QUESTION: Mark, I understand that the best way to find the right shaft is to go try it out and and feel how it plays but I don’t have access to the 950GH X-stiff shaft to try. So if you could give me a straight answer I would appreciate it. I’m not asking you to fit me over the computer or using the frequency # as the end all. I’ve heard that Nippon Shaft play softer to flex than say Rifle Rroject X or Dynamic Gold( different bend points and tip stiffness). I’ve hit the stiff flex shaft in a TITLEIST iron and found it to be a softer feeling shaft. I’m trying to order new irons w/ these shafts but I don’t want the shaft to play too soft. I’m pretty sure the X-flex will be just fine. Just looking for a little input. A lot of other shaft companies list swing speed or carry distance as a starting point to find the right flex. From there you can see what feels best or gets you the best ball flight and consistency. Thanks, Mike

ANSWER: Mike,

Your questions and your frustration at not receiving a direct answer to your questions tell me that you are like most every golfer.  Every golfer that writes in, is looking for some kind of help in determining the ideal shaft to play with.

Unfortunately, our industry has chosen not to provide you with an effective roadmap to find your optimal performing shaft. Instead of treating you like an intelligent adult capable of making decisions based on a knowledge base of sound concepts, our golf community has given you the most shallow, simplistic ideas almost as if you were a small child.

Intead of fitting assessment days and equipment sessions hosted by top industry professionals that are made available to you through the internet, golf magazines, the Golf Channel, etc., you are hit with branded advertising and tour usage data. (this tour usage data is great for those golfers who want to fantasize that they are a tour pro for a day…, but it still doesn’t help them find their most efficient performance).

Instead of measurement methods that discern the forces a golfer puts onto a shaft, you are given cheesy swing speed ratings.

Instead of EI Curves and meaningful shaft profiling data, you are provided with meaningless butt frequency numbers.

Yes, we have abdicated our role of providing you with solid, qualitative information in order to give you a good starting point to help find your best shaft. And I could post some nonsensical swing speed numbers or other guesstimates based on nothing but the hope to sell more golf shafts, but I choose to offer the most accurate methods of attaining the answer to the question of - which is the right shaft?

If you want the best possible chance of finding the right shaft for your game, body and swing- here’s the proven path;

First- Stop listening to golfers who have no clue. If you have “heard that Nippon Shaft plays softer to flex”, you have heard the wrong information. Our ultralite models and every other manufacturer’s ultralite models will always seem to play softer as judged by golfers who require heavier shaft weights. But for golfers who need lighter models- our shafts absolutely play true to their stated flex.

Second- You have more testing options than you think. Most of the major companies now allow you to purchase a single club or two to your desired specifications, and eventhough you are paying for the club, you now have access to you own private test session and can now make a wise investment on your new equipment set based on actual, verifiable data and interaction.

Third- Not all of our Authorized Installation Centers are highly skilled at fitting every golfer variation, but many have a world of experience to draw upon and can provide you with many of the specific answers you are searching for. If you have never had a premium, comprehensive fitting assessment, I urge you to inquire among our centers and determine if a session to determine your shaft length, shaft weight, and shaft flex is needed.

Fourth- Be careful- but find a Clubfitting Center with an ISG Trackman and the knowledge of how to interpret the data. The combination of a golfer, a machine that tracks both ball and head throughout the swing and flight, a variety of test clubs for length, weight and flex, and a competent fitter who understands the interrelationships of all of the above is the ultimate fitting/performance scenario. This combination most closely replicates what happens on the PGA Tour, and is in fact much more organized and produces results in a faster mode.

Finally, let your own common sense and experience be your guide. You have tested a 950GH S version in a Titleist club and you have a sensory experience of that combination. Incorporate that with your past and existing sets, and hit as many combinations as possible and you will find a tremndous ability to compare and contrast different shaft length/weight/flex combinations. After thousands of assessments, I have learned that all golfers have this ability.

Our industry doesn’t have a solid infrastructure of providing accurate fitting data and highly skilled fitting centers and schools, and instead has in its place- simplistic swing speed numbers and careless shaft ratings- which is a big trap that leads to poor equipment choices.

Don’t let yourself go down that road anymore. Stand up and demand quality choices for fitting, installation and technology. The reward for all your hard work is a set that plays like a dream. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION:Mark,

Thanks for the great information on the site. I have another shaft fitting
question.

I’m going to order a set of MP-57’s with Nippon Shaft 950GH shafts.
(No one has a demo or even a set for sale with these shafts to try)

I currently play PX HL 5.0’s but they have always felt a little boardy.

MY STATS:
My 5 irons SS is about 78-82 MPH (Depending on who’s measuring)
7 Iron carry is approx 150-155
HCP is 5.3
I’m a sweeper/picker of the golfball and usually do not take a divot with a club
above a 7 iron and I have a compact swing, with sometines a quick transition.

I think I’m between a R & S flex. I have heard that these shafts play softer, but
have read that you have stated that they play true to flex.

