I am a beginner and have a slow to average swing speed. Should i get graphite or steel shafts for my irons and does it make a difference?
The traditional answer was that graphite because the shafts weigh less than steel increase club head speed and would help improve distance for folks with slower swing speeds. The sacrifice was that graphite was less accurate than steel. That is all out of date thinking these days. So much has changed. Composite graphite shafts are now more stable and accurate than before while steel shaft technology has produced lighter steel shafts than before. That being said, I still recommend the graphite unless you are young and still growing. If you are young, then you will most probably grow into the steel shafts. By that I mean that your ability to swing the club faster should improve as you grow physically and learn to swing the club even better.
How about graphite in your 3,4,5 irons and lightweight steel in your scoring clubs. You can swingweight them all the same so you will have a consistent feel through out the entire set and you will get extra help getting the ball in the air with the long irons and extra stability in the scoring clubs. And you save money by not having to put graphite in the entire set. As a beginner the clubs you get now may not suit you as you progress and your swing evolves so keep this in mind when buying a set of irons.
I guess this is what makes horse races. In irons steel is better than graphite all day every day. Indeed graphite has come a long way but it has a longer way to go. Steel is far more stable and consistent. It is also less expensive if you care. Graphite makes sense in the driver because we are willing to sacrifice accuracy for distance. How many Pros (even theLPGA) do you see with graphite shafts in their irons ?
I agree with Matt C. I owned both steel shafted and graphite shafted irons (Callaway BB 06 Graphite and Taylor Made R7 Draw Steel). My club head speed is 75 to 80 mph. I switch to steel to graphite because i gain yards at least 15 to 20 yards more. My 9 iron (graphite) is a 150 club and my 7 iron in steel shafted. So my advice is to try both and see which one is best suited for you.
