Should Mid-Handicap Golfers Use Graphite Shafts? On Course Test
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Should mid handicap golfers use graphite shafts? on course test using the PING i500 irons. mid handicap shaft testing. what shafts should you use? What shafts should I use? What are the best shafts for mid handicappers ? In this video myself and Mark my mid handicap tester put traditional steel shafted irons head to head against the graphite equivalent. What differences will we see? Graphite shaft vs steel shaft for mid handicap. This is a Ping i500 on course test. Should you use graphite shafted irons? In a past video we put them head to head on a launch monitor, that video is linked below:
• Steel Shafts Vs Graphi...
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He seemed predisposed to steel at the onset. It would be an interesting comparison to do the same video with someone that already plays graphite. Love your videos. Keep up the great work!
Spot on.
I play off 12. I started playing with steel blades, never had a problem. Now i I've got graphite cavity heads... Never had a problem.
Personal preference. And if your off 5 or lower it might matter, but mid HCP? Bollox! Its how good you swing it
yeah this is all user error at this point lol
Agreed. You know they were already disliking graphite when he hits a massive hook with the graphite shaft and James goes "that's the one I worry about with graphite". Really? Because he just hit the exact same shot with the steel shaft on the Par 3...
Were the two clubs comparable in terms of swing weight? My guess is probably not if weight/feel was an issue.
Guessing Mark has now ordered steel for his woods and hybrids now ?
James: you HAVE to tell us where the weakness in Mark’s game is. You just implied he’s a great chipper; he has a great swing and seems to strike the ball beautifully; but he’s a mid-handicapper. The Dick on Liam’s channel has a handicap of 12 and looks like an octopus roughly embracing a jelly fish. I don’t get it ...
😂😂😂
After watching this video and after careful consideration, I've come to the conclusion that Thor will never switch to graphite with his Hammer. And in fact, the older and fatter he got, he even switched to a bigger & heavier Stormbreaker axe. So I made up my mind. On my next purchase of irons I'm sticking with meta shaftsl.....with STEEL you bunch of wuss! 🤣🤣🤣 lol j/k
With emphasis on proper club fitting, this is not a good comparison. There is a big difference in “feel” between heavier steel shaft vs. graphite plus the feel at impact between steel and graphite is also quite different. These days, irons with properly fitted (weight and shot profile) graphite shafts is superior to steel shafts which still limited in weight and bend profile. Graphite shafts also save a lot of wear and tear on your body if you happened to play a good bit of golf, whether you are old or young. Graphite shafts only suited to the old or weak or women is no longer a true statement.
Suwedh S you’ve totally missed the point of the video. But that’s for the comment :)
I think it comes down to confidence. I was using steel but fitted for graphite. I felt like i could "feel" the head of the club better in the graphite, so now I'm playing graphite. Comes down to each players objectives and preference.
Mid handicapper? Should wear a sombrero like the other bandits 😜
I'd suggest giving Mark time to get used to the graphites then retest. I'd bet you wanted see any differences.
The preconceived opinions seemed to influence the results. It's interesting though. I'd like to see more shots and less prediction prior to the shots. Good video though. I'm also interested if a graphite shaft might be good for golfers with injuries.
Wow I'm truly surprised. I would have thought graphite. Maybe graphite's need to be stiffer
I'd like to see Mark play several rounds with the graphite shafts to get a real feel for them and them give his feedback to see if he still thinks he can't feel the club head. It could just be a case of "what you know".
Shaft Flex makes the difference. Put stiff or extra stiff low torque high quality shaft. Fred Couples Brent Snedker play Aero Tec.
Today's graphite is notnthe same as yesteryear's James. In the Australian PGA championship just last week the winner played graphite shafts. I've used them for over 20 years and would not play steel for love or money ... well maybe a lot of money. They seem a lot easier on my body, especially wrists and shoulders, so I can play more often.
Hi my elbows really ache after golf should I go graphite for that reason, your experience would be appreciated
@@Marc-hn7ft hi Marc, I'm not a medical person so can only comment on my position and, really, have had no problem like your's. Last Wednesday I played in our ProAm and our group's pro was very much in favour of graphite for older people like me (68 years old). He was also the one who told me about Cameron Smith using graphite to win the Australian PGA. The pro's advice was that graphite could let me practise more without joint pain. Have you club pro who has a demo set with graphite that you could borrow for a round? Our club pro does this regularly for us .... at no charge! Best of luck with your choice.
