Chances are, not very much.
However, paying closer attention could benefit you, as the best ladies in the game share more with most amateur golfers than you might expect.
To illustrate this, let’s take clubhead speed as an example.
The average clubhead speed on the LPGA for a 5-iron is 79mph. Interestingly, the average clubhead speed for a 10-handicapper is 80 mph. If you really must know what the average 5-iron clubhead speed is for a PGA Tour player, it’s 94mph.
The 5-iron is also an interesting golf club to consider, because for many amateurs and LPGA players, the 5-iron will be the longest iron in the bag.
5-irons pose problems for most amateurs, with the likelihood of hitting the green from 200 yards being less than 40%. Only if you are an elite-level player, the percentage is higher, but not by much; averages hover around the 50% mark.
One reason for these high levels of inaccuracy in the amateur game can be down to equipment. Using the correct type of iron head is one part of the equation, but equally important is having the correct shaft fitted.
Proper golf shaft selection is key for consistency and accuracy, but many amateurs play ill-fitted shafts.
Our iron shaft fitting guide will help you in choosing the right iron shaft for your game. We’ll cover areas such as:
- The Type of Iron Player We’re Talking About
- The Iron-Shaft Mistakes That Cost You Consistency
- Key Shaft Characteristics That Matter
- Why the Right Answer Comes From Testing
The Type of Iron Player We’re Talking About
We established that if you’re swinging a 5-iron around 80mph, you’re likely to be playing off somewhere around a 10 handicap. In fittings, we have seen players with higher and lower handicaps achieve the same speeds.
Even though the handicaps can vary, we do see patterns emerge when it comes to the types of shots we see during those fitting sessions.
Consistency is the glue that holds everything together, whether that be the consistency of ball striking, shot shape, or dispersion; consistency becomes difficult to master.
Ball striking becomes more erratic, which has an impact on launch and spin numbers. What we tend to see here is a wider shot dispersion from front to back, as heel and toe shots launch and spin poorly compared to a flushed strike.
Similarly, if players show a particular shot shape with shorter irons, longer shafts and lower lofts in mid to long irons, it can exaggerate those shapes, producing wilder iron shots and bigger dispersion. This increases the chances of the ball ending up in tougher spots, potentially costing more strokes.
Even at a distance of 150 yards, a scratch player is likely to end up on average 40 feet from the pin, whereas a 25 handicapper will end up 70 feet, bringing the possibility of more three-putts into play, or more difficult up-and-downs if they miss the green.
While poor iron play can result from technique flaws, ill-suited equipment is also a contributing factor.
The Iron-Shaft Mistakes That Cost You Consistency
The basic mistake that gets made when it comes to using the wrong shafts in your irons is flex.
Many golfers opt for shafts that are too stiff for them, which means that the shaft can’t load and unload properly in the swing.
This creates a situation where shots tend to leak out to the right (if you are a right-handed player). Trajectory can suffer as a result of the golf shaft being too strong. The ball is likely to launch too low and with low spin, meaning your iron shot will never reach peak trajectory, and you may struggle to hold greens even with short irons in your hand as a result.
Shafts that are too whippy pose major problems for clubface control, with the clubface closing down more readily, leading to pulls and hooks.
Trajectory is highly unpredictable. This time, the ball is likely to balloon too much in the air, so controlling the trajectory, especially on windy days, is a real problem.
As we get older, we tend to overlook the fact that we will more than likely lose some clubhead speed, but we don’t make the connection with altering the shaft flex we use.
Unless you want to spend a considerable time getting involved with speed training to maintain and potentially improve your clubhead speed, you’re likely playing with golf shafts that are too stiff for your game.
Shaft flex is one thing, but shaft material is something that is seriously overlooked.
When it comes to irons, the default option is steel. It feels comfortable to us, it helps promote more feel, and helps balance the iron out. Graphite shafts are seen purely for drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids.
Yet, this perception is beginning to change, especially as technology evolves.
Approximately 35% of the top 100 players on the LPGA Tour employ graphite shafts in their golf irons.
They have similar clubhead speeds to the majority of amateur golfers, yet they are far more accurate with their iron play.
It’s not just the ladies’ game where graphite is appearing in irons. Bryson DeChambeau and Rickie Fowler are two high-profile players who have successfully made the switch to graphite shafts in their irons.
Professionals are always seeking any advantage, and as advancements in graphite shaft technology continue, more players are considering making the switch. This suggests there may be untapped benefits to graphite shafts.
We have noticed one new trend emerging, where golfers are having existing golf shafts placed into new heads.
We’ve found this when golfers have come to us perplexed about the fact that the new iron setup they’ve got isn’t working.
The logic is understandable. They’ve used a certain shaft for a number of years, and are happy with the way it performs and feels. They’ve carried out research on new iron models and chosen heads they feel are right for their game, and simply have their existing shafts transferred into the new iron heads.
