Best Graphite Shafts for Irons
When it comes to your irons, then you need to think about more than just the head of the club. Instead, the correct shaft will also be capable of making a huge difference to the end result.
Of course, people will spend a fortune on choosing the correct shaft for their clubs. That makes life harder when you have so many to choose from.
Also, add in different flexes, stiffness, and then you have a complicated thing that is being made even harder than before.
Graphite shafts are highly popular today. The weight being reduced does make them an attractive option for so many players, and that’s before we even talk about the other advantages that may come with having these shafts added to your irons.
Making slight differences, such as changing the shaft, can have a profound impact on the types of shots you can play. But then, with so many options out there, you may have no idea where to even begin when it comes to your search.
So here are a number of the best graphite shafts for irons on the market today. By the end, you will have a better idea of which shaft is perhaps best for your own individual game.
Table of Contents
- 1. Best for Seniors - Fujikura PRO Series Iron 75i
- 2. Best Set - KBS MAX Graphite Iron Shafts
- 3. Best for Control - UST Mamiya Recoil 460
- 4. Best for All Levels - Matrix Ozik Program F15
- 5. Best for Low Kick Point - Graphite Design Tour AD-95
- How to Choose the Right Shaft For Your Game
- Why a Graphite Shaft?
- The Length
- The Launch
- The Spin
- The Flex and Weight
- Understanding Your Game
- Overall Conclusion
1. Best for Seniors - Fujikura PRO Series Iron 75i
Comes with a 40.5” raw length
Available in stiff flex
Delivers a mid launch
Comes with a platinum finish
First up, we have the Fujikura PRO series 75i graphite shaft, and we see this as being the best option when it comes to seniors. The flex is stiff, but the senior version does come with a bit more bend on it compared to what you may have actually expected.
It has a raw length of 40.5”, so that does give you the ability to cut it to size according to the iron you wish to apply it to. Also, it delivers a mid launch, so that does cover a number of bases when it comes to the types of golfers it will help.
This shaft is relatively dense, but this will also have the impact of reducing the amount of vibrations that come through it. This means you have substantially better feedback from your shots, and that alone will manage to improve your game.
Overall, this shaft should make a difference to your end shot as it will provide you with the opportunity to control your shot, have better feedback, and also feel more confident in your game.
Pros
Cons
Overall Conclusion
This shaft is an excellent one to buy if you are looking for a senior shaft, and you want the lightweight approach that you get via a graphite shaft. There’s no doubt it will improve your game, but you do need to get it cut to length depending on the iron.
Due to this need to customize, it does lose part of a mark.
2. Best Set - KBS MAX Graphite Iron Shafts
Available in a range of weights from 45g to 85g
Comes in different flexes to help you with your game
Has a 41” raw length
Comes with a .370 tip size
Weight influences the flex
This set of KBS MAX graphite iron shafts will cover you from a 5 iron through to a pitching wedge, so it really does have you covered when it comes to your short game.
The range of weights is extensive with this set as you can go for the ultra-light 45g all the way to the stiff flex at 85g. Of course, this will then influence your game, so there’s a need to understand what your game needs to get the most out of these shafts.
You need to be aware that the raw length of these shafts is at 41”, but that does provide you with scope to play around and get it to fit different irons. Also, it has a .370 tip size, so attaching everything should not be a problem.
Overall, buying this set will provide you with a sense of consistency throughout your irons. It gives you the same structure and weight distribution across the board, and that will undoubtedly then help your game.
Pros
Cons
Overall Conclusion
This set of shafts will be an excellent buy for people looking to change their short irons. Having the same construction and weight across the board will give confidence to your shots.
However, you cannot really just put things together, and then go. For that reason, as you need to understand how to do this, it then loses some marks.