@@Marc-hn7ft I have elbow issues and wear braces on both arms. Switched to Aerotech i95's recently and they seem to be much easier on the arms from what I've observed. They're very stable shafts and play extremely well from my point of view. Worth a go. There are plenty of options now for graphite in irons too. Good luck!
Funny watching Mark talk himself into steel. On the hole where the graphite was closer you walked to the steel shot and talked about how it was only a gapper away. When the steel was close at the end then the graphite shot was made to seem like it was a long ways out. It too was only a gapper away. Boils down to preference. You can talk yourself into anything. That’s how we end up buying a club then playing it later and hating it. I have both steel and graphite. Got talked into steel by a fitter and never warmed up to them. Ended up with a new graphite set the next year. Preference... great video.
Use what you are comfortable with. Why change if the improvement is minimal.
Interesting vid doing a H2H with steel & graphite shafts, but again I am not sure that you have done an Apples with Apples comparison.
Ignoring the fact that Mark is experienced with steel shafts, the difference that he was "feeling" was the difference in weight between the two shafts. If you did a similar test with two steel shafts of different weights, you would have exactly the same comments (that he couldn't "feel" the lighter shaft).
The graphite vs steel H2H would have more validity if you used a heavier graphite shaft that was nearer to the weight of his current steel shaft.
The important message is that whether you are using steel or graphite you need to ensure that you get Fitted into the correct shaft and to ensure that it is the correct Flex, Bend profile, Torque and most important of all the Correct Weight!
I’ve played with graphite for over 20yrs and I love it, it is made for 90% of all golfers who don’t have a 90mph swing speed. Steel is too heavy for most amateur players and weekend golfers. Every time I tried steel I always struggled since my swing speed is in the mid 70’s.
Mark seemed biased against the graphite from the beginning and he admitted it affected his swing. This sort of renders the testing useless, IMHO.
Human testing is always gonna inclue some amount of prejudice
It's like all shafts, you have to get used to them. As Mark is currently using a steel shaft he knows in inside out, but if he kept using the graphite shaft he would get to know it better. I would never go back to a steel shaft but I am well past retirement age!
disappointing - what is the value of a review when the mid-handicapper has an obvious bias against the graphite shafts - not really a test of anything except that confidence influences your golf swing.
Tell me where the bias comes from Colin? If you talking about numbers we discuss then I suggest you watch the dry ball data test we do. It’s not bias it’s just knowing the facts
Good all round test. Interesting results. I had you both leaning towards steel shafts from the start, when that happens the other one (graphite) would have to be pretty amazing to sway your decision.
I wish I could test clubs like this - inside launch monitor get fitted then on course to try them out.
I switched to graphite solely for relief from tennis elbow that developed years ago playing golf. It ached so bad in my right forearm I couldn't play sometimes. Graphite lessons it to barely noticeable. I didn't gain any distance although I wasn't fit for them. I think steel is a better feel for me and a bit more accurate. But I get aches if I even hit a small bucket with steel. I'm staying graphite for rest of my years.
This is for mid handicap BUT what is the best for a Senior ( 75 yrs) 17hcp -18 hcp or worse? No more than 20 hcp. Graphite or Steel or even recovery wood set?
This is such a weird video, graphite is a much stiffer material than steel. You can buy graphite shafts that are in any weight, equivalent to steel if you want. Plenty of pros use graphite. Bryson DeChambeau isn’t a beginner, he’s using 120 g LA Golf graphite shafts that are actually heavier and stiffer than the steel equivalents he was using with the highest club head speeds on tour. Skill level has nothing to do with this argument, nor does spin or trajectory which can also be determined by graphite shaft choice. The only reason steel is prevalent on tour is conditioning, tradition, and what most people used as they learned. Eventually, nearly all pros will be using graphite as these preconceptions are removed and the youth golfers of today start interchanging the two technologies. Possibly mass adoption will come faster on tour as any advantageous innovation with shafts will be with graphite at this point, not steel, and when that happens it will be an avalanche in that direction.
If you're going to test steel vs graphite you need to get shafts that have identical stiffness, swing weight, kick point, everything needs to be the same not just a random graphite and a random steel
If your going to comment on a RUclips video you need to know all the facts before you comment... why test two shafts which would be identical even with different material? We tested Pings very own AWT shafts. Advanced weight technology...
@@JamesRobinsonGolf you can always get a custom shaft from a fitting and I've seen videos where people have used basically identical shafts with one being steel and one being graphite, they're data was much different than what you guys got. Still love the content though
Got fitted for KBs graphite stiff 85 shafts.
