Iron shafts...

[Ryan Smither]

Within the next few days I'm going to buy the Callaway X-forged irons. I love the heads.

However, I'm not sold on the Project X shafts quite yet. I have hit the 5.5 flighted shafts in the X-forged heads and I hit the ball neck high with the 3-iron. No one has ever mistaken me for being a high ball hitter, but I can certainly get it more airborn than neck high.

It was like throwing darts with the short irons when I made good contact. The ball flight is lower but the grooves combined with the flat trajectory combined for dart like shots.

I struggled at first with the feel of these shafts because they are unresponsive until impact (very weird feeling). I hope that over time I could get over this feeling.

Any feedback would be very grateful. Would you think about getting weaker shafts in the long irons? Any other ideas. Would you get the flighted or the regular Project X's? Or stick with the S300?

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Ryan, the important question is what shafts have you played for the majority of your golf career? Dynamic Golf or Royal Precision?

It's an important question because they are basically opposite in how they play:

DG's are tip stiff and butt soft
Project X are more tip soft and butt stiff

Most players tend to like 1 or the other and not both.

----------------

Also the project x "flighted" shafts are new this year and are basically a much more "playable" version of the original project x. Most people couldn't handle the normal project x.

Last, those X-forged heads are a FLIGHTED design with more cavity in the long irons to help increase launch angle and the project x flighted are also meant to obviously flighted. So if you can't get the long irons in the air there's something wrong.

It could be the heads, the shafts or a combination of both. Stick with shafts you are used too and you'll be much happier.

 

[Ryan Smither]

My gut says get the S300's. I literally topped/skulled the first 3 shots with the irons because (as you mention) they are the complete opposite of my shafts. It felt like I was swinging a wooden plank.

Or maybe I'll get the 5.5's Flighted and just replace them with my current S300's if I'm not happy with the shafts after a few weeks.

Thanks for the input, Jim.

Any other input is still certainly welcomed from anyone with some knowledge.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

You are used to feeling the shaft load in a completely different fashion with the DGs versus the project x.

So i'm not saying you couldn't play them, i have in the past. I am just more of a DG man.

 

[bcoak]

I believe the weight profile is different in the Project X's as well. They are supposed to be constant weight. I have hit them before and really didn't like them at all. COuldn't feel the club. Can you get them in normal Flighted Rifles? Those are very nice.

 

[2mongoose]

I believe the weight profile is different in the Project X's as well. They are supposed to be constant weight. I have hit them before and really didn't like them at all. COuldn't feel the club. Can you get them in normal Flighted Rifles? Those are very nice.

I cannot confirm the 'weight profile' as bcoak is outlining, but I feel the same way about the Project x. I've always hit DG300, but I felt like I had no idea where the club was at with the Project x.

Some would say I don't know where the club was at in the first place?

 

[blehnhard]

I am using the Nippon NS 1150GH Tour - "S" Flex, hard stepped once. Used Flighted Rifle 6.0 before. Had no trouble adjusting.

For whatever it is worth.

Bruce

 

[Ryan Smither]

Brian mentioned the Nippon shafts to me the other day...

Feel free to enlighten me on these shafts also...

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Brian mentioned the Nippon shafts to me the other day...

Feel free to enlighten me on these shafts also...

They are like a real smooth version of Dynamic Gold, however they play softer so you need to go up in flex with them usually. Very popular with the asian golfing community.

 

[DougT]

Another shaft to throw in the mix would be the Black Gold. I used to play standard Rifles but as my swing has got stronger I have found that they started to ballon into Headwinds. I have found that the BG play like the std Rifle's but with a bit more heft and less spin whilst keeping a smooth feel.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Another shaft to throw in the mix would be the Black Gold. I used to play standard Rifles but as my swing has got stronger I have found that they started to ballon into Headwinds. I have found that the BG play like the std Rifle's but with a bit more heft and less spin whilst keeping a smooth feel.

To expand on DougT's post:

The black gold shafts were designed by True Temper to compete against the project x. Kind of a moot point now that TT owns royal precision. They are a much smoother version of the project x, however they are not constant weight. They are a descending weight design and they are also frequency tuned within 1 cpm throughout the set.

I prefer them over project x.