ARE GRAPHITE GOLF SHAFTS BETTER Than Steel and Can They Help you Play Better Golf?

[@jasonmaestre1355]

I'm 51 years old with a 110 driver swing speed . I have always played a heavy xstiff steel shaft until now. I was fit into a set of cobra tour irons with mitsubishi 125 tx shafts and could not be happier. The price is the only downside. They simply perform better in every way and now that more profiles are being developed and more manufacturers are jumping in it will be a matter of time before the pros start using them. I also just yesterday hit the new fujikura axiom and they are amazing !!!

[@SwingFit]

I couldn’t agree with you more my man, and we get our axiom demos on Friday, so I can’t wait.

[@jeremyreeves5349]

Wow. Night and day difference. Love seeing this content...great video!

[@SwingFit]

Thanks bud we just dropped the Jon Rahm video today as well. You’ll have to give that one a watch as well.

[@chuckpalmer284]

I now use Mizuno 923 HMP and Recoil 95 shaft. I love them. Best change I have ever made. Great video. Thanks

[@SwingFit]

Thanks for sharing, 923’s are so good.

[@electricblue73]

@chuckpalmer284 what are your thoughts on the Recoil 95 shafts (accuracy/dispersion, trajectory, feel, etc..)? I just purchased Mizuno Pro 223 irons with the Recoil 95 F4 shafts (still waiting on them), I am coming from Nippon 950GH Neo shafts on Mizuno JPX 921 HM irons.

[@chuckpalmer284]

@@electricblue73 They are exactly what I wanted them to be. For me they are just as accurate as the project X I used before. Love the height and flight. I think the height is a little higher than the Project x's I had before, and hold the green very well. But I do tend to spin the ball a lot. It is windy a lot where I live and the flight is perfect for here. Still high but they do penetrate the wind just fine. I do not see a distance increase, but I really did not care about that. They are very smooth as long as you keep your transition smooth. If you are quick tempo person, I think the accuracy might suffer a bit. When I really go after one I seem to lose a little accuracy. I wanted graphite because I have a few aches and pains that I didn't have a few years ago. They feel terrific. When you really flush a shot, it feels like you did not hit anything at all. I tested a few other graphite shafts, the Aerotech i80 seemed stiff and dead to me and expensive, Project X catalyst 60 was to light for me. I did like the Fujikura PRO Series 95i about the same as the Recoil 95 but it was not worth the price difference for me. Also I really like the looks of the Recoil. They have a beautiful finish that looks a lot like steel. I had the name down and that makes a really a clean look. Overall, I could not be more pleased with them and combined with the Mizuno heads I expect to be using them for a long time. I hit the 223 I think you made a great choice. I just wanted a little more forgiveness. I don't think I will ever use any irons other than Mizuno from now on. I hope this helps and I hope you love the Recoils as much as I do.

[@tag_76]

I'm a decent weekend warrior golfer. Carry about an 8-10 hcp. I recently went from 130 gram steel shafts to 110 gram steel shafts in my new irons and wouldn't be opposed to graphite iron shafts but I cannot accept that a set of irons would be another $300-$400 more just for the graphite shaft upcharge. That would drive the overall price up to $1700-$1800 just for irons.

[@SwingFit]

You’re so spot on, I always try to fit steel first, and will only move to graphite as a last resort..

[@bersky04]

Some graphite have no up charge. At least on callaway I was able to get apex pro with the mmt 105tx same price as steel. Wanted to give graphite a try and so far so good

[@BigDawgCAM]

^^^ Some of the no-upcharge graphite shafts are definitely solid contenders

[@wkndwarrior4733]

MMT 105 is the ticket in Mizuno no up charge

[@peterprice8393]

As a club builder here in the UK that’s some very interesting data. One question did you spine and Flo the Accra shafts in the club rebuilding process .? Also we’re your Mizuno’s built by Mizuno or your self. As I know they do not spine or Flo there builds.

[@SwingFit]

We build all clubs in house, I never trust anything a MFG builds.😀 and yes all shafts were spined. We utilize a shaft profiler to help us locate the spine, I call it a poor man’s Puréing machine.thanks for asking such a good question.

