Forged Iron & steel shaft for newbie???

Hi seniors...

   A newbie question. Just started playing golf for a year.
   Think my swing speed is considered slow in the eyes of a experienced golfer.
  Currently me using graphite shaft & cast iron club for my swing.
 
   Am thinking whether is there any pros for me to change to a forged iron and/or steel shaft?
   Note: Tried out a forged iron club and likes the contact feel. lol

   Any advise is appreciated.

In theory, steel shaft provides more accurate distance control and lasts longer than graphite shaft.

However, if your swing is not yet well established (i.e. still do not have properly swing) and if your swing speed is slow, it might be still better to use graphite shaft mainly because graphite is lighter than steel hence provides better control (i.e. during the swing, and easier for you to establish a 'proper' swing) and higher swing speed ...

My guess you are still young, getting steel shaft would be a good choice, perhaps Regular shaft would suffice. However would suggest you get cavity back forged irons. Dun get blade type. Cavity type are more forgiving for beginner.

Enjoy your journey!

antegg wrote:

In theory, steel shaft provides more accurate distance control and lasts longer than graphite shaft.

However, if your swing is not yet well established (i.e. still do not have properly swing) and if your swing speed is slow, it might be still better to use graphite shaft mainly because graphite is lighter than steel hence provides better control (i.e. during the swing, and easier for you to establish a 'proper' swing) and higher swing speed ...

Agree. I learnt with Regular graphite first. Easier to get the whip

There is no shame using graphite shafts on irons, regardless if newbie or accomplished players

These days, it is not uncommon for PGA professionals to be using graphite shafts eg Aerotech Steelfiber shafts on irons

It is also less jarring on bad hits. Just saying...

Will steel shafts give you better consistencies as compared to graphite shafts? The best answer can be found within yourself. If one swing is consistent, graphite shafts will also bring us where we want the ball to go. 

As for feel, it is very subjective. As I mentioned time and again, cast irons will also feel buttery if you flush the shot.

It comes down to the feel that u like.

kinglc wrote:

It comes down to the feel that u like.

Or how itchy is the backside.  

Wats yr desired? 
Distance or accuracy?
Wats yr limit?
If u hve a slow to moderate swing spd or swing tempo golfer, I suggest graphite shaft. It ll helps in many areas.  
If not n think u re as fast as any PGA pros, steel shaft n X flex probably.  
Like many bros here quoted, there s no shame using graphite shaft.  
Abv all, I recommend one to visit a coach then a club fitter later. 

nutty88 wrote:

kinglc wrote:

It comes down to the feel that u like.

Or how itchy is the backside.  

lol, indeed. I'm one of them. keke.  playing CB, steel shaft when coach asked me to play GI graphite shaft.  :p  
cheers.

kinglc wrote:

nutty88 wrote:

kinglc wrote:

It comes down to the feel that u like.

Or how itchy is the backside.  

lol, indeed. I'm one of them. keke.  playing CB, steel shaft when coach asked me to play GI graphite shaft.  :p  
cheers.

We all are my friend as in itchy backside. At least you are playing CB and not MB. There is also the EGO factor. Lots of beginners think that playing steel shaft equals strong player and I will be the first to admit. I have switched to graphite a few months back for my irons and never look back since.

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

And his justification or rationale is?

The thing about steel shaft is that some people prefer heavier clubs or else they will lose their tempo. With this, I agree. I have once bought a hybrid that is so light that I can't use it at all. But if one were to say that steel shaft brings more consistencies as compared to graphite, I would disagree unless the golfer has reached certain proficiency.

nutty88 wrote:

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

And his justification or rationale is?

He claim to be more stable. Dunno if its true anot. Haha

niwde82 wrote:

nutty88 wrote:

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

And his justification or rationale is?

He claim to be more stable. Dunno if its true anot. Haha

Quite surprised to hear that. Beginners leh, how stable can their swing be?

nutty88 wrote:

niwde82 wrote:

nutty88 wrote:

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

And his justification or rationale is?

He claim to be more stable. Dunno if its true anot. Haha

Quite surprised to hear that. Beginners leh, how stable can their swing be?

Well..he's a coach I wouldn't recommend to anybody. If u get what I mean. Haha

nutty88 wrote:

The thing about steel shaft is that some people prefer heavier clubs or else they will lose their tempo. With this, I agree. I have once bought a hybrid that is so light that I can't use it at all. But if one were to say that steel shaft brings more consistencies as compared to graphite, I would disagree unless the golfer has reached certain proficiency.

yes, swing tempo was my concern.  haha.... can't swing properly with graphite shaft (bought a 2nd hand set which was very light). hehe...

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

Haha... my coach also asked me to use steel shaft.
Maybe becos of my built (fat)???

nutty88 wrote:

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

And his justification or rationale is?

Just hazarding a guess, probably it's because they are cheaper and less prone to breakage.

Thanks for all the different perspective that you guys had shared.
Kum sia!!!

Maybe he see you got strong build..
Scare you will break graphite shaft; recommend you to use steel.

niwde82 wrote:

My coach seems to be the only 1 asking beginners to buy steel shaft.

I think there is really no one-size fits all answer to this question

You really have to ask yourself what you want from your golf game.  If it's just to enjoy the game, play to a reasonable standard and not try to be the best golfer that you can be, then by all means start with graphite shafts and stick with graphite shafts, because they give you more distance and are easier to hit etc.

If you really want to improve and learn how to swing a club well, IMO you should play steel shafts from day one.  While they may be more difficult to learn with, you will really be forced to develop lag, hit down into the ball and develop good swing mechanics in order to develop a good swing speed.

Same with the blades vs cavity back argument. If I were a beginning golfer, for sure I would learn with blades, they give better feedback and force you to make a good swing.  Once your swing is stable and you have ingrained decent swing mechanics, then move to graphite, huge cavity backs by all means...

my $0.02

if your talking about dispersion and consistency steel shafts'better. But of course if you want distance , graphite!

Think I wrote in detail about this some time back.  With modern tech, there are graphite shafts stiffer and heavier than steel and steel shafts lighter and more flexible than graphite.

In theory, what is what important is how the shaft fits the swing.  Talk to a qualified fitter to understand more, it is not just about swing speed, there is a lot more to it.

However, for social golfers, I would like to propose that "feel" is probably the biggest determining factor.  NOT how the golf club feels, but how the golfer feels about the clubs.  If looking at them and using them makes the golfer happy, and adds to overall enjoyment, isn't that the purpose of playing golf as a GAME?

As an example, I use cavity backs with graphite shafts.  My cousin is using my previous set (and refuses to use anything else) which has steel shafts and a head design which is very close to a muscle back (not much forgiveness). The difference between our drives on average is 40-50m and 20-30 strokes in terms of scoring.  Suffice to say, overall, I play better golf than him.

However, in terms of overall enjoyment, there is hardly any difference. If anything, he is probably having more fun than me on the course.  So who am I to say that the irons are not suitable for him?

Perhaps we might all be better off if we just chose the clubs based on what makes us happy.  For some, happiness might come from more consistency leading to better scoring.  For others, just looking and using the clubs might bring happiness.

p.s. My current set graphite shafts are i95S and my old set are Shimada K-7001 R, a real life example that graphite does not necessarily mean more flexible