Equipment
The future of iron shafts is graphite
For me, the process to accept the superiority of graphite has not been easy. Like many GolfWRX readers, I grew up with a clear goal—become an elite player. A rite of passage on this journey, was when you finally had enough speed to get True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts in your blade irons.
I remember the day well. I also remember not having much difference in performance after making the change. Instead, the only real difference I experience was a lack of feel (which many describe as “boardiness”).
I was a victim of a bogus narrative, but as I have gotten older, I have also gotten smarter. I have awoken to the truth in 2020: Steel is good, but graphite shafts are the future of golf, especially for irons for the average player.
Let me explain. To understand why graphite is becoming a superior option, you must understand two important inputs of the design and manufacturing of shafts. The first is taper and the second is the thickness of the walls of the shafts. Together these factors combine to influence everything we think we love about steel. However, they are also extremely fixed; you cannot do a lot with the material. That is simply not true for graphite. Instead, graphite gives shaft manufacturers options. Options can result in way better performance for you.
So, what does this mean for you?
Let me share my own experience which started a couple of months ago when I learned that I would be moving from Florida to Denver. I was excited for the change of pace but quickly had questions—how would this impact my set makeup? With some questions in mind, I reached out to an old friend, Gawain Robertson of ACCRA (True Temper). I wanted to know how I could take advantage of the altitude and become the inner bomber I always knew I was!
With Gawain’s expertise, we developed a profile for the shaft that I wanted: something about 85 grams, 3.0 degrees of torque, and higher spin to go with a set of PXG 0211 iron heads. The intent was to create a combination, which was going to be easy to have max peak apex with lower spin, resulting more distance.
So, a set was built: 0211’s with custom ACCRA graphite shafts, 1/2 inch long, 2 degrees flat with Golf Pride New Decade MCC Grips.
As soon as I got to Denver, I was excited to test. I got a bucket, set up my FlightScope and started to smash 6-irons (Bugattis do not need to warm-up). The results? Over 15 shots my numbers where what I wanted, my smash stayed at an average of 1.39 but my peak apex went up from 28 to 33, my clubhead speed up from 86 to 89 mph, but my spin was about the same, hovering around 6,000 RPM, or in plain language 200-yard high, long 6-irons.
Graphite shaft technology is only going to improve, and we are, to use a ball flight term, far from the apex. I believe the future of iron shafts, in general, will be graphite—I know that, in my particular case, I’ll never see the glimmer of steel when I stand over an iron shot again.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Speedy
Sep 14, 2020 at 11:39 am
Niche. Makes sense for a few amateur cases (seniors, ladies, injuries, etc.). Most need steel.
I’d prefer hickory to graphite for irons, but that ain’t gonna happen. Steel rules.
John
Nov 2, 2020 at 12:29 pm
This has to be one of the most ignorant, clueles and un-informed comments iver ever read on the subject of shafts. Im guessing you are a high handicapper with a scratch mouth.
Rubbish.
Gerry Teigrob
Apr 5, 2021 at 12:03 am
I don’t need steel. I need confidence in my game. Steel doesn’t do that for me!
Craig
Aug 18, 2020 at 3:25 pm
I like the thought of graphite shafts in the irons, I always run into issues with the wedges, either the exact shaft isn’t an option, or the steel options are too light.
Matt Brown
Aug 17, 2020 at 4:54 pm
With having wrist surgery, I just switched to graphite shafts for irons and wedges, to give my joints a break. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t put these in play. Golf is bad enough on the body, might as well take any advantage you can.
ht
Aug 17, 2020 at 4:26 pm
For a guy with 110-115 mph driver swing (think it’s like 90-94 mph with a 6-7 iron) that wants to tinker, what would someone recommend? Need x-100 specs. Low low
BT
Aug 19, 2020 at 12:57 pm
Recoil Proto 125 F5 OR Steelfiber i125CW S or X.
Jesse
Aug 25, 2020 at 11:20 am
I recently switched to graphite (Fuji Pro 115 TS) after back surgery and couldn’t be happier, once you get over the ego issue (which you will have) they are superior to steel in every way.
geohogan
Aug 25, 2020 at 2:58 pm
Nunchuk Xi, 100 gram shaft, with stiffest tip possible.
