Lyle-question

[dave.]

Why are iron shafts different lengths? is it to balance swingweight as the heads get bigger and the tips need more trimming?

why can't you technically have a set of irons all with the same length shaft?

[ManchesterGolfer]

If they were all the same length the distance gap from iron to iron would be less wouldn't it? So PW would go 180 3 iron 210 and everything else in between?

[charnockpro]

Tommy Armour tried it years ago with the EQL irons and woods, it didnt work.

[LyleG]

You can still buy constant length components today. They get excellent reviews, but for many would create a mental block that would be unfixable.

The 1/2 difference in shaft length allows the shafts to remain at the same stiffness as the weight of the iron heads increases at they get higher in loft.
Iron heads are 7g apart in weight. Why? I have no idea.
As for length affecting distance. Distance is about 85% the result of loft. You would hit a 35 inch PW and a 38 inch PW nearly identical distances.

[Pa Jayhawk]

If they were all the same length the distance gap from iron to iron would be less wouldn't it? So PW would go 180 3 iron 210 and everything else in between?

Obviously the case, but probably not to that degree. Only because I started reading the Wishon book, and saw it last night do I know how much. He indicated that about 80% of the distance gap is in relation to the loft, and about 20% is in relation to the staggering of the shaft lengths. Makes sense to me/

I guess you could accomplish the same thing with a same length shaft and staggering the lofts by maybe an extra degree or less.

[Pa Jayhawk]

On another semi related note, again only in question due to recent events and the fact I am now convinced I will be buying the MP60 5-PW to start the season, or after I get a couple rounds in to make sure my swing is intact to get fitted. I am looking at likely getting the Nippon 950, or Flighted Rifle shafts. I have a pretty good idea the characteristics of each, although I am yet to hit a club with the flighted rifles to see how they feel.

On the Nippon, one of the advertising points is the "constant weighting"(same weight for each club) throughout the clubs. I understand this is likely done for feel. Does anyone know the impact this would have on the distances and ball flights as you go through the clubs? I would only imagine it may have a slightly similar effect as the staggered length, but not to the same degree just in the sense of tempo and speed?

[warbirdlover]

I am now convinced I will be buying the MP60 5-PW to start the season

Pa Jayhawk

Going from Ping i3's to MP60's? You'll be sorry!! (JK :laugh: ) :laugh:

[Pa Jayhawk]

Going from Ping i3's to MP60's? You'll be sorry!! (JK :laugh: ) :laugh:

That may possibly be the case if I had the i5's, or even the i3+ blades. With the offset on the i3+, I can't wait to get the things out of my bag, and don't want to waste the first part of a season trying to decide if it is the right thing to do. I have been questioning the club for the last 2 years, time to pull the trigger. Plus I think the way my game improved in the last 3 months of last year, the MP60's better fit my ability than they did a year ago.

Something else the clubmaker I talked to yesterday mentioned was that you can bend the club to eliminate some of the offset. I may check a little more into this, but that just sounds like something I would like to stay away from. It would likely just give me something else to question as far as confidence goes.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Another thought on this would be the consistency you would give up with your 7 or 8 through PW, as I would imagine you would be adding length to them to accommodate this. Where as it may allow me to hit clubs like a 4i, as they would likely be shorter. Not that I would ever be willing to give up my 4i/R Baffler.