The problem is that you can’t assume that your existing shaft setup will work with a new head. The new heads might have an array of new tech, which means they simply won’t be compatible with your existing shafts.
One final reason golfers tend to stick with the same golf shafts is that they think they see all the tour players stick with the same shafts in their irons, whether they change model or manufacturer.
Tour players will go through a rigorous process to ensure that what makes it into their golf bags is the best for their game. If they test new iron heads and something doesn’t match up with their existing shafts, they’ll look to change shafts if they like the way the iron heads are performing.
Their decision process on whether to change shafts is based partly on obtaining the correct launch and spin window they are looking to achieve with each iron. They’ll also provide feedback on how an iron feels during the swing and impact based on a potential new setup.
Key Shaft Characteristics That Matter
If we now understand some of the mistakes that can be made, leading us to have the wrong iron shafts in play, what should we be looking for?
To start with, shaft weight is a crucial metric in becoming a better iron player.
For a long time, steel shafts were limited in weight selections, which is one reason why we get so hung up on shaft flex as the most important commodity.
Today, steel shafts come in a variety of weight options, which makes it easier to tune the shaft to the player.
We can look at the KBS C-Taper shafts as a great example. Designed with the input of tour pros, the C-Taper provides a lower piercing ball flight, which is ideal for players with higher clubhead speeds who need to control spin more effectively.
If you’re not generating tour-level clubhead speeds, KBS has a ready-made solution in the form of the C-Taper Lite, which helps to optimise launch and spin for slower swing speeds.
A stiff flex C-Taper Lite comes in at 110 grams, where the standard C-Taper stiff shaft is 120 grams.
If you really want to stick with steel, but need the maximum help in getting the ball airborne, Nippon’s Zelos 7 shaft comes in at an ultra-light 77.5 grams for a stiff shaft.
What we are demonstrating here is that there is a wide variety of steel shafts at different weights that can help optimise spin and launch rates while keeping the clubhead stable for consistent results.
When it comes to graphite for irons, we have a widening choice, which makes good sense for a lot of amateur players.
A favourite amongst the LPGA players is the Aerotech and the SteelFiber range. The SteelFiber features steel fibres integrated into a graphite core to combine strength and stability, ideal components for consistent iron play.
A slightly different approach but equally effective is Fujikura’s Axiom graphite iron shaft.
At the heart of the Axiom shaft is Fujikura’s hugely successful VeloCore technology, which is featured in the Ventus range. VeloCore combines different carbon densities and proprietary materials to create a core that’s designed to maximise stability and improve ball striking in its Axiom shaft range.
What we see in the Aerotech and Fujikura solutions answers what many golfers shied away from when it comes to graphite irons shafts: feel and stability that are equal to what steel offers.
An added advantage is that Aerotech, Fujikura, and Mitsubishi Chemical’s MMT iron shafts come in lighter than many steel counterparts, which can help create some additional clubhead speed and improve launch and spin numbers.
Why the Right Answer Comes From Testing
The good news is that there has never been a better time to test different iron shafts to find out what would work best for your game.
To understand what your optimal combination of weight, material, and flex is, it’s worth considering a custom fitting session.
Custom fitting uses launch monitor technology that will provide precise data that the naked eye can’t accurately measure, such as understanding what launch and spin numbers are needed for each of your irons to maximise carry distance and overall trajectory.
It’s not all about what the launch monitor identifies.
Fitting relies on player feedback, and that’s why there is a fitter on hand who can help uncover the answers through questioning and the visual evidence of a player’s swing.
Details such as understanding swing tempo and how aggressive or passive your swing is can help match a shaft profile that is best suited to your needs.
Feel plays an important part in the decision-making process, and a launch monitor can’t identify whether you prefer the feel of the shaft being heavier or lighter as you swing the club.
Golf irons are about accuracy, and identifying the right shaft profile and flex can help improve ball striking, which in turn can help to tighten up shot dispersion.
We’ve identified that a 10-handicapper can swing a 5-iron at the same speed as an LPGA Tour star.
Amateurs with lower or higher handicaps can swing their 5-irons in the same 80-90mph bracket, but they can’t deliver the same quality of strike or direction consistently compared to an LPGA player.
It’s not just 5-irons we need to consider. Many amateurs have their 6 or even 7-iron as their longest iron now, but the point is still the same. Solid iron play relies on consistency.
Identifying which golf shaft is right to deliver improved consistency isn’t just down to choosing the right flex anymore.
Choosing the right shaft profile comes down to shaft weight, flex, and material to deliver predictable iron shots, which will help you score better on the course.
Working with an experienced fitting house such as Nine By Nine Golf can help you identify exactly what you need to elevate your iron game to new heights this season through a dedicated custom iron fitting session.