Considering a Move to Steelfiber

[aenemated]

Jim Nantz voice: "Hello, friends."

 

Ok, now that you hate this thread for more reasons than just another Steelfiber thread - was hoping for a little anecdotal advice in re: which to go with these. Long story short, getting old sucks and the ol' golfer's elbow and general joint pain has started happening more and more frequently when I'm playing and practicing a lot. Which I'm doing more of this year since I don't have all the distractions of buying/selling house, moving from LA back to Vegas, new puppy, etc. Joint pain was most noticeable when I did my Bandon trip last year and by the last day, my shoulders, forearms and hands were just beat to hell to the point I could barely swing a club. (That was the 7th round of the week) That's lame. I've been out a lot the last several weeks since we're getting more daylight again and yeah; left forearm and shoulder are pretty sore. 

 

So after many years, seems saying "Bye, friends" to the ol' S400s may upon me. Maybe I shoulda spent more time in the gym and less time in the Frolic Room when I was younger 😂

 

I've literally never hit a graphite shafted iron so I've been doing a ton of reading about them and going over older threads and not entirely sure which way to go. FWIW, I'm just gonna drop one in my 7 iron and go demo it - so not going all in right away. And since it'd be such a difference from what I'm used to, I don't really think hitting a dozen or so balls in a fitting would help me very much. I figure it'd take some work to adjust. 

 

So here's where we are. My tempo is pretty smooth - Freddie Couples has been my guy since I was a kid and have always modeled my tempo after his. That's actually what got me thinking about them since I know he plays the i110. Driver SS is around 100 but can get to 105 when I'm loose and swinging well. I *DID* play Nippon 105s for about a year several years ago and liked them a lot - and from what I've read, those tend to be stiff in the tip (that's what she said) for a lightweight shaft. Correct me if I'm wrong. I also absolutely love the Diamana D+ and they're in everything in my bag that isn't an iron. 

 

So I'm kinda torn between the FC115 and i110 ... or maybe lighter. I know Brandt Snedeker plays the i95s but my concern there is going from 130g to 95g. Though also in my mind, I've got a 90g DD+ in my hybrid and totally freakin love it. 

 

I wouldn't mind a little higher launch out of my mid and longer irons but what's kinda throwing me off the FCs a bit is I love the launch I get from said hybrid. That badboy with the stiff tip goes HIGH but I also figure that doesn't necessarily translate to, say, a 5 iron. 

 

Also read that the majority find they play stiffer than normal expectations so I figure either softstepping the S or hard stepping the R would be a good idea. Which also brings the argument between FC and i again. Soft stepped S in the FC might be a bit much.

 

Anyway, all this leads to just wondering what experiences you guys may have had making a similar switch and what worked for you. Ultimately this is to save my joints and the option to go with TT somethings with VSS is out there but I've been curious to try these for a while so I'd like to give it a go.

 

Thanks dudes. 

[SheriffBooth]

There's some good Steelfiber input in this recent thread:

 

 

[Fairway14]

17 minutes ago, aenemated said:

. FWIW, I'm just gonna drop one in my 7 iron and go demo it - so not going all in right away. And since it'd be such a difference from what I'm used to, I don't really think hitting a dozen or so balls in a fitting would help me very much. I figure it'd take some work to adjust. 

 

 

 

Yes to this and do i95.

[ChipNRun]

 

For starters, see if you can get a P7TW demo club...  (6i, 7i, a 5i would be best, but you'd probably have to get one used as not normally a fitter's demo club).

 

Take the demo club and test out shaft alternatives. After reshaft, you can do a side-by-side with your equivalent gamer iron and see how things shake out.

 

 

I had been looking to go graphite in irons for awhile now, and finally made the move with new MAXs last summer. You are correct to note the shift from "130 g to 95 g." But, graphite shafts are their own animal, and don't directly compare to steel shafts.

 

And, graphites have made big advances from when I said "thanks but no thanks" circa 2015. Recent graphites, unless really light, don't feel feathery like the ones a few years back. Although lighter, the right ones have a good solid feel.

 

1 hour ago, aenemated said:

I've been out a lot the last several weeks since we're getting more daylight again and yeah; left forearm and shoulder are pretty sore. 

 

So after many years, seems saying "Bye, friends" to the ol' S400s may upon me. Maybe I shoulda spent more time in the gym and less time in the Frolic Room when I was younger

 

One reason for my shift was the feeling of aches in the elbows. As as retiree, I can play more + put more frequent golf stress on the body. A physical therapist for a hip injury is a golfer: He cautioned me that older golfers that are still swinging DG S300 may be creating cumulative trauma injuries to the body. Elbows and wrists are most noticeable, but all that weight puts stress on the body in general.

