First impressions, SK Fiber TT75 iron shaft & Vertex irons

DonM

I am trying this shaft in the Vertex irons at 37". Clubmakers should like this shaft, other than maybe the price? I did full CPM profiles on all 7 that I bought. They are super consistent from shaft to shaft. Also very consistent around the shaft. They seem to be FLO'd on the logo.

It plays soft IMO. Hireko publishes a standard tip trim that is a smooth swinger profile, and then a more aggressive one. I chose the aggressive one, which tips a 7 iron at 2". At D3, the R flex shafts came out to PCS 4.0 flex. It has that somewhat mushy feel at impact, maybe you know what I'm describing? In fact, some times it felt like a toe hit, but I would look at the club and the grass mark was dead center. Very weird. Could it be the heads??

I like the Vertex heads. Including the soles, which some of you know I'm always picky about. So far I built the AW, 9i, and 7i. The shafts seem to be a great fit for me. The weight and flex is putting me on a good swing path, and really hitting the center of the faces. But that is individual to me.

The downside is, the AW is flying way high, and short. I think I will go ahead and tip more off another shaft and try again. If that doesn't bring the flight down a bit, or if the stiffer tipping doesn't suit my swing, then I think I'll be sticking with variable length. I'd be able to re-use the shafts in the VL set.

Or it could be that the Vertex AW is very low COG. It looks like it. Hmmm... decisions....

ValueGolf

Wedges beyond the PW are always a crapshoot with single length, Some guys (most i would say) that don't get enough height on their wedges love them for that reason, but some hate it. And if the COG is too high on a wedge that causes major issues too for the majority.

DonM

ValueGolf
Thanks Aaron. Maybe I'll switch the shaft over to the PW and see how it goes. I can go either way on length of the higher loft wedges.

candukid

ValueGolf Wedges beyond the PW are always a crapshoot with single length,

No shit. Ya dont say? LOL

Rickochet

ValueGolf Wedges beyond the PW are always a crapshoot with single length,

Well, not for all but then I prefer my wedges at 38" anywho. I have played 3 sets of SL over the years and have a new set of Vertex ready to go. I have never had an issue with SL wedges ballooning but I have a negative AOA and take huge divots. The Vertex really suit my eye at address and I don't see why these wedges won't work well. Time will tell. Nice job on these Aaron. (BTW, why no Lob Wedge?)

DonM

Rickochet When you would make a 38 inch wedge, what tip trim would you use?

accufitgolf

I messed with single length clubs (two sets) and it was interesting. My take was the shorter long irons (4 to 6) were not good for me. To much distance loss. I liked the longer short irons (8 to W's). In my present set, the longer irons are standard length (4 to 7) and the shorter irons (8 to W's) are longer. Works for me.

Rickochet

DonM When you would make a 38 inch wedge, what tip trim would you use?

Let me correct my earlier post. I normally play a non SL set with my wedges at 38" and my 8 iron at 38.5". So my SL wedges are 38.5" also.

DonM

Rickochet Thanks. Same question still. Do you use wedge tip trim for 38 inch wedge? And how is the flight?

Rickochet

DonM Same question still. Do you use wedge tip trim for 38 inch wedge? And how is the flight?

For a non SL wedge I tip trim the shaft per the trim chart for a wedge then butt trim it to 38". It plays like any other wedge for me. For an SL wedge at 276g head weight I tip trim it for an 8 iron per the trim chart them butt trim to 38.5" like all of the other SL clubs (except for the Vertex 3,4 & 5.

DonM

Today I plan to pull the AW and try a shaft with 3.5" tipping, which is close to maximum.

DonM

I was able to tip a shaft to 4" for the AW. So far, range only, it does keep the ball flight down. Still quite high, but not crazy like with the 2" tip. I need to get on course with regular balls to see what it does.

