Now that I'm an old(er) fart, I no longer have the desire to crank like hell on every shot. I play most of my shafts fairly soft, but still lean toward a stiffer shaft in the woods -- pretty stiff in the driver, less so in the fairway woods -- so that I don't have to get so damned fancy with timing the hands.
IMHO, an aggressive, low hdcp golfer can probably get a lot of good out of an X set, but I just don't have the motivation anymore.
OTOH, my dad is 79, has lost most of both his timing and strength, and still absolutely insists on shafting everything with S300 or X100 at standard lengths. Says he can't maintain control over anything softer. He actually told me the other day that he'd play 2x4s if he could get them down to a D2. As a test, I have occasionally built him softer shafted fairways and utility woods. When he catches them right, he gets excellent distance and decent control. When he's not on top of his timing, though, he's erratic in distance and direction. Once the clubs are reshafted with his customary boards, he's right back to his consistent but short game.
Maybe there's something to it.
BTW, the old man was scratch for nearly 30 years, so he's pretty savvy about what works right and feels right for him. I trust his opinion.
Burgess
At 07:37 PM 11/6/02, you wrote:
I talked to a guy today that told me he has a 110 mph swing, likes reg irons and X flex shafts. Said he feels he gets more roll and total distance (maybe a little less carry) and hits it a lot straighter. Has anyone had any experience (and luck) going "over their heads" with super stiff X flex shafts. I usually hit a firm or soft S with my 100 mph boney arm/beer belly swing. Have been trying some R flex irons this summer and like the feel. Of course I've got an X flex shaft drying as we speak, just wonder if others have experimented with this.
It's was also about 38 degrees, cloudy and totally depressing today, looking for any excuse to pretend it's still golf weather.
Did stop by Arnie's again today and watched the master save and reuse just about every part of a reshaft job including the grip, Callaway o-ring, and shaft bore thru plug. Just takes a second or two and he pops off the old o-ring and bore thru plug, blows off the grip, cleans it in his handy dandy cleaner/brush gizmo, and you've got the ultimate recycled golf club.
He also tried to get me to grab the hot torched clubhead bare handed and I stopped just in time.
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Thanks!
John Muir
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