Do Tour players use steel shafts?
Noah Mitchell
Published Jan 18, 2026
Steel iron shafts still dominate the PGA Tour. The best ball strikers, like Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris, and Justin Thomas, play steel in their irons.
Do pros use steel shafts?
As discussed previously, most professional players use steel shafts in their irons because of their consistency. Accuracy with irons is key for pro players. When it comes to driver shaft and fairway wood selection, graphite is often the shaft of choice, even for pros.
Do Tour players use steel or graphite shafts?
Graphite iron shafts have been used by PGA TOUR professionals for decades including FedExCup Champion Brandt Snedeker and US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau. There's also a third option in iron shafts which may eventually fall into the “best of both worlds” category.
Do any tour players use regular shafts?
Kramer's 2006 “Golf Magazine” article cites a survey showing that just 2 percent of PGA Tour players and 10 percent of PGA Champions Tour players used regular flex shafts in their irons. He also notes that PGA Tour swing speeds average 110 mph, so the players favor a stiffer shaft to better control the club.
Why do pros use steel shaft irons?
The main reason would be consistency through every swing to deliver peak performance. Steel shafts are heavier and the strong players can generate impressive clubhead speed through impact, delivering distance. The feedback or vibration from the shaft through the hands at impact is important to the top pros.
42 related questions foundWhat shafts does DeChambeau use?
DeChambeau's driver is Cobra's King Speedzone with an L.A. Golf prototype shaft made just for DeChambeau. The loft is 5.5 degrees—similar to what most long-drive competitors use.
How far does Tiger Woods hit a 7 iron?
Tiger Woods is a legend of golf but on average, how long does he hit a 7 iron? Tiger hits his 7 irons approximately 172 yards. This is an average figure and there will times when Tiger hits the ball closer to 200 yards.
Do all pro golfers use stiff shafts?
Most PGA Tour pros will use stiff or extra stiff in their shafts. It is rare to find someone swinging a regular shaft with the amount of swing speed those guys have.
Does Tiger Woods use a regular shaft?
Tiger knows his equipment better than you know yourself! For almost all of his career he has used Mitsubishi Rayon shafts. This year he remains loyal to this brand with a TaylorMade SIM driver loaded with a Mitsubishi Diamana “White Board” TX (tour extra-stiff).
Will a stiffer shaft increase distance?
If the shaft flex is too stiff, your average distance will remain low.
Does Tiger Woods use steel or graphite shafts?
If you're considering a steel shaft in your driver or fairway woods, please consider a proper club fitting. A steel driver shaft is a thing of the past. Tiger Woods used a steel shaft in his driver, a True Temper X100, but moved away from it 20 years ago. Even competitors in the World Long Drive use graphite shafts.
What shaft pros use?
True Temper's Dynamic Golf steel shaft has been the most popular shaft on the PGA Tour, and according to the True Temper website, 90 percent of golfers in any particular tournament play True Temper shafts.
Should I play graphite shafts in my irons?
There used to be a basic rule for iron shafts – if you're a strong, competitive player you choose steel, and if you're older, slower, a woman, or generally not athletic, you choose graphite.
Are steel irons better than graphite?
Historically speaking, steel shafts have been better for more advanced or higher swing speed players. Graphite has been more ideal for people with more moderate swings or players wanting maximum distance.
Should older golfers use graphite shafts?
Yes, graphite shafts are the best choice for most seniors. As I mentioned, the shaft plays a major role in ball striking, consistency, and distance. The overwhelming majority of senior players would benefit from using a graphite shaft.
What shaft does Rory McIlroy use?
The irons in his bag remain unaltered for 2022 with McIlroy gaming the the TaylorMade P770 3-iron and P730 Rors Proto irons from 4 to PW with Project X 7.0 shafts. McIlroy is also sticking by his TaylorMade MG3 wedges in 54 and 58 degrees, in Project X 6.5 shafts.
What driver shaft does Dustin Johnson use?
Full Specs. *The seven-wood, hybrids and utility come in and out of the bag regularly. Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind (52°, 60°) All have KBS Tour 120S shafts.
What shaft flex do Tour pros use?
Extra-stiff flex may be used by golfers who consistently hit the ball 300 yards off the tee. This shaft is generally reserved for professional golfers.
How fast should you swing a 7 iron?
An average golfer will swing a seven iron about 75 mph. This number can change based on the weight of the club and if it is steel or graphite. The faster you swing a seven iron, the further it will go. If you can swing at about 85 mph, you will see distances closer to 165 yards.
Are regular shafts more forgiving?
If you are swinging with a stiffer shaft, but your swing speed is not all that high, you will struggle with your ability to hit the ball both far and straight. A regular shaft will be the more flexible shaft of the two. The major difference between these shaft is the amount of flexibility that they have.
What happens if golf shaft is too stiff?
If your golf shaft is too stiff and your swing speed is too slow, your well-struck shot will be limited on both carry distance and shot trajectory; a too-stiff golf shaft will most often lead to weak fades or slices.
How Far Can John Daly drive a golf ball?
John Daly can drive a golf ball 300 yards. Three hundred yards is undoubtedly a ton of distance even though, today, many people can drive the ball further than 300 yards. In his prime, John Daly was one of the longest drivers of the golf ball.
How far can Charlie Woods drive the ball?
So, according to ESPN, last year, Charlie Woods was finding fairways consistently with a driving distance of about 200 yards. The 12-year-old Woods routinely bombed 200 yards off the tee, which is incredible at this age.
Do any tour players use cavity back irons?
According to Titleist, 70% of tour players use cavity backs while 30% use blades. Cavity back irons provide increased forgiveness while blades offer more control and a better feel. This is why a lot of tour players have both cavity backs and blade irons in their bags.