Senior Golfer What is your longest iron and what shaft flex ?

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By Carl T

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  1. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    I am 68 and the longest iron in my bag is a 4 iron with a Stiff shaft. My carry distance with a 7 iron is 145 yards. I am thinking of getting a new set of irons with a 5 iron as the longest iron in the bag with a regular shaft or even softer. I would like to hear input from those whose bag is similar to what I am thinking. Would a softer shaft help me gain a few yards ?
  2. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military

    Carl,

    My longest iron is a 5 and I play regular steel shafts.  I dropped my 3 & 4 irons years ago and now carry a hybrid, or two depending on the course, in place of them.  Hitting line-drives into greens just wasn't working for me, I needed to add height.  If you are still hitting your 4 well, maybe there is no reason to drop it, unless you plan on adding a wedge or hybrid.  As for the stiff shafts, I think that issue is better answered by your fitter.  Actually, I guess the question of bag make up can be answered by your fitter also.

  3. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    Carl, I'm almost 68 and playing senior tees at 5,200 to about 6,000 yards. I have the full set from 3 thru PW of the 714 MBs in regular flex. I rarely carry the 3 and 4 irons only because I walk and carry my bag and since they rarely came out of the bag I put them in the trunk except when I'm playing a longer course or want to play from a longer tee. For woods I prefer a stiff shaft, irons I prefer regular. If I spring for the new irons next year, I'll stay with the MB's, regular flex, and probably get a short set 5 thru 9 and switch to a Vokey 45 degree with minimal bounce which would give me a bag with 5-9 irons, a 45, a 50, a 56, and a 62 for wedges. You may get better distance with regular flex but when you're used to something changing to a different shaft may take a while to get used to. If you are close to eastern Ohio I'll take you out for a day on the course with my regulars. You might also consider just buying a 7 iron in regular, play it a while and see what you think.
  4. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Allen that is a good idea about the 7 iron. I live in Arkansas but I appreciate the offer.
  5. Carl, I dropped the 4 iron and added a hybrid a couple years ago with much success.  I hit my 7 iron 165 and my 4 iron 200, albeit my hybrid goes about 205 which is perfect.  I use the 715 H 24 degrees...works well.

    Good Luck!

  6. pulplvr

    pulplvr
    Spring, TX

    Military

    Carl, I'm 70, pushing 71.  My set is 913h (21), 910h (24), 712 AP2s 5-W, and Vokey SM4 54/08 and 58/06 wedges.  All the irons have Dynalite Gold XP R300 shafts.  Both the hybrids have regular shafts, as well.  My driver has a stiff shaft.  I am tempted when I next get fit for new irons to change to stiff shafts, but will wait to see what my fitter and I work out at that time.  i just wish I had anywhere near Chris92009's length--but then, he's a lot younger than I am.

  7. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    pulplvr said:

    Carl, I'm 70, pushing 71.  My set is 913h (21), 910h (24), 712 AP2s 5-W, and Vokey SM4 54/08 and 58/06 wedges.  All the irons have Dynalite Gold XP R300 shafts.  Both the hybrids have regular shafts, as well.  My driver has a stiff shaft.  I am tempted when I next get fit for new irons to change to stiff shafts, but will wait to see what my fitter and I work out at that time.  i just wish I had anywhere near Chris92009's length--but then, he's a lot younger than I am.

    I think the key is to see what your fitter and you decide. That is good advice. I am getting a little antsy wanting to order some new irons but I am recovering from shoulder surgery and will not be able to make a full swing for several more months I am guessing. I just thought it would be great to start off with a new shoulder with some new clubs but the prudent thing is to wait. I do know that a stiffer shaft will keep ball dispersion tighter but can lower distance with a lower ball flight. The other side is that a shaft to flexible may let you hit the ball further but the ball dispersion could be wider. The key is to find a happy medium that you and I can live with and that is with a good fitter.
  8. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    For me, I have 714 AP1s, R flex 85 g graphite, 5-9. 913 24/27 hybrids (good days I use 5I, bad days, the 27H), and a 915 21H. The 915 is easier to hit than earlier hybrids, I used a 7W until the Hybrid was easier to hit. I considered the 95 g steel, but was reminded the clock would still be ticking. Since Titleist sells by the club and not the set, you can get any combination of hybrids, irons, and shafts to suit you. 3 irons for sure and often 4 irons are being replaced by hybrids to keep launch angles and distances up as golfers lose speed over time.
  9. John M

    John M
    Asheville, North Carolina

    Military

    My longest is a 4, but I only put it in the bag on real windy days when I have to hit some low shots. All of my irons are regular shafts. 

