How often do you change out shafts?

[jibbs1082]

Specifically irons...

 

As we all improve, decline, or finally master that swing change we have been working on - is it important to re-fit for shafts? Very happy with what I have been playing for 4 years but don't know if an upgrade is out there to help. I am shallower, higher swing speed and generally striking the ball better. Considering new irons... was hoping to only swap out the heads, but looking for advice?

 

I guess, is the relationship of flight numbers between heads, variable with different shafts? My assumption is yes and its probably correct to do a whole fitting... 

 

Second question: is it at all a DIY to change shafts and heads, or is that better left to the golf shop?

 

Thanks!

Edited March 12, 2024 by jibbs1082

[Fairways_and_Greens]

Every swing change. 😂

[Kai Slater]

I'm still rocking the original shafts in the Callaway RazrX irons, which are how old now? 2013 or 2014?  I would need to see a significant performance drop off to make any kind of meaningful change; e.g. not being able to swing fast enough to elevate the ball sufficiently and just hitting line drives.

 

But, if you must experiment, it's not difficult at all to DIY.  Just order the components, epoxy, heating torch, etc....

[MattM97]

Unless you have the ability to do the work yourself, have a buddy that will do it cheap and properly and you love your iron heads. It's almost cheaper to buy a new set honestly vs re-shafting. 

[byoshio82]

I’ve found Ventus Red & Blue have just worked for me since they came out. Also the $-tapers since they came out. The wedge shafts are the ones I tinker with a lot. Tried everything and played the KBs 610 the past 2-3 years but switching to DG X100 TI’s this season just keeps the ball down and maintains spin of not spins more. 

[Jgolfer99]

I have never changed shafts on any clubs after purchase.  I find a good preowned set with shafts that are suitable from the get go and then they are what they are until I retire the clubs or something breaks.  Admittedly I am definitely not an equipment junkie. 

[jvincent]

1 hour ago, jibbs1082 said:

I guess, is the relationship of flight numbers between heads, variable with different shafts? My assumption is yes and its probably correct to do a whole fitting... 

 

Second question: is it at all a DIY to change shafts and heads, or is that better left to the golf shop?

 

Thanks!

 

I have, in the past, played on Friday, changed my iron shafts after the round, and played on Saturday. Because it couldn't be me, right?

 

Iron shafts are generally pretty stable unless I get bored and feel like trying something new. If after playing a new set for a while and I don't like something (feel/trajectory/consistency) then I'll pull them and put in an older set or something new and shiny.

 

DIYing a shaft change is pretty easy. The most important things to look out for are making sure the hosel and tip are properly cleaned/prepped.

[jibbs1082]

10 minutes ago, jvincent said:

 

I have, in the past, played on Friday, changed my iron shafts after the round, and played on Saturday. Because it couldn't be me, right?

 

Iron shafts are generally pretty stable unless I get bored and feel like trying something new. If after playing a new set for a while and I don't like something (feel/trajectory/consistency) then I'll pull them and put in an older set or something new and shiny.

 

DIYing a shaft change is pretty easy. The most important things to look out for are making sure the hosel and tip are properly cleaned/prepped.

 

Yeah mainly talking about any sort of trajectory and feel changes as the swing changes... 

[Socrates]

8 hours ago, jibbs1082 said:

Specifically irons...

 

As we all improve, decline, or finally master that swing change we have been working on - is it important to re-fit for shafts? Very happy with what I have been playing for 4 years but don't know if an upgrade is out there to help. I am shallower, higher swing speed and generally striking the ball better. Considering new irons... was hoping to only swap out the heads, but looking for advice?

 

I guess, is the relationship of flight numbers between heads, variable with different shafts? My assumption is yes and its probably correct to do a whole fitting... 

 

Second question: is it at all a DIY to change shafts and heads, or is that better left to the golf shop?

 

Thanks!

I typically am loathe to change shafts (let alone heads).  But when I do, I change everything.  Especially when it has been several years since the last change.  I will soon change my driver and even though I have hit the same shaft for 5 years, I won't be keeping the same shaft.  Same goes for my irons.  New heads = new shafts.  

[st1800e]

8 hours ago, jibbs1082 said:

I guess, is the relationship of flight numbers between heads, variable with different shafts? My assumption is yes and its probably correct to do a whole fitting... 

 

Second question: is it at all a DIY to change shafts and heads, or is that better left to the golf shop?

1. Yes, but more importantly will the new head shaft combo be a proper fit for you? 

 

2. if you’ve never reshafted a club, then yes, get a competent shop/club guy to do it.  Finding the right place/person is another task.  
If you would like to learn how to do it, there’s loads of info on this site, search is your friend.
 You’ll need to learn quick though if you’re going to do it on your gamers.  Learning to reshaft on some old clubs is a better place to start.  
 

If you don’t want to go down the rabbit hole, getting a quality fitting is recommended.  

Edited March 13, 2024 by st1800e

[Ger21]

I played Dynamic Gold for the last 30 years or so, with the last few years switching to the AMT version.
I'm 60 years old now, and feel like I can keep playing them at least another 5 years.

 

35 years ago I started building my own clubs, in order to save money. Not sure that actually worked, as I ended up building a LOT of clubs over the years.

Edited March 13, 2024 by Ger21

[Pepperturbo]

Changing irons isn't as likely to change your score, as a solid wedge game and course management.  Over ten years, clubhead technology IME hasn't changed as much as their cosmetics.  I've played 620 MBs since 2019, until switching last year to the new T100 irons.

 

Finding the right shafts is essential.  In the scheme of things, since taking up golf in the 90s, I can count on two hands the number of iron sets I've played.  I don't like changing clubs.

 

Five + yrs ago, after playing PX 6.0 for 15+ years, I switched to composite shafts.  Since then, had four iron shaft changes, looking for the right composite shaft weight and distance.  What's important about that change, it's not to influence scoring.

 

Club building is NOT my hobby, playing good golf is my hobby.  I have two guys who do a top-notch job building my clubs.

[Phabs]

I'm on year 6 of one set of the blackout 6.5's and year 4 on the other set.  I’ve been checked for different shafts multiple times and the same shaft I currently use is always the pick. 

 

Edited March 14, 2024 by Phabs

[mogc60]

How often do I change shafts…way too often. Why? I love trying new things. I’ve tried almost every iron shaft model I can think of over the years. I do my own work and I love doing that too. I have my go to’s but I just try new things too often when I get ideas rattling in my head 

[Stuart_G]

On 3/12/2024 at 3:09 PM, jibbs1082 said:

As we all improve, decline, or finally master that swing change we have been working on - is it important to re-fit for shafts?

 

It depends on the individual but most don't really need to refit for shafts all that often.    The shaft weight is more commonly chosen to match our own natural sense of rhythm and timing - and that's is actually something that should not be changed as we improve our swing.   And weight is much more important when fitting shafts than stiffness is for most.     For those who are more sensitive to the loading/unloading feel,  that certainly can change if significant improvements to swing speed are obtained (or lost) - and that might indicate the possibility that a shaft change might be helpful.   But usually even that process of change is pretty slow and many will adjust automatically to their current shaft.

 

So once you find a good fit, if you want you'll likely be able to stick with it for a long time.   

 

But where's the fun in that 🙂   The search for the perfect shaft is more a never ending quest for hope - and part of the fun for many.