QUESTION: Hi, I’m going to be purchasing a set of 2008 Callaway

FT irons. The stock shaft is ‘uniflex’ NS Pro 1100.  My other 

options are DG SL, Project X (flighted or stnd) and TT Black Gold.

I will have them made 1/2″ over Callway standard length for that

model, so 5 iron will be 38 1/4″.  I currently play Callaway 

X-Tour DGSL S300.  I’m concerned about possibly hitting the 

ball too high, or not being able to knockdown shots with a mid

kick shaft. How does the NS Pro 1100 compare in launch and flex

point to the other options available?  I’m a 4 hdcp, so I have

skills to control trajectory, just don’t want to make a mistake

with such expensive clubs.  I’ve read many positive things 

about your shafts and feel Callaway does strong research when

selecting OE fitment.  How will added 1/2″ affect swingweight?

Is the 1100 a ‘hitter’ or ’sweeper’ shaft, as I’ve seen 

comments on models being more suited to those types of swingers?

I have a medium tempo, hit a 6 currently 165-175 (depends on 

my swing that day). Is uniflex strong enough? Many thanks in

advance for your advice. Mail

 
ANSWER: Hi Mail,
Information gathering is a worthy pursuit. But you will make
a very big mistake on this set if you do not hit them first!
You are right about the Callaway Company, they are very
professional and they do their homework on selecting shaft
models for their irons, but they also know that not every
shaft fits every golfer…, which is why they offer custom 
shaft options.
If you want specific shaft comparisons, I suggest that you 
contact any of our authorized installation centers, and make
an appointment to help you find the information you seek.
They work with every shaft model on a daily basis and are
most skilled to quantify these type of questions for you.
Regarding the question of a “uniflex” rating- this rating
is between an R and S flex. If you have had success with 
your current model and flex, you might consider installing
your new set to the same shaft specifications.
Regarding the question of the affect of +1/2″ overlength on
the specification of swingweight- each 1/2″ extra length will
add 3 swingweight points to a set. However, don’t assume this 
is what will happen. Most modern head design can be adjusted
for headweight and this extra length may not be a swingweight
issue. 
Be careful what you read, connect with a quality clubfitter to
guide you in the process, and test, test, test your options.
Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Hi, The new callaway FT Irons have a Nippon Shaft

1100 shaft model. What is the stiffness and bend point of this

shaft and can I expect a higher ball flight than the TT S300 SL?

 Thanks, Luis

 

ANSWER: Hi Luis, 

This is a mid bend model in the 110 gram range. This shaft is

offered exclusively for the Callaway Company iron, and I 

strongly urge you to contact a Callaway retailer and demo the

model for yourself. Different golfers often get different

results and the reality is that you may or may not have a

higher trajectory. Many golfer will hit a mid bend model

higher than a high bend model, but this is not always the case.

Best regards, Mark 

REPORT FROM THE 2008 PGA SHOW:

A seismic shift in information from golf industry to the consumer has happened at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show held this past week in Orlando, Florida.

I have attended 23 consecutive PGA Shows and the lead story lines each and every year have been about the “Head” story; blade, cavity-back, midsize, oversize, titanium, shallow-faced, bigger is better, COR, MOI, 460CC, hybrids, etc., etc. But, the USGA, for better or worse, has put the major companies into an ever confining box. There are now limits on the size, shape, face, and length of the golf club. Along with these restrictions comes the new rule allowing a golf club to have head/shaft adjustability legal for play. The result is a strong promotion by the equipment companies of technology, shafts, and fitting.

After so many years of the OEMs informing us of the dire need to play their head, it was very odd to see a representative from the Ping Company on the main PGA stage preaching the benefits of their new N FLIGHT FITTING SOFTWARE. In fairness to the Ping Company, they have carried the “fitting” banner longer and stronger than most anyone, but never have I seen a presentation from a club manufacturer where they did not have one of their heads on stage during their presentation.

The lead attraction of the show was the Mega-Demo Day held a the massive Orange County National Golf Range. Thousands of Golf Professionals and Shop Owners spent the day testing most every new golf club and golf shaft on the market for 2008.

 

 Nippon Shaft booth at the 2008 PGA Show Demo Day

-Special Products and Services seen at the Show-

TRACKMAN- With all the play they have been receiving on the Golf Channel’s PGA Tour telecasts, this booth was busy, busy. Every golfer should make a pilgrimage to a clubfitter that has a TRACkMAN system and a bunch of test clubs and see the difference head/shaft combinations can make in their performance.

SCIENCE and MOTION - SAM PUTT LAB - The Trackman of the Putting Green- used by a certain #1 ranked player- gives a lot of data- the more knowledgeable the fitter, the better the Sam Putt Lab data.

The most crowded booth was often Table Rock Classics with SCOTTY CAMERON appearing and signing autographs.

Shaft Companies MITSUBISHI RAYON, GRAPHITE DESIGN, and FUJIKURA COMPOSITES all showing new models for 2008. NIPPON SHAFT introduced their new 950 steel hybrid shaft models and their high performance, ultra sleek, Ion Plated NS PRO 999GH iron shaft series.

NICKENT offering driver head in a box in combination with low launch and hi launch shafts.

CALLAWAY introducing their I-MIX adjustable head/shaft combos.

SST PURE, now in their 11th year and with 60+ licensees around the globe produced a DVD with ball flight data showing why so many players on the PGA Tour use their process.

BRIDGESTONE had their ball flight systems geared up at their booth recommending the optimal performing golf ball.

