QUESTION: Hello Mark,

I have a new set of irons with factory installed Nippon 950GH Shafts with
“S” flex. I’ve been playing with True Temper S300 shafts for many years but
actually planned on moving to a regular flex this season. I got such a good deal
on these irons that I couldn’t pass them up even though they had “S” shafts. My
question?: What do you think of me putting “R” flex Nippon 950’s into the longer
irons and leaving the Stiff shafts in the shorter clubs. Maybe even the 950 “SR”
flex in the 7 and 6 iron and the “R” flex in the 4 and 5 irons. Is this sort of
thing ever done or would that just be ridiculous. I recently was able to swing a
regular R300 shafted 5 iron of the same make as my old S300 5 iron. I really
think that added flex benefited me but didn’t notice a lot of difference in the
8 iron. Staying consistent in flex throughout the set is probably recommended
but I also thought this method might gradually help me get used to “R” flex and
save the initial expense of re-shafting an entire set. I could possibly re-shaft
the shorter irons later. It’s OK if you’re laughing out loud right now but again
I was curious if this sort of thing is ever done. Thanks in advance for your
time! - Mark (9 HDCP)

ANSWER: Hi Mark,

Golfers do all kinds of strange things that, at the time, make sense in their head. What most golfers don’t realize is that both club manufacturers and shaft manufacturers have already installed and/or designed shafts, within a flex range, to play softer in the long irons, and stiffer in the short irons. Most every set has some kind of slope from more flexible to more stiff. To take a set and make it an extreme version of this standard design, as you are suggesting, might work, for a very specific need, but without some kind of live testing and verification, how would you know?

It sounds like you came by this set because of the financial benefits versus the potential performance benefits. I would suggest that you actually try the set out and see if you like it.

If the set feels goods, then you were quite lucky. If the set feels a bit stiff, but only in the longer irons, maybe you can talk to a clubmaker and adjust the flex slope of the set to determine if your musings have merit or are folly. 

Go to www.shaftology.com and click on our Center Locator for guidance.

Best regards, Mark 
 

QUESTION: Hi Mark,

I am using Dynamic Gold S300 in my MP-30s. I am trying out the NS PRO 950s in an
extra MP 30 6 iron. Can you recommend a steel shaft for my Bobby Jones Hybrid H4
to match the 950s which I like very much, so far. Or recommend a steel shaft for
the Bobby Jones if I stay with the DG S300.

I like the BJ head, but not the shaft. James

ANSWER: Hi James,

I have learned that most hybrid shaft models are too light, and also, sometimes too long. The manufacturers are always trying to promote maximum distance in the comparison of hybrid models between companies, however, most golfers are seeking control and consistency with their hybrids.

I recommend  either the same shaft model or just a bit lighter shaft model. In this case, i would suggest the same 950 shaft model. I believe that the Bobby Jones hybrid hosel diameter is .350, and we manufacture a .350 shaft in our 950 series. Give any of our Authorized Centers a call for help with your project. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hello,

I’ve been playing Nippon 1030H regular shafts.
What Royal Precision Rifle flighted shaft is closest to that flex?
Thanks. GARO

Hi GARO,

These are two very different shaft geometries- almost like asking, I am currently drinking TROPICANA orange juice for breakfast, what is the closest Maxwell House coffee?

Find a clubmaker who is proficient in both and ask your questions. Most all of our Authroized Centers are skilled in Rifle products as well.  Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hello Mark

Following up from the question I posted earlier, I bought a set of Srixon I 701 irons fitted with the Nippon 850 regular shaft (lofts are 1 degree strong). I have been playing the irons for a month and while I have not had the opportunity to hit the clubs on a launch monitor, the ball flight suggests that the this combination produces far too much spin for me.

Srixon has kindly offered to do a shaft change at minimal cost. Could you offer advice on suitable replacements, I would like to stay as light weight as possible due to illness / injury? Would a Nippon 850 stiff reduce my ball flight significantly? Do you have any detailed shaft information like that provided in the Hireko Shaft fitting Addendum?

Thank you in advance. Regards, David

ANSWER: Hi David,

Your best solution is still to connect with one of our Authorized Centers or get a hold of a facility that has some test club options, or a Titleist fitter, or a Ping fitting cart, or any scenario where you can conduct some live interaction and start the process of learning about what makes a golf ball fly.

Buying clubs based on a guess, or taking the lifeless advice from a “fitting paper formula” is a never ending ticket to ride a merry-go-round. Without some kind of true measurement- i.e live testing, you will never know if your high spin is because of your swing, your shaft, your head, or a combination of all of these.

And you don’t need a launch monitor to verify what you already know. So, get off that merry-go-round and find efficient performance.  There are thousands of golfers who have given up these outdated notions and are having a lot of fun. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, Innovative Comp Tour Iron shafts?
I have an old set sitting around and cannot find info regarding tipping and
swing speed info. I have the Regular flex. I know Innovative has closed its
doors, but have been unable to find any info.
Thanks! Ben

ANSWER: Hi Ben,

If you have a set of discrete lengths shafts, then the trimming instructions are most likely, “butt trim to playing length”. If your Innovative set is a parallel, single flex model with a .370 tip diameter, they are likely a traditional trim scheme of 1″ tip trim for the #3 iron and then tip trim each iron in progressive 1/2″ increments. Hard to say exactly, but I would follow this traditional info. Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Hi, I recently purchased a N.S. Pro 8950GH steel shaft for my gap wedge — it
weighs the same as my sand wedge.  The overall length of my wedges is 36″.  The
instructions say to trim the butt end of the shaft to 35.50″, for wedges.  If I
trim the butt end of the shaft to 36″, will the flex be much different, or that
noticeable?  Would it make sense to trim the butt to 36 1/4″, then trim the tip
1/4″?  I don’t own a frequency meter.  Therefore, I appreciate your input. 
Thank you, Mike

ANSWER: Hi Mike,

A golf club is like a child’s mobile…, when you put one of the hanging pieces in motion, the rest of the pieces move as well. This makes things quite difficult when trying to isolate one variable such as length or flex or weight.

