When comparing heavier vs lighter golf iron shafts, it’s common to get confused. Golfers will want to know the pros and cons of each option before figuring out which type of golf iron shaft is best for them.
If you are in this position, you will want to dive deeper into understanding the difference between a heavy and a light golf iron shaft.
Knowing these differences is key when comparing heavy vs light iron shafts.
Heavy iron shafts in golf tend to be shorter, more accurate, and produce better contact. In comparison, a lighter iron shaft offers increased spin, more speed, and improved ball flight. Both types of iron shafts work well depending on a golfer’s technique and preferences.
The best thing a golfer can do is take the time to better understand what can be done to optimize their game.
Focus on the intricacies of your golfing technique and what type of golf iron shaft is best for your needs.
This guide will help highlight the differences between heavy vs light iron shafts.
What Is A Heavy Shaft In Golf?
A heavy iron shaft is designed to be shorter than a lighter iron shaft. It tends to weigh over 120g with some being as heavy as 130g. This type of golf iron shaft offers added accuracy, less spin, but also reduces the amount of golf swing speed that’s generated.
What Is A Light Shaft In Golf?
A light iron shaft is categorized as anything that weighs under 90g. This type of golf iron shaft is longer, offers considerable speed benefits, and also increases the amount of ball spin generated upon landing.
Types of Golf Iron Shafts
1. Graphite Shafts
When it comes to lightweight golf iron shafts, they are commonly made of a material called graphite. This is a refined material that is easy to mold and allows manufacturers to add more flex to the shaft.
This is useful for golfers wanted added speed and spin to their shots.
The benefits of graphite iron shafts include reduced weight, better feeling in the hands, and increased speed on all golf shots.
When it comes to lighter golf iron shafts, this is one of the premium options golfers prefer to go with.
2. Steel Shafts
Steel golf iron shafts are quite common among pro golfers. Professional golfers prefer going with this type of golf iron shaft because it’s easier to control and offers a more accurate performance.
Steel iron shafts are appreciated for having a wide array of benefits.
The benefits of steel golf iron shafts included increased accuracy, less torque, and increased durability making them a better investment.
This is why amateur golfers also lean towards steel shafts because they are not as pricey as graphite shafts.
Benefits Of A Heavy Shaft
1. Accurate
When looking at heavyweight iron shafts, it’s important to focus on the impact this type of iron shaft has on a golfer’s game.
The reason some golfers prefer a heavier golf iron shaft comes down to accuracy.
It’s a lot easier to get the ball to go in a straight line and toward the intended target with the help of a heavier iron shaft.
When a material such as graphite is used, it makes things a tad lighter than desired for some golfers. This causes the golf swing speed to become clumsy or out of control.
2. Helps Those With Stronger Golf Swings
Pro golfers have high swing speeds.
This allows them to use golf iron shafts that amateurs might not find as easy to manage. This is where heavy iron shafts are useful.
With the help of a heavy golf iron shaft, it’s possible to optimize a higher swing speed. This is due to it being far more accurate despite the increase in power from the golf swing.
For those who want to not only hit the golf ball far but also make sure it lands where it needs to be, a heavier golf iron shaft does make a tangible difference.
While some professional golfers go with lighter golf iron shafts, many still prefer to stick to the steel iron shafts because of the heavyweight profile.
Cons Of A Heavy Shaft
1. Less Spin
It’s important to note that choosing the right golf iron shaft can also come down to the disadvantages at play.
One of the disadvantages of heavy golf iron shafts includes not working as well on the green.
This is due to the lack of spin.
In some situations, a golfer is going to want to produce extra spin and that is not going to be easy with a heavy iron shaft in golf.
Iron shaft weight swing speed metrics need to be taken into account. You are not going to generate the same amount of spin with this regardless of your golf swing speed and that can be a problem.
2. Less Swing Speed
A heavy golf shaft is going to reduce how much swing speed is generated by the golf club.
This is a concern for those who want to find the right golf club for their needs.
It is simply going to be heavier as it will be over 120g.
This means it is not as easy to generate the same amount of force as you could with a lighter golf iron shaft.
Professional golfers compensate for this with a naturally higher golf swing speed. This is key in your search for a good golf iron shaft.
Benefits Of A Light Shaft
1. Increased Golf Swing Speed
When it comes to the advantages of a light golf iron shaft, it’s important to start with the amount of force that’s generated by the shaft.
It is going to be quite faster than anything else that is out there.
For example, you are going to get more power out of the golf swing as soon as the ball is hit. This is beneficial for those who want to make sure they are getting the ball to where it needs to be.
