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Sports » rec.sport.golf » Question about shafts
| Question about shafts [message #1067335] |
Do, 08 Juni 2006 17:15 |
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New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after a
twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for certain
players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the meantime,
but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over steel, other
than the flex? I've got an appointment with a well-respected local pro for
a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same thing, but I though I'd throw it
out here to see what the current thinking is.
Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and thanks
in advance.
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| Re: Question about shafts [message #1067343 ] |
Do, 08 Juni 2006 17:23 |
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On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 10:15:02 -0500, Rick & Dana Siekmann wrote:
> New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after
> a twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
> Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
> up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
> graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
> expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for
> certain players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the
> meantime, but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over
> steel, other than the flex? I've got an appointment with a
> well-respected local pro for a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same
> thing, but I though I'd throw it out here to see what the current
> thinking is.
>
> Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and
> thanks in advance.
The big advantage to graphite is its light weight. You'll definitely want
a graphite shaft in your driver and possibly your fairway woods. I'd
suggest steel for your irons. They tend to be more consistent and they're
cheaper.
I still have the same putter and irons that I had 20 years ago. But the
driver, my god what a difference. Lighter, easier to swing, bigger sweet
spot. Newer drivers are just way more forgiving. I wouldn't go back to my
old persimmon if my life depended on it.
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| Re: Question about shafts [message #1067345 ] |
Do, 08 Juni 2006 17:28 |
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"Rick & Dana Siekmann" <dsiekmann [at] charter.net> wrote in message
news:O9Xhg.188$Wk3.17 [at] fe05.lga...
> New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after a
> twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
> Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
> up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
> graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
> expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for
> certain players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the
> meantime, but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over
> steel, other than the flex? I've got an appointment with a well-respected
> local pro for a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same thing, but I
> though I'd throw it out here to see what the current thinking is.
>
> Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and
> thanks in advance.
Most players are going with graphite in their driver and even fairway
woods/hybrids now, and steel in the irons and wedges. Graphite shafts are
lighter than steel, so the weight allows for greater swing speed with the
clubs that you want to hit farther anyway. Graphite shafts tend to not be
as consistent as steel, so most are still opting for steel in their irons.
There are a number of lightweight steel shafts now as well, which
theoretically provide the accuracy of steel and closer to the weight of
graphite. I use graphite in everything to keep the weight down, but
recently demoed an iron set in lightweight steel. I personally didn't care
for them but my local clubfitter is building a lot of sets with them for
players in place of graphite.
Chris
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| Re: Question about shafts [message #1067347 ] |
Do, 08 Juni 2006 17:39 |
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In article <O9Xhg.188$Wk3.17 [at] fe05.lga>, dsiekmann [at] charter.net says...
>
>New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after a
>twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
>Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
>up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
>graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
>expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for certain
>players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the meantime,
>but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over steel, other
>than the flex? I've got an appointment with a well-respected local pro for
>a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same thing, but I though I'd throw it
>out here to see what the current thinking is.
>
>Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and thanks
>in advance.
>
>
IMO, there are two reasons you might go with graphite: 1) lighter weight and 2)
it has better shock absorbtion than steel.
Number 2 is the reason I use graphite in my irons. With steel shafts I tend ot
have trouble with tendinitis in my elbows. It goes away when I use graphite
shafts.
IMO, steel shafts are still more consistent than graphite, but graphite is
getting better and the gap is narrowing.
Kenny
--
Kenny Stultz - Troll and SPAM intolerant
"Golf is the only sport where a precise knowledge of the Rules can
earn one a reputation for bad sportsmanship"
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| Re: Question about shafts [message #1067352 ] |
Do, 08 Juni 2006 18:04 |
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Okay, next question then: if I go with graphite woods and steel irons, will
there be such a noticeable difference in feel that it will be essentially
like having to fine tune two different swings? Back in the day, it was more
or less taught that every club in the bag was just a step up or down from
the club next to it, and you wanted to pretty much keep things consistent.
Ball placement at address, stance, and length of backswing were the things
that varied, and then not by all that much. As I recall, golf is a game of
nuance, and adding different feels into the mix seems almost
counter-intuitive...keeping things simple just makes a lot of sense to me.
Also, length was never an issue, and judging from my first few trips to the
range with the old stuff, it doesn't appear that it will be much of an issue
now. I think consistency and forgiveness will probably be the factors that
will serve me best. Again, I will certainly discuss these things with my
clubfitter/pro when I see him tomorrow. As I told him on the phone, I don't
want to spend the next ten years chasing the latest and greatest in club
technology; I really just want to do it at least semi-right the first time.
