Shopping for new golf clubs is a tough task. You want to get longer and more consistent, but prices and choice overload makes it stressful. During this time, you spend all your time researching new technologies and how the latest models help you improve. But how much golf shaft comparison do you do? Do you even think about it?
Finding the best golf shafts is essential to taking the next step in your game. The difficult part though? Your individual swing plays a major role in what’s effective.
Here, we’re going to breakdown the graphite vs steel iron shafts debate. We’ll walk through the pros and cons of each, how they affect your game without major swing changes, and why what you knew 10 years ago might not be true now.
Overview of Iron Shafts in Golf
While it seems like a minor choice, the right golf shaft gives you the best chance for consistent contact, control, and ball flight. To get to that ideal point, you begin by asking “graphite iron shafts or steel irons shafts?”
Graphite shafts are more easily flexed and preferred by golfers with smooth and slower swing speeds. Steel golf shafts are stiffer but have greater capacity for distance and are more common amongst harder swinging golfers.
However, there is common belief too many golfers play steel shafts. Is this a result of people going with what they always have? Misjudging their swing type? Or not realizing the advances in graphite shaft technology has shifted the ideal swing speed for each material?
Graphite Iron Shafts: Pros and Cons
Graphite iron shafts are best suited for golfers whose swing fits any one or more of the following characteristics:
- Swing speeds under 85mph
- Difficulty elevating the ball
- Inconsistent contact
- Imperfect mechanics
With graphite, these people benefit from a product designed to help them improve.
You can do a lot with graphite shafts in terms of grip size, bounce point, weight distribution, and plenty more. Golfers in the market for graphite shafts will have more options to choose from. They are also likely to come out with a more unique recommendation than a stock shaft.
Because graphite shafts are so unique, small swing changes, even if they are improvements, could have a visible effect. The effect will be small, but since the shafts are so influential, it may be noticeable.
Additionally, in the past, graphite was only for players with slower swing speeds. This was because older versions were not strong enough to withstand the speed of fast swings. Back then, powerful golfers had a wide spray, hit the ball too high, and faced other consistency issues. Thanks to improving technologies and the introduction of carbon and steel fiber, they have become an option for golfers of all levels.
Steel Iron Shafts: Pros and Cons
Steel iron shafts are designed for players with high swing speeds. At the end of the day, steel is a better fit for consistent players interested in manipulating flight and path on a regular basis.
Because of the added stiffness, it is easier to shape the ball and add spin by changing your swing. With this comes a greater margin for error than with more forgiving shaft options. But since the players using them are more skilled, there is an expectation consistency in their swing and ability to execute minimizes this risk.
The argument for steel being used for hard swinging golfers comes down to getting the most out of your equipment. If you do not swing hard enough to activate the flex of your steel shaft, it will lead to problems. This means too low of flight, pushing shots, and a high level of distance variation.
Comparative Analysis: Graphite vs Steel
On paper, the goal is simple. Connect to head of a golf club and help someone hit the ball far and straight. So what are the big differences between the two?
Flex
Graphite shafts come in senior, ladies, and regular flex. Steel shafts come in regular, stiff, and extra stiff. The only overlap is regular and for swing speeds of 75-85 mph, you have a choice between the two. Any lower, you’re a graphite user. Any higher, it’s steel.
Price
At the top end, graphite golf shafts are more expensive than their steel counterpart. While it may only be a difference of about $10-$15 across the board, it’s important to remember this is per item. That $10 difference between shafts is actually about $70 because you will need to buy enough to outfit all your clubs. However, in the scheme of golf, a fee of less than $100 that will save stroke after stroke is a small price to pay.
Weight
For the most part, steel is heavier than graphite. This works out logically since those who struggle with generating speed can do so using lighter, graphite options.
