Most Popular Iron Shaft on Tour - True Temper X100?

[420burner]

Here are the top ten OWGR iron shafts in play (according to my amateur research):

 

Dustin Johnson - DG X100

Justin Thomas - DG X100

John Rahm - PX 6.5

Collin Morikawa - DG X100

Bryson DeChambeau - REBAR

Xander Schauffele - DG X100

Patrick Cantlay - DG 120 X100

Patrick Reed - DG X100

Tyrrel Hatton - Modus3 Tour 120 X 

Brooks Koepka - DG X100

 

How is a 40+ year old shaft (according to my research) is still dominating this category?

 

Also, there is a 20 yard driving distance discrepancy between Morikawa and Johnson yet they still play the same iron shaft, aside from some possible stepping differences.

 

Is this shaft just that good or are players averse to change?

[mizunoMP14]

they are actually older than that, true temper dynamic was made in 1942, the 'gold' version came later and is just more precise weight sorting (s200, s300, s400 etc)

 

the fact that it has been around that long, most players have played it all of their lives and why change something that has worked so well and they like the feel of

 

the more important aspect is that all these pros are playing the heaviest irons shafts (130g) .  there are not many options in that weight category (PX, Dynamic gold and a couple nippons).  

 

 

[Nessism]

6 hours ago, 420burner said:

How is a 40+ year old shaft (according to my research) is still dominating this category?

 

Also, there is a 20 yard driving distance discrepancy between Morikawa and Johnson yet they still play the same iron shaft, aside from some possible stepping differences.

 

Is this shaft just that good or are players averse to change?

 

A few reasons to explain...

 

1) Shaft weight is the number one priority for most players, and DG's are heavy which suits most strong players.

 

2) The bend profile and feel of DG is excellent and once a pro gets used to a certain feel and flight they are not likely to change much.

 

3) Shafts shouldn't be fit based on distance, thus players like Morikawa and Johnson can use the same shaft  without issue.

 

4) (maybe the most important) Other than weight and feel, shafts don't matter for most players, so 2) applies.

 

 

Edited June 14, 2021 by Nessism

[North Butte]

I agree with friend [i]Nessism[/i]'s take. 

 

The Dynamic Gold isn't far from the shafts that Byron Nelson's generation used when everyone was figuring out the modern golf swing that didn't rely on timing the whip of a wooden shaft. Something around the 130g range with a stepped design that results in the DG-type stiffness profile is basically a shaft that doesn't have any shortcomings for the majority of really strong players. 

 

For the Rest Of Us, fortunately the industry has proliferated shaft varieties that let us accommodate all of OUR shortcomings. Lighter, more flexible, different feel, different tip firmness (for the very few golfers who need that) and basically a different shaft for almost every swing. Which is great. But to a very great degree, any iron shaft that would have worked for Nelson or Hogan or Nicklaus works very well for Dustin Johnson's generation.

[Stuart_G]

1 hour ago, Nessism said:

 

1) Shaft weight is the number one priority for most players, and DG's are heavy which suits most strong players.

 

 

Yes.   

 

And the fact is that the vast majority of the "advancements" is shaft technology have targeted decreasing weight w/o sacrificing strength or stiffness.    Not something the vast majority of Male Tour pros need in their irons (except maybe the champions tour).

Edited June 14, 2021 by Stuart_G

[dubbelbogey]

One could easily argue that DG shafts are perfectly fine for many regular golfers. This was and is a very typical shaft for many clubsets and I'd guess that it's still the most popular shaft for clubsets targeting intermediate and above level players. (Anybody have data to confirm or debunk this guess?)

 

The fact that regular golfers have played this shaft for decades proves that it's suited for the task. Are other offerings more optimized for certain subsets of golfers? Of course. But at what level of measurable difference?

 

 

 

[reefrash1043]

I am also very interested in this and why (with all the options on the market) most guys still use them. As others have said, and based on my research, its comes down to 1) They ARE incredible shafts, 2) Feel, 3) Pros don't like to change. 

 

From personal experience, I played C-tapers 120 the past few years and while I had success with them there was just something they lacked feel wise. After switching to X100 recently, I can definitely see why they are the most popular shaft on tour. Even at 130 g and the X stiff, they are easier to hit than my old C-tapers. 

[Valtiel]

Agreed with @Nessism and @Stuart_G. There is far less to be gained with steel when it comes to technology, and since irons are all about feel and precision, pros will tend to stick with what works.  

[NorthStar7]

I was a much better ice hockey player than I will ever be a golfer.  When I was 13, I got a state-of-the-art Christian Brothers aluminum hockey stick for Xmas.  I ended up getting a 2nd of that exact model and used them through college (with extensions put in the butt end).  Despite getting crap from teammates about my ancient technology, I used them because nothing I tried was better for me.  When your mind is used to a certain weight and bend profile, new isn't necessarily better.  However, nowadays, there are highly-advanced (and expensive) composite hockey sticks where you would be a fool to play old-school aluminum (or wood). 

