Since the head of my 7i snapped off the shaft last week at River Pines, I was forced to think about my iron shafts. I bought my clubs off the rack and did not get fit. I know the value in getting fit for the right shafts, but when I bought the clubs I wasn’t as serious about my game as I am now. My clubs came with a stock True Temper shaft called the Memphis10. A uniflex shaft made specifically for Callaway. Uniflex is fancy for “regular flex if that.” A regular flex, soft tip shaft is going to help the average golfer get the ball up in the air and carry a bit further. But I don’t have a problem with height, I want a lower ball flight.

I spent some time researching iron shafts and realized that a True Temper Dynamic Gold S-300 would likely be the shaft for me. A stiff shaft, with a firmer tip, these shafts should allow me to launch the ball lower with a more penetrating flight. I worked with Jason at a local Edwin Watts to fit the shaft to my 7i and went to the range to hit it.

The first 50 balls were hit or miss. I was off the toe, I was hooking the ball, I was pushing the ball. The thing with softer shafts is that your control is more limited, misses are greater, less control. I remembered back to GolfTec and my proper posture. Checked my clubface at address ( I was getting a bit closed) and then I started flushing it.

My swing felt more in control, more up and not around my body, my transition with cleaner and I was finishing in a good position. I was hitting the ball lower with a nice draw about 172 yrd carry, with some shots closer to 180. 180 with a 7i. I was pretty much sold on the new shaft there. But to be certain, I went back to Edwin Watts and used the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer to determine my Swing DNA.

The Shaft Optimizer is a special club, with accelerometers, microprocessors and strain gauges built in, that measures how you load and unload the club. After only 3 swings, it will tell you your clubhead speed (with a 6i) kick angle, toe down, release factor and then suggest the right shaft for your swing.

My numbers are below. It was great to see them. I have a smooth tempo and an 88mph 6i swing (which should translate roughly into a 110mph driver). But the cool thing is I have a tempo similar to Luke Donald. Who wouldnt want that.

So the S-300 is the new shaft. I’ll have them back in a few days, but I’m excited to be playing a shaft that is matched to me and my swing. No doubt it will help my confidence.