My best recommendation is not to try and calculate all the possible variables on paper, but view things like a champion golfer. Champion golfers think…, “I have a shaft for my wedge…, what installation specifications will allow me to perform the most efficiently, without having to adjust my stance or swing or game?”. Therefore, I would disregard any generic “instructions” and play the club at the same length as the rest of your wedges. Some golfers like to match the gap wedge to their PW, and some like to match their length to the SW, and some like to go somewhere between the two wedges. If your PW and SW clubs are the same length, then match the length for your GW.

Regarding trimming the NS PRO 8950GH model, these are designed for butt trimming only and I would stick to this design feature. Besides, the difference in the flex is approximately 1/6 of a flex grade in trimming the shaft from the tip by 1/4″. This is hardly significant considering that you would negatively alter the balance point of the shaft.

Another consideration is the overall weight of the NS PRO 8950GH, versus the overall weight of your other wedge shafts. The weight and flex will not always correlate, even on a frequency meter- which only gives raw butt frequency measurements and does not adjust for shafts of different geometries. The only method of determining the exact playability of any shaft/head combination is to be like that Champion golfer, have the shaft installed to the best efficiency, and go out and test the playability.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, Can I have the Spec for NS PRO 990 ‘R’ flex and ’S’ flex? I need their
weight and their torque. I recently bought My Callaway X Forged with regular
flex but they fit it with a stiff flex. I have gone through the web site but to
no avail. Thanks, TL

ANSWER: Hi TL,

The Callaway 990GH model is the same geometry as our 950 model, with the exception that the 990 model is manufactured for the Callaway bore-thru hosel. Please go to www.nipponshaft.com and look up the specifications for the 950 model.

I am a bit confused as to the rest of your question. Are you saying that you ordered your clubs and you received the wrong specification? If so, please contact your dealer and ask them to remedy the situation. Please write back, Regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi,

I have Callaway X-20 irons with Nippon 990GH shafts. I also have Cobra irons
with Nippon 1030H shafts. Can you tell me the difference in these shafts.  Thank
you, Milt

ANSWER: Hi Milt,

These models are in the same performance class. 

Shaft comparison on paper is often fruitless as we don’t experience shafts on paper, but in the arena of swinging the club and launching the golf ball. To compare shaft specifications and draw some kind of performance conclusion for shafts in the same performance class is impossible. Since you have had the opportunity to interact with both of these models, you actually know quite a bit about these two models.

There is much similarity in these two shafts. Both of these models are proprietary shaft models each designed for the Callaway and Cobra companies. Both are premium shaft models in the lightweight steel categories, in the 99 and 105 gram range, with both being mid kick designs.

With these shaft, while distinct designs which result in distinct performances, being in the same performance class, the biggest playability and feel differences are a result of the installation specifications of length, swingweight, head style, sole design, shaft flex, etc., These characteristics have a dominant effect on how the shaft and club perform.

If you are achieving different levels of success or playing better with one of your sets, it is most likely due to the set specifications or the head style and sole being more optimum for your needs.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hello, Can I fit Project X Rifle shafts into 

Ping irons? MDP

ANSWER: Hi MDP, Yes- the Rifle company manufactures 

their Project X series to be able to install them into

Ping irons. Please contact the Ping company, a CRC,

(Certifed Rifle Center), or other quality installation

center. Many of our Authorized Installation Centers

are skilled at fitting and installation of Rifle

shaft models. Go to www.shaftology.com and click

on the center locator link. Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Hi,

I have been to two custom fitters, and while both recommend NS PRO 95 shafts in my
irons, one has suggested a shaft with a frequency of 2.9; the other says this frequency
is too soft, that the fitter may have been trying to increase launch and spin,
and that this flexible of a shaft flex will increase shot dispersion by a huge amount.  I am 61 years old, and based on play and the second fitter, carry my 6 iron 165 yds using my
current 6 iron, a Titleist 804-OS with a NS PRO 970 stiff flex shaft.
Can you tell me the play characteristics of a Nippon Shaft 95 shaft with a 2.9 frequency?
Thank you, David

ANSWER: Hi David,

This fitting thing can be quite confusing.

We are living in the best of times, in that the equipment choices are so great. There is an optimal combination for your performance needs. However, our fitting and installation measurement standards have not developed, as of yet, into precise standards.

It is very difficult to quantify shaft flex and butt frequency from model to model and fitter to fitter. If you search and read through some of the many posts on this subject, I am sure you will become both more knowledgeable and more confused.

My best recommendation is to work with the fitter that you feel most comfortable with- they should be able to offer you one of the following options- 1) build a set for you- and stand behind their recommendations and offer any needed adjustments, or 2) build a test club for you to verify that their recommendations are optimal.

The question of a more flexible shaft regarding performance depends on what your needs are. If you are playing with a shaft that is too stiff, you will gain better feel, more height, more distance, and more consistency. A shaft that is too stiff will force you to compensate in your swing and your game will suffer. However, if you need to play with a stiffer shaft, choosing a more flexible shaft will cause inconsistency by forcing you to compensate in your swing. As you can see, the result of a shaft flex that is too stiff or too flexible demands that you adjust your swing from what is natural and efficient. I suggest you choose the right flex, and with the help of your fitter, I am sure you will find this. Best regards, Mark