Bob Pegram
Aug 17, 2020 at 3:23 pm
The specs of graphite shafts can vary a lot more than the specs of steel shafts – bend point, weight distribution, amount of torque, total weight, etc. That is intentional. That makes using a good club fitter with FlightScope, Trackman, etc. more important. I used Dynalite Gold X-100 shafts on blades for a long time. They worked great, but somebody stole my clubs. I eventually found the same heads on Ebay, but they had Dynamic Gold S400 shafts – too heavy. My distances shrank. I switched to X-flex graphite shafts and got my distances back. They also mute the shock of impact. I now use longer length irons (+1.5 inches) with forged cavity back heads. Without graphite they would be way too heavy. They work great. The longer lengths take the stress off my old inflexible back. I hit the ball the same distances I did with the Dynalite shafts 20 years ago.
Trevino
Aug 16, 2020 at 5:09 pm
The future of golf is $65 a shaft.
Ben Hogan
Aug 17, 2020 at 10:29 am
And $400 putter shafts
Sam
Aug 16, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Then why don’t the pros use graphite shafts in their irons.
This is the beauty of golf. What works for one won’t work for everyone else.
I’ve tried my dad’s graphite shafted irons and just nope.
Steel for me untill I’m older probably. Each to their own.
Also, 200 yard 6 iron, that sounds like taking the fun pit of golf.
Reid Thompson
Aug 17, 2020 at 8:46 am
Re : Pros – Its going to take some some time for generatiosn to grow up with it. If a guy has 30 years of success with an x100, there is a mental component too. Its very expensive to put a graphite shaft set in a kid’s set.
Dads Graphite – These are potentially not your dad’s graphite. The progress made in just the last couple years is insane. The strength to weight ratio and consistency of graphite vs steel is a joke. There’s no comparison and graphite allows you to put weight where you want it. For a price.
Bob Pegram
Aug 17, 2020 at 3:27 pm
A few touring pros do use graphite shafts in their irons – Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, sometimes others.
Eric
Aug 19, 2020 at 8:41 am
Abraham Ancer
MIKE
Sep 4, 2020 at 11:24 am
Look at some of the pro’s longer (& driving) irons, more are graphite than you think. Every hybrid I’ve seen on the PGA/LPGA & Champions tour is graphite. The quality of graphite shafts has changed dramatically over the past decade. I never thought I’d go graphite but except for my SW & LW, I’m all in now.
Gerry Teigrob
Apr 5, 2021 at 12:06 am
Actually Rickie Fowler, Bryson deChambleau, Matt Kuchar among others play graphite shafts. Checked what’s in their golf bag lately?
JRube
Aug 16, 2020 at 9:25 am
You’re also hitting a ball in the mile high air of Denver versus Florida….
Matt
Aug 16, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Next article “low density air is the future of golf”
Stay puft
Aug 16, 2020 at 5:07 am
So why have we always seen graphite costing so much more? This isn’t new. This conversation is at least 30 years old! One question mark I’d have and maybe this is more relevant to a better player is weight. I’d have thought steel shafts can get to a heavier weight without as much engineering naturally. So for players that need a stiffer and heavier shaft, perhaps this is why steel is still in use after this talk track for the last 20-30 years.it doesn’t need thick walls to get to weight and what’s the impact of having thicker walls in shafts for an iron? What differences do you feel or see in performance. Graphite in irons hasn’t caught on for a reason. It’s likely down to more than a single factor like cost or weight, torque or feel. Whatever it is, I don’t see it happening anytime soon.
geohogan
Aug 25, 2020 at 6:02 pm
A heavier (100 gram), stiffer graphite shaft is found in Nunchuk for woods and irons.
The butt is made stiffer with thicker wall, which also counter balances the shaft
just as hickory shafts were naturally counterbalanced.
RGoulart
Aug 15, 2020 at 2:49 pm
From a technology standpoint I can see how graphite is, even now, better than steel. OEMs are able to achieve with much higher accuracy the profile a player needs. However, cost is “steel” a major factor when making a purchase. I am sure OEMs will figure out a way to make them cheaper in the long term, but at the moment I cannot see it being adopted by the average golfer.
Bib
Aug 15, 2020 at 9:47 pm
A graphite shaft costs a manufacturer like 6 bucks to make .steel is something like a dollar. How much cheaper does it need to be?
Mike
Aug 16, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Not sure if I’m getting the gist of the comment, but in the last two iron sets I purchased, graphite OEM stock shafts were $10 more each. I bought six irons both times, That’s 60 bucks more each purchase. That $60 was irrelevant to me in terms of buying a new set of irons