[@peterprice8393]

Yes a true custom fit is we’re the fitter builds the clubs he has just fitted to the player. I see so many fitted at pro shops for a MFG build which could be that the set is built by multi persons over a work shift , then given to the player on there return with no way of fully checking if they are indeed to the fitted spec,s and a lot of the time never even seen being hit by the player.

[@markirwin4792]

Love your videos! I sent an email on your website with my question. Your videos talked me into switching to graphite! I am just recovering from a broken right hand and I believe the switch would benefit me. 😊

[@SwingFit]

Thanks for reaching out someone should have replied to your request. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can help with.

[@wajopek2679]

I retrofitted my Ping i200’s from steel XP95R to Recoil ES780 stiff. What a revelation! Timing so much better, 8yrd gain, better launch and height but SO consistently straight.

[@SwingFit]

Thanks for sharing, graphite is so good right now and there are a lot of options out there. Unfortunately it does come at an up charge, but if you can hit it further and better then it’s almost like a no brainer.

[@dominicwojczynski1762]

I switched to graphite last year and then git fit into la golf this year, I play zx5 mk2 120 la golf shaft, im in love

[@SwingFit]

Your the 2nd person tonight that mentioned the lagolf shafts, and what’s funny is I have it in the matrix but never tried them, until tonight and who knows there may be a part two coming in the future. Thanks for sharing.

[@dominicwojczynski1762]

@SwingFit kind of pricy but there is no price on great golf LOL. Hope to see some more content from you I really liked your channel before u redid the studio

[@sumitagg1]

I play regular steel stock shaft on my Taylor made speedblade irons. However, in a demo day fitting by mizuno and Taylor made they fitted me To MMT 105 stiff. My 7 iron. Swing speed is between 75-78mph. Very surprised.

[@SwingFit]

That’s a good move, weight of shafts doesn’t affect your timing or tempo and perhaps just a little bit feel and launch. Thanks for sharing

[@thumperfootstrong]

Just subscribed. You seem like a guy I could get along with. Great info. 💪🏻

[@SwingFit]

Thanks for the support and kind words.

[@KyleW0806]

Love the content, glad you’re back! I plan on getting fit for new irons and very interested in graphite shafts… Any tips or advice to make sure the fitter understands the graphite features and not trying to up sell the shaft? Something to look for with the numbers? Thanks

[@SwingFit]

Make no mistake about it it is an up sell, and I will always try to fit for steel first. I’ll go to graphite if I’m having a hard time creating launch, speed or if my customer tells me that swinging steel shafted irons is too laborsome. With that said and if cost isn’t a factor I would say graphite is by far a better choice. But here is my two best tips for you, go with a shaft that feels good and is one that doesn’t require you to have to muscle or swing it differently , then select the best shaft that gives you the best stamp pattern, the tighter the better.

[@KyleW0806]

@@SwingFit thank you so much for responding. Graphite is hopefully going to be the winner for me

[@nickpritchard7130]

Incredible. This is identical to what is happening in my current game..I just purchased a set of Mamiya RECOIL 480 F4 shafts and am looking forward to installing them. . May i ask, Do you recommend a particular swing weight with Graphite over Steel ? and do you also think an iron should be 1/2 inch longer when using graphite, over steel ? Great vid content. Big thanks for this one.

[@SwingFit]

No I don’t agree with longer lengths in graphite but I understand why, and that’s because SW is so hard to get a the Standard length and there really isn’t that much you can do in regards to tips weights for graphite shafts. But with that said I will say whether or not if you play steel or graphite everyone has a preferred SW and it won’t change regardless of the material. Best of luck to you.

[@luiscalvo5451]

Great tips. Are there hybrid shafts?. I have been playing PXG irons for a couple of years and they sold me what they call hybrid shafts. They sure fill better than metals shafts but do they perform as graphites?

[@SwingFit]

So there are a handful of steel shafts in what we call hybrids but for the most part they are all going to be graphite and there’s a pretty damn good chance your shafts are also graphite. Graphite is just better for longer length clubs.

[@wkndwarrior4733]

Just switched to MMT 85R in 923 Hot Metal Pro 5-Gw. Your videos helped me tell the fitter I wanted to try graphite. What would you recommend in wedges in terms of weight and flex? Considering MMT105, MMT85 or the fitter recommend possibly KBS tour lite regular (95grams)

[@SwingFit]

I like kbs route a little better. I personally think you get more feel with steel and in wedges this is important.