1. I’m looking for a little more height in my irons but still want accuracy. I
want to go with a Stiff but don’t want the same problem I have now which I feel I
have to swing harder to load the shaft.

2. I don’t want to get an R Flex and feel like I’m losing accuracy, but they may
give me more height in my mid and long irons.

I know this is hard to recommend but perhaps others have had the same problem
and decided to go one way or another and can share your input.

Thanks again and keep up the great work! Smobine

ANSWER: Hi Smobine,

Thanks for appreciating our information.

First- our 950 model plays very true to the stated flex- however- and this is important- IF A SHAFT IS TOO LIGHT FOR YOUR BODY AND SWING, IT WILL ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT PLAYS SOFT OR FLEXIBLE BECAUSE YOUR BODY NEVER FEELS RIGHT.

Second- be real discerning on the length. Most golfers assume they are “std” length, yet most golfers are a bit shorter, or std, or a bit longer, or often a lot longer. connect with a premium clubfitter or at least hit different length clubs.

Next- if you feel like you are inbetween flexes, you very well may be. Contact the Mizuno company and ask them to install a stiff flex so that it plays a bit softer. The Mizuno company utilizes a 950 model that requires a 38.5 raw length for their #5 iron. Ask them to install the 39.0 ‘S’ raw length into the #5 iron and the shaft will play softer and a couple of grams lighter. If your favorite manufacturer is unable or unwilling to adjust your set, contact one of our authorized installation centers for their custom installation options.

It takes a lot of work to find the optimal performing and interacting equipment set, but the search can be a lot of fun and VERY REWARDING. When you find the right set, you will have the efficiency of distance, control, solidness of hit and repeatability.

Don’t forget that the Mizuno Company also will build one or two clubs to your desired specifications. Yes, you will pay for these, but in this manner you will be able to have your own demo/test clubs built for your own private testing session.

Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Dear Sirs
I have a set of Mizuno MX25 with the NS PRO 950 steel shafts in regular and
are ½” longer than standard. The clubs are 2* upright, and since acquiring these
my iron play has changed dramatically instead of short fades I now have long,
high, straight ball flight- this is clearly to do mostly with the choice of the
shaft.
However, I now have to address the shaft choice for the driver, and fairway
woods and/or hybrids. What would you recommend as the ideal option to match
the irons and likely to give me a similar result?

P.S. Should my sand wedge also have the same shaft as the irons or the stiff
version of the NS Pro 950? Or is the normal wedge/stiff standard Mizuno
shaft a good enough match in the sand wedge?

Thanks, Ed

ANSWER: Hi Ed,

After 20,000 plus fitting assessments, I have learned that some general rules apply, and also that every golfer is unique and sometimes no rules apply.

I would start your search for the best fitting wood shafts by following these general guidelines-

1) Most golfers require a slightly lighter shaft weight as their clubs become progressively longer. This means that if you are having success with your iron shafts @ 95 grams, most likely you will fall into a weight range of 60 to 70 grams for your driver shaft, with your fairway wood shafts the same or slightly heavier, (60-80 grams). Most golfers have success with their hybrid shafts keeping the same weight and model as their irons, with some performing well at just a bit lighter, (in your case 80-95 grams).

2) Regarding flex, most golfers require slightly stiffer shaft flex in their woods than in their irons. I recommend that the flex in your hybrid clubs should match up with your irons.

3) There are so many factors of weight/length/flex and shaft geometry that require a golfer to have some method of live testing and interaction to determine the optimal performing shaft, but you might consider our WT Graphite Series.  A place to start might be the WT6000 or 7000 in your driver, the 7000 in your fairway woods, and the 950 shaft in your hybrids.

4) Regarding your sand wedge shaft choice- most of the best wedge fitters recommend that your shaft in the sand wedge should be the same model or heavier. Also, most golfers have the most success with the shaft being slightly softer in flex.

Many of us need to enlist the aid of a fitting center or fitting consultant to help with some of the above issues. Often a specific approach versus a general “general off-the-rack” selection is more difficult to find, but pays great dividends. Please write back anytime.

For help in Europe, please visit www.cqigolf.com.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, I have the latest edition of the Taylormade R7 TP

Superquad but feel that the RE-AX TP 67, Flex X 

(Rombax Technology) is not stiff enough or heavy enough. 

I previously had the Grafalloy Pro-launch Red in my Titleist,

which I loved.  Would this shaft suit this club and if so,

what dimensions (tip size)should I be looking for?  Thanks, Chris

ANSWER: Chris,

If you are looking for a similar performance in your 

new driver, and you still have possession of your old

driver, I would suggest bringing both drivers in to one

of our Authorized Installation Centers and explain your

situation to them. This is a fairly easy situation to 

solve since you already know of one combination that works

for you and your game. 

Another option is to have a shaft model intalled that 

feels heavier and stiffer to your body and swing. 

For an advanced fitting assessment, hooking up with a

fitting center that utilizes an ISG TRACKMAN and fully

understands the fitting data it measures, is the ultimate

process in determining your driver needs.

Regarding your driver hosel diameter, all the TP models are

.335. Best regards, Mark