Graphite vs. Steel

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By Ken O

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  • 4 Replies
  1. Ken O

    Ken O
    Canton, CT

    I'm a high 70s low 80s player. I've been using graphite irons for about 10 years, mainly because I like the effortless light weight feel. Two years ago I switched back to steel. Hit the ball good, but always had lighter graphite on my mind. This year I went back to graphite in the AP1s. Distance control is on the money, but I'm not always hitting my target. Would going to the Dynalite Gold XP R300 or NS Pro steel make me more accurate? They are heavier I know, but I want to have less dispersion. Or should I start using a stiff flex graphite? My 6 iron swing speed is about 68-70.

  2. Roger W

    Roger W
    Hampton Cove, AL

    Ken:  I have a new set of 712 CB's with NS Pro shafts.  While I have never been a fan of graphites, the NS Pro (for me) is the longest, straightest and most accurate shaft I have found.  The distance control is consistent with higher ball flight than before.  I used Project X 5.5 shafts before.  But I got fitted for these shafts and everyone is different.

    Hope this helps

  3. Skylar T

    Skylar T
    Coral Springs, FL

    I switched to steel from graphite 2 years ago and my accuracy did improve a lot.  I would suggest the KBS tour steel shafts because they are not very heavy and they have a great feel.  You should check them out.

  4. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Ken O said:

    I'm a high 70s low 80s player. I've been using graphite irons for about 10 years, mainly because I like the effortless light weight feel. Two years ago I switched back to steel. Hit the ball good, but always had lighter graphite on my mind. This year I went back to graphite in the AP1s. Distance control is on the money, but I'm not always hitting my target. Would going to the Dynalite Gold XP R300 or NS Pro steel make me more accurate? They are heavier I know, but I want to have less dispersion. Or should I start using a stiff flex graphite? My 6 iron swing speed is about 68-70.

    If your swing speed is 68-70 with the irons that is a bit slow for stiff.  Granted stiff will give more  control.   The loss on the short iron end is only about 5 yards total (there's less carry but more roll).

    I have Dynamic Gold High Launch R300 on my AP1 irons.  They go straight as an arrow and distance is very predictable.  Other shafts to try out are True Temper Lite XL - they are actually 2 swingweight points heavier vs DG despite being a lighter shaft because the butt end is thinner (they are the equivalent of ZZ Lite on Eye 2 irons).  TT Lite XL has the same high ball flight as with graphite (I had them on Eye 2s) and they also have more feedback from the clubhead vs DG because of the lighter butt end.

    I've hit lightweight steel on hybrids before (G10s had AWT Steel and my Excel Strong clones had Apollo 95).  Maybe you could try out some of the various 95 gram shafts with the fitter.

     

  5. Cameron D

    Cameron D
    Newport, RI

    Ken,

    You could consider switching to a lighter weight steel option, but this isn't necessarily the best way to get become more accurate.  You want to make sure that the ball flight you are achieving has a good spin and launch and you don't start losing distance because one is too high/low.  Feel is also an important factor, but with what you've mentioned above, I think a lighter steel shaft like the Nippon 970 would be a good starting point.

    Cameron

    1-888-TITLEIST 

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