[@drthomasrr]

Really great points

[@SwingFit]

Thanks for the support

[@joemooney2268]

Im wanting to switch to the Accra I series shafts. Just not sure on which weight. My 7 iron speed is 88mph and driver speed is 107. Thanks

[@SwingFit]

The new I series may not go as heavy as you need. I play the original 115. And the closest my guys told me that matches up would be a CWT also known as constant weight shaft made by Accra. The new TZ shafts may also be a good choice as well.

[@MrKillahippo]

Would just the lighter 90-100g steel shaft do the same thing as your graphite change over?

[@SwingFit]

In this situation it did not, the lighter weight steel shafts just didn’t flight the ball as good as the graphite. Great thought though.

[@DaveFogel]

I miss your old intro. It was great.

[@SwingFit]

Thanks Dave. I kind of miss it to… but funny enough the KZbin algorithm says we should go without…😀

[@michaelskeels4442]

You need to subtract out the 4.6 degrees open you had on steel compared to the 0 degrees you had on graphite. The smash factor made a big difference. It wasn't just the graphite shafts.

[@SwingFit]

Good point but what caused smash to get better, and what caused the face to square up? You see I deal with absolutes, and it really comes down to keeping the variables low so that when a change occurs, you can verify what caused smash to get better and what allowed the face to square up. Drum roll please, the GolfShaft, as it was the only difference. Thanks for sharing and supporting the channel

[@michaelskeels4442]

@@SwingFit Shaft material doesn't correlate to 4.6 open as highly as shaft torque and shaft flex does. Shafts with softer flexes have higher torque numbers and stiffer shafts have lower torque numbers. ACCRA SRT graphite shafts for Jr. golfers have between 5.6 degrees and 5.8 degrees torque while advanced players playing the TZi series graphite shafts are around 2.8 degrees. Both are graphite. So your right. The difference is the shaft... not just the material.

[@josephshuster4904]

My Ping G425 irons ,,,I’m Considering graphite shaft,,,,, what a good brand,,my buddy has KBS MAX light shafts and loves them,,, AXION are they good,,what one do you like??????

[@SwingFit]

Graphite shafts I like are Accra, SteelFiber, and MMT. Axioms are good they just are very expensive.

[@MichaelSeward-en3qo]

I can only speak for myself, but as a 67 year old with between 85/95 mph swing speed, steel shafts just weren't a comfortable option. I have Ping I230 irons in Green dot, Ping G430 MAX driver/3 wood/5/7/9/ wood, and Ping G430 Hybrids in a 5/6/7. All across the bag were steel shafts, Fujikura Motore F3 6S in the driver/3 wood, Hazardous Smoke in the 5/7/9 woods, True Temper Dynamic Gold S 300 in the irons, Hazardous Smoke in the Hybrids, all stiff flex. I'm not an arm swinger, I have good turn/hip rotation, so power is not a problem. What I found with the steel shafts was a loss of tempo and smoothness, and obviously off line hits more than I cared for. I realize today's graphite is much more advanced than a few decades ago, so I put Fujikura Vista Pro 45 R2 shafts in the driver/3 wood. Night and day difference in tempo, and a significant boost in total distance and dispersion. I'm going graphite through the bag and I'm glad I committed to the change. Yes they're lighter weight shafts, but they're stronger too. You don't feel the aches and pains after hitting on the range or playing a round like you do trying to control the steel shafts. Everyone has to find out for themselves which shafts work, and it's not a snap process, but when you get the right combo, you'll be quite pleased with your play. FYI, all my shaft selections were geared toward high launch/ high spin.

[@SwingFit]

Graphite is such a great option it just unfortunately inflates the cost

[@joneastelow3242]

A few decades ....!!!..Are you 100 years old? I'm just going to get a fit this week, I'm on old Wilson FS so hoping for some, not so tired arms and enjoy golf more. 😂

[@DrPapa14]

At 54, I’m looking for maybe my last set of clubs. Driver swing speed is 97 and 7 iron is 85ish. Im using Bridgestone b rxs ball. What graphite should I look too? I am a martial artist and weight lifter. I do both because I’m a pastor of a church. I could use some help

[@SwingFit]

Shaft selections is such a wild card and is really best to the try it and see. This is why we have so many options in our matrix. But MMT, Accra Iserries, and SteelFiber continue to be great options.