Feel reallly good with cobra tour irons
I can back wedges up using graphite. That mid handicapper doesn't naturally hit a high ball or generate a lot of spin.
25 years ago the accuracy between the two was an issue, with modern graphite shafts there is minimal difference in performance and comes down to preference in feel.
You should do a steelfiber shaft mid handicap test. They are more in line with steel shaft weights. I believe they have 110-125 weight range.
Yes, definitely a consideration.
This underlined my lack of UTTER reliance on launch monitoring.
I agree with Mark. Graphite’s feel makes uncomfortable. Steel gives me confidence. Great video.
I've given up my graphite shafts and gone to a light weight Nippon pro shaft James,absolutely loving them.
Thanks James,by the way I'm 65years old
Most mid handicappers don't play with blades!!!
Another cracking on course test with Mark and well done again Mark,great honest opinions guys
Thanks !!! :)
I think you should do another test with the same weight shafts.
Agree with Mark have Ping Crossover with graphite stiff shaft complete lack of feel. Has Mark been accompanying you for lessons with Chris Ryan
Wah hay mark is back james mark is back
Great comparison, but why won't you let Mark wear his red trousers on camera?!
Take note James, flamboyant out fits for 2019?
I believed is the the skill of a golfer to determine the type of shaft. It is how that golfer deliver his swing when unloading the shaft. There are several PGA golfer in US use Graphite shaft. It is a myth when people think slow swing speed should use Graphite shaft or vice versus. Every golfer should get fitted and try both materials shafts with different bend profiles and weight. This is a proper way to determine the right shaft for you.
I feel you proved nothing.
Really enjoyed this comparison the only downside was that it wasn't long enough! Too bad the weather came in I would have enjoyed watching Mark play another few holes. Great job guys
Thanks James , I will always prefer graphite because of longevity. I live in America in the south,and it gets hot here . The graphite is much easier to play in the heat. The steel is just to heavy if you play a lot of golf!
Fellow american here i use steel and work a very labor intensive job so when playing 18 and even sometimes 9 im so sore by the end. I want to make the switch but dont know how much the learning curve will affect my game. I play a course where houses line the fairways and fairways are relatively narrow so if its going to drastically affect my shot its not something i would be able to do for a couple years till i decide to get a membership somewhere else. Any info on this learning curve?
zach lowman if you go steel fiber about a week , graphite is a tad longer but a day or two. Just get fitted so you can reduce weight that’s what’s making you sore. I have the same problem when I pull my steel shafts out . If can keep a smooth tempo the transition is very quick a day or so.
Brooks Krabousanos awesome thanks for the reply.
Good video guys.
Nice cap Mark. Like that alot
At 60 yrs old I just coped out and ordered a set of crutches ,Wilson C300 irons with flex face technology & 78g graphite shaft( mumbo jumbo, blah, blah, blah),looking to trade off some back spin, height and feel for distance, over my beloved 1970s forged muscle-backs, at one club stronger & longer if I don't get nearly twenty yards extra distance from the flex face & lightweight graphite, they're going down the road, I'll find out Friday :)
Would love to see more videos like this one!
I don't think the fact he's a mid handicap has any relevance on the test. I'm mid hcap (13) and play with project x 6.5 shaft, x-stiff. I have a really quick swing speed and powerful. My hcap is high cos my short game from 80yds and in isn't up to scratch and occasionally I hit a wild tee shot costing 3 off tee.
So using a graphite shaft or steel wouldn't really affect my hcap.
That is one heck of a nice swing Mark has. I'm guessing those lessons are paying off. great video. Do you ever get any nice winter days over there? it seems like the last few outdoor videos the weather has been dreadful. I personally have had graphites in my last 2 sets of clubs. I like the feel of the club head moving through impact. IMHO.
Hence why were inside so often Tye! 😂
@@JamesRobinsonGolfI can't see that I blame you. You 2 are brave men to challenge the elements for the good of golf videos. This is the reason why I live in South Texas. I develop hypothermia below 75 degrees....lol.
i think age comes into this a lot, i played steel shafts with wilson Di9 irons got into my 70s now play taylormade RBZ graphite love them find steel shafts just a touch heavy. love your stuff
Like always with Mark he cannot be objective his mind is already made up before he swings the club.
I have hit both and with a good solid strike I cannot feel it at impact. That’s when I know it is well struck. I just don’t see how you can call Mark a mid handicapper. Mi handicappers do not strike the ball as pure as he does. If he could chip or put he would be single digit handicapper. Ball striking he is way better than mid for sure.