 

As for SteelFiber family, I had a HST 780 graphite put in my 4i from my last set. About 20 grams lighter than the KBS Tour 90, it had good balance and made an excellent driving iron.

 

I have tried SteelFiber in different used iron sets, and a couple of TaylorMade rough fittings. General advice: SteelFibers will play more robust than most other graphite offerings with similar specs. Think of SteelFibers as the Project Xs of the graphite world.

[bvanlieu]

I would include SF of course but also look at all other options. There are so many outstanding shafts out there. Yes SF is a good product, but the profiles can be hit or miss: some folks feel they are stout to flex, others in the happy zone. While its nice what Boom Boom or Sneds plays, it means absolutely nothing to you or I 😄

 

Good thinking about weight, I'd be trying to stick in the 110-120g range to start so SF, MMT and others out there making heavier shafts for us to tinker with. I dropped 25g myself and it was a bit much for my timing, I am better with a bit more heft in the shafts. Everyone is a smidge different in how they feel weight. 

 

Good news: its fun to try things out so go have fun with a good fitter 🙂 

 

 

[Buzzkill]

Great shafts, played 110’s and recently 70s in Cobra CB heads, very stable, mid flight for me.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

I found SF to be nearly as 'harsh' as steel, I'd look at Recoil Prototypes and MMTs as well.

[jomatty]

I’ve played sf 110’s a lot and liked them.  Not as smooth as recoils but dispersion was much better and they felt good to me.  My driver SS is almost identical to yours and the I’ve played them stiff and stiff soft stepped once.  Both worked fine and if I went back to sf’s I probably wouldn’t bother to soft step.  Eventually I settled on the MMT’s because I liked the feel ever so slightly more.  Results, both in score and pain, are almost identical to SF though.  I really like them but I would test the MMT’s and Recoils as well.  They each have very different feels although all are really nice.

[kencanuck]

Went to SF's for much the same reason...wrist and elbow pain although mine was from decades of heavy olympic lifting and that bill becomes due at some point.  Made the switch several years ago and played SF's in different configurations but ended up with 95's stiff...used to play X100's and then Nippon Super Peening Blues (loved those shafts).    I liked the feel of the 110's but simply got more distance from the 95's, seemingly more "something: at impact that I liked (lively maybe...dunno), with more or less same flight.  I did find the wind impacted the 95's more than the 110's but that is totally anecdotal and no quantitative numbers to back that up...

 

SS is 109 with the driver if that helps...I like to think my tempo is like Freddie's but more like an ape leaping after a banana while falling out of a tree...if I am honest...much better lately especially with playing and practicing but still loving the 95's.

[Godfather]

I would suggest going to hit some. Here is a description of my recent experience where I made my own demo 6-irons. 
 

5 shafts compared

[m_w]

Steelfiber all play stiff to flex from my experience. Steelfiber is IMO also one of the worst feeling graphite shafts - as mentioned above, they feel pretty harsh. 

 

Great ones to look at:

• Mitsubishi MMT
• KBS TGI
• Accra 95 / 115
• Xcalibur RapidTaper 95
• Fujikura 95/115 Pro

[aenemated]

Thanks for all the great info guys! 

 

2 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

Think of SteelFibers as the Project Xs of the graphite world.

 

I've never gamed PX, only demo'd them and yeah; did not like. But kinda goes back to my point of just going into a fitting isn't really enough time to adjust. I'm one of those weirdos with a pretty acute sense of feel - it's why I've stuck with DGs for so long even after some brief affairs with others.  That's not to say I can't make adjustments and change though. 

 

So I think I'll still give 'em a go and add the MMT and Recoil to the option stack as well. 

[KBong]

3 hours ago, Is Golf Fun or Work said:

I found SF to be nearly as 'harsh' as steel, I'd look at Recoil Prototypes and MMTs as well.

I hit some Recoils at the range recently...I'm thinking they are ideal for arm pain.

[Red4282]

Do it. You will have no regrets. The common “they feel harsh” is mainly because people are in too stiff of a flex. Yes they are pretty stiff to flex, so you may want to go down in flex. 

[Nels55]

I have similar clubhead speed around 100 mph with driver and I play the i110 in stiff flex in my irons.  I had tried a couple of 90s I think they were earlier and thought they were a bit harsh.  The i110 s flex is perfect for me for feel and also I like the flight and I believe that the dispersion is really good considering who is hitting them...  LOL I have steelfiber shafts in every club in my bag other then the putter.

