Graphite vs steel

[shewy]

As a serial short hitter who is usually 2 irons shoter than most would I get any more distance out of graphite thn steel? for comparison my 7 iron is 140 flushed, my driver swing speed is 85-90 and driving distance is around 220 on a good un!

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Graphite may make you swing a little faster but will the gains be worth the change? I can't see it adding much distance to be honest. If you have reg shafts then I would stick with them and work on increasing your SS :thup:

 

[shewy]

how do you increase your ss?

 

[DAVEYBOY]

...Swing faster

Do you feel you could swing faster but maintaine the quality of your shots?

 

[shewy]

I honestly can't swing any faster without losing control!

 

[Foxholer]

how do you increase your ss?

Swing as fast as you can when you are young! Colseart's method - he hit a 9 iron just over 190 yesterday!

Once you get older, it's extremely difficult to swing faster and keep control. It can be done, but not a lot, so rarely worth it.

140 for 7-iron isn't incredibly short btw - at least i hope not!

Graphite will probably give you about 1 club extra distance - partly because shafts will be about 0.5" longer to allow for the lighter weight of Graphite. Used to be that the same feeling shot could vary in distance by 20 yards or so though, so less predictable. May have changed since I used Graphite (2003-ish) but that's why I changed - a test of steel had balls all across the fairway, but within a yard or so for length where Graphite was +/- 10 yards!

 

[TheJezster]

You dont need to swing faster shewy. I dont have a hugely fast swing speed myself, I'm much more relaxed and smooth. Because of this, when i was at the Cleveland centre last year we tried graphite in the shafts too. I loved them, so took them. They just look different to steel is all, but are lighter, this meaning that the swing speed is likely increased, which does probably increase the distance.

Graphite these days is great, some pro's even play with them. They dont feel any different in your hands either, just look black rather than silvery.

Go for it, try them out, if you like them, buy them.

 

[cookelad]

Ignore a lot of the distance boasts on here or any other forum 140yards for a 7 iron isn't 2 clubs shorter than most it's probably not even 1 club shorter!

 

[shewy]

I may do an experiment, I've seen a rbz 6 iron head on ebay, may pair that with a graphite shaft and see if there is a noticable difference.
BTW the graphite and steel shaft lengths are the same for the RBZ irons

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I don't get the fascination of how far someones club goes vs someones elses....ok, you can hit your 9 iron as far as my 7, so what? my 7 iron is closer to the pin!

Your 7 iron isn't that short IMO, just to give a gauge on my distances:

4 185
5 175
6 160
7 147 (the only one I know an average of)
8 135
9 120
PW 110
GW 95
SW 81
oh and driver....easily 350+

 

[shewy]

But when they are playing 6/7 irons in and I'm on a 4 irons then thats when I struggle to get closer to the pin, and my 9 iron is far more accurate then my 7!

 

[DAVEYBOY]

I don't get the fascination of how far someones club goes vs someones elses....ok, you can hit your 9 iron as far as my 7, so what? my 7 iron is closer to the pin!

Your 7 iron isn't that short IMO, just to give a gauge on my distances:

4 185
5 175
6 160
7 147 (the only one I know an average of)
8 135
9 120
PW 110
GW 95
SW 81
oh and driver....easily 350+

What relevance does this have to his question? He asked if graphite shafts will increase his distance. You seem to have a fascination with how far clubs go as you have listed your distances after a short rant about how far people hit the ball.

I love this forum :rofl:

 

[Deleted member 18121]

What relevance does this have to his question? He asked if graphite shafts will increase his distance. You seem to have a fascination with how far clubs go as you have listed your distances after a short rant about how far people hit the ball.

I love this forum :rofl:

There are at least 5 mentions of iron distances in the thread.

 

[DAVEYBOY]

But when they are playing 6/7 irons in and I'm on a 4 irons then thats when I struggle to get closer to the pin, and my 9 iron is far more accurate then my 7!

I can see where you are coming from shewy and while not trying to cause you any offence in any way your 7 iron has the loft of a 6 iron so if you are topping that out at 140 with a flushed shot then I believe that would be considered short. We have several par 4s of 400+ yards on the PGA so I would understand how scoring on them for you could be a struggle.

I know its a crap answer but have you ever had a lesson or asked a pro about how you could improve your distance?

 

[Foxholer]

I may do an experiment, I've seen a rbz 6 iron head on ebay, may pair that with a graphite shaft and see if there is a noticable difference.
BTW the graphite and steel shaft lengths are the same for the RBZ irons

Perfect way to test it.

I did figure I was probably rather out of date. Monty has been using Graphite for a couple of years or more - as they are more comfortable than steel, where they used to be 'harsher'. Presumably the dispersion has improved too.

Same length, but lighter will probably get you about half a club longer. Not worth a change in itself, imo, but something to bear in mind next time you do change.

 

[G1BB0]

is it purely swingspeed holding you back? I doubt it, maybe trying a few different shafts will make a difference, also quality of strike.

140 is fine with 7 iron I would say, ok so you might need 1 or 2 clubs longer here and there but I wouldnt worry about what your playing partners are hitting.

aslong as your consistent with them then surely it doesnt matter, if your not consistent with a 4 iron for example then its either gear, swingspeed (which sort of relates to gear as it might be wrong for you), quality of strike (technique) or just one of those things that you can't do anything about.

Your off 15.3, I hit 7 iron 160 but off 22, wanna swap?

 

[shewy]

I can see where you are coming from shewy and while not trying to cause you any offence in any way your 7 iron has the loft of a 6 iron so if you are topping that out at 140 with a flushed shot then I believe that would be considered short. We have several par 4s of 400+ yards on the PGA so I would understand how scoring on them for you could be a struggle.

I know its a crap answer but have you ever had a lesson or asked a pro about how you could improve your distance?

Exactly my point, fine off the yellows then come comp time I struggle off the whites.
I had a lesson 3 weeks ago, shortened my backswing as my soulders were going past vertical and had a sway to try and get some extra power. G1BBO i know they are strong lofted that's why I'm concerned!! Mybe GM will come to my rescue and let me win an iron comp lol!
I've bought the 6 iron head for a 5iver now to get a shaft!

 

[daymond]

Mmmm. Half a club extra with graphite for an extra cost of £200 - £300. I can't see the cost/benefit in that.

I hit my irons about your distance if not a bit less. I just live with it.

 

[shewy]

Mmmm. Half a club extra with graphite for an extra cost of £200 - £300. I can't see the cost/benefit in that.

I hit my irons about your distance if not a bit less. I just live with it.

It bugs me though, and know t shouldn't! It's a £20 experiment I suppose which will let me know one way or another.

 

[G1BB0]

if your thinking about it then it will always be a niggle, at least you will know afterwards that you should be off the womens tee's