If you are a new or average golfer wondering whether if you should purchase graphite or steel golf clubs then this post is for you. Many people wonder about the differences of steel and graphite shafts and over the last several years everyone has jumped on the graphite bandwagon.
Most of the golf club companies seem to push mostly graphite shafts. Most amateur golfers say that they prefer graphite when they don’t really know why.
How do you decide whether to purchase graphite or steel golf club?
Most people recommend using steel for everything except possibly the driver. Steel is a lot cheaper and a lot more durable than graphite, and the advantages of graphite are pretty minimal. Steel shafts are also much more consistently manufactured, so you’re more likely to get a consistent variation between adjacent clubs than with graphite. They also twist less under torque than even the best of graphite shafts. This means implies that you will probably get more consistent iron shots with steel than with graphite.
Graphite shafts are lighter, so in principle a player should be able to generate a little higher club head speed with a graphite shaft. Getting a few extra yards out of your driver might be worth it. Probably not, though. A few extra yards down the fairway would be nice, but I’m more worried about staying IN the fairway. With your irons you don’t care so much about maximum distance as accurate, known distance. If you hit every iron five yards further, you now have to hit a soft 8 instead of a normal 9. If you’re that good, you probably already have a regular teaching pro, and you would have asked him.
Generally a player who generates more club head speed and more torque will go with steel. Steel is heavier, so if you swing harder, steel would be a better choice.
In summary, if you want more distance, play graphite; if you want more accuracy and control, play steel.
Mark