The Best Iron Shafts - 2019-20

The Best Iron Shafts - 2019-20

By DanSueltz May 29th, 2020

We fit a LOT of different golfers every year.  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).

Use our Fitting Wizard to find out what  shaft works best for you!

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.  

Not on this list but under evaluation are other iron shafts from Fujikura, Paderson, Mitsubishi Chemical Golf, and UST Mamiya.  Others will be evaluated and added to the list as they are released and tested.

Because each golfer has a unique set of performance criteria, let's categorize the best performing shafts by strength of player and show different weight, launch and spin characteristics for each:

The Newest Additions for 2019-20 are in RED

Shaft                                 Weight            Trajectory      Spin


Strongest Players (6 iron over 200 yards)

True Temper X7             132gr                    Low             Low

Project X LS                     120-130            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-125                125gr                      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 130      121 - 129gr        Low-Mid      Low-Mid

Nippon Modus 125       127 - 129gr        Low-Mid       Low-Mid

KBS TGI 100, 110          100-110             Low-Mid       Low-Mid

Use our Fitting Wizard to find out what  shaft works best for you!


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 I/O                    105-115gr          Variable         Variable

Project X LZ Steel 6.0    120gr                   Mid                  Mid

True Temper ELEVATE Tour   115-120gr        Mid-High    Mid-High

True Temper ELEVATE 105    105- 110gr        Mid-High    Mid-High

Project X Catalyst 100CW  100gr   Low-Mid          Low-Mid

Rifle 5.0 and 6.0           115-125gr               Mid                  Mid

KBS $ Taper S                 115gr                     Mid                  Mid

Nippon Modus 120         111 -126gr                   Mid                  Mid

KBS TGI 90, 95               90-95            Mid                    Mid

Xcaliber 95                         96                    Mid                    Mid

Use our Fitting Wizard to find out what  shaft works best for you!


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 95    95-97gr        High                  High

OBAN CT 115                   115                      Mid                     Mid

OBAN CT 100                  100                   Mid-High           Mid-High

Project X I/O                    105-115gr          Variable         Variable

Project X LZ Steel 5.5    115gr              Mid                  Mid

Project X LZ Steel 5.0   110gr              Mid                  Mid

KBS C-Taper Lite           110                     Mid-High          Mid-High

KBS $-Taper Lite      95-110             Mid-High          Mid-High

Xcaliber 95                         96                    Mid                    Mid

Nippon Modus 105         105                     Mid                      Mid

Project X Catalyst 80CW  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

MCA C6 80                     80-89                Mid-High             Mid-High

Nova Tech i800             80-90                 Mid                      Mid

UST Recoil 780 ES        80-85gr             Mid-High          Mid-High

Xcaliber 75                         76                    Mid                    Mid

Use our Fitting Wizard to find out what  shaft works best for you!


Slower Swing Speeds (6 iron 110-150 yards)

Fujikura Pro                   70-80gr              Mid-High          Mid-High

Xcaliber 75                         76                    Mid                    Mid

UST Recoil 760 ES    60-75gr              Mid-High          Mid-High

Aerotech SteelFiber i70FC  70-75gr             Mid-High          Mid-High

KBS TGI 50, 60. 70        50-70gr              Mid-High         Mid-High

MCA C6 40,50,60,70   45-75gr             Mid-High             Mid-High

Project X Catalyst 40,50,60           57-68gr             Mid-High          Mid-High

Nova Tech  i700              70-75gr              Mid-High          Mid-High

Veylix 473, 673                50-65gr             Mid-High           Mid-High

Use our Fitting Wizard to find out what  shaft works best for you!

Shafts That Made the Cut in 2020

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 2020 include the heavier steel OBAN CT-125  and  mid-weight steel True Temper ELEVATE 105.   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.

Use our Fitting Wizard to find out what  shaft works best for you!

There will be a number of new shafts coming yet in 2020 from Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical, UST Mamiya, 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. 

Dan Sueltz

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