[@DrPapa14]

@@SwingFit Thank you for the info. Club fitting here in Lansing, Michigan has gotten so expensive that i cant really afford new clubs plus fitting. From my perspective I see about 10,000 shaft choices. I have made a few sets of clubs in the past with maybe 2 or 3 options of shafts, that was in the 90’s. Any info would be appreciated. I am probably getting my last golf clubs for life.

[@justinstephenson9360]

@@DrPapa14 Steelfiber i95 (or maybe i80) would be my suggestion. Try both stiff and regular because they do play a little stiffer than the flex suggests. It is an older shaft but incredibly consistent and stable. Key issue will be shaft weight as it is very personal

[@SwingFit]

Accras I series shafts are indeed very good shafts. And they will not break the bank. Anything else I would even consider would be north of 75.00 a shaft so cost gets up there. But if I were to make a suggestion I would say do the fit even if you never buy the clubs from that location and test the shafts to see which ones perform better. Then there’s no question take that info and watch the used club forums and grab the best deal.

[@thomasmckechnie3907]

m8 play mizuno 921 forged irons thinking about going to graphite shaft is it cheaper to get steel shafts pulled and put in graphite or just buy new clubs

[@SwingFit]

If you’re buying new then it’s always recommended to buy with the graphite you’ve been fit for. If you buy steel and then do retro fit then you will pay way more since they have to be torn down and rebuilt. Now on the flip side you could find a new set in the second hand market slightly used and save some money, as you wouldn’t have to worry about the steel that’s in it so going for maybe an unpopular regular flex could yield some additional savings and then get them redone. Good question.

[@hbyrdut]

If the club with steel and the club with graphite were the same swing weight then why did you swing the graphite shaft set up faster?

[@SwingFit]

Good question my man SwingWeight is nothing more than a measurement of where the mass is distributed in a golf club. Meaning is there more weight in the head or grip. Now what was different was about 15 grams in total weight as I moved from a 125 gram weight shaft to a 110 gram weight shaft. But if you ask me why I was able to swing it a little faster I think it really comes down to feel and how the club released. The LZ shaft felt really board(y) to me where the graphite just felt easier to release.

[@hbyrdut]

@@SwingFit Thank you sir!

[@Golf4LifeGrandview]

If you have a shallow swing, can the graphite shafts help with that?

[@SwingFit]

Such a good question, yes graphite can help. In this regard I may look at a MMT with a lower balance point which will protect the headweight, and going lighter can actually have the opposite affect for shallow swingers and get you to swing more down. The thing we have to be cautious of is we need to be sure that the graphite doesn’t create a problem with a neutral or positive angle of attack as it can add extra dynamic loft just as id did for me. Hope this helped.

[@SvingitGolf]

But if the graphite shaft is the same weight as the steel shaft. How can you expect to gain clubhead speed?

[@zarlodious1]

The properties of graphite gives you so much more granularity in controlling exact profiles something you must rely simply on steel wall thickness with steel. I have X flex 130 grams steels and can hit my stiff accra 70i further and straighter and pain free feels very smooth why would I want steel?

[@victorchen8484]

​@@zarlodious1 accra graphite feels amazing, some other ones such as recoil and mmt is another story

[@zarlodious1]

@@victorchen8484 I have demo'd both and yes both very good absolutely loved their MMT in driver better than AV Raw white even.

[@zarlodious1]

Most likely gonna go with 95 steelfibers swap out of Srixon 745 and into PXG 0211 ST blades, I do not have enough accra's for new setup but I do for steelfibers!

[@victorchen8484]

I don't mind mmt in hybrid and driver but hates them in irons, just no feel what's so ever🤣But accra is very underrated in my opinion

[@Nico_B_]

I think you just needed 5.5 px lz

[@SwingFit]

That’s not a bad thought at all and I will often play with weight and flex to change the launch characteristics but in this situation and after trying a number of steel shafts nothing performed better than the Accra’s, and believe me, the old school philosophy tried like hell to keep me in steel…😀

[@alancraig6562]

You should never be playing 6.5 shaft in the first place!