Vibration Absorption
If you play golf in colder places, you’ll inevitably get a bit too much turf with a shot and have the vibrations shoot through your club and up your arms. Well, not just colder places. This happens everywhere. If this presents a problem, you should know that graphite absorbs more vibrations than steel. The same shot hit using a graphite shaft vs a steel shaft will be less painful. Besides the inconvenience of “feeling” the shot, graphite is a great fit for those recovering from injuries.
Stronger materials
Steel is also a more durable material than graphite. As a result, they are less likely to break or wear down over time. The amount of stress you put on the club also has something to do with it. If you hit things other than the golf ball, swing too hard for your flex, or mistreat them in general, they are easily damaged.
Choosing the Right Shaft for Your Game
When you focus entirely on your own game, choosing the right type of golf shaft isn’t too hard. However, it’s very easy to be swayed by the choices of those around you, going with what you always have, or trying to recreate the bags of golfers on TV. With countless resources to educate yourself, there’s no reason for this.
What TO Consider
When it comes time to make your decision, focus on these types of things:
- Swing speed
- How easily you flight the ball (launch angle)
- How hard you swing on your best shots
- Ability to hit the ball straight and manipulate its shape
- Facts—do what the numbers tell you
What NOT to Consider
Like most things in golf, there are some longstanding beliefs with no place in decision-making processes. When it comes to golf shaft material selection, you should not base it on your:
- Age (old or young)
- Gender
- Prior playing experience
- Skill at other sports
- Strength
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it gives you an idea of where other people make mistakes.
Golfer Experiences and Expert Opinions
There is a logical progression of beginning with graphite shafts and advancing to steel as you improve. But this does not have to be the case and is not for every golfer. At some point, your swing speed will stall. This is not a bad thing but represents a time to shift where you place your priorities in terms of how to improve.
The reason people believe in this sequence comes down to making shaft recommendations based on swing speed and failing to incorporate much else. Even worse, it fails to emphasize the need for golfers to swing at speeds they can control.
For an improving golfer, it makes sense to build in room for growth in your swing. What this means is that if you are on the edge of swinging fast enough to succeed with steel, it’s okay to make that choice. If you’re an established player that has been around 75mph swing speed for years, there’s no sense in choosing something you do not already fit. You are what you are.
At that point, your focus should be on reducing dispersion and optimizing launch. That’s how you’ll shoot lower scores. Not flipping your swing upside down to find 10 more yards with each club.
But what iron shafts do pros use? Nearly all professional golfers use steel iron shafts. However, it is not unheard of for top players to use graphite.
When talking pros and graphite, Bryson Dechambeau comes up most frequently. Despite being one of the most polarizing figures in the game, using Bryson as an influence for your own shaft selection is not the best idea. For him, 125-gram single length irons are a good fit. For anyone else, the heavy weight, low flight, low spin profile will not result in the distance or accuracy he produces.
Other pros such as Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, Jason Dufner, and Brandt Snedeker have also been known to play graphite shafts from time to time. The issue is the graphite pros have access to and can afford are different than what the average golfer will find at a local store. In general, it is best to stick to analyzing your own swing and making decisions based on that. And yes, that is true no matter how strong of an urge you to throw what the pros are using into your bag.
Final Thoughts
If you need some help, the graphite material will be the best golf shafts. If you’re in command of your swing, it’s steel. Yet, it will take an honest evaluation of your own game to determine this. Go to a driving range or simulator with a launch monitor. Take these numbers down. Track how you miss, how often you don’t hit the perfect shot, and the numbers the digital system provides. Base your decisions on this—not any notions that certain players are supposed to use certain products.
In the same way golfers overestimate their distance and play tees that are too far back, more players use steel iron shafts than should.
For the same reason that the most common miss among amateur golfers is short, more people are playing graphite iron shafts than do. The average amateur golfers overestimate their own capabilities and need to make decisions based on facts, rather than ideas about their own game. This goes hand in hand with 92% of golfers playing tees that are too far back in the eyes of PGA and LPGA professionals.
Making a decision on iron shaft material that’s honest will only help you.