3. Best for Control - UST Mamiya Recoil 460
Designed to offer maximum distance
Designed to provide better control over your shots
Comes with stiffer mid and butt sections
Best for mid to high swing speeds
With this shaft, you will often find that it is going to be best for people that have either a mid to high swing speed. That is because of the amount of flex you have in this shaft as it is going to be stiffer than you may expect.
The stiffer the shaft, then the less flex, and that means the speed is also reduced. However, it’s worth noting that this is not the stiffest of shafts out there on the market either.
This shaft does come with a softer tip on the shaft, and that’s designed to give you better feedback on your shot. It also has a lower torque on the shaft, and that will make it easier for you to go ahead and pick and choose your shots.
But it’s the recoil technology that is key here. You will see an increase in the energy that is then transferred between ball and shaft, and that has an impact on the distance you can achieve with this shaft.
Overall, it’s the control aspect that is key with this shaft. However, aside from the control, it will perform well across the board for most players.
Pros
Cons
Overall Conclusion
This shaft is all about the control you can have over your shot. If you tend to be a bit wayward, then this shaft may help to partly correct those issues with your game.
However, it will only help if you have high swing speeds, but those with slower swing speeds also deserve to have that control, so that is why we have taken part of a mark off.
4. Best for All Levels - Matrix Ozik Program F15
Available in different flexes
Comes with .370 parallel tip
Has a raw length of 40.5 inches
Offers a mid launch
Perfect for all levels
The Matrix Ozik program F15 shaft is one that is going to be suitable for pretty much all levels of golfers. This is because of the way in which it sits comfortably in the middle of almost everything, so anybody can benefit in some way from this shaft.
Do consider going for the 95g weight if you want a shaft that is capable of delivering precise control over your shots. However, that does mean the stiffness will be going up, so if you have a slow swing speed, then that wouldn’t be the right option at that time.
But Matrix has been able to do something pretty amazing here with this shaft. It may be graphite, but they have managed to replicate results you would often associate with a steel shaft. That is not something you would tend to expect from a graphite shaft.
Overall, this shaft provides excellent control, but it’s the fact it sits in the middle of every parameter that makes it stand out from the crowd.
Pros
Cons
Overall Conclusion
This shaft doesn’t do anything spectacular as a stand out, but it does do all of the basics very well indeed, and that is why we love it so much. Anybody will see a difference in their game thanks to this shaft, and that is something to admire.
That is why we cannot take any marks off this shaft. It just doesn’t have any real flaws.
5. Best for Low Kick Point - Graphite Design Tour AD-95
Available in both regular and stiff flex
Has a low to mid range kick point
The shaft promotes higher and better ball flight
Comes with a mid launch
Offers a mid level of spin
This shaft by Graphite Design brings with it a low to mid range kick point, and coupled with a stiff flex, that means this shaft has a real bite to it.
The kick point does mean that the shaft will promote a higher and better ball flight. That will help people get the ball up off the ground, so if you are struggling with that sort of thing, then this shaft could make a significant difference.
At the same time, it also provides you with a mid launch, and also a mid level of spin. That will lead to achieving better distances, and on a more consistent basis, so you may very well have a couple of yards added to your shots thanks to this shaft.
Overall, it’s the kick point that makes this shaft stand out. Graphite Design makes a big deal out of it, and for good reason. The way it can help your shots, and improve your iron game at the same time, is certainly something you need to keep in mind.
Pros
Cons
Overall Conclusion
This shaft is excellent at what it offers, but it is quite specific in its approach. However, if you have difficulty in getting the ball up off the ground, then this shaft could make a significant difference.
In saying that, the fact it is quite specific can work against it, and that is why we have taken some marks off this shaft.
How to Choose the Right Shaft For Your Game
So here’s an important thing to look at right now, how you go about choosing the right shaft for your game.
The problem is that people often overlook the shaft, and they merely stick with the one that comes with the iron when they purchase it. That is not always the best thing to do.
But let’s go through the different things you need to consider in order to settle on the correct shaft for your game.
Why a Graphite Shaft?
