Interesting observation - steel v graphite

Nat · 2025-05-07T00:29:16+00:00

Once again I am thinking of putting graphite in my irons. I built a TS4 7 iron on a Kura Kage 70r shaft, 37.5”. Sw D0. I hit it at the range and was amazed...

DC300

Nat I moved to graphite years ago, was swinging heavy steel to help with tempo/plane. My elbow pulled a mutiny move on me. I went to Steelfiber 125s, which dampened the sting and the performance was better than the steel in many ways. I tried some Kuro Kage 95g shafts that I quite liked and believe I could do, but I prefer a bit heavier still. If you can find something that fits your eye on flight, go for it. The cool part about graphite is lighter doesn’t have to be a deal killer, you can tweak things with grip/tip weights to your liking, still come out lighter, but get the same swing feel as steel. I “trick” the swing weight scale with Tackimac Unified Jumbo grips, they weigh _88g, makes the feel completely different vs the common _50g grips. I don’t see myself ever going back to steel, if you give it a fair shake, I bet you will feel the same.

scotts33

Heft match is a personal thing not one sine fits ALL.

MoI heft trumps all. As thewitt used to say on FGI, swing weight heft match is just a letter-number. Everyone seems to wants to quantify the industry standard but there are no standards it's what "fits" you personally not what some other golfer uses/needs. This is why major brands can't fit for shit as they keep using what the brand uses for swing weight (with the shafts they offer steel/graphite) but that's not heft match fitting to YOU. Or they fit to a swing weight and controvert the playing length/lie needs to hit that letter-number.

You fit to the golfer and their swing not the swing to the equipment. No wonder golf is such a hard game. ☺

KCee

scotts33 You fit to the golfer and their swing not the swing to the equipment.

The problem is the equipment is a constant while my swing is a ginormous variable 😞

scotts33

KCee The problem is the equipment is a constant while my swing is a ginormous variable

From fitting hundreds of golfers experience over 40 years anyone that plays the game to a mid-ish even higher hdcp. skill level has a common denominator swing usually repeatable. G'Buzzer's are players that have a definite interest in the game and should never compare themselves to PGA pro's which rec. hacks always do...the best thing hacks can do is not watch PGA golf. Perception vs. reality. ☺

pellmell

Nat

I don't understand. Which club did you hit farther on the range?

Par4QC

Nat similar spin and trajectory.

What about swingspeeds?

Nat Trying to decide what it means.

You were comparing 2 different heads to 2 different shafts, with 2 different swings.
IOW...it was no comparison to take anything away from.

Gotta use same heads or same shafts when comparing. Not 'similar'. Head weighting can be different even when they look the same/similar. Not to mention the stiffness of steel vs. graphite.
Also from my experiences with the Kuro Kage shafts, they would actually be 75g, so not much lighter than the 84g Nippons(per website specs).

Just my take....

Birdsboro

who cares how far you hit it. Can your repeat it. i have shoulder pain and switch back and forth between sets with steel/graphite. 7 iron ydg

Razr x tours s300-- 185-190
x-16 pro stock stiff graphite 175-180
diablo edge stock reg graphite. 190-195.

all that matters is that you know how far each iron goes. it doesn't matter.
If your worried about hitting a long iron into the green then replace that club with a hybrid or a fairway wood.

Lately i been mostly using my x-16's just due to playing more often and trying to reduce the pain in that shoulder.

sdandrea1

Birdsboro all that matters is that you know how far each iron goes.

I told that to my buddy who owns a shop. He says, "don't say that so loud in here". 😂

Sparky

After 10 years hitting graphite, with frequent attempts at steel followed by elbow pain, I got a set of Wilson D9 Forged irons that had the DG105 with VSS shafts. I changed grips, and added some ProSoft inserts as well (I had a ton of them lying around, why not). Elbow pain never returned, and my iron play has been so consistent and reliable, I am scared to change. Coming up on two years now, and even my beloved Maltby TS1 set only made it 18 months.

Sure, I'd love to hit it longer. But I have the distances down, gaps between hybrids and wedges work. But I do have 3 sets of graphite shafts in the garage standing by, I know one day I'll be back.

KCee

Sparky the DG105 with VSS shafts. I changed grips, and added some ProSoft inserts as well

That's how I have my TM P770 irons. It works well and I haven't had any problems with my bad wrist or elbows. I played graphite for 5-6 years though and that was better so I'll be going back soon. Just put my old Recoil 110 shafts in some TS3 heads.

I sort of wonder if half my elbow and shoulder problems came from shoveling snow. They would always bother me in the winter, but we've had hardly any snow in 5-6 years and I use snowblower and have a plow guy.

Birdsboro

I have a sweet set of Penley graphites to throw in my razrs but I don’t want to mess up my security blanket in case I am touched by a miracle.

sdandrea1

Birdsboro in case I am touched by a miracle.

Ya never know........it could happen!🤣

Typhoon

My next set will be graphite. I wish we had better options though. I’d love a set of Axiom 105. Our options are too light and I’m not nuts over Steelfiber

DC300

Typhoon if you like heavier shafts, it’s tough to find them in graphite and tougher to find ones that aren’t priced as if they are hand forged by Buddhist monks.

braveheart

I will only say that in my experience Steelfiber i95 and i110 offer me the closest feeling and experience to steel I’ve used.

Nat

Update: I took the TS4/KK combo to the course. It performed as it did on the range re trajectory (high) and straightness (very), and much better in terms of distance. Compared to the TS2 /890GH combo, the ts4/KK was as long , except for one perfect pure strike that the ts2 went 10y farther. The ts4 had no hot spot flier nor did it lose a lot on mishits.
So I have a ts4 set on the way. Will build it up and put in play after my next tournament