What happens when I install the same steel shaft from my irons into a hybrid? Let’s find out and see if you might want to do the same.
Interested in a fitting, custom build, or repair. Contact me
adam@elitefitgolf.com
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What happens when I install the same steel shaft from my irons into a hybrid? Let’s find out and see if you might want to do the same.
Interested in a fitting, custom build, or repair. Contact me
adam@elitefitgolf.com
38 Comments
I was just about to buy a Japanese TSi1 hybrid with a stock Zelos steel shaft. Tested it out, but honestly felt that the lightweight graphite shaft matches the head much better. Lots of variables here, but hybrids do come in different flavours.
I just built a 7w yesterday with an iron shaft
Tried this too, but it’s not very fun. Swingweight was messed up!
Did this with a 6 hybrid set at 28 degrees with a 105 gram steel shaft, so consistent. took some expiermenting with headweight and length to dial it in. I love it from 190-200 yards outs from all sorts of lies.
Fun stuff
that is a way forgotten club. I use a steel in my Hybrid and everyone was laughing at me, but i could never find a better combo. so thanks for this video gives me a way better feeling. owesome channel
Haven't seen any tour guys using steel shafts in their hybrids.
I have a KBS steel in my 5 and 6 hybrids. They work great.
Did you adjust the lie angle and then retest? I think the graphite is better for older golfers just from a fatigue standpoint. It looked like the steel shaft was less offline when you got used to swinging it.
Nice video.
But you are comparing a light shaft with a heavy shaft. Curious what the results will be if you take a graphite shaft that is as heavy as the steel shaft.
For quite a long time, I used a steel shaft (X100) in a 3 wood and absolutely LOVED that club. Of course that was over 20 years ago, but I have never hit a 3 wood that consistently since.
I have been using steel in my fairway woods for years (no hybrids) but I just switched to the
Graphite Design DI 7SR It's longer off the tee but I like the ball flight of the steel better
My first 3-wood had a steel Dynamic Gold stiff shaft and it was an absolute hammer. Loved the feel and weight of it. Great test!
My first hybrid set had steel shafts. Loved them
The Mizuno JPX Fli-Hi 921 came with a steel shaft option, the Nippon NS Pro 950 GH Neo. I have the 4 and 5 in my bag, love them. Feel great and much more consistent than graphite hybrids I have used in the past.
Thank you! Just bought a 2nd hand set of forged irons with steel shafts which weigh an absolute ton. Will bear your findings in mind when assessing whether to re-shaft.
I still have my Ben Hogan Edge CFT hybrids #3-21° #4-24° with Apex Edge 3 steel shafts. Great clubs!
I've always struggled with the lighter shafts (poor tempo). Have a 95g graphite in my hybrid now. It would definitely save some $$ to use steel.
Hi AJ, do you think that a 65 gram driver shaft would fit into a 4 hybrid?
I’d love to see this with test done with driver!
Built a 4 hybrid (24*) years ago with a steel shaft and still is probably my favorite club in the bag. The weight of the shaft just seems to smooth out my tempo. It’s my fairway finder when driver and fairway wood lets me down.
I bought a set of Lazrus all hybrid "irons, 4-P. The regular flex graphite shafts they came with were pure sh!t…. Popped the heads off and stuck in an old set of TT DTLite shafts I had in the garage. They're a 130g shaft that Diamond Tour Golf used to sell. Took them out Sunday morning and what a difference!
I appreciate you doing such comparisons and I understand why you used the shaft you used in this case. But almost every video like this shows what happens at the extremes. Meaning you went from a typically light graphite to a standard heavy steel shaft at your standard flex. What I rarely see anyone do is try and find the best compromise and see what the best choices are. For instance. Maybe a 95 gram graphite in or a 105 gram steel shaft. Maybe stiff versus x-stiff. I find I play better with about a half flex to one full flex softer in my longer clubs. I had a TaylorMade M4 hybrid in 19 degree that I rarely used anymore. I swapped out the stock shaft for a KBS C-Taper lite in regular flex hard stepped once and not only did I gain a small amount of distance but the launch angle was better and dispersion was much smaller. Cut weight of the shaft was 104 grams versus the 66 grams I weighed for the removed Atmos shaft. So, a little less difference than your comparison but I play KBS Tour at 120 gram in my irons so I was splitting the difference and that made a huge difference in the longer hybrid club. Just a thought for future videos. A dial it in series so to speak.
