SPECIAL TEST: STEEL VS GRAPHITE - April 1, 2005
For years when asked to tell which is better in my irons (steel or graphite) I answered by saying something to the effect: Graphite for distance, steel for direction - or - Steel for better players with more swing speed and graphite for the less skilled.
Finally we decided to test these theories. We coerced some of the best known club makers to supply us with iron heads and two separate sets of shafts, so that we may match them up against each other.
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KZG, Innovex and Aldila supplied us with enough heads and shafts to do this test for the rest of my life! The heads were perfectly matched; both club makers are great with what they do. While the shafts were as the best that we could do matching manufacturers: senior, regular and firm.
We tested 8 and 5 irons with the various shaft combinations to see which ones went further and which ones helped to bring the shots closer to the targeted flag.
We used 150 golfers with handicaps that ranged from 5 - 20 for the test. Each golfer hit 4 balls and we calculated the average distances of each shaft combination. |
| Results |
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Iron |
Regular Shaft |
Senior Shaft |
Firm Shaft |
| Steel |
8 |
130 yds |
115 yds |
137 yds |
| Graphite |
8 |
133 yds |
115 yds |
141 yds |
|
| Steel |
5 |
158 yds |
146 yds |
165 yds |
| Graphite |
5 |
156 yds |
148 yds |
168 yds |
The distances from the flag were too close to call.
As you can see there wasn’t much difference at all in the actual yardages. There may be something to what some of our testers said as far as graphite being a little easier on their shoulders. But I don’t know, as I am not a chiropractor.
In the future when asked, we will not recommend one type of shaft over the other.
As always, hit 'em long and straight.
I remain,
Charlie Mandel
Founder of Rankmark
"Match Play" Drivers - June
2007
Hybrids - February 1, 2007
Hybrids -
April 3, 2006
A Three Part Driver Test - September
23, 2005
"Match Play" Irons - June 7,
2005
"Match Play" Drivers - May
24, 2005
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