I’m really happy!

I took an old set of GS irons, cut them down and added a ton of lead tape.
6i 36.5”
7i 36.25
8i 36
9i 35.75
PW & AW. 35.5

80 gram graphite

I’m so much more accurate with them. My usual set is the TS2s with 38” 6 iron on 66 gram shaft.

The short heavy set is one club shorter, but the lofts are one club weaker. There is an obvious height difference on the 6 & 7. But it’s still worth switching. The extra control is huge.

Funny thing. The first two short game shots I did with the AW, I holed out. 😀
The golf gods are trying to tell me something.

Now to look for some heads that I like better that also can take some weight.

    DonM

    So….I’m just wondering how you’d do with 85 or 95 gram shafts. Just adding that to your thought process 😃

    If you want to add head weight maybe Ke4 tour???

    • DonM replied to this.

        colej Possible on the heavier shafts. Worth a try. I’m thinking about the Max. I’ll look at theTour.

            DonM Nippon 950GH constant weight in either .355t or .370p.

            • DonM replied to this.

                A check of inventory shows I have two sets of heads that have undercut cavities where I can glue in weights. Cobra Max, which Steve liked for a day, and Acer XV Pro, which ditto I think.
                🤓

                DonM What flex do you use? I have these and was getting ready to list them. All were 72gr. prior to trimming, and are new. I had even rough trimmed the butt. Would fit 5-GW, SW or 4-GW. R flex.

                • DonM replied to this.

                    Par4QC Thanks. I have ample supply in that weight range. 😑

                      DonM Tried those and didn’t fit. Any experience with Zelos 8?

                      Zelos too light for what I have seen might as well stay graphite. Did you try both R and S 950GH? It's the most used shaft on LPGA.

                      Your thinking is the opposite of most builders. Shorter playing length go heavier smooth shaft profile, longer playing length go lighter stiffer shaft profile. All in all keeps shaft/club on plane better. It's a fine line on how much head weight you add gets to be too much and shaft weight needs to be factored in with head weight to get the right heft match.

                      I remember one of the PHX FGI'ers went for the same total weight for each iron can't remember his ID.

                          scotts33 I remember one of the PHX FGI'ers went for the same total weight for each iron can't remember his ID.

                          ConstantWeight? 🤣

                            DonM

                            Xcaliber Avalon 8 or Avalon 9 which is the same shaft as the Pro X shaft. Avalon is just a fancier paint job

                              The more I read about the xcaliber shafts the more I wish we had them as an option.

                                scotts33 Your thinking is the opposite of most builders. Shorter playing length go heavier smooth shaft profile, longer playing length go lighter stiffer shaft profile. All in all keeps shaft/club on plane better.

                                That's interesting. I've noticed that heavier and softer has been nice in the occasional club I have had with that combo. The hard part is finding that combo. Heavier is easy. Softer is easy. Heavier and softer is rare, especially in graphite. There are some old junk ones that were heavy because they used crap materials, but as far as modern stuff, everything graphite that I've tried in the 80+ range has been pretty stout feeling.

                                From a feel standpoint, the DG S300 in a typical wedge feels heavy and smooth to me. Which I know, most people don't associate DG with smooth. I think I just like the DG flex feel. I demo'd a set of Mizuno irons with the Recoil 95R a few years ago, and they felt like rebar. So I guess I'm just weird.

                                These irons I just modified are using UST Proforce RV2 75 R flex. They are not a bad fit. I played them for years. And the extra 15 grams of weight has made a big difference for me as far as better control of the swing. I'm not actually searching too hard for a better shaft at the moment. Just better heads. But I'm always interested in a better shaft idea.

                                    Typhoon I’d like to give them a run myself. I tried some of the older models in the woods, they were ok. It seems they are one of the only heavier iron shafts out there without jumping to stupid expensive.

                                      DonM Heavier and softer is rare, especially in graphite

                                      As you noted, heavier graphite usually is stiffer, at least in the old days.
                                      SMT Mike mentioned that years ago.

                                      I currently have Accra Steel (post Rifle/Royal Precision) that I assembled at 4.5 flex.
                                      Best of both worlds for me.
                                      Maybe look for a 4.0 set of Rifles for yourself?

                                        DonM I demo'd a set of Mizuno irons with the Recoil 95R a few years ago, and they felt like rebar. So I guess I'm just weird.

                                        I have a set of irons with Recoil 110 and I find them far smoother than the Recoil 95. Not sure if the profile is different or what. I've tried other shafts like that as well. I love the Oban Devotion 7 in my fairway and in a mini driver, but the Devotion 6 feels like cr*p in a driver. You would think the shaft would just be lighter, but I'm told they are a very different profile as well.

                                          DonM You are looking for smooth but a stiffer tip profile. I'd be looking for that kind of shaft profile. Issue is head weight/shaft weight they have to coincide.

                                          • DonM replied to this.

                                              scotts33 I get what you are saying, you want a well balanced club. My latest experiment is not quite there.

                                                DonM What makes a shaft smooth? Not a trick question!

                                                In Nippon's case it's quality control that's where it starts. They manufacture the best quality available in steel. True Temper's quality in Amory, MS is some of the worst. Smooth can mean different things to different golfers. Shaft fit = club head speed, transition time, release early, mid, late. The transition time and release are what separates golfers into shaft needs and shaft profiles they fit. Heft separates them further with shaft weight/head weight into playing length.

                                                Example a lot of seniors and ladies are fit into too light a shaft weight and low heft match which makes the club "feel" too light and they can't keep club on plane.