Our Best Performing Iron Shafts. Updated for 2018-19.
How We Determine Best Performing Shafts
We fit a LOT of different golfers every year and the shafts we put into their irons (and wedges) is determined by our BGF Fitting System, TrueFitClubs Fitting Wizard and player testing during the fitting. Our fitting recommendations include length of iron, shaft weight, shaft trajectory and spin profile, shaft flex, and swing weight. Loft and lie are determined by launch monitor testing. The recommendations are determined by a golfers physical characteristics (height, weight, wrist crease-to-floor), strength (distance), launch characteristics (actual and desired trajectory, spin, dispersion), and swing dynamics (tempo, transition and release point).
Get a free online fitting now to see which shaft best fits your swing.
When we test in our dynamic fitting sessions, we choose 4-5 shafts that match the BGF Fitting System recommendations, and then test on TrackMan for performance with a head chosen by our fitters and the golfer. Once we determine the best performing shaft, we try different heads to narrow down the selection. When using our TrueFitClubs Fitting Wizard, we rely on our golfers description of their shot shape and desired results.
Bottom line is that these shafts have done the best job of increasing our golfers distance, accuracy and consistency. They are also the best in terms of consistency for our club building team.
Because each golfer has a unique set of performance criteria, lets categorize the best performing shafts by strength of player and show different weight, launch and spin characteristics for each:
The Newest Additions for 2018-19 are in RED
Shaft Weight Trajectory Spin
Strongest Players (6 iron over 200 yards)
True Temper X7 132gr Low Low
Project X LZ Steel 6.5 125gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
Rifle 6.0 and 7.0 125-130gr Mid Mid
OBAN CT 115 115gr Mid Mid
KBS C-Taper X 120gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
KBS $ Taper X 130gr Mid Mid
Nippon Modus 125 125gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
KBS TGI 100, 110 100-110 Low-Mid Low-Mid
Stronger Players (6 iron 175-200 yards)
True Temper TI X100 128gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
True Temper DG 120 120gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
True Temper AMT White 102-130 Low-Mid Low-Mid
OBAN CT 115 115gr Mid Mid
Project X LZ Steel 6.0 120gr Mid Mid
Rifle 5.0 and 6.0 115-125gr Mid Mid
KBS $ Taper S 115gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
Nippon Modus 120 120gr Mid Mid
KBS TGI 90, 95 90-95 Mid Mid
Average Player (6 iron 150-175 yards)
True Temper S300 128 gr Low-Mid Low-Mid
True Temper XP100 105-107gr High High
True Temper Elevate Tour 112-122gr Mid-High Mid-High
OBAN CT 115 115 Mid Mid
OBAN CT 100 100 Mid-High Mid-High
Project X LZ Steel 5.5 115gr Mid Mid
KBS C-Taper Lite S 110 Mid-High Mid-High
Nippon Modus 105 105 Mid Mid
Project X Catalyst 80 85 Low-Mid Low-Mid
Aerotech SteeFiber i90 FC 90gr Variable Variable
OBAN i83 and i93 83-93gr Mid-High Mid-High
KBS TGI 80, 90 80-90 Mid Mid
ACCRA i80 and i90 85-95gr Mid Mid
Nova Tech i800 80-90 Mid Mid
UST Recoil 780 ES 80-85gr Mid-High Mid-High
Slower Swing Speeds (6 iron 110-150 yards)
Fujikura Pro 70-80gr Mid-High Mid-High
UST Recoil 760 ES 60-75gr Mid-High Mid-High
Aerotech SteelFiber i70 70-75gr Mid-High Mid-High
KBS TGI 50, 60. 70 50-70gr Mid-High Mid-High
Project X Catalyst 57-68gr Mid-High Mid-High
True Temper Elevate 95 96-98gr Mid-High Mid-High
Nova Tech i700 70-75gr Mid-High Mid-High
Veylix 473, 673 50-65gr Mid-High Mid-High
Shafts That Made the Cut In 2018
We profile over 2,500 unique shafts each year for our shaft profiling system. The hot new shafts we saw coming on the scene in 2018 include the lightweight steel options from True Temper: Dynamic Gold 105, Dynamic Gold 120 and XP 100, The True Temper AMT White, AMT Red and AMT Black Series, Elevate and the OBAN CT 100. What is unique here is that we have seen the ultralite steel shafts (under 100 grams) almost disappear from the OEM and aftermarket categories as the performance has not been that great. That is, IMO, because the shafts play so weak to their designated flex that the golfers playing them get poor consistency and distance control.
What we have seen, however, is a trend to heavier graphite shafts (95 to 115 grams) to compete with steel shafts. KBS TGI, UST Mamiya Recoil, ACCRA , Mitsubishi Chemical Golf, and Fujikura are hot after this market. Learn More Here...
Get a free online fitting now to see which shaft best fits your swing.
There will be a number of new shafts coming in 2019 from Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical, UST Mamiya, KBS Shafts and others. As always, we test and categorize these shafts in our shaft profiling system so we can literally choose multiple shaft options in various price categories for our customers. To see what shafts may work for you, go to our TrueFitClubs site and go through our Fitting Wizard!
Shafts We May Have Missed
We have been in the business for 22 years and have seen a lot of shaft companies come and go. We may be missing some very good companies but be assured they are on our radar for testing! Notably missing this year are Paderson, VA Shafts and LA Golf Partners. Watch for our reviews in coming months.
Dan Sueltz