First, let’s address why you would even bother with a graphite shaft in the first place.
A graphite shaft is significantly lighter than the likes of a steel shaft. In general, you are looking at a shaft that will then weigh anywhere from 50g to 85g, and that will make a difference to the rest of your game.
A graphite shaft weighing as little as that will mean your swing is going to be faster. This is clearly important if that’s an area where you struggle.
But at the same time, a graphite shaft is highly durable. It can withstand a whole lot of pressure and energy without being distorted, and that is a huge thing when it comes to your golf shafts.
The fact that this durability is coupled with reduced weight is a huge bonus.
The Length
One of the first things is to think about the length of the shaft. Often, you will notice that the shafts come at a set length, but that doesn’t always correlate to what you need for your irons.
As the irons get higher in number, the shorter the length of the shaft, so that means some work has to be carried out to get everything to fit. You need to be aware of this when buying, so knowing where this work can be done is important.
However, even here there can be some variation. Some shafts already come at the perfect length while others require several inches to be taken off. In saying that, it also depends on your swing and typical stance, as well as your physical height. Take all of that into consideration before making a change to the length to get the correct shaft for your game.
The Launch
Pay close attention to what the shaft says about the launch aspect. If you struggle with getting the ball off the ground, then a high launch shaft will work best for you.
However, if that is not an issue, then a mid launch will often work out well.
The key here is that the kick point of the shaft will vary, and that is the point where the shaft kicks and flexes resulting in changing the angle at which the club addresses the ball. By changing this, it alters the trajectory of the ball, and that can make a huge difference to your game.
The Spin
The shaft can influence the amount of spin that is put onto a ball, and this is important information depending on your swing speed.
Typically, if you have a slower swing speed, then you want higher spin as that will increase the time the ball spends in the air leading to better distances.
At the same time, the opposite is also true. If you have a fast swing speed, then having high levels of spin would result in you losing control of the shot, and that’s not something you want to happen.
So, you need to be aware of your swing speeds to know how the spin would then change the outcome of your shots. Get some assistance from your local pro if you are unsure as to how fast or slow your swing is.
The Flex and Weight
Now we need to move onto what is perhaps the key component of the shaft, and it’s the flex and weight.
The higher the weight, the stiffer the flex, but that’s not the only thing to be taken into consideration.
Instead, we need to go back to this idea of your swing speed to come to an understanding as to the right shaft you should have on your irons.
If you have a slow swing speed, then you need a greater amount of flex as that snap with the shaft generates more energy leading to better distances. However, if you have a fast swing speed, then too much flex would lead to a loss of control, and also a drop in distance.
So, once again, being aware of your swing statistics will make a huge difference when it comes to selecting the shaft you should have with your irons.
Understanding Your Game
Just going with the standard shafts that come with irons is not something you should be doing if you want to really get to grips with your short game. While the standard shafts will be fine for people new to the game, it’s going to offer little in the way of help for more experienced players.
When starting out, you need to focus on just dealing with understanding the game without getting into the finer details.
But if you are looking at trying to really take your game to a whole new level, then the shaft is one area that people tend to overlook.
So this is what we recommend.
You need to go to your local pro and ask them to study your swing. They will look at how you strike the ball, and also the speed at which you swing your club.
They can then advise you on the correct shaft when it comes to launch, spin, flex and weight. Pretty much the different points we mentioned above.
Overall Conclusion
While the different shafts mentioned above are all excellent in their own right, the Matrix Ozik Program F15 is the one that stands out the most, and that is our winner.
It does all of the basics exceptionally well, and that does mean every player should see a difference in their game thanks to having this shaft on their irons. It offers control, better distance, less spin, and will generally result in better iron shots.
However, we also need to mention the Fujikura PRO Series as well. It is a great choice for seniors and will add some yards back onto your shots that you may have lost over the years.
Take the time to learn more about the different shafts, and make sure you have the correct one for your game. The difference it can make will certainly astound you.
