Rifle Shaft Question

Question
I have been using Rifle shafts for years now and have been very happy with them. I am also 52 years old, a 3.0 handicap, and I notice that I am starting to lose some flexibility and distance. I am looking to order a new set of Mizuno irons within the next couple weeks, and I would appreciate your technical opinions and responses to my inquiries below. I understand that you have not seen me swing a club so I am looking for a discussion from your standpoint based on design and performance characteristics, etc., and your experiences in dealing with both tour players and amateurs.



I currently use the Flighted Rifle shafts. I noted on your web site that you have the Rifle Project X shafts and also a Flighted Rifle Project X shafts. I would appreciate your explaining the differences between these three models from a performance standpoint. In particular, which shaft would give me the best performance from a standpoint of ball flight, consistency, feedback, etc.
Can you explain the technical and performance differences between the 5.0 and 5.5 frequencies in each of the above shafts?
In your opinion, would I gain swing speed and distance by switching to a 5.0 shaft?
In your opinion, would I lose anything by choosing a 5.0 shaft vs. a 5.5 shaft? (Note: My 6 iron swing speed is between 75 and 80 MPH and my 6 iron carry distance on the course is between 160 and 170 yards, depending on conditions. Also, note that I am looking to produce more distance with my irons, high trajectory with my long and mid irons [2 through 6 irons], and mid/high trajectory with my scoring irons [7 through PW], without sacrificing control and consistency.).


I am also interested in trying the Rifle Spinner Wedge Shaft in my Gap and Sand wedges. Can you give me some particulars of the design characteristics and performance specifications of this shaft? Since I am now playing Rifle shafts, would it make sense to use this wedge shaft to be consistent throughout my set? What would you say are the main differences between this shaft and the True temper Dynamic Gold Wedge Shaft?



As always, your assistance and cooperation is appreciated. Thanks for your consideration.





Michael J. Gross

Princeton, NJ  

Answer
Hi Michael,

The 5.0 and 5.5 values are related to the frequency with which the shaft will freely vibrate when held at it's grip end. The purpose of having the same frequency for each club is so each club will "feel" similar. It's another way of "swing weighting" the clubs, except it's more precise.

A shaft which vibrates faster than another is more "stiff." Small differences in stiffness won't yield significant differences in clubhead speed or trajectory.

My feeling is you should swing a club that feels right for your swing, not too whippy and not too stiff. This depends on the tempo of your swing and the mechanics of your swing.

I wouldn't worry about trying to get a shaft that gives you a little more distance. That's where the different clubs and their lofts come in. Good shotmaking is not about hitting a particular club as far as possible. It's about being precise and consistent.

Putting a similar shaft into your wedge could make it feel closer to your other clubs, but only on full shots. I myself use my wedge for various distances and often choke down on the shaft. This changes the frequency of the club right away.

If you truly want to swing a set of clubs that all "feel" the same, you need a set that are all of the same length and weight. This is the type of iron set that I use. The difference in iron distance is dependent on the loft of the club, not the length of the club.

Read more about this concept here:
http://probablegolfinstruction.com/PGINewsletter/news02-05-07.html

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Ken Tannar