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Hello to all from a new member! Here's my background: I am 51.5 years old, 6'4" 215 lbs, in decent shape, had successful disk surgery in 1995 and returned to golf in 2005 after a 15 year absence.

I am a consistent 30 handicapper, who hits drives about 240 yards (total carry) with 95 mph swing speed / 7 iron about 140 yards with 65-75 mph swing / 6 iron about 150 yards with 75-80 mph swing speed.

Every once in awhile I'll get off a monster shot such as 270 yard drive, or a 175 yard 6 iron. If I ride in a cart, I can easily play 3 rounds in 4 days. If I walk the course and pull my clubs, I am very stiff after the round and the next day.

I had been playing Tour Edge HP-3 steel irons (1 inch over, 2 degrees upright, stiff flex) and recently went for a fitting in which the pro suggested graphite Callaway X-18 (stiff flex). I tried the club and it feels good, but the steel X-18 feels good too. The clubfitter's rationale is that the graphites will be less stressful on my back, and given my skill level, age, are the right choice. My buddies at work tell me that I have a strong swing and should stay with steel.

Can I please have some opinions on this from you all who know much more than I do? Will using graphites actually make my lower back feel less stressed after 18 rounds? Will I lose what little consistency I have? Will I gain much distance? Should I get custom shafts, like lightweight steel?

In other words...what should I do? My goal is to golf 3 times per week this year and try to break 100. Thanks to everyone for reading this long post.

Ken

Graphite definatly absorbs more impact. One of the biggest misnomers is that graphite shafts are for weak or slow swingers, Daly uses graphite in his woods, so do all the long drive guys, what does that tell you. Graphite has come a long long way and is almost as consistant as steel, you may gain some yardage, you certainly shouldn't loose any. Another alternative to stell is Rifle which are steel or Sensicore, which ares teel also, they absob a lot too. I had medication induced arthralgia in my wrists and elbows and i switched to rifle shafts and could play 7 days a week with out a problem.

One of the common things that I continue to hear from teachers that I know, as well as reputable clubmakers in the area, is that there are too many golfers swinging too stiff of a shaft.

I have a friend who is in great shape, is 55 years old, but only gets driver about 85 mph on the swing speed clock. He insists that he should be playing firm STEEL shafts in his irons... (scratching head)

He has an aggressive swing with driver, so I can partially understand why he might want a stiffer flex in graphite with that club. But even that is debateable. However, he doesn't have enough swing speed to even load a stiff steel shaft iron. I'm sure it has to feel like he's swinging a 4x4 post....

I've been entertaining the thought of getting new irons myself. I was likewise looking at Cally irons. Last week I had someone behind a counter at a retail outlet inform me that I needed a stiff steel flex "just by looking at me." I put the club down and walked out of the store. That guy has no business selling golf clubs, but then again he's not the owner and just makes $7/hr and doesn't know very much about golf.

I would think that based on your swing speed descriptions, you would definitely benefit with going from steel to firm graphite in the irons. But I wouldn't force them on you without first suggesting you get custom fit for them.

Swings change over time. Some of us get less flexible as we get older, and our stress thresholds change with nagging injuries that suddenly pop up from out of nowhere. Regardless of whether or not your last set was custom fit, that might've been 5 years ago.... It's always wise to get the clubs fit for you with each new set. Otherwise, it's kinda defeating the whole purpose for buying a new set of sticks.

Good luck.

Thanks...I pull a pull cart when I play, and the thing that bothers me the next day is general stiffness in my lower back. Not horrible, but could not play a round of golf, thats for sure.

My old irons (Tour Edge HP3) weighed 110g. The X18 graphite weigh 85g. I am also considering switching to X18 steel with either uniflex (112g) or True Temper TX90 (107g).

The graphite is "mid" torque, the uniflex / TX90 is "low" torque. What does this mean to me?

Maybe I am thinking too much about this and should just go with the 85g graphites.

Ken, the torque rating is how much the shaft actually twists during the swing and at impact. If you hold the head of the club in one hand, the grip in the other, and make a slight effort to twist the club, that is torque, that's what they're referring to. As far as whether or not this will have a huge impact on your swing, I couldn't say. If it's something that concerns you, you might talk with a clubfitter.

Generally speaking, 'swingers' can handle a mid-torque shaft. "Hitters" on the other hand might benefit from a low torque shaft. It's not just about swing speed, but how hard you swing and the effects thereof as well.

If you are prone to hitting toe or heel shots with the irons, it might not be a bad idea to go with the lower torque. Otherwise, if you hit a reasonable ball in the sweet spot most of the time, I really don't see the torque having a make-or-break impact.

But don't take my word for it. Go to the clubbuilding forum and ask some guys who know their stuff. They will steer you in the right direction.

Thanks, I plan to visit another pro tomorrow and discuss my stats and get his opinion...