 

I wonder if we will get there in golf with things like the MMT shafts.  If people start winning in bunches with them, kids will probably start using them sooner, and eventually could make them the new normal.  I doubt we will see pros switch en masse if they played X100s most of their lives.

 

 

 

[Poolparty]

It was love at first feel for me. I often wonder why they don't try to improve on it

[Hstead]

Does anyone know if any Tour players on any of the Tours are playing the TT Elevate X100?  I have a set coming and I have played DG X100 for a long time.  I see Cantlay plays the DG 120, I just have wondered if I have made a mistake going with the Elevate?  I didn't hit them and never have but didn't want to pay the upcharge of $39 per with PXG since I can just swap a set of my DG X100's out if necessary.

[TallGuy90]

25 minutes ago, Hstead said:

Does anyone know if any Tour players on any of the Tours are playing the TT Elevate X100?  I have a set coming and I have played DG X100 for a long time.  I see Cantlay plays the DG 120, I just have wondered if I have made a mistake going with the Elevate?  I didn't hit them and never have but didn't want to pay the upcharge of $39 per with PXG since I can just swap a set of my DG X100's out if necessary.

Tour players want the stiffest tip they can get . They generally don’t have problems flighting the ball. 

[Cwebb]

57 minutes ago, Poolparty said:

It was love at first feel for me. I often wonder why they don't try to improve on it

 

They have tried to improve on it.  Many times.  

 

The popularity and results speak for themselves....and with many of the younger generation playing them, the reasoning of "that's really all they knew" is not likely why they choose them.  These guys grew up with all kinds of other shaft choices

[Poolparty]

3 minutes ago, Cwebb said:

 

They have tried to improve on it.  Many times.  

 

The popularity and results speak for themselves....and with many of the younger generation playing them, the reasoning of "that's really all they knew" is not likely why they choose them.  These guys grew up with all kinds of other shaft choices

Dynamic gold 2?

[Cwebb]

1 minute ago, Poolparty said:

Dynamic gold 2?

 

Every steel shaft that True Temper and every other company has said is designed for stronger players and professionals

[kooch1221]

 

1 hour ago, Hstead said:

Does anyone know if any Tour players on any of the Tours are playing the TT Elevate X100?  I have a set coming and I have played DG X100 for a long time.  I see Cantlay plays the DG 120, I just have wondered if I have made a mistake going with the Elevate?  I didn't hit them and never have but didn't want to pay the upcharge of $39 per with PXG since I can just swap a set of my DG X100's out if necessary.

 

 

https://www.golfwrx.com/652127/davis-love-iii-witb-2021-april/

Edited June 15, 2021 by kooch1221

[Titleist_PT23]

13 hours ago, Nessism said:

 

A few reasons to explain...

 

1) Shaft weight is the number one priority for most players, and DG's are heavy which suits most strong players.

 

2) The bend profile and feel of DG is excellent and once a pro gets used to a certain feel and flight they are not likely to change much.

 

3) Shafts shouldn't be fit based on distance, thus players like Morikawa and Johnson can use the same shaft  without issue.

 

4) (maybe the most important) Other than weight and feel, shafts don't matter for most players, so 2) applies.

 

 

Understand what players want from their driver and irons are different but why does the weight progression (irons to driver) keep getting larger (i.e. lighter and lighter driver shafts)?  At one point in time, all shafts were 130 grams.  Then there was probably some "standard" of having a driver shaft that was 30-40 grams lighter.  Now, there are a lot of (younger) pros playing 60 gram driver shafts.

 

I know they are trying to hit the driver farther and the clubhead has changed over time so nothing is apples-to-apples.  Also, perhaps the graphite shafts have become lighter and lighter while remaining stronger/stiffer? 

 

But if so, the issue before was never really a "weight progression" as it was sometimes described.  Instead, the players couldn't use anything lighter without it feeling like a noodle (i.e. flex/feel not weight was the key).

 

I only ask because I see this as a derivative of my "44.5 inch driver" question.  I.e. old players that have swung heavier driver shafts 10,000 times cannot adjust to the lighter shafts (or they give up after 20-30 swings) vs. it can't be done with practice.  But give a young player a lighter longer driver and if that's all they've ever swung they will hit it just fine.

[Titleist_PT23]

14 hours ago, 420burner said:

Here are the top ten OWGR iron shafts in play (according to my amateur research):

 

Dustin Johnson - DG X100

......

Collin Morikawa - DG X100

.......

Also, there is a 20 yard driving distance discrepancy between Morikawa and Johnson yet they still play the same iron shaft, aside from some possible stepping differences.