  10. William B

    William B
    Gresham, OR

    I'm 67 and really enjoy hitting my 18* driving iron off the tee.  When it's dry and rolling, it confounds the boys with big drivers when I walk past their balls to get to mine.

     Oh, and it's a dcraft driving iron on an acr graphite regular flex shaft.  Built it myself for about $25.  It would have been $24, but the club pro gets bent out of shape if I outdrive him with a club without a ferrule.  The pretty red ferrule cost about a buck.

  11. Nation

    Nation
    Justun, TX

    Military

    Fortunately for me I work at Golf Galaxy and get a chance to sample several clubs, shafts and balls.  I am 65 and my longest iron is a 7 with a senior shaft, i average 165 with this set up.

  12. Steve S

    Steve S
    Leominster, MA

    My longest iron is a 6 iron. Hit it about 165. Then it's 4 and 5 hybrids. 

  13. Steve S

    Steve S
    Tuckerton, NJ

    Hey Steve Steve S. This is the other Steve S. from N.J. What a small world, even at TT. 8 iron and then to my 5 hybrid. Just much easier for me to hit.

    Play Well,

    Steve S.

  14. 19hole

    19hole
    Reading, MA

    I carry a 712U 4 iron with a TT DG S300 steel shaft. I have gone to a 21° 915H to use as my 3 iron.

  15. Mike M

    Mike M
    Hamilton, OH

    I use a 3 Iron AP1 mostly on low , or tight 2nd shots and sometimes off the tee on long Par3's,  Shaft is KBS, Regular flex.

     Depending on course and Weather, I still have a Forged Titleist 2 Iron with a awesome Rifle Shaft in it, but I use it on courses local that I know I can benefit. If Kills off the tee when needed.   

    I swing the long irons better than the 913H  24* hybrid.

    Mike M

  16. Bob T

    Bob T
    East Otis, MA

    I'm 67 and use a four iron for two hundred yard shots and also for low shots when in trouble!!

  17. Carl T said:

    I am 68 and the longest iron in my bag is a 4 iron with a Stiff shaft. My carry distance with a 7 iron is 145 yards. I am thinking of getting a new set of irons with a 5 iron as the longest iron in the bag with a regular shaft or even softer. I would like to hear input from those whose bag is similar to what I am thinking. Would a softer shaft help me gain a few yards ?

    Carl, we are somewhat similar.  I am 71, and my longest iron is my 4 iron.  I carry my 7 iron 140 yards, and  I carry my 4 iron 170 yards.  My issue, is trajectory.  I can carry my 4 iron 170 yards, but i won't try to if it is an elevated, heavily bunkered, green.  I have found that it is less about flex than it is about the shaft bend point. For that reason, I am currently considering a hybrid to replace my 4 iron.

    Earlier this year, I sold my AP2 irons with stiff flex Dynamic Gold shafts in favor of AP1 irons with regular flex XP95 shafts.  My primary reason for doing so was to gain a higher trajectory.  I do get a higher trajectory on my AP1 4-iron than I did on my AP2 4-iron, but not enough higher trajectory for some holes.

    My advice is to focus on the shaft bend point rather than the shaft flex.

    Rich

  18. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    Thanks for the advice RJ. I have located a certified fitter and a Golf Digest 100 best teaching pro 30 minutes from my home. He is certified to fit golfers with all of the major brands using several type of ball flight radar machines. He spends about 2 hours fitting you from the driver, fairway woods, irons, hybrids and putter if you like and then has an outdoor driving range where you can see your ball flight for real. The cost is $50 and he gives you a print out of all the specs for your particular swing. The bad news is that I am still in PT recovering from bone spur, bicep and labrum surgery and my doctor has not given me the green light to start making full swings. That will be sometime in mid October (4 months after surgery) and will not be fitted until I am 100 % which may not be until early next year. I like to get my ducks in a row so to speak and if I can't play golf I can still plan.

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