QUESTION: Hi,

I have an iron swing speed at approximately 73-77 swing speed. What are the
specs on the Titleist iron? Do you have a recommendation for me? Thanks, Bob

ANSWER: Hi Bob,

If you read through just a few of the Q&A’s from the SHAFT FITTING Read Answers section on the right side of this page, you will see that the only true method of selecting the optimal shaft combination is via live, comparative testing. This means, hitting and comparing different models to find the best performance. Any recommendation based on swing speed or gender or ability, will always just be a random guess.

If you are not super concerned about the accuracy of your set, my suggestion is that you choose a head style and shaft model that you have had success with in the past. Void of any factual testing, this is basically the safe way to go.

If you are interested in the Titleist brand, my best recommendation is to contact the Titleist Company- with one good option being to go on their site and look up their dealers, fitting centers, demo days, fitting carts. etc., with the purpose of testing the different head and shaft combinations, to learn which set-up works best for your body and swing.

If you find the best combination for your body and swing, the result is better contact, straighter hits, more distance, and most of all- more fun. Finding the best combination means that we choose the head and shaft that FEELS the best, and gives our ball the best FLIGHT. This is really the goal of all fitting questions- which set of equipment specifications allows our bodies and swings to perform with the best feel and the best flight, without the need for swing concessions. And the only accurate method of achieving this is by getting in our cars, finding a range or course, and comparing different combinations.

Finally, you might even consider a live fitting assessment. In this regard, my recommendation is to visit www.shaftology.com and click on the CENTER LOCATOR and inquire with a few of our centers as to their fitting and installation services. A live fitting session, with adequate test clubs, and with an experienced fitter, is a great experience, and will yield great results. Regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi,

I have a MacGregor 7 iron that I hit great. I’d order a set - but the
company has gone out of business.  It has a Nippon 1150GH Tour
shaft.  I’m looking for a new set of irons that I like that has this shaft. The
Cobra S2 Forged has a Nippon 1130.  Can you tell me how the specs on this club
compares with the 1150GH Tour. Thanks, Robert

ANSWER: Hi Robert,

I would be very careful and not assume that you hit your #7 iron well exclusively because of our NS PRO 1150GH model. This “might” be the case, but typically we hit a club well because of the following reasons;

-shaft model, shaft flex, shaft weight, club length, club head design, club sole, etc.

If any one of these are altered, we may see quite a difference in the performance of the club.

If you are interested in locating a set of MacGregor irons, I would contact a few of our Authorized NS Centers, many of which were Macgregor head centers. They may be able to build an exact set to your specifications.  Find them at www.shaftology.com.
Regarding your question about the Cobra model with the 1130 shaft. This model and the 1150 model are certainly different shaft models. They have a similar weight scheme and flight pattern, but they have a different balance. The ONLY way to know how they will feel and perform is via live testing. You might want to contact the Cobra Company for how to test this head/shaft combination.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi,

I play Mizuno MP-60’s with 1150GH Stiff shafts.  They were installed with a
4 iron shaft in the 5 iron to make them play a bit softer.  I love the feel of
my clubs, they are crazy accurate, but I don’t hit them as long as I’d like. 
I’m going to play with another set and I’m thinking of going a bit lighter, a
1050GH or 950GH and I’m wondering how they will compare for feel, accuracy and
ball flight.

Thanks, Darell

 

ANSWER: Hi Darell,

Distance will be affected by equipment if the following events exist:

1) a club is too heavy, which slows the speed of your swing,

2) your iron lofts are too weak, which means one set might have a #6 iron head, with a #5 iron loft, but another set might have a #6 iron head, with a #6 iron loft,

3) a head produces too much spin, for a given golfer’s swing, which does not lend itself to a penetrating trajectory,

4) a golf ball that produces too much spin,

5) a shaft model that is too stiff, which inhibits the shaft from fully transfering all of your swing energy,

6) a shaft model that is too light, which the golfer can not feel, and the result is an inefficient use of body and swing, and less tranfer of power.

To attain the best possible transfer of energy, (Feel), and the best possible trajectory, (Flight), you must choose the best shaft weight, shaft model, shaft flex, head model, and ball model, that fits your body and swing. To achieve this, you must engage in some method of a fitting assessment that includes some form of live, comparative testing.

Achieving the best combination of FEEL and FLIGHT so that you maintain the “crazy accurate”, yet gain the distance you feel you should be getting, is the path you want to locate.

It is impossible to predict how the 950 model or 1050 model will feel to your body and swing. These two models are quite different in weight, so if you like the weight, flex and feel of the 1150GH, maybe the 1050GH is a candidate to try, but the 950 model may be too light for you.

Regarding ball flight, it absolutely depends on the individual golfer and their swing, but based on the thousands of golfers that I have watched testing our models- the 1150GH model is typically a mid flight pattern, and the 950 and 1050 models are typically a mid to high flight pattern.

Best of luck on your search, Mark

QUESTION: Hi Mark,

Please help to advise on this matter as I will be very thankful to you. I am
using Ping G-10 with a Pro Launch Red Grafalloy and getting a distance of 240
meters on average. I have bought a brand new G-15 with a Serrano 60-S Aldila red
on top and black bottom shaft. I have interchanged the shaft on G-10 to G-15
because I feel comfortable with the G-10 shaft and the loft for G-15 is 9.0 and
G-10 is 10.5 will there be any adverse effect on the distance. Once again, thank
you. Mano

ANSWER: Mano,

You may hit your club longer, shorter, or the same. Please read on.

Do you feel like you were getting maximum distance from your previous driver? Or was your previous driver holding down your distance? Did you buy a new model because you were fitted for this new model and loft? Or did you buy this new model just hoping that it might be better simply because it was a newer generation? What is your goal with your driving game- distance? control? more consistent? Have you ever had a live fitting assessment that included comparison of different loft and head types?

The distance you achieve in a driver depends on a great many factors- and I encourage you to begin to think a bit more logical with regards to your equipment. It helps to think more like a scientist who uses experiments to verify or disprove his theories. Loft, head model, shaft weight, shaft flex, shaft weight, club length, and swing weight, will all have an impact on either the shot ballistics (the flight of the ball), or on our swings, (how we feel things, and thus react and adjust with our bodies).

Your driver requirements will greatly depend on how you deliver your driver head to impact, how much power you generate, what you feel during the swing- shaft-wise, and the shot ballistics that your swing and your club specifications produce. This can be quite complicated since all of these factors need to be mixed together to create the best possible result.

Since live testing is the only true method of learning about the performance of a given head and shaft combination, I urge you to get on the course and compare your new club to your previous combination. The new loft and new model are different, thus they will change the way your ball flies and how you swing. There is no magic chart that says a change in loft will equal a certain yardage gain or loss. Live, comparative testing is required to determine these results.

I recommend that you hit your new club and compare that to your previous club, and then report back with your results. Regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi,

Thanks, Carlo

 

ANSWER:Hi Carlo,