[anth]

100mph club head speed for me. Went from Nippon 950GH stiff steel shafts, which I found very smooth, to Recoil 95 F4 (stiff). Pretty seemless.

 

I also changed due to joint issues (osteoarthritis). I can’t say these helped but I think my issues are bigger than a shaft change.

 

Recoil feels smooth to me so I’m happy with the change.

[phizzy30]

No question, i110.  I would recommend trying the MMT 95S though maybe ss x 1 as I think they are even better than the i series.  They are mid/mid, have more feel than the i series.  Also, my weekend golf buddy has the i95 and I kid you not, every time he winces in pain when he hits his irons fat.  I've hit his irons and have concluded that the MMT have slightly better vibration properties. 

[Russ757]

Here's a writeup I did a while back. To me, MMT Def feel better but it wasn't overly dramatic. Those saying it propbaly had a bad fit. 

 

I'm likely moving back to the fibers 110 stiff ssx1

 

 

[Stuart_G]

15 hours ago, aenemated said:

I wouldn't mind a little higher launch out of my mid and longer irons but what's kinda throwing me off the FCs a bit is I love the launch I get from said hybrid. That badboy with the stiff tip goes HIGH but I also figure that doesn't necessarily translate to, say, a 5 iron. 

 

The influence of the profile on the launch and spin is usually pretty minimal.  That's not the best reason to pick a shaft.   Pick the shaft for feel and consistency and accuracy.   Leave the launch/spin for the head and loft selection.

 

 

15 hours ago, aenemated said:

Also read that the majority find they play stiffer than normal expectations so I figure either softstepping the S or hard stepping the R would be a good idea.

 

 

Soft/hard stepping x1 is a pretty minimal change.  very subtle.  If they feel too stiff or too soft straight in, they will still feel too stiff after soft after stepping x1.    Stepping x1 is only for when the feel is very close to what you want but just a hair off,  it's not going to be enough if the profile isn't a somewhat decent fit to begin with (straight in).

 

And the comments about "playing stiffer than normal" only apply to the i-series, not the fc series.    I don't agree with it but it's really more a matter of what shafts you have a history with.  e.g. coming from TT DG's, they will feel pretty true to flex for most.  e.g. loose the weight w/o loosing the stiffness.   If you're coming from say the lighter Nippons 120's or 105's, they are going to feel roughly a full flex stiffer.

 

 

But bottom line is that you really have to try them in order to make the best decision on any new iron shaft.  Otherwise its' a crap shoot.   If you can't fine a place to demo them,  buy a single shaft to test out before committing to a whole new set.

 

Personally, I prefer more of a mid-launch shaft feel - not too soft, not too firm.   I could easily play the i95's but much prefer the feel of the fc90's or UST Recoils.  In fact have the fc90's in my current set.

 

[NRJyzr]

Adding some shaft profile data for fun

 

The i95 profile is very close to DG, almost a dead ringer in stiff.  In Regular flex, the upper tip or lower mid is a touch stiffer, but otherwise close.  i110 is like a beefier lower section version of DG, and comes with a higher balance point.  Great for overlength, less so for standard length or shorter builds.

 

Included the Modus 105 profiles for a comparison, since you mentioned playing them.

 

Because i95 and i110 look to be the same as DG, and there is a 2" tip section difference between DGR and DGS (I'm ignoring the butt size difference for this comment), you could theoretically go with a double softstep/double hardstep of either weight to get an in between flex, if that bakes your bread.  Emphasis on "theoretically"  😉

 

Edited March 8, 2022 by NRJyzr

[Nixhex524]

Man, I was just about to post almost this EXACT thing.  Wrists are killing me lately and seems to happen whenever I put DG shafts back in the rotation.  Will be following this one....  Getting old DOES suck.

 

[KBong]

16 hours ago, Red4282 said:

Do it. You will have no regrets. The common “they feel harsh” is mainly because people are in too stiff of a flex. Yes they are pretty stiff to flex, so you may want to go down in flex. 

Yes, SF feel stiff to flex.

[aenemated]

1 hour ago, NRJyzr said:

Adding some shaft profile data for fun

 

The i95 profile is very close to DG, almost a dead ringer in stiff.  In Regular flex, the upper tip or lower mid is a touch stiffer, but otherwise close.  i110 is like a beefier lower section version of DG, and comes with a higher balance point.  Great for overlength, less so for standard length or shorter builds.

 

Included the Modus 105 profiles for a comparison, since you mentioned playing them.

