Best Graphite Iron Shafts
Back when I first started playing golf, graphite shafts in golf clubs weren’t even a thought. Everyone played with steel shafts, and if you caught one thin on a cold morning, you certainly felt it. That was a long time ago, and thankfully, golf equipment has come a long way.
Back in the 1990’s graphite shafts iron shafts started showing up the bags of Tour Players. They gave golfers more distance, were more flexible than steel, and reduced vibration on mishits.
Fast forward to 2022, and the majority of weekend golfers are playing graphite shafts in their irons.
And like every other kind of golf equipment, there’s no shortage of options to choose from.
So, just how are you supposed to go about choosing the best graphite shafts for your irons?
We’re here to help you narrow down the field. We’ve done the research and are here to give you our opinion on what the best graphite iron shafts are for this year.
Project X Catalyst 60 Ion Chrome Graphite Iron Shaft
Aerotech Steelfiber I80 Graphite Iron Shaft
Fujikara Vista Pro 50i Graphite Iron Shaft
Mitsubishi Tensei AV Red AM2 Senior Flex Graphite Iron Shaft
UST Mamiya Recoil 440/450/460 ESX Graphite Iron Shaft
Best Graphite Iron Shafts for 2022
Project X Catalyst 60 Ion Chrome Graphite Iron Shaft
In seemingly no time at all, Project X has emerged as one of the premier shaft manufacturers in the game.
There’s a reason most major club makers offer Project X shafts as a stock option for their clubs. . . Because they work.
One of the complaints we hear most about graphite shafts is their lack of consistency due to the various materials used in the manufacturing process.
That’s far from the case with the Catalyst 60 Ion Chrome Iron Shaft. It’s one of the most symmetrically designed shafts on the market. What does that mean for your golf game? Consistent ball flight and performance shot after shot.
This shaft is also one of the lightest around. That’s great for golfers that have trouble getting the ball in the air, or generating enough clubhead speed to achieve the distance they’re after.
The Project X Catalyst 60 Ion Chrome Iron Shaft sits at the top of our list because it has all the qualities of a premium graphite shaft along with the stability you expect from steel. It truly gives you the best of both worlds.
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Aerotech Steelfiber I80 Graphite Iron Shaft
Switching from steel to graphite iron shafts can be a tough transition. The feel and weights are entirely different, and chances are you’ll have to spend some time relearning your yardages with irons.
The folks at Aerotech know how difficult it can be to make this change. That’s why they designed the Steelfiber I80 Iron Shaft.
Even though this shaft is on the lighter side, it gives you the stability of steel. That means tighter shot dispersions and more control.
What we love most about this shaft, however, is its ability to be fit to golfers with different swing speeds. Whether you hit your seven-iron 80 yards or 180 yards, it can help your iron game.
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Fujikara Vista Pro 50i Graphite Iron Shaft
One of the benefits of graphite iron shafts is a higher ball flight. When golfers switch to graphite shafts, they often find they’re able to stop approach shots on the green and have more putts for birdie.
No other shaft on the market allows golfers to get the ball in the air like the Fujikara Vista Pro 50i Shaft. This is due to their proprietary construction that maximizes flexion and speed at impact, where it matters most.
This shaft comes in four different weights, a number of different flexes, and has options for both men and women.
An all-around reputable shaft that will have you hitting your irons higher and farther than steel, the Vista Pro 50i is a great choice.
Mitsubishi Tensei AV Red AM2 Senior Flex Graphite Iron Shaft
If you don’t mind spending money on equipment to help your golf game, the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Red AM2 Senior Flex Iron Shaft is well worth its premium price.
This shaft helps golfers with moderate swing speeds get the ball in the air quickly, and carry it farther than they would with steel shafts.
It’s also one of the best feeling, most responsive graphite iron shafts on the market. Unlike other graphite shafts that all feel the same regardless of how you hit them, you’ll be able to tell the difference between a solid shot and mishit with the AV Red AM2.
What’s more, you can order this shaft in any length you want.
UST Mamiya Recoil 440/450/460 ESX Graphite Iron Shaft
If you’re the type of golfer that’s looking for value, but doesn’t want to sacrifice performance, the UST Mamiya Recoil ESX Iron Shaft is right up your alley.
Even though this shaft is priced moderately, the materials that go into its construction are first-rate. No corners are cut, and quality control is among the best in the industry with this company.
The ESX is perfect for golfers with slower swing speeds. It’s Recoil Technology increases MOI and generates more distance throughout the bag.
In short, if you’re looking the distance you had way back when, but don’t want to break the bank, it doesn’t get much better than the UST Mamiya Recoil ESX Graphite Iron Shaft.
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Integra Superlite 50 Gram Graphite Distance Iron Shaft
For those golfers that are looking to spend as little money as possible on graphite shafts for their irons, the Integra Superlite 50-Gram Graphite Distance Iron Shaft is the way to go.
This shaft is a lot lighter than its steel counterparts, and you’ll notice a difference in ball flight and distance right off the bat.
Does this shaft have all the tech and design characteristics of the other graphite iron shafts on this list? No. But it’s a great option if you’re wanting to try graphite shafts in your irons to see what they’re like.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are just a few of the many options that are out there for graphite iron shafts. There are countless others, but the Golfer’s Authority staff feel these are the best representation of what you can find.
As such, you probably have some questions about how to find the best shafts for your game.
We’ve done our best to answer a few of them below.
Do Professional Golfers Use Graphite Iron Shafts?
Yes, there are certainly a few Tour Pros that have graphite shafts in their irons. The number is fewer on the PGA Tour, because the best players in the world have the fastest swing speeds and largely prefer the control steel shafts give them.
However, there are a large number of players in the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions that use graphite iron shafts to give them more distance and help them hit the ball higher.
When Should I Switch to Graphite Iron Shafts?
Going through a proper club fitting will help you determine what the best iron shafts are for your game. We recommend doing this whenever you’re thinking about buying new golf equipment.
As a general rule though, you might want to consider switching to graphite iron shafts if you’re looking for more distance and height out of your irons.
How Do I Choose the Best Graphite Iron Shafts?
Again, nothing takes the place of going through a club fitting with a trained Professional. From there, it’s a good idea to try a few different shafts to find which ones you like the best.
What Are the Best Graphite Iron Shafts?
The list we’ve compiled here is what we feel are the best graphite iron shafts on the market that represent that largest spectrum of golfers.
But there are plenty of other options available. It’s up to you to do some of your own research. Only you can decide what’s best for your game at the end of the day.
Conclusion
Graphite iron shafts aren’t perfect for everyone. If you swing the club at a high rate of speed and hit the ball a long way, they might not be your best option.
But that’s not the case for the vast majority of golfers. Whether we want to admit it or not, we could all use more distance, height, and consistency from our irons. And graphite shafts are a great way to find just that.
If you’re thinking about graphite shafts for your irons, we’d love to hear what your experience has been like. What’s worked and what hasn’t? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading.
