What are the advantages of having graphite shaft irons, instead of steel shaft irons ?

Question

I was in a golf shop yesterday looking at the 2008 Big Bertha Irons. The clerk asked me what my price range was, I told him under $600. Well the steel shaft ones were $599 and the Graphite shaft ones were $799 (obviously more than I wanted to spend.) He then proceeded to say "you dont really want graphite anyways, they are mainly for slow swingers or people with old injuries who need a lighter club." I asked him if they do anything for how "soft" they feel at contact. He told me "not really". Im trying to figure out if he was just being nice about it,because he knew they were out of my price range, or if he really meant what he said. I bought my clubs on ebay last night...I got the graphite ones for $530. (almost $70 cheaper than the Steel shaft ones at the store ha ha). So now im coming to you,asking if he was right, or not ? What are the advantages the graphite shafts have over the steel shaft. There has to be something better about them if they cost $200 more in the store. Thanks!

Answer 1

the main advantages are that they are not as heavy so you can generate more club head speed with the same swing, and beleive it or not your not as likley to injure yourself if you used graphite shafts opposed to traditional steel shafts.

BUT the one major downside to graphite shafts is that your shots wont be as accurate because of the increased whip of the shaft

hope this helps

Answer 2

Everyone has answered your question.

My point is simple. You say you have brought clubs for $530, and saved $70 against the steel. If these clubs get damaged or broken where are you gonna take them back to? EBAY??

1: Did this come with a fitting session?

2: Angle adjustment

3: Weight adjustment

4: Grip adjustment

5: Choice of clubs (3 Iron or 3 Recovery)

You might think you have saved $270 against store brought Graphite shafts. I think you have just wasted $530.

Answer 3

Graphite shaft irons are more forgiving for miss hit shots than steel.

Answer 4

At age 80, I found that my shots with the steel shafted woods were some 10 to 20 yards shorter then my average at 79. So I went to the graphite shafts. They were lighter and whippier and compensated for my lower club head speed but still some 5 to 10 yards shorter than previously. Went to graphite shafted irons last year to get the same feel that I was getting on the woods. Am learning to use one to two clubs more than previously with good results.

Answer 5

The clerk was not full of it, not totally anyways.  Graphite is made for people with slower natural swing speed as a general rule, because they are lighter than steel (and so easier to swing).  However if the graphite felt better when you swung them, then by all means you made the right choice.  I have bought three of four clubs based simply on the fact that they felt 'right' in my hands and they are the clubs I hit the best still.

Answer 6

if you're a complete hack you want to go with the graphite but if you're halfway decent then go with the steel

Answer 7

Graphite is lighter weight than steel, so an equal amount of force put into the swing will create a faster clubhead speed with the graphite which theoretically means more distance.  However they often have more torque(twisting on off center hits) so you might not hit them as straight.  The shaft is the most important part of any club and  you really need it to work for your swing not your budget.   They cost more because the materials and methods to construct them cost more than for steel, not necessarily because of the resultant golf shot.

Answer 8

Graphite is lighter, and lighter translates into higher swing speeds and more distance.

In the past, Tour pros have not used graphite in their shafts because of the "torque" issue -- that is, the graphite twisted more than steel, sending shots off line.

However with the new graphite shafts that isn't really an issue any more. Further, the advantage of graphite is that it can be "tuned" in ways that steel can't. Kick point, flex and so on can be adjusted more readily in graphite than in steel.

In the future, you're going to see more pros using graphite. Right now, there's a resistance, just as there was when the shift was made from hickory to steel back in the 1920s and 1930s.