If you think graphite iron shafts are only for slow swingers, then why does one of the fastest tour players in the world, Bryson DeChambeau, use them?
Bryson is meticulous about his equipment, so if he’s gaming graphite iron shafts, there must be a reason. The evolution of graphite shafts may surprise players who think graphite is only for older, slower players.
To separate myth from fact, we asked a club fitting expert to break down the steel vs. graphite iron shaft debate. His insights might change how you think about your iron shafts.
The Expert
Brad Sparrer, PGA, became a club fitter at the Pebble Beach Academy in 2021 and today serves as the Golf Operations Manager at Boulder Ridge Golf Club in San Jose, California.
Today’s Graphite Iron Shafts
Graphite shafts have advanced at astronomical speeds over the years. It’s fitting, then, that today’s graphite shaft engineers often take advantage of aerospace-grade fibers that they didn’t have access to in the past.
Sparrer describes the difference between today’s graphite shafts and those from the turn of the century as “night and day,” adding “advances in filament winding, resin systems, and layering let engineers precisely tune stiffness, torque, and bend points.”
In other words, engineers today can create a graphite shaft to very precise specifications, setting the weight, stiffness, bend-point and torque profile exactly where they want them.
That means that golfers can find virtually any profile of iron shaft, from 40g to 130g and X-Stiff to A-Flex, in graphite.
This Magnetic Golf Towel is Extra Strong
How do you keep your golf clubs and golf carts in order? This magnetic golf towel has an extra strong hold, which means it’s an excellent addition to your golf gear collection. Another benefit is that you can purchase these magnetic golf towels in different colors.
This Washing Machine Cleaner Really Works
We have one of those front load washers which annoyingly smells like mildew if you don't clean it. The most effective thing I've found to really kill the smell are these Active washing machine cleaner tablets. All you have to do is run a cycle with just the tablet and it'll clean the drum, pump, valve, and filter in one step. These work with basically all high-efficiency and standard washers.
Got a retiree with a golf obsession? This Potty Putter has their name all over it. It's a miniature golf game that they can play while they're using the toilet, so they never have to miss out on tee time when nature calls. It even comes with a "Do Not Disturb" sign that can be hung on the bathroom door.
Bring Your Love of Golf Home With These Playful Golf Ball Ice Molds
Add a fun twist to an after-work drink or morning coffee with these reusable ice molds. The leak-proof design is made to last, creating golf-ball-shaped ice that will have you longing to hit the course. The large ice cubes purposely melt slowly, so you can enjoy a fizzy soda for longer. Simply fill and freeze in no time!
Need To Know
Every rangefinder we review is tested both on the course and in a controlled environment with precisely measured distances. This testing verifies accuracy within inches and compares performance across key categories like speed, optics, and ease of use. Learn more about how we test rangefinders.
- The truth is, I’m incredibly uncomfortable giving any product a perfect score.
- The biggest reason it scored so high? Accuracy.
- The Golvia Pro is accurate to within inches and easily scored a 10-out-of-10 in our accuracy test.
Pros
- I walked 36 holes in the Payntr Classic LE during typical fall conditions
- While it didn’t rain, the ground was wet
- All that walking, about 11 miles total according to my Fitbit
