Playing with steel again............why is it better?

sdandrea1 · 2017-10-10T20:40:56+00:00

I can't seem to get away from the fact that the heft of steel shafts markedly improves my ball striking, especially with irons. Prosoft inserts and the Band...

Tinker

I definitely prefer steel in irons. I’m trying not to jump around and sticking with my VIP by Nicklaus blades with TT custom lite sensicore shafts and hitting my irons better than I have in a long time.

ZWExton

Whatever helps you hit the ball with the center of the face with a good strike and club path is scientifically the right setup. Could be the weight helping you keep your hands subdued and swing more with the body.

Did you do a lot of manual labor in life? I think naturally strong paws need some weight to keep from overpowering the club.

sdandrea1

ZWExton

I thought Manual Labor was a Brazilian soccer player...................

No I am not Popeye. I have medium sized paws, but I do swing more with the larger muscles of my shoulders and legs than my hands. I think it's the fact that I learned with steel and developed my natural swing with steel. My only hope for graphite (when eventually required by age/health), is probably going to be the heaviest ones I can find (cha-ching$).

therod

2 rounds of tendinitis changed my mind. I now play Xcaliber TourX sticks and I love them. I use the heaviest stiffest shafts they make and if I need new sticks with different shafts I will get the heaviest stiffest shafts I can find since it seems the Xcaliber brand won't be available any longer which makes me sad. I've used several of their other shafts, which are all very good.

Typhoon

It just helps your tempo Steve. Helps stop you from casting... like what ZWExton said. You see people putting heavier shafts in their wedges all the time. Keeps some types of swings on plane better which leads to better ball striking and more distance.

The prosoft inserts are a good idea. If you can get a set of Nippon steel shafts, they are also great as far as not being harsh on the joints.

Steelfiber shafts are great too...pricey but they have a 115 gram weight which I think is around what the zz lites were.

sdandrea1

Typhoon Nippon steel shafts, they are also great as far as not being harsh on the joints.

Steelfiber shafts are great too.

all the good shit is expensive....................that's life!

Eguller

Steve...It is not rocket science. For many golfers, it is more difficult to 'come over the top' with a
heavier steel shaft and much easier to 'cast' or come over the top with a much lighter shaft.
Eventually, many graphite users acclimate to the lighter weight. JMO....YMMV.

sdandrea1

Eguller For many golfers, it is more difficult to 'come over the top' with a
heavier steel shaft and much easier to 'cast' or come over the top with a much lighter shaft.
Eventually, many graphite users acclimate to the lighter weight.

Makes sense Dan. Gonna hang on to steel a long as the joints will allow!

Eguller

sdandrea1

Why not ! Nippon have a soft feel and with Pro Soft inserts, good to go. Oh, soft grips too.

LBlack14

After going to graphite with my DTG irons I said I'd never go back, but the last 2 sets I've built with lighter steel (Spectre Lites) and Prosofts, have worked fairly well from my limited playing time. I just prepped some Matrix Studio 84s for some Topflite Tour heads (3-PW) today. Gonna shaft 'em up for Saturday's outing (Jaegermeister Open). I told myself today that this is the last set of irons I build and I mean it!!

raggmann54

LBlack14 "I told myself today that this is the last set of irons I build and I mean it!!" I think I told that to myself 8 sets of clubs ago. Or was it 11 sets ago??? I forget...

LBlack14

raggmann54
I'm done. It's not fun anymore. Golf's moving that direction too.

PA-PLAYA

Several years back I was playing with steel-shafted Ping G25 irons, reg flex. I decided to switch out the shafts with graphite, which didn't work out as well as I'd hoped. Like you - I too prefer steel in my irons.

I also played a similar lofted Perfect Club back shortly after they first came out. Hit it pretty well... not sure why I ever got rid of it to be honest. Then again, I can say that about a lot of clubs I used to own.

Might be because I used to have a better golf swing back in the day! lol

Rickochet

sdandrea1 Even more interesting is I put my old 21* Perfect Club (yes, the Peter Kessler one) back in the bag. With it's graphite shaft and heavy head, the total weight is 363 grams.

I have some "Heavy Sole Rescue" clubs in da bag I have had for about 15 years. They are 260, 270 & 275 grams and are .335 bore. I shafted them up with some True Temper TX 90 shafts and somehow lucked into the perfect tip trim for me. They were sold as being similar to the perfect club. Last week I used the 20° M3 to hit one out of 2' tall junk uphill and over a bunker at 190 yards to pin high 10' away. I have always wanted to try a driver with a heavy head in the 270 gram range. I have one made as a training aid at 270g but at 10° all I hit are worm burners.

cpanther1995

I tried graphite shafted irons once, 85 gr ea and they weren't right for me. Been using Rifles with Pro Soft inserts for years. Works good.

I'm seriously considering the NV Pro 105 iron shafts or sonething equal. A friend of mine uses these and loves them. I may get a set and use them in my Piranha heads.

Weirfan

I'm the same, more heft = better control.

i just switched out the 65 gram TS Vengeance Platinum driver shaft in my Ping G with an 83 gram Enzo zone 70 tour HV and in back to back rounds at the same course hit 20/24 fairways and its a very difficult course. No compromise in distance at all, might even be longer

sdandrea1

Weirfan

Peter - just for fun I played 18 today with one of these - Rifle steel (R80). Hitting the small clubhead was good practice and easier than I thought it would be and the shaft felt great. I played a familiar course so I know where my best drives usually stop. I was only about 5 to 10 yards shy of those. VERY easy to hit straight.

ZWExton

Weirfan How did you come upon that shaft? I've been considering grabbing a Wishon S2S Black 85g shaft for my driver - I play at 44" or less. Would be open to inexpensive options that are easier to acquire.

Typhoon

Steve, stop nickel and dimeing crap in the online flea markets. Make a one time purchase on something good that works. You'll love not doubting the equipment.

Yes, I know that's not fun for u.😁

sdandrea1

Typhoon Steve, stop nickel and dimeing crap in the online flea markets. Make a one time purchase on something good that works. You'll love not doubting the equipment.

Yes, I know that's not fun for u.

Sounds like a great idea................maybe one day, I'll stop the ho-ing. I have had the Eye 2 irons in the bag now for 4 rounds and they remain sooooooo solid. Maybe I can just settle into these?😨

Weirfan

sdandrea1

Blast from the past.

I agree with Dan, my issue is with casting and the added heft helps

Weirfan

ZWExton

I got it on close out from a local distributer. I'm in Canada so not sure it would be cost effective for you with shipping.

ode

ZWExton you can find aldila NV 85 on the bay from time to time for cheap; aldila vs proto 80 can still be found at Hireko; if you are looking cheaper than that then dtg has some matrix shafts that would work, kujoh 85, red tie, and a Radix that are all 80+g.....not sure on the available flexes.