Not that it is crazy or matters, but DJ X100 is ss1 and Morikawa X100 straight in (at least according to WITBs).

[PorkChopExpress]

Don’t forget s400 in the wedges 

[Stuart_G]

8 hours ago, Poolparty said:

It was love at first feel for me. I often wonder why they don't try to improve on it

 

In what way do you think it needs to be improved?

[Poolparty]

7 hours ago, Stuart_G said:

 

In what way do you think it needs to be improved?

Not many ways. I don't see myself playing anything else, but I think they could give the wedge shaft another try. At least that would stop TM soft stepping every x100 order

[Stuart_G]

2 minutes ago, Poolparty said:

Not many ways. I don't see myself playing anything else, but I think they could give the wedge shaft another try. At least that would stop TM soft stepping every x100 order

 

Can't comment myself on that - but is that really a problem with the shaft - or a problem with TM's practices?    It wouldn't be the first time they've used very questionable practices in their factory.

[Poolparty]

4 minutes ago, Stuart_G said:

 

Can't comment myself on that - but is that really a problem with the shaft - or a problem with TM's practices?    It wouldn't be the first time they've used very questionable practices in their factory.

Yeah idk but I think anyway the tech can be less confusing would be an improvement. It would also be helpful for hard stepping

[mwcallison]

On 6/14/2021 at 10:19 PM, agolf1 said:

Understand what players want from their driver and irons are different but why does the weight progression (irons to driver) keep getting larger (i.e. lighter and lighter driver shafts)?  At one point in time, all shafts were 130 grams.  Then there was probably some "standard" of having a driver shaft that was 30-40 grams lighter.  Now, there are a lot of (younger) pros playing 60 gram driver shafts.

 

I know they are trying to hit the driver farther and the clubhead has changed over time so nothing is apples-to-apples.  Also, perhaps the graphite shafts have become lighter and lighter while remaining stronger/stiffer? 

 

But if so, the issue before was never really a "weight progression" as it was sometimes described.  Instead, the players couldn't use anything lighter without it feeling like a noodle (i.e. flex/feel not weight was the key).

 

I only ask because I see this as a derivative of my "44.5 inch driver" question.  I.e. old players that have swung heavier driver shafts 10,000 times cannot adjust to the lighter shafts (or they give up after 20-30 swings) vs. it can't be done with practice.  But give a young player a lighter longer driver and if that's all they've ever swung they will hit it just fine.

 

 

I think your third paragraph is exactly right.  The key is that now they can make a 60 gram shaft that is just as predictable and stout as the DG X100 (relatively). 

 

I remember hearing them mention this specifically on TXG when talking about the reason that so many Pros were and still are playing the Ventus velocore shafts. Ian said that many golfers were able to go down in weight while retaining the stoutness of a higher weight, thereby increasing club and ball speed without sacrificing consistency. 

 

Regarding the overall topic, I think we're in the last years of the X100 dominating the entire tour, and it's because the new generations will not have grown up on DG X100 exclusively. It's also easier now for pros to make equipment changes than before due to launch monitor feedback and tour van fitting technology. Pro's can trust changes much faster than watching ball flights on the range. Ancer has graphite shafts (in Miuras no less).

 

I think KBS will continue to rise (it's already in lots of bags), then Nippon will continue to grow. Then, brands like LA Golf will make a Cobra-like push.

[NHenson815]

Graphite/Multi-material seems to be the future of iron shafts.  These days, it seems like they can almost be made at any desired weight, stiffness, and bend profile.  I have a "boardy" graphite shaft in a Miura 1-iron and it hurts just as much as a miss with steel, so even the pain can be there if you want it, lol.  

[NRJyzr]

On 6/16/2021 at 4:30 AM, NHenson815 said:

I have a "boardy" graphite shaft in a Miura 1-iron and it hurts just as much as a miss with steel, so even the pain can be there if you want it, lol.  

 

Years ago at a local 2nd Swing location, they'd acquired a driver that had a Graphite Design D03 shaft in XX.  The D03 played a flex stiffer than most other shafts.  I got a chance to take a few swings with it.

 

I'd never before, and never since, felt beat up swinging a golf club like I did with that driver.  

 

[Denny100]

On 6/15/2021 at 1:55 AM, Hstead said:

Does anyone know if any Tour players on any of the Tours are playing the TT Elevate X100?  I have a set coming and I have played DG X100 for a long time.  I see Cantlay plays the DG 120, I just have wondered if I have made a mistake going with the Elevate?  I didn't hit them and never have but didn't want to pay the upcharge of $39 per with PXG since I can just swap a set of my DG X100's out if necessary.

 

I dont know how i stumbled across this thread, but I believe RYAN MOORE is using those shafts on tour. I think.