Yamaha Tour Iron build help

[RIduffer]

So I am getting a set of the Tour Irons and I am a graphite iron shaft player. The graphite shaft options that they offer, and most JDM shaft brands for that matter, have a max playing length of 38.5" for the 5-iron. Also on the swing weight side the heads are a single weight with only negligible amounts in tolerances. Next, I already add ~44 grams of weight in the butt of the shaft and can't add much more. Finally, it is materially cheaper for me to purchase the clubs shafted with graphite by the mfg than it is to have the club rebuilt after.

My spec is ~D4 iron, 38.5" 5 iron...

The two primary concerns I have are:

That the shaft will play as if it was soft stepped when used at maximum length, even looser with a heavier head.

The swing weight goes to D7ish if played at my spec length of 38.5"

So here is my quandary...

I know I can play it shorter and adjust the lie angle to account for the change, distance wise I would playing the 5-iron as a 6-iron, etc…

Alternately, I can just risk it and have them built to my spec and let the SW fall where it will.

Or I can play somewhere in the middle...

Thoughts/recommendations?

[chiromikey]

if you're already back weighting couldn't you simply adjust the amount of weight to achieve any swing weight you want?

[RIduffer]

The butt weighting isn't done to achieve a SW it helps my hands get back into the slot. Am a little hesitant to increase it too much...

[+TourSpecGolfer]

I'm thinking of going graphite as well. I just don't know what graphite shafts to play. So far my best have been Roddio & Crazy, I'm open to trying something different this time. looking for heavier.

[RIduffer]

I have played several graphite iron shafts for at least 30 rounds each while the Roddio I have hit a couple of buckets and one round with. All with different heads though, so ascertaining head vs shaft characteristic is challenging...

TS 905 MB with Crazy

Epon Personal with UST IS980/990

RomaRo Pro with Attas Tour 110

'09 ONOFF forged with Roddio i10

Miura BB with Fuji 115i(no longer my irons)

So far, my favorite is the RomaRo/Attas combo based on the piercing trajectory and feel of the combo. The ONOFF/Roddio launch way too high for me, but they were an experiment more so to see if I would like the Roddio i10 in SX, these will become an AUS visitor set. There is a toss up between the Crazy and UST IS shafts. I think the Crazy might be higher launching as I believe the 905 heads have a higher CG as compared to the Personals, both have tremendous amount of feel to them though. The TS are a much crisper head as well but Supo has said in the past too, they are a great iron head… The Miura/Fuji combo probably would probably be ahead of the Roddio/ONOFF combo in overall playability based on trajectory and workability of the overall combo. Not sure shaft to shaft if the Fuji are better or not.

I also have manipulated the shafts in varying degrees as to how the respective clubs have been built. The Crazy, I purchased as an X Flex and ended up soft stepping as I was not able to get the normal back spin on approach shots with my irons. The UST IS shafts, in the 3-6 are hard stepped and tipped 1/2" while the 7-P are X flexes. The Tour Attas are a straight up X flex install. My set of Roddio are way off kilter for me build wise as I have not visited my fitter with them to adjust lie angle but they play 1/2" short for me and 1-1.5 clubs lengths shy in distance.

We are past the comment about shaft consistency, especially in the higher end shafts. The main complaint these days, beyond cost, is the communication on contact. I think the shafts still communicate massive amounts of info, just a different dialect to traditional steel. They definitely cut down on the pain associated with poor contact, especially in cold weather. I can absolutely tell where on the face I make contact and how clean the contact was etc...

So long as I can still afford it and I can get them built within the range of acceptability to spec, reason for this thread, I am graphite only. Even considering the stupidly expensive Quadra putter shaft...

[RIduffer]

I'm thinking of going graphite as well. I just don't know what graphite shafts to play. So far my best have been Roddio & Crazy, I'm open to trying something different this time. looking for heavier.

I believe Matrix is the heaviest option for graphite, all others kind of cap at <115g range...

[EdGolf]

Try the aerotech steel. They have different weighs available. I play C Taper stiff and Modus 3 and no problem switching to Aerotech i95 model. Best of both world IMO

[RIduffer]

Hey Ed...

