Buying new shafts - What length?

[RickAstley]

I have searched around and couldn't quite find what I was looking for. After posting another thread and giving it some thought I have decided that I am going to put new shafts in my irons, and I'd like to try my hand at it before I pay someone else to do it. I have a few old clubs that I'm going to practice on before I do it with my actual clubs, so I'm not worried if it takes me a few tries to get the hang of it. My question pertains to what length to buy. Should I buy all the shafts the same length and then cut them to size by trimming from the butt end, or should I buy one of each shaft in a different length?

[dcr147]

You first need to know what hosel size you are dealing with before buying any shafts. If the heads take a .370 parallel tip shaft, they come in one length and are tipped( tip cut) for flex and then butt cut for length. If you have taper tip .355 hosels, the shafts' flex is already set and you buy by length depending on each numbered iron or wedge.

[RickAstley]

Thanks for the advice. The iron heads take a .355 taper tip shaft, so I will figure out the lengths I need from my current set. When measuring lengths do I include the grip?

[dcr147]

[quote name='RickAstley' timestamp='1390442699' post='8513207']
Thanks for the advice. The iron heads take a .355 taper tip shaft, so I will figure out the lengths I need from my current set. When measuring lengths do I include the grip?
[/quote] I don't when doing tapers..The shafts come in 1/2" increments from 37 up to 41 or 42 depending on the shaft you choose. I recommend 37-pw, and then add 1/2" for each iron on up from there unless you want your pw and 9 iron to play the same. Then go with 37-37-37.5........

[RickAstley]

This is the info I was looking for. Thanks for all the advice!

[Stuart_G]

[quote name='RickAstley' timestamp='1390442699' post='8513207']
Thanks for the advice. The iron heads take a .355 taper tip shaft, so I will figure out the lengths I need from my current set. When measuring lengths do I include the grip?
[/quote]

Important thing to keep in mind (if you were not aware of this). For new tapered tip shafts, they will frequently be listed as coming in different lengths. You do NOT pick the length that will match what playing length you want. Each shaft of a different length was designed for a specific iron head weight. Pretty much all new shafts will have a raw length that's longer than most people need and is meant to be trimmed from the butt end to get your specific playing length. For example:

[url="https://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_TT0101_A_cn_E_685"]https://www.golfwork...0101_A_cn_E_685[/url]

Listings like these are easier because they list both length and the intended iron. The first item in the pull down is listed as:

R3 40.0 (#3) ......

That means (reg flex) and it's 40.0" raw length for a 3 iron head. Unfortunately, the actual iron is not always listed and only the length might be and not all manufacturers use the same length (40" might not always mean a 3 iron). Here's an example of one that doesn't list the iron:

[url="https://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_NP0003_A_cn_E_685"]https://www.golfwork...0003_A_cn_E_685[/url]

It only lists raw lengths from 35.0" to 39.5" but does not tell you which iron head goes with each length. To make matters worse, sometimes the shorter iron is for the PW, next longer 9 iron, etc... . And other times the shortest might be for PW and 9 iron, and the next shortest for 8 iron, etc...

So basically, you have to know for the particular shafts you are interested in, how raw length translates to a particular iron head.

[RickAstley]

[quote name='Stuart G.' timestamp='1390470651' post='8514975']
[quote name='RickAstley' timestamp='1390442699' post='8513207']
Thanks for the advice. The iron heads take a .355 taper tip shaft, so I will figure out the lengths I need from my current set. When measuring lengths do I include the grip?
[/quote]

Important thing to keep in mind (if you were not aware of this). For new tapered tip shafts, they will frequently be listed as coming in different lengths. You do NOT pick the length that will match what playing length you want. Each shaft of a different length was designed for a specific iron head weight. Pretty much all new shafts will have a raw length that's longer than most people need and is meant to be trimmed from the butt end to get your specific playing length. For example:

[url="https://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_TT0101_A_cn_E_685"]https://www.golfwork...0101_A_cn_E_685[/url]

Listings like these are easier because they list both length and the intended iron. The first item in the pull down is listed as:

R3 40.0 (#3) ......

That means (reg flex) and it's 40.0" raw length for a 3 iron head. Unfortunately, the actual iron is not always listed and only the length might be and not all manufacturers use the same length (40" might not always mean a 3 iron). Here's an example of one that doesn't list the iron:

[url="https://www.golfworks.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_NP0003_A_cn_E_685"]https://www.golfwork...0003_A_cn_E_685[/url]

It only lists raw lengths from 35.0" to 39.5" but does not tell you which iron head goes with each length. To make matters worse, sometimes the shorter iron is for the PW, next longer 9 iron, etc... . And other times the shortest might be for PW and 9 iron, and the next shortest for 8 iron, etc...

So basically, you have to know for the particular shafts you are interested in, how raw length translates to a particular iron head.
[/quote]


Makes sense. Very good explanation. Thank you

[DavePelz4]

Wait...isn't anyone going to make any Rick Astley jokes? With respectful apologies to the OP, will you be on the site Forever, forever? Sorry...cue the crickets.

[RickAstley]

[quote name='DavePelz4' timestamp='1390525237' post='8519981']
Wait...isn't anyone going to make any Rick Astley jokes? With respectful apologies to the OP, will you be on the site Forever, forever? Sorry...cue the crickets.
[/quote]

I will be on the site forever. I'm never gonna give you up.