I do exactly this, .355 Modus 120 R iron shafts moved into 4 to 7 hybrids. The 4 iron shaft went into the 5 hybrid etc.. I use lead tape to further swingweight match the hybrids to the irons. I make sure the last step at the grip end of the steel shaft is the exact same distance to the butt end on all the steel shafts.
The steel hybrids are much more reliable when I am not at my best or when I'm anxious or need to hit a shot extra hard. They do make by bag feel like it weighs 16 tons.
I changed from graphite to steel in my irons and my dispersion improved with little to no loss of distance. So being an eternal tinkerer I found some .335 Apollo shafts online and changed out graphite to them in my 5, 7 and 9 woods. Took the 5 to the range and played a round yesterday and used the 7 and 9 woods. Yes they are heavy and the swingweight is in the upper E range but boy can you feel where the club head is.. The strike felt like hitting with a hammer and had plenty of distance and lots of roll. So far I’m a fan. Bought an extra steel shaft and going to try it with my driver, what the heck. Most all of these woods have adapters so no issues changing back. FYI I’m 67 years young and play multiple times a week. If I keep the steel with its weight I can cut back time at the gym and play more golf.
Great video! Have you checked out the Newton driver shafts? I was thinking that would be a cool comparison video to put it up against a popular shaft like the Ventus.
What kind of grip is that? (the half gray half black one)
❤ these types of videos. More experiments pls!
I have two 5 woods in my bag. One is a Taylor made Burner 18* with a longish shaft ! It's my go to club on long holes.
I have resurrected an old 5 wood an ancient Dunlop DDH steel headed steel shafted club 21* loft !
It's totally different like a crazy big headed hybrid !
Very obvious roll and bulge heavy steel head deep cut slots + steel shaft = a great club out of the rough and for holding greens !
To sum up check out your old garden shed clubs one may just have something to offer even today !
Interesting video.🎉
I put my iron shaft in my wedges, might have to do this if I get a hybrid it only makes sense if you know the shaft you have fits your swing
To get a more hybrid feel, I put the Aerotech Steelfiber shaft in my hybrid. It does seem to bridge the gap better between the steel and graphite.
Did you end up trying to make the steel club upright using the hosel? It did seem all your shots with that shaft went right.
Loved this, thank you 🙏
My Mizuno fli-hi 5 hybrid was matched to my fitted iron set. Same shaft. Works great.
Isn’t this pointless test for numbers as the shaft lengths are different??
I have a 95 gram graphite in my 5 hy and still cant hit a hybrid
Really nice clip Adam! Well done. Short and heavy could be a key to consistency. It seems OEMs only care for distance…
Comparing the std devs (as a measure of distribution) on one of the data views: it was much lower for the 120s vs the 75g. Which sort of proves the values were closer to the mean -which I interpret as consistency in ball striking.
I think that it's marketing that has taken steel shafts out of the distance clubs. I'm sure that for most amateur ladies and weaker men and seniors, a significantly lighter club may help, but for fairly fit men and women, steel shafts are just fine and better for some. The added weight helps with tempo and confidence. I have older drivers with steel shafts, and the truth is I likely would play better with them. When you spend a chunk of change on a driver with an expensive shaft, it's hard to make yourself stick it in the corner and not keep it in your bag. I like your pursuit of honesty and keeping it real rather than feeling pressured to conform.
I now play with a DG S300 130gm stiff steel driver shaft attached to my LTDx driver head and hitting both straighter and longer than ever before. I used to top out at about 230 yards max with graphite shafts but now hitting 245-255 regularly and been over 275 yards (measured shot on Google maps as tee-shot landed on a par4 green ). I recently purchase a lighter TT DG SupaLite 300 stiff steel shaft but that turned out to be no better than of the graphite shafts.