• Equipment

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

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.


      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.

          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.

            sdandrea1

            Blast from the past.

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

              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.

                ode
                Tried to post a pic from my phone, nothing different.

                  5 rounds of 18 holes in the last 8 days and my left elbow aches are returning. Steel shafts or too much golf? Crap..........................

                    sdandrea1

                    Both probably. Have you tried one of those tennis/golf elbow straps? They worked for me. I was at the point where it hurt to grip lightly. I did switch to graphite because I never wanted to rest my elbow (i.e. stop playing). Now I can play steel again so it was just temporary.

                    As for graphite vs steel shafts- spend the money on heavier recoil or steelfibers and you won't miss steel at all. It's worth it- just liked spending more on a Weber bbq or a Dyson vacuum, higher initial cost but then you're done and you'll never look back

                        Since high frequency of play and aging is an issue with tendonitis and joints, the older pros must have it much more, particularly the Champions Tour fellows? Are they still with steel or have they switched to the high end graphite shafts like Steel fibers or Recoils?
                        I hit enough bad fat shots to keep my joints and all screwed up anyway but graphite seems to help some over steel. My r flex graphite fat "boy " shaft Wilson Deep reds irons may have lower dispersion than my Raptures with TFC r flex but huge head design differences makes comparison apples and oranges . I too however, believe steel shafted irons would be better scoring for me if could I tolerate them better. Doubt I'll ever spring for a set with the high $$ end graphites. I'm regularly trolling forums , Ebay for iron shaft deals but not going to get real serious until winter comes.

                        Steve, I play a ton and except for a back SI joint (back), my elbow/arm tendonitis has NOT
                        recurred since I switched to Recoils (graphite iron shafts) several years ago. I'm not sure
                        it can be attributed to the amount of play entirely....

                          Eguller

                          I looked up the prices - YIKES! Starting at $30/each. Realistically, I could shaft up the 6-W only. I use a graphite shafted 5h and I can use steel in my Gap, Sand and Lob without any issues (little swings).

                              sdandrea1

                              Yeah, they are pricey - having said that, every now and then a used set of pulls comes up on an ebay auction or sometimes a set of lefty irons comes available cheap with recoils or steelfibers - just keep them as a saved search on ebay and you might get lucky! Alternatively, you could also look for older penley IMS shafts, they come in 105 and 115 grams - i grabbed some new old stock a couple of years ago for less than $10 a shaft and put them in a set of hybrid irons that I use throughout the winter golf season - they are pretty nice too