Richie3Jack
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Curious as to who has tried them out and what they think. I'm thinking about yanking my Dynamic Golds out of my wedges and installing either one of the clubshafts instead.
3JACK
3JACK
Rifle Spinner vs. KBS Wedge Shafts
- Thread starter Richie3Jack
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What are you looking for in a wedge shaft?
I think both of those shafts are interesting, but also overpriced.
I play Black Golds in my irons, and for my wedges, I took Black Gold 8 iron shafts and then cut them down to wedge length. This gives you a controlled and lower trajectory. I got the recommendation from some folks over at GolfWRX who claimed that a lot of tour pros build their wedges this way - they said explicitly that Furyk does this. I don't know if that's true, but I really like how they play and I didn't have to spend a lot extra on a wedge shaft.
I think both of those shafts are interesting, but also overpriced.
I play Black Golds in my irons, and for my wedges, I took Black Gold 8 iron shafts and then cut them down to wedge length. This gives you a controlled and lower trajectory. I got the recommendation from some folks over at GolfWRX who claimed that a lot of tour pros build their wedges this way - they said explicitly that Furyk does this. I don't know if that's true, but I really like how they play and I didn't have to spend a lot extra on a wedge shaft.
interesting!
Jim Kobylinski
Super Moderator
just an FYI, KB Tour wedge shafts are just their 9 iron shaft stuffed in a wedge similar to the spinner idea.
There's no reason you can't do this with Project X's.
If you have parallel tip .370 shafts, then you just need to tip trim the shaft to an 8 or 9 iron length (check the True Temper or Rifle sites for trimming instructions) and then butt trim to the length you want to play in your wedge.
If you have taper tip shafts, then you need to make sure you buy a specific 8 iron or 9 iron shaft, and then butt trim to your wedge length.
In short, it's a little easier with parallel tip shafts (because you can *make* a 3 iron shaft into an 8 iron shaft), but you can do it either way.
Richie3Jack
New
One of my issues with the DG's is getting consistent flight pattern from them. I'll catch one flush with my 54* on one hole and it will go about like I thought it would. Then on the next hole I'll catch one flush and it will go very low and have a 'dead' flight to it and come up short of the yardage I wanted.
3JACK
Have the DG's in your current wedge shafts been pured?
I don't want to open that can of worms because I know some people will swear that it makes no difference. Personally, I think it does make a difference, but in any case, it's so simple to pure a shaft when you are installing it (takes an extra 5 minutes of work, at most) that I think it's definitely worth it. I'm spoiled because I build my own wedges, but it's not that much extra effort/money even if you don't.
Also, are you DG's X flex?
I think it would be worth the effort to try an 8 iron Project X, pured, in your wedge.
Burner
New
I am not having a pop at you here R3J but how "flush" is "flush" and how good a player do you have to be to ascertain that the shaft and not the impact is at fault.
Is one proprietary shaft so superior to another that anyone other than the very best of the very best can appreciate, and benefit from, the difference?
Richie3Jack
New
I've been playing golf for 20 years, played on a D-1 college scholarship and after an 8-year layoff from the game, I got back into it in January and now I'm playing to a +0.3.
Absolutely great questions, Burner...so I'm not offended in the least bit. But I think I have the experience to ascertain some things and I have used impact tape. I've heard great things about both the Rifle spinner and KBS shafts.
Over the years there have been shafts that have come out that are far superior to the major brands. Back when I was in high school, everybody wanted Aldila graphite shafts. Then Apollo became a rave. As time moved along it was Grafalloy and then Graphite Design, Harrison and AJ Tech pretty much had a cult following.
IMO, shafts are the most rapidly changing market out there and once somebody comes up with something great, eventually the rest catch on until somebody else comes up with something new. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the regular KBS Tour shafts and it's no surprise that some many OEM and component companies are offering them as an option in their equipment.
3JACK
Richie3Jack
New
Haven't changed shafts yet. I'm thinking about doing it in the spring. I have a few tweaks I want to make to my swing, get some Trackman work in, along with dropping about 30 pounds. Get those done first, then I plan on switching to KBS shafts in all of my irons and my hybrid.
Thanks for asking.
3JACK
rogerdodger
New
Richie, seeing videos of your swing, I would stay away from the spinner wedge shaft. They tend to be relatively light compared to the dg. I have not hit the kbs, but if I was fitting you for a wedge shaft I would try to find as heavy a shaft as possible.
mgranato
New
I have the original PX (satin finish) iron shafts (6.5) done by the same designer now doing the KBS shafts. I was told that switching between the two would be a "lateral move" given their similarities. However, the KBS shafts would be a move up over the current PX shafts. I'm wondering if the same holds true for the original spinners compared to the KBS wedge shafts?
Richie3Jack
New
I'd be interested in why you think this. When I got fitted for my irons, the clubfitter (who has Trackman) said I should go with lighter clubs. My philosophies (which could be wrong) on the swing and clubfitting tell me that he's right because of the type of trigger delay, random sweep release, and hand speed I have. I plan on maximizing my trigger delay over the winter and possibly having more of a snap release as well and I think that would call for heavier clubs (and possibly stiffer shafts).
3JACK
I'm pretty sure the Rifle Spinner is just the eight iron shaft of the corresponding flex. They really went all out there.
In my opinion, Rifle's quality control has been absolute crap since True Temper bought them out. A friend of mine had a set of irons with Project X 6.3's, and after hitting them for a while thought something was a little off. He had them freq'd and found out that the shafts ranged from 6.7 to 4.9!
I mean, come one. That's not even close. I've heard similar second-hand accounts of shoddy Rifle products. I would stay away if I was you.
My buddy went to KBS 6.5's and has never looked back.
In my opinion, Rifle's quality control has been absolute crap since True Temper bought them out. A friend of mine had a set of irons with Project X 6.3's, and after hitting them for a while thought something was a little off. He had them freq'd and found out that the shafts ranged from 6.7 to 4.9!
I mean, come one. That's not even close. I've heard similar second-hand accounts of shoddy Rifle products. I would stay away if I was you.
My buddy went to KBS 6.5's and has never looked back.
rogerdodger
New
Richie, I have seen your swing on your blog and it appears to me that you put a lot of pressure on the shaft and generate a good amount of clubhead speed. With the wedge, I think heavier will do a better job of controlling the shaft flex by making sure you don't over accellarate so to speak. I like a light shaft, but I get much better results with my short irons, particularly my wedges, with a heavier shaft. I find it controls trajectory much better. If the shaft is too light, I find it really tough to hit low spinners. I use scratch wedges with s400 shafts and I do not drive it as hard as you do. My long clubs are lighter and more flexible, but my wedges are heavy and stiff. From 100 yards in, I really trust those clubs, my impact is much more consistent and trajectory uniform.
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