SRIXON, SONARTEC, BRIDGESTONE, ADAMS, and MACGREGOR offering head only sales to qualifying clubmaking centers. 

MACGREGOR returning to its roots and offering beautiful “modern classics” golf equipment.

Another plug for NIPPON SHAFT- most every major OEM around the world now offers a Nippon Shaft model.

Japanese Clubmaker FOURTEEN now offering their premium irons and wedges in the U.S. market.

LAMKIN grips introducing their new STING-FREE shock absorbing kevlar layered grip.

RIFE and YES putters offering new models. Both of these companies are making sales advances seemingly because of their face geometry, but most likely due to their efficient loft angles and modern head weighting.

 

QUESTION: Hi, I purchased a set of Mizuno MP-57 irons with the stock TT-DG-S300 shafts.  I, like a bone head, then took the step of getting fitted.  In short, I need a lighter
shaft, mid-kick and +1/2 inch.  I have a 6 iron swing speed of 90+ and a average
tempo.  Been told I need a firm shaft vs. a stiff shaft, and that a regular
flex would be too light.  I’ve been looking at the Nippon Shaft models.  The custom
shaft option at the Mizuno site is a Nippon Shaft NS PRO 950.

I’ve also gone to the Nippon Shaft site and looked at the NS PRO 950GH (98
Grams), the NS PRO 950GH-WF (98.5-103.5 Grams) and the NS PRO 1050GH (109
Grams).  I was thinking the 1050GH would be the best option considering the 16%
drop in weight from the DG-S300 shaft, and that the lower kick point would give
me what I need…a little more elevation / distance with the similar control as
the heaver shaft.  What do you think? CBALL

ANSWER: Hi CBALL,

I think you are headed in the right direction. If your goal is to go a bit longer, lighter, and with a mid-kick shaft, our NS PRO 1050GH model will be a great option.

As always, the only way to really determine the optimal shaft specifications is to verify this through live testing.

Most golfers are buying sets of clubs without really thinking if the set is going to fit them, and then after playing with their new set, realize that there might be something to this fitting idea. I ask you to approach every new club, every new set, every new specification, as a learning experience. I have been fitting all abilities of golfers for 23 years and am still learning about golfers and their equipment. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Dear Shaftology team,

Currently I’m playing Mizuno MP-60 w/ Project X 5.0 shafts
and I’d like to re-shaft to N.S. PRO 850GH R.

I’ve already tested this Nippon Shaft model and compared it to the other
ones and I’ve chosen it as I really like it, and it improves my game.

What I need to solve is how I trim the 850 shafts to fit to my clubs.
As I have to use taper shafts to be placed into MP-60, I don’t
know how to order the appropriate length to exactly fit to me.

I know that tapered shaft are dedicated length but I would appreciate
to start with the one shaft length and cut them thoroughly across
whole set.

So, could I buy 39.5 inches long shafts, put them into the heads
and cut them to the requested length just by butt trim?

Or, could I buy 39.5 shafts long shafts, trim tip for each different club in my
set (3-PW), put them into the heads and trim butt afterwards? If this
possibility is valid, how should the tip be trimmed
for each different club?

Hope, I have described it clearly. If not, let me apologize.

Thank you for help in advance and hope you could help me.

Thank you.

Kindly regards

Petr

 
ANSWER: Hi Petr,

Both of the above suggested installation methods will result in severe problems.

Choose installation option 1 if you want to have a set that becomes progressively more flexible and unbalanced as you move from the #3i to the PW. Be prepared to make 8 different golf swings for your 8 different feeling golf clubs.

Choose installation option 2 if you want to render your shafts incapable of installation. After you perform any tip trimming on a taper tip shaft product, the shaft will no longer fit into the .355 hosel.

We manufacture the NS PRO 850GH in specific shaft lengths, flexes and tip diameters that will allow quality installation into your Mizuno MP-60 irons, and will give excellent shot performance.

If you are looking to have a standard ‘R’ flex 850GH shaft model installed into your MP-60 irons, then you want to use the raw shaft lengths of 38.5″ through 35.0″ for your 3-PW set.

I strongly recommend that you seek help for your project.  Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, I have a set of irons that has an x-flex 1150 NSPRO in them.  I want to re-use these shafts and I’m a stiff flex.  In order to get these to stiff flex, can I soft step these shafts?  Would that be okay with these shafts if they are not flighted?
Thanks, Jackson

 
ANSWER: Hi Jackson,

I am not sure what you are referring to with your last sentence, but I will answer the rest of your question.

Adjusting the flex by installing an X-Flex 3 iron shaft into a 4 iron head will typically make the club play more flexible than an X-Flex rating. This assumes that the heads of the previous set and the new set have the same bore to the ground measurement and are of the same head weight geometry. With respect to the NS PRO 1150GH model, this idea of soft stepping the shaft to achieve a more flexible playability will result in extra butt material being trimmed to achieve the desired length, which will affect the shaft balance and design. The 1150 model has extra weight added to the butt section. Trimming a portion of this material will alter the intended performance of this shaft design.

Regarding the question of how to achieve a softer flex. Eventhough I don’t recommend doing what you are suggesting for the above reasons, and assuming that the bore and weight dimensions are the same, installation of the 3 iron shaft into the 5 iron head will result in a flex rating slightly stiffer than a traditonal ‘S’ flex. Installation of the 3 iron shaft into the 6 iron head will result in a flex rating slightly more flexible than a traditional ‘S’ flex. Best regards, Mark