 

Because i95 and i110 look to be the same as DG, and there is a 2" tip section difference between DGR and DGS (I'm ignoring the butt size difference for this comment), you could theoretically go with a double softstep/double hardstep of either weight to get an in between flex, if that bakes your bread.  Emphasis on "theoretically"  😉

 

 

Nice, thanks for that info! Interesting numbers on the S300 vs 95S ... pretty much *IS* dead on. S400s are what's currently in my P7TWs and they've been great (with the exception of right elbow that's still a little sore from last weekend)

 

As noted, I do have the an MMT and Recoil coming my way to demo; so if they arrive by Friday - Grips4Less had them in stock and their shipping is super fast so I'd be surprised if they aren't - I should be able to get them installed and ready to go by Sunday at the latest. If neither feel like something I can work with or adjust to; we'll give the SF a go. Not married to anything (yet) ... just know this is a move I have to make. This right elbow and shoulder pain has really become a thing over the last year or so. 

 

Though, Ms. aenemated has already put in a vote for the MMTs because - and I quote - "Those are the coolest looking and they match your golf costume!" 😂

[Stuart_G]

4 minutes ago, aenemated said:

Though, Ms. aenemated has already put in a vote for the MMTs because - and I quote - "Those are the coolest looking and they match your golf costume!" 😂

 

Ahh, but was that before or after you showed her what the bill would be for a full set 😁

 

[Nels55]

10 minutes ago, aenemated said:

Though, Ms. aenemated has already put in a vote for the MMTs because - and I quote - "Those are the coolest looking and they match your golf costume!" 😂

Proper golf attire:

 

[shellbmb]

I played the 110 stiff and harsh is not a word I'd use to describe them.  I thought they felt great and more buttery-smooth than harsh.  I switched to the MMT's because they were better in dispersion at least for me.  But I went to the 105 TX (114g) and to me, they feel more harsh than the SF 110.  But i was looking for more stability and found it in the MMT.  My swing is the opposite of Fred Couples.  More violent and quick.  

 

Also, the 110's can be a pain to build if you are looking at normal/under length builds especially with heavier grips.  This is due to the higher balance point.  But it may not be depending on your target weight and swing weight.  

[Cwebb]

Some will describe the Steelfibers as "harsh" for  the same reason they will describe some steel shafts as that....because they have a stiffer bend profile than the shaft they're comparing them to.

 

If the Dynamic Gold bend profile fits you well, the Steelfiber is about as close as you can get in graphite.

 

It's also possible to reduce their vibration further, by installing Prosoft Inserts in them.

 

Don't forget that there is a 125g Steelfiber shaft.

[Nixhex524]

Anybody have any input on the Recoil 110?  MMT do look really nice.... I thought the SF played a bit stiff to flex, too.  Not as jarring as a steel shaft but something a little less steel-like would be nice... but I like a D3 swing weight.....

[chisag]

16 hours ago, Red4282 said:

The common “they feel harsh” is mainly because people are in too stiff of a flex. Yes they are pretty stiff to flex, so you may want to go down in flex. 

 

 

... I switched to graphite shafts in my irons when the very first Aldila NV Tour shafts were released. 130gms and built to rival DG. Much younger then they were still little too stout for my smooth swing. The NV 105 Pro's were a much better fit and the VS Proto 100's were even better. I tried Steelfiber i95's in stiff and they were way too stout and felt boardy and very "un graphite like." I went to Recoil 95's and really enjoyed them so picked up some Recoil Prototypes and like them even better. 

... At the pga show I talked to a design engineer for Aerotech and he told me most will find the Steelfiber i-series will feel 3/4 to a full flex stouter than most corresponding graphite shafts so I hit some i95 r-flex shafts and what a difference! I have been playing them ever since. I have a set of Cobra '22 Forged Tecs coming in April and picked up some i80's to install in them and see if a slightly lighter shaft might be an even better fit. 

... I would add all the graphite shafts I have played have a very dampened graphite feel. But the Steelfibers really are in-between steel and graphite with their own unique feel that I have grown to love and I certainly understand why so many LPGA plays are using them when their livelihood depends on performance. 

[Stuart_G]

42 minutes ago, Nixhex524 said:

Anybody have any input on the Recoil 110?  MMT do look really nice.... I thought the SF played a bit stiff to flex, too.  Not as jarring as a steel shaft but something a little less steel-like would be nice... but I like a D3 swing weight.....

 

If the i-series felt a bit too stiff, the Recoils might be a good option to test.   Or the Steelfiber FC series.    From stiff to soft:  SF i-series, UST Recoil, SF FC series.

Edited March 8, 2022 by Stuart_G