Anyway, thanks for the input so far. I'm sure I'll have a lot more
questions as this new obsession takes hold.
"CKF" <fairchildchris [at] hotrmail.com> wrote in message
news:VmXhg.6918$Id2.5638 [at] trnddc03...
>
> "Rick & Dana Siekmann" <dsiekmann [at] charter.net> wrote in message
> news:O9Xhg.188$Wk3.17 [at] fe05.lga...
>> New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after
>> a twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
>> Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
>> up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
>> graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
>> expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for
>> certain players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the
>> meantime, but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over
>> steel, other than the flex? I've got an appointment with a
>> well-respected local pro for a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same
>> thing, but I though I'd throw it out here to see what the current
>> thinking is.
>>
>> Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and
>> thanks in advance.
>
> Most players are going with graphite in their driver and even fairway
> woods/hybrids now, and steel in the irons and wedges. Graphite shafts are
> lighter than steel, so the weight allows for greater swing speed with the
> clubs that you want to hit farther anyway. Graphite shafts tend to not be
> as consistent as steel, so most are still opting for steel in their irons.
>
> There are a number of lightweight steel shafts now as well, which
> theoretically provide the accuracy of steel and closer to the weight of
> graphite. I use graphite in everything to keep the weight down, but
> recently demoed an iron set in lightweight steel. I personally didn't
> care for them but my local clubfitter is building a lot of sets with them
> for players in place of graphite.
>
> Chris
>
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| Re: Question about shafts [message #1067354 ] |
Do, 08 Juni 2006 18:09 |
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As others have said, "normal" these days is graphite for woods (and
probably rescue/hybrid types) and steel in irons.
Graphite for irons is an option which can help with reducing shock (for
tennis/golf elbow) and adding distance for slower swing speeds
(typically women and old farts like myself). I've gone to graphite in
irons for both those reasons and prefer it. But it's a personal
preference type thing (one of *many* in golf equipment), and I suspect
many/most still like the solid feel of steel. Keeping in mind that the
primary quality you want in irons is accuracy as opposed to distance,
steel is probably the best place to start (and it's a little less
expensive).
Rob
Rick & Dana Siekmann wrote:
> New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after a
> twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
> Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
> up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
> graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
> expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for certain
> players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the meantime,
> but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over steel, other
> than the flex? I've got an appointment with a well-respected local pro for
> a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same thing, but I though I'd throw it
> out here to see what the current thinking is.
>
> Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and thanks
> in advance.
>
>
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| Re: Question about shafts [message #1067456 ] |
Fr, 09 Juni 2006 01:35 |
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Rick & Dana Siekmann wrote:
> New guy here...actually I'm more a guy who's returning to the game after a
> twenty year hiatus. Needless to say, much has changed in my absence.
> Anyway, I'm getting ready to switch my gear over to something more
> up-to-date, and I was wondering about shafts, specifically steel v.
> graphite. Years ago, graphite was just coming into its own, but it was
> expensive, and the results were mixed--not durable, too flexible for certain
> players, etc. I'm assuming they've worked out the kinks in the meantime,
> but I'm curious: is there any reason to prefer graphite over steel, other
> than the flex? I've got an appointment with a well-respected local pro for
> a custom fitting, and I'll ask him the same thing, but I though I'd throw it
> out here to see what the current thinking is.
>
> Sorry if this has been covered before, although I'm sure it has, and thanks
> in advance.
>
>
In woods, graphite is typical, and probably desirable. This is due to
the lighter weight of graphite, which allows for longer club lengths.
In irons, graphite has only two benefits over steel. If neither is
necessary for you, it's a needless expense as well as something that is
probably not as consistent as steel.
Graphite, being lighter, allows for longer clublengths while retaining
the same swingweight. This is less important than it used to be, as
there are lightweight steel shafts out there, but in a few applications,
it's appropriate. If you don't need overlength clubs (meaning something
like more than 1" overlength than what typical clubs would be), then
there is no reason to go graphite for length reasons.
Graphite is also good for absorbing the shock of mishits. This can be
important for people who have, say, tendinitis in the elbow, arthritis
in the hands, like that. For them, the shock of a mishit brings flashes
of pain, and graphite helps attenuate that shock.
Graphite is not, in my experience, as consistent as steel. In my view,
it makes little sense to pay extra for high quality graphite if you have
no pain issues or don't need extra long clubs.
Mike
--
------------------------------------------------------------ ------------
Mike Dalecki GCA Accredited Clubmaker http://clubdoctor.com
RSG-Wisconsin 2006: June 23-25 Info: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2006/
RSG-Wisconsin 2005 Pics: http://dalecki.net/rsgwis2005/pics/
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