Lightweight steel iron shafts questions

sdandrea1

In the interest of trying shit just because I haven't tried some shit:

Steel shafts are available in some pretty light weights now. Nippon Zelos 7 R2 flex is 73.5 grams, for example.

What would I expect to be different in flex, feel, flight when compared to a graphite iron shaft of similar weight/cost/quality?
What effect would soft -stepping said steel shafts have?

Thinking of buying some nice light tapered steel for one of my PING sets.

Smart-azzed snarcasm expected, hoping for some real answers, too. 😉

Eguller

sdandrea1 Thinking of buying some nice light tapered steel for one of my PING sets.

Wasn't 'light & stiff' PING's initial philosophy for irons - with dispersion in mind ?

Typhoon

sdandrea1 In the interest of trying shit just because I haven't tried some shit:

Isn't that what the inscripition on your headstone will be?

Typhoon

sdandrea1 What effect would soft -stepping said steel shafts have?

Softstepping will give you inbetween flexes but keep a desired weight. Its can also change the peak height. Soft stepping twice will give you probably 3/4 flex difference. I've looked at Project X shafts in 6.0 120 grams and softstepping them once to keep the 120 gram weight but make them a bit more flexible.
You can get into some trouble though with the balance point changing if you softstep too many times. Its pretty cool to do with wedges where you take an 8 iron shaft and put it in the wedges.

DonM

sdandrea1 When I had my iron fitting a few weeks ago, he tried several of the Zelos shafts on me. They all felt stiffer than I expected. I think he even tried the Zelos 6, and it was the closest to being decent for me.

Usually I have found ultralight steel shafts to be really soft tipped, and high launching.

scotts33

Nippon Zelos (genre) have a stiff tip shaft profile do not tip make them even stiffer tipped. You'll hate the "feel".

Try Nippon 950GH "R" and soft step .370p or .355t. I know cuz I am one who is a huge Nippon user and fitter/builder. And I know you. ☺ 8950 a possibility but I like the 950GH better. Look at all the LPGA Asian chicks using Nippon 950GH pick one out and emulate swing. The constant weight will help you get better heft match.

If you wanna go up in weight a lil FST 115 Pro .370p A/R and go "A".

Par4QC

scotts33 I've used/have a few sets of the 1050GH in my irons. Can't say enough about how well they play and how much I like them.

Another surprising shaft has been the XP95, and we all know how much I've disliked the True Temper family. 😄
These seem to have a soft feeling tip, for me.

toraider

scotts33 How about the FST90 (if you can get them) or the 850GH?

scotts33

Eguller Wasn't 'light & stiff' PING's initial philosophy for irons - with dispersion in mind ?

Put a decent swing on the ball and you won't have poor dispersion issues that's a huckstering idea of equipment companies because the majority of rec. golfers don't have the mid-iron club head speed to start worrying about a lot of dispersion issues. We are not pro golfers or most G/Buzzers are not. Aim at target ball go to target. 😉

Luc_Van_Daele

Eguller Wasn't 'light & stiff'

Light in swing weight, not so much shaft weight. Those old JZ cushins weigh a ton.

pellmell

Luc_Van_Daele
Sergio Garcia uses Modus 130 shafts with a C-7 swingweight.

Eguller

" ZZ lite " ..... I was referring to Karsten's philosophy ( as well as advertising ). What i remember hearing
was that you'd hit these PING's better/straighter. I'm not advocating.

How would the Nippons differ from the steel shafts in the PING irons Steve has hit ?

scotts33

Eguller How would the Nippons differ from the steel shafts in the PING irons Steve has hit ?

Easy way to find out purchase one or two and try them see how they compare. I'd built one mid iron and one short iron and build light to add weight to watch impact pattern as lead tape is added. Easily pulled apart and build for use.

I never have understood golfer hobbyists that buy a whole set of shafts rather than try one first to see before they go whole hog.

scotts33

Par4QC I've used/have a few sets of the 1050GH in my irons. Can't say enough about how well they play and how much I like them.

Another surprising shaft has been the XP95, and we all know how much I've disliked the True Temper family. 😄
These seem to have a soft feeling tip, for me.

I'd also agree on both. The 1050GH is a bit more stout than the 950GH but close. XP's can be not as high QA as Nippon. Nippon is one of the best QA available. When I FLO on build out they are always very close to where I think they should be. A very neutral shaft.

Par4QC

scotts33 When I FLO on build out they are always very close to where I think they should be. A very neutral shaft.

I don't even mess with any of that any longer. In the past, the sets I've had were all good to go with the logo up, and that's how I build them now. No problems found so far in doing so. And no questions from people seeing 'crooked' labels. 😄

scotts33

toraider How about the FST90 (if you can get them) or the 850GH?

Close and OK QA or used to be on the FST 90. 950GH has just the right amount of shaft weight and balance point for the majority of golfers that have medium tempo and medium release and could fit early release players but I think Steve with Manuel's swing is getting better at not releasing early.

Testing would yield best results. Most build too heavy to start and pooh pooh test results cuz they didn't start light enough. Crap in crap out kind of thing.

wishbone

I've got the Nippon 950 in my Orinda Andy the feel, flight, and weight are good for me me

scotts33

Par4QC I don't even mess with any of that any longer. In the past, the sets I've had were all good to go with the logo up, and that's how I build them now. No problems found so far in doing so. And no questions from people seeing 'crooked' labels.

Depends on what shaft you are speaking of and what kind of results you want to see. Or how much time and effort you want to put in a product that carries your name out the door. Impact testing yields all sorts of results prefer to see a product that is as neutral as I can make it. You can make a superior product vs, jamming a .355t and huckstering them to the mass markets via brand name, huge marketing budgets and non-informed consumers. Great cosmetics with shitty performance but I've got the same clubs as so and so plays. NOT! And even if you did you can't play them anyway.

In reality most rec. golfers don't even need a full set to play decent golf but that's off topic. Like that matters.😁

Par4QC

scotts33 Depends on what shaft you are speaking

True. These were for my personal use, but I'd have no qualms about selling them, and knowing they will work for another also. I would never do that with other shaft brands.

scotts33 but that's off topic. Like that matters.

It doesn't....it's a golf forum. 🤣

scotts33

Par4QC It doesn't....it's a golf forum

Really? Most off topic stuff is NOT golf related. LOL ☺ Most on G'Buzz must not know how to start a new topic?

Now back to Steve's lightweight steel topic!

Typhoon

950GH would be the choice hands down. As far as Ping old light and stiff philosphy, you have to remember back then there were around 5 shaft choices and back then "Lightweight" steel was 114 grams being considered ultralight. So light then isn't light now. Now light shafts can be too light even in steel.

scotts33

Typhoon Its pretty cool to do with wedges where you take an 8 iron shaft and put it in the wedges.

Taking an OG Precision Rifle blank and doing an FCM frequency change/slope for wedges is not like taking said x shaft and tipping 8 iron which most think it's not even close.