts33 ?
colej Here’s a really good explanation of both .355 and .370 shafts https://www.hirekogolf.com/blog/post/soft-stepping-and-hard-stepping-golf-shafts
colej fatshot I’d always heard each time you soft step a shaft it softens the flex 1/4. According to that link I’d you soft step 2 times you would be a 1/2 flex softer.
scotts33 There are no standards in flex always build a test iron if you are a hobbyist and try it out as a test iron then build the rest after you test and know what your target is and want to hit.
bad9 The times I've soft stepped one or two clubs I have found it made no noticeable difference in feel or performance.
scotts33 bad9 The times I've soft stepped one or two clubs I have found it made no noticeable difference in feel or performance. It depends on what model shaft, the shaft profile and if they were .355t or .370p. ie. Nippon 950GH constant weight it wouldn't matter if it was .355t or .370p as they are very close to the same, the .370p are also not tip trimmed both .355t and .370p are installed with no tip trim and butt trim only so you would see negligible difference. You would still see a difference (frequency or measurement in stiffness) in that same shaft in soft or hard stepping. The reason many can't feel or see a difference is the ability to discern that difference.
CallMeAl I've always went by the 1/3 rule. Don't want to do too much at first. Do one club and see if it's what you're after. If not, soft step twice and so on. Good Luck!