Comparing the Vertex to my MMB-17 gap wedges. The MMB flies the right height and distance.
Vertex 50 deg, MMB-17 52 deg.
TT75 81 gram shaft tipped like 7 iron vs Aldalite 64 gram tipped for wedge
TT75 is softer tip bend profile
37 vs 36 inches, shallower attack with the longer club
Probably 1 MPH more speed with the longer club
SGI shovel with wide sole vs muscle back skinny sole

So, which of those things are causing the Vertex to fly so high and short for me?

My best guess is the head design differences first, then the shallower attack, then the shaft.
What do you think?

DonM

I have now built the 6-AW. Gonna put them into play and see if I can score with them. 🙂

DonM

I think I made a mistake. 🙁

It's not the heads, it's the shafts. Boy I thought I had a great fit, but they are too something. Too soft, I think. I'm not hitting the center of the face any more. They work pretty well with an easy swing, but if I have to hit a full shot, it's not working out. I actually did best with the AW that I tipped extra hard. I'm going to shelve this project and let the pain of the expense fade, lol.

I think the Vertex heads are good if you like SGI shovels. And that's not a knock, just a description. Same thing Aaron said here about them too.

Rickochet

DonM I think the Vertex heads are good if you like SGI shovels. And that's not a knock, just a description, which Aaron said here too.

Me likey shovels and can't wait to hit my Vertex clubs. Perhaps take a shaft that you hit well in a non SL head tipped for an 8 iron and give it a go in a Vertex head.

colej

DonM

don that sounds like a weight issue to me. I’d add some lead tape around the shaft or reshaft one or two the irons with something a little heavier.

DonM

Rickochet I don't have anything spare out here in AZ right now. Maybe after the mental anguish subsides....
🙂

Did you install and measure the grips?

Rickochet

DonM Did you install and measure the grips?

Yes, I posted this about 5 days ago in the what did you buy thread.

DonM Rick, if you have calipers, I’d love to know the installed size of the LT grip at 2”, 5”, and 7” from the butt. Depends on the shaft too, I realize.

Shafts are KBS Tour 90 Satin. No butt trim. .600 at end and the same at 2", 5" & 7" then .590 at grip end at 10". Grip is Winn Dritac LT Oversize. Installed OD at 2"- .985, 5" .930, 7" .928", grip end .927. I really like the feel of these grips.

DonM

Rickochet Oops I missed that. Thanks! I like that they are basically straight for the whole lower end. I have been wishing for good grips with that kind of profile.

Nordique

Those experiments can be costly but here is my take on it. There is not a simple rule for anyone. The Vertex at 36.5( short irons) suit me just fine. Of course I've never been a high ball hitter and I have played wedges and 9 iron at 36 inches for quite some time. So a half inch is not going to make a huge difference. That being said you might want to experiment with a flighted set. The shafts made for Edel are just that:
https://edelgolf.com/collections/single-length-irons/products/single-length-iron-shafts
Cobra moved on to progressive shaft weighting for the same purpose I believe:
https://www.cobragolf.com/king-f9-one-length-irons/

Progressive Shaft Weighting
Premium aftermarket KBS shafts in three different weights (KBS Tour 80 in the 4-6i, KBS Tour 90 in the 7-9i, and KBS Wedge in the PW-SW) optimize launch, feel and trajectory through the set.

DonM

colej Well as time is going on, I've found more things for me to ponder.

I was mis-hitting my gamers, which are very light shafts. Now I'm hitting them great. The difference was in my setup. I was crowding the ball. Before I figured it out, I tried the Vertex AW, and the shaft is heavier. It seemed to put me right onto plane, and that's why I jumped on the whole set.

Now what I think happened is that for whatever reason I made a good setup with the Vertex, that I wasn't with the gamers. Why? In a few words, I had to think about it with a new look in front of me, instead of just stepping up without thinking.

When I built the Vertex set, I am pretty sure the TT75 turned out to be too soft. The only way I can save them is to extend the butts so I can tip them some more. I probably will get around to that, and also try an S flex with more normal trimming. I am not a fan of extensions because the added weight throws off the balance. But we'll see.

As to trajectory, I am sure that for the 9 and wedges I need something less SGI than the Vertex. I might just pull the Vertex heads and sell them and move on. For now the SL plan is on the back burner.