My friends were you aware that graphite shafts are made in similar weights as steel but with infinite more customization. First time I’ve been disappointed with your tests. Terribly naive results.
I think you should get the mid handicapper "fitted" for graphite shaft at a shaft company.
"Should" is pretty subjective. I went to graphite about 14 years ago because of injury (elbow tendinitis). I'm playing graphite now because of age (65). Plus, in this case, Mark was not fitted for either shaft. Different graphite profiles could lead to more consistent results. I'm using a different graphite shaft now from the ones I was originally fitted for.
I'm a beginner and all I have used is graphite shafts. Playing with a used set of Callaway Steelheads.
What about for a Driver...... I want to put a Dynamic Gold on my G400max because the Alta CB is lite as heck..... My question is with the CB shaft would changing the shat mess with the weight of the club head meaning make it lighter?
What did the 2 test clubs swing weight at? Todays graphite iron shaft are far superior to what they were 20 years ago! Its much easier to get a 95 gram recoil or steelfiber to swing weight at D2 without tip weights and lead tape.
True test would be using ie. 7 irons with the same sw.
I agree with Mike 100%. I think this would give a better indication for any mid-handicapper considering graphite shafts. I have found them excellent for my swing speed c.75mph and Mark is probably much quicker through the ball.
I’m getting back into golf after 10 years, I’m alittle higher then a mid handicapper and I will never use graphite again lol, very inconsistent for me over steel, just like the gentleman in the vid said, I felt like I could strike them well, but had no control over like I can with steel. Plus graphite looks ugly as hell to me and couldn’t game them if I tried because of that lol
I prefer Steel Shafts over Graphite for Irons. Woods not that much of difference if Graphite Shaft is very Stiff.
Only change I've noticed switching from graphite to steel was the weight, but my G Loomis shafts were from 94, and were a little heavy, especially compared to the feather-lite steel shafts they're using today. If he'd used graphite for a while, I'm sure he'd adapt. JM2C
I had a similar experience... Thought my swanky Tour spec fujikura Mizuno Orochi shafts would revolutionize my game... 5-7 went more or less the same distance as 6 and 5 just climbed high...
Great video BUT it’s not as simple as that....
All down to the fitting to “your” style of swing....Unfortunately most the major brands only offer an average (for the market) shaft with (average for the market) Stiff, Regular or Senior flex. Recently fitted into PXG & the difference in shaft offerings was ginormous.....I was fit into a more “players” Iron (rather than game improvers, which was a shock)with a stiff tipped & balanced graphite shaft
Instant huge improvement....
4 to 5 shots are not nearly enough to get used to the graphite shaft. It could take weeks or months of playing with them. Also you need to consider the shaft flex and weight options. Going with a stiffer and heavier graphite shaft should help with feel. Even many tour pros are going with graphite shafts in the longer irons.
I’m a +2 handicap and I’m seriously considering graphite in my next set. I have a lot of Carpal tunnel and arthritis problems so I think it would help my enjoyment of the game overall. And from what I’ve been able to demo I don’t see much accuracy difference at all.
I have played graphite shafts for years but recently tested the Mizuno 919 Forged in 90g steel shafts (compared to my usual 65g graphite). I didn't really notice any difference in distance but the extra shaft weight was really noticeable and off putting. The other difference was that the ball flight was very straight - actually too straight, I really struggled to (deliberately!) put any shape on the ball flight. That could be the head or the shaft or a combination of both - but in my mind that is a negative
I play golf roughly two times a week for my golfing season where i live which is roughly 8 months. Ive only used steel and ive often thought id prefer graphite because i work a very labor intensive job and sometimes when just playing 9 my arms and shoulders are so sore from swinging heavy clubs. But im afraid the switch will screw up my shot. I shoot usually 4-7 over thru 9 so 8-14 which is usually actually 8-12 over thru 18 so id hate to ruin that with the switch. If anybody has any info on the learning curve with the switch itd be much appreciated.
I'm a mid-handicapper, and I have the steel shafts in my G700s. They are a lightweight steel shaft, which made me wonder why I would the graphite in the first place, since they felt as smooth as any graphite-shafted set of irons I've ever had. What might be a more interesting test for a mid-handicapper would be graphite versus some of the Dynamic Gold or KBS brand shafts.
Mid handicapers generally need to feel the shaft so no surprise, but nevetheless a great video guys, well done. Looking forward to the next one.
