Steel or graphite iron shafts?

The quick answer

Choose an iron shaft by its weight and flex first, and by its material second. Graphite iron shafts are usually the lighter option, and their makers sell them as easier to swing. Steel shafts are usually heavier, and their makers sell them on control and trajectory. The two now overlap: KBS makes graphite iron shafts up to 100 grams, and TaylorMade lists its stock steel shaft for the Qi Max irons at 93 grams.

If your swing is slowing down, or you need a senior or A flex, graphite is where the lightest stock options are. If your steel irons feel heavy but you like steel, a lighter steel shaft is an option before you change material.

Who this is for

Golfers ordering a new iron set who have to pick steel or graphite, and golfers whose current irons feel heavy.

What the makers say about graphite

KBS describes its PGI as a “steel like PERFORMANCE graphite shaft,” made in weights from 50 to 100 grams in 10-gram steps. Cobra’s iron pages describe it this way: “The KBS PGI graphite shafts provide the same dispersion and control as the KBS Tour Steel Shaft in a lighter weight and easier to swing graphite shaft profile.”

UST Mamiya says its “Recoil 65 iron shafts are for the player seeking a lightweight design to improve club head speed and accuracy.”

What the makers say about steel

True Temper says its Dynamic Gold Mid 115, the stock shaft in several sets below, is “Designed for players seeking a higher trajectory while maintaining control and consistency.” It lists the R300 at 114 grams.

Steel is not all heavy. KBS calls its Tour Lite “a 20% lighter version of the KBS TOUR Shaft,” at 95 to 110 grams. It is the stock steel shaft in Cobra’s KING and KING MAX irons, TaylorMade’s P·790, Srixon’s ZXi4 and Wilson’s DYNAPWR Forged.

True Temper’s general advice applies to either material: “A player who struggles with getting the ball in the air should look towards a higher trajectory shaft.”

Weight matters more than the label

The weight ranges overlap enough that the material alone tells you little:

• Ping lists 11 shafts for the G740, from 38 grams (ALTA Quick) to 124 grams (True Temper Dynamic Gold).
• TaylorMade lists the Qi Max steel shaft, the KBS Max 85 MT, at 93 grams, and its REAX graphite at 76, 67 and 57 grams by flex.
• Cobra lists the KBS Tour Lite steel at 105 grams, and the KBS PGI graphite at 85, 75 and 65 grams for stiff, regular and A flex.

A lighter shaft also changes how heavy the head feels. Ping says, “Standard swingweights for graphite-shafted clubs are 2 to 3 points lighter than shown, depending on shaft flex.”

TaylorMade puts it this way: “Every golfer has a unique swing fingerprint and the shaft should be fit to match.” A fitting with both materials, in the weights you are considering, shows which you hit more consistently.

Four to start with, one from each maker

Cobra, TaylorMade, Srixon and Tour Edge each sell these sets with a stock steel shaft and a stock graphite shaft, so you can try both in the same head.

• 

  Cobra

  KING MAX Irons

  Cobra calls KING MAX “a super playable iron, designed to help you hit more greens and lower your score.”

  Maker’s category

  Not recorded

  Set makeup

  5–GW stock (steel); 4–PW and single clubs also offered

  7-iron loft

  29.5°

  $999

  7-club set (4–PW or 5–GW) with steel shafts (KBS Tour Lite); graphite sets are $1,099

  Evidence: Research-based · . Cobra Golf

  See at Cobra Golf: Cobra KING MAX Irons⁠Affiliate link
• 

  TaylorMade

  Qi Max Irons

  TaylorMade calls Qi Max “Our Most Complete Game Improvement Iron, Ever.”

  Maker’s category

  Game improvement

  Set makeup

  4–PW or 5–PW, AW; 4-iron to LW listed

  7-iron loft

  28°

  $1,099.99

  7-club set (4–PW or 5–PW, AW) with KBS MAX 85 steel shafts

  Evidence: Research-based · . TGW

  See at TGW: TaylorMade Qi Max Irons⁠Affiliate link
• 

  Srixon

  ZXi4

  Srixon says the ZXi4 “delivers the heightened forgiveness you need in a compact shape you’ll want to play.”

  Maker’s category

  Not recorded

  Set makeup

  4–PW, 5–PW or 5–PW & AW sets; single irons 4–SW

  7-iron loft

  28.5°

  $1,399.99

  Evidence: Research-based · . DICK'S Sporting Goods

  See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Srixon ZXi4⁠Affiliate link
• 

  Tour Edge

  Hot Launch Max Irons

  Tour Edge says the Hot Launch Max irons are “built for effortless power.”

  Maker’s category

  Not recorded

  Set makeup

  4–PW or 5–PW & AW sets

  7-iron loft

  29°

  No current price

  Evidence: Research-based · . Not confirmed in stock

  See at Global Golf (stock not confirmed): Tour Edge Hot Launch Max Irons⁠Affiliate link

Eight sets with steel and graphite stock shafts

In each set, the makers list both materials as stock:

• Cobra KING and KING MAX: KBS Tour Lite steel in stiff and regular; KBS PGI graphite in stiff, regular and A.
• TaylorMade Qi Max: KBS Max 85 MT steel in stiff and regular; REAX by KBS graphite in stiff, regular and A.
• TaylorMade P·790: KBS Tour Lite steel or Mitsubishi MMT graphite.
• Srixon ZXi4: KBS Tour Lite steel, or KBS TGI 60 or UST Recoil Dart 65 graphite. ZXi5+: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 100 or Mid 90, or Mitsubishi MMT 60 graphite.
• Tour Edge Hot Launch Max: KBS Max MT85 steel or Aldila Ascent graphite.
• Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal Pro: Dynamic Gold 105 steel in regular and stiff, or MMT 65 or MMT 85 graphite.

Where a maker lists an A flex as stock, it is graphite. The price shown is our latest check for the set, which may not be the graphite build.

Eight sets listed with one steel stock shaft

Each maker lists one stock shaft for these sets, and each is steel. The four Wilson sets use four different ones: the KBS Max Ultralite in the DYNAPWR, the KBS Max HL in the DYNAPWR Max, the KBS Tour Lite in the DYNAPWR Forged and the Dynamic Gold Mid 115 in the Staff Model Blade. If you want graphite in one of these sets, ask the maker or a fitter what can be ordered.

Ping lists the full menu

Ping does not mark a stock shaft on its iron pages. It lists every shaft it offers for the set, steel and graphite together.

Ping lists between nine and 11 shafts for each of these sets. The G740’s list runs from the 38-gram ALTA Quick to the 124-gram Dynamic Gold.

Who each suits, on published specs

• Slower swings, or irons that have started to feel heavy. Start with graphite, or a light steel shaft such as the KBS Tour Lite. Cobra and TaylorMade list a graphite A flex as stock.
• Golfers who like their current steel shafts. Compare weights before you switch. KBS says its Tour Lite steel is 20% lighter than its Tour.
• Golfers between the two. The heaviest graphite and the lightest steel overlap, so hit both at the same weight.

New or used

A used set may have been reshafted since it left the factory. If you buy used:

• Check the shaft name, flex and weight against the listing, not only “steel” or “graphite.”
• Check graphite shafts for cracks or chips near the hosel.
• Check that every club in the set has the same shaft.
• Buy from a seller who will take the set back.

Where to go next

• The Iron Finder: find the iron set that fits how you strike it and your budget.
• All iron sets we have researched, with their latest price checks.
• Game-improvement or players irons?
• What makes an iron forgiving?
• How we research.