Steel or graphite?

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

When I started playing a few months ago, I bought myself a few irons on e-bay, to see if I actually liked playing.

Now that I'm hooked, I'm ready for a full set of irons.
I have a 7i with a steel shaft, and a 3, and a 6 iron with graphite shafts.

Also a sw and a lw with steel shafts.

At first I was feeling more comfortable with the graphite shafts, but lately since I took a few lessons, and begining to understand how to swing, and trying to apply this knowladge, I'm finding that I am hitting somewhat better with my steel shafted iron.

Is there a reason for this,?
For my new set of irons, I am now leaning towards the steel shafted ones.

However, my favorite club to hit with , still is the Ben Hogan Apex 6 iron, with the graphite shaft.

 

[SilverUberXeno]

Steel and graphite shafts BOTH come in different flexes; varying flexes may be why you're hitting some irons better than others, if they're not the same.

As for the question; it's totally preference. Steel is generally more accurate, while graphite is most often much lighter, and allows a bit more clubhead speed. You can still be accurate with graphite, and still be long with steel, but there's just maybe a tiny margin of betterness in those respects.

Either way, you should probably get on a launch monitor to have your swing speed checked. I prefer graphite shafts personally, but I know a lot of people on the board here prefer steel, too.

Graphite is generally more expensive, also.

 

[MCDavis]

I played steel in my first set (late 70's, no choice), then played graphite bubbles in my 2nd set. I went back to steel for my MX-23's and had my 2nd set re-shafted with steel, both sets having lighter shafts. I prefer the steel...just feels better to me in my irons.

You should pick a clubhead you like the best, then get a demo 6 iron of it with the stock steel and stock graphite shafts in the same flex. Then, hit them on the range. Whichever one you have the most confidence in, buy.