Hi James I was recently at a Srixion fitting event & I have played steel all the time I have been playing golf I tried both of the irons . The 585 came out as a better fit with graphite came out on top with better dispersion & a stiff flex maybe you should get an older mid handicap player to come & test out the differences & see what they think. I am available.
thanks james.....great content...great relevance to average /mid handicap golfer....great editing...keep up good work
i went form steel to graphite....back to steel...prefered the feel of steel....club felt more balance....like mark said with graphite...there was that empty feeling between handle and club head...but agree...have to try on course to see and feel results for yourself
It will depend how you are fitted, if graphite works best in the studio and on the course, then why not fit them??? Is there a graphite shaft that is not 'stock' that would be better????
P.S. so glad I live in a climate where I can play all year off grass - no snow, now winter grass, no mats [insert sticking out tongue emoticon here]. :)
I game the project x lz graphite in my irons and wedges. The weight of them feel great on the 18th hole and I’m a little fatigued.
TBH, 3 of Mark's shots in the sim were shorter than the steel shafts. Had it not been for the two big fliers he had his avg would have been shorter with graphite.
I'm a high mid handicapper 16.9 at this time. I recently changed to True Temper x100 shafts. I feel they have help a lot with consistency and hitting the ball straighter.
Wrap the shaft with a graphite laminant so they dont know the difference !
great video James and Mark , golf to me is about confidence in the equipment you use if you don't have confidence in what your gaming then you won't play to your best also doing the demo on course compared to indoors on a mat with none of the elements to effect ball flight or impact is a huge difference outdoors you get to see how it performs in the elements .....great swing Mark keep up the good work you and James are doing.....I'd play a round with you guys anytime seem like good mates
Mid Hcp? Our club champion uses 780s in his irons. Off plus hcp in his fifties.
I like trying graphite shafted iron when the opportunity comes along and I hit them well, but I have this thing in my head that I think they will break at the hosel if I hit a fat shot or if I’m at the range hitting off a mat.. I can’t seem to clear it, so it’s either therapy or stick to steel!
I think if you were not to bounce back between graphite and steel, he would develope better feel for the graphite much faster
What club was mark hitting a 160 yards?? Good video 🏌🏼👍😃
I used graphite shafts for a time when I had a nagging shoulder and elbow injury that just wouldn’t heal.
I went right back to steel as soon as I got better, though. There’s no substitute for steel shafted irons if your strong and fast enough to swing them.
any videos like this with numbers? steel v graphite (light) same head?
Have you ever thought about doing high handicapper reviews james?
Nice Vid .One of my fav courses is in Hudderfield .Bradley Park .Only just started playing again .Gonna have to have a trip up again
You should put a steel shaft in a driver James and do the numbers and hit the course
A very informative video James, and thanks to Mark for his input
I’ve been going to try something similar to see what works best for me
My current irons are graphite shafts, but they are Gerry Hogan 21AD Power Zone shafts from the 1990’s they are heavy shafts at around 115 up to 132 grams
I’ve got a couple of ex demo Cobra Bio Cell 7 irons off ebay, one with steel and one with a graphite shaft, the steel is about the same weight as my current graphite shafts and the “new” graphite is a fair bit lighter
After seeing how Mark went, I’m very keen to see what happens
Thanks for the video, I enjoy your content a lot
Good video. Just wondering, if I'm a high handicapper and I come for a fitting. Do you try to fix someone's rotton swing or do you try to fit the clubs to the rotten swing?
He had already decided that steel is better before he hit any shots.
Based on the course test we all need to get stell shafts for our drivers don't we ?
Good video, Mark and James! Will 2019 be the year Mark will play a single handicap? Could very well be...
Love this channel! Doesn’t get any better than waking every morning and seeing a new video!
This could also be down to confidence as he plays with steel shafts but great test
His swing is to slow for steel he have to stop at a 6 iron
What happened to the ultralight clubs of the 80s?
Mid/High handicapper here! Just purchased Cleveland UHX irons with Stiff Miyazaki graphite shafts and I absolutely love them! I don’t think I can go back to steel shafts😜
Another great video James, although I'd love to see that test but different brands? Personally I'm not a fan of ping at all
Once again using graphite that is much lighter than steel golfer didn't like them from the start. Poor test
Tom. Get some steel... and some graphite... and weigh it in mate... then comment back.
Aerotech i80’s best shafts out there,
You need an average weekend golfer that shoots 90-95 to do some of these tests as well. They would not be so predisposed and open to trying new things. We need and are looking for help with our game.
i just got graphite shafts as a 28 handicapper helped out so much shooting more like 10 better then i was