While it does make it harder to get the ball to be accurate, the lighter golf iron shaft does help with distance.
2. More Spin
When looking at golf shaft weight, it’s also essential to consider the amount of spin being generated on the green.
For the most part, a light iron shaft is going to produce more spin.
This is due to how the ball comes off of the golf club upon impact. This makes it easier to produce additional spin when required and that is not always possible with a heavier golf iron shaft.
Being able to produce more spin ensures the ball gets to where it needs to be even when a bit of spin is required.
Cons Of A Light Shaft
1. Less Control
When looking at lighter golf clubs, it is important to consider the amount of control you are going to get on a golf shot.
It is not going to be as easy with a graphite iron shaft.
It is simply not going to be easy to control, which is not always a problem for the professionals. Pro golfers will not mind going with a lighter golf iron shaft because they have refined techniques.
This ensures they can swing the lighter golf iron shaft and make sure the ball lands where it needs to.
2. Too Much Flight
When looking at the negatives of light iron shafts, the shaft weight can end up increasing the amount of ball flight that’s generated.
This is not always good.
This can cause the ball to rise too much and become erratic. It will also create a situation where the ball can get caught in the wind and begin swaying when it shouldn’t.
Some golfers don’t like this increased ball flight as it makes their game less refined. Other golfers don’t mind this negative because they have a technique that is already properly tuned in managing ball flight.
Heavy Vs Light Iron Shafts – Which Shaft Is Best For You?
You should choose a heavy shaft when…
- You require more control over your golf shots
- Spin is not a big part of your game
- You desire a golf club that will last a long time
You should choose a light shaft when…
- You desire increased swing speed with the help of the shaft
- You require more spin in your game
- Your technique is already refined
These are important details when looking at the differences between a light and heavy golf iron shaft. You have to be aware of how you are going to use the golf club and how it will work out for your performance.
Some golf iron shafts will work and others will not.
The right answer is the one that works for you.
How To Choose Shaft Based On Situations
Should you play with lighter iron shafts?
When going through a golf iron shaft test, you need to know what your golfing requirements are. This includes a technical understanding of your game and how you are going to use the golf club.
For example, are you known for being erratic with your shots?
In this case, it might make sense to go with a golf club that is going to be heavier. It will make it easier to be accurate. This is when a steel iron shaft is good.
On the other hand, you might want a bit of spin on the green. If that is the case, you will want to go with a lighter iron shaft such as graphite because it will add more spin to your shot.
What Happens If Your Iron Shafts Are Too Heavy?
If an iron shaft is too heavy, this will make it hard to generate enough force. This reduction in swing speed is going to make it harder to hit the ball far. It is also going to be difficult to manage any type of spin with an overweight golf shaft.
When a golf iron shaft is too heavy, it’s best to look for an alternative that is easier to manage.
Anything that is over 130g is simply not good enough.
What Happens If Iron Shafts Are Too Light?
If an iron shaft is too light, it is going to become increasingly erratic. The golf swing speed is going to be too much and it will become difficult to rein in your technique. The ball will also get stuck in the air due to increased ball flight and it is also possible the ball will begin spinning excessively.
It is important to look at symptoms for a golf shaft that is too light such as the ones mentioned above.
This will let you know when the golf shaft is too light and should be replaced.
Why Do Pros Use Heavy Shafts?
Pros use heavy golf shafts because they enjoy the added control. Since the average professional golfer has a 100+ MPH golf swing speed, they can generate most of the necessary force manually. Therefore, the added accuracy of a heavy golf shaft is beneficial to them.
Of course, this is not always the case among golfers.
Some pro golfers are leaning towards using graphite golf shafts. These golf shafts are made of graphite and tend to be light.
A light golf shaft is just as effective it matches a golfer’s technique to a tee.
Will A Heavier Shaft Help A Slice?
A heavier golf shaft is going to limit how much the ball is sliced. This is due to the overall weight of the golf shaft and how the ball moves upon impact. Most golfers state the ball goes straight with reduced spin when hit using a heavy golf shaft.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to go through these details as you compare heavy vs light iron shafts.
A heavy iron shaft is commonly made of steel, weighs around 120g, and offers increased accuracy for golfers. In comparison, a light iron shaft is made of graphite, weighs under 90g, and offers more spin.
Choosing the right golf shaft comes down to personal preference and technical details such as your golf swing speed.
When buying the right golf club, you will want to go through each detail. This is the same when you are purchasing golf balls or looking at finding the right golf tee.