Before I built my set of Miuras and TS 905s with their respective shafts I did a bracket tournament with about 20 different shafts of different weights, flexes and brands, Aerotech included. Also futzes with hard and soft stepping and trimming where appropriate. While they felt great as did the Modus and a couple of others, I could not keep the ball flight down enough with a normal swing. I could control the trajectory some but I didn't have a real low piercing shot option. Just higher, high and mid high with them.

Good thought though and great shaft, just doesn't align to me...

As an aside, how is the Vega? Still getting dirty looks at the range?

[EdGolf]

Vega all carry and no roll :-( Getting used to the 'loud' sound. Might swap shaft out for a Fire Express 65s I've laying around and see if I can get that little more roll.

At least I'm playing from fairway now instead of rough lol

[RIduffer]

Needs a low launch shaft, but straight as an arrow... I know someone who might like the shaft, can ping for you if you'd like...

[supo]

RI.... i got a set of diamana thiumps yesterday..

was thinking of these in my yamah tours

thoughts ?

i got them i n stifff flex

[RIduffer]

Hey Stew,

I have not tried the Diamanas. They are supposed to be very good. Do you always play stiff shafts in your irons? Am a little surprised considering the driver SS and flexes. I end up with a massive draw, bordering on a hook, with stiff shafts in my irons. Have you considered hard stepping?

Would love to hear your thoughts on them. Especially in comparison to the SP Blues, that is my target flight.

Out of curiosity though, why not have Yamaha build up the set with them in it in stead of getting the components separate? Yam is offering the Diamana and GD shafts as stock upgrades.

[Ian-500]

Have you tried any of the shafts from Quadra? I've tried the 100i 4AX SOF in some Yamaha tour heads and so far they are the best shafts I've gamed. I can't compare them to any other high end graphite shafts as they're the only graphite shafts I've played since I started playing golf with a set of Wilson fat shafts. When I can afford it I'll definitely get another set.

[RIduffer]

Have you tried any of the shafts from Quadra? I've tried the 100i 4AX SOF in some Yamaha tour heads and so far they are the best shafts I've gamed. I can't compare them to any other high end graphite shafts as they're the only graphite shafts I've played since I started playing golf with a set of Wilson fat shafts. When I can afford it I'll definitely get another set.

I have not tried the Quadra irons. Have tried a UT before and like it OK. In this case, Yamaha doesn't offer it and it will have the same build challenges described in the original thread.

Would you be concerned with having a shaft play at maximum length possible?

[Ian-500]

What is the maximum length possible? I think that would be a question only Quadra or other shaft manufacturers can answer.

I can only assume that a raw iron shaft length has been cut somewhat to play at a standard length ish (38.5" 5 iron), which is what I've used. Could be wrong though. If the manufacturers say there's no problem playing at max raw length then there's your answer.

Edited November 16, 2012 by Ian-500

[RIduffer]

A 5 iron shaft from Quadra and many other JDM mfg comes raw at 965mm or ~38" which means I am dependent on hosel to floor measurement to get what I need lengthwise out of the shaft. Similar to you Ian I play a 38.5" 5-iron. So you are cutting off a bare minimum of shaft at the butt to make it even, but not much else. My concern is that ends up "soft stepping" the shaft a little and as I already have issues with trying to keep my ball flight down I have a few concerns with that.

The other issue at that point is SW as the club goes to a ~D8

Hence the request for peoples thoughts. Am I paranoid, or should I play it a little shorter or any other thoughts. I need to ask T to ask the mfg what their thoughts are...

[Ian-500]

What about putting some weights in the shaft tip? I know it would make the head feel heavier but would this lower the ball flight at all?

[RIduffer]

I do not know the answer about adding tip weight for a lower ball flight. My favorite trajectory shaft was the SP Blue. The Attas/RomaRo combo approaches that level and am quite happy with it.

[bogeydog]

How about the UST Mamiya Recoil shaft? I think they are weighted in a style that may be ok for your application. I liked their IS980s shafts.

Or the Attas Tour iron shafts that are available in JP. Check with Tario on those. I recall many weight options, etc.

[supo]

Hey Stew,

I have not tried the Diamanas. They are supposed to be very good. Do you always play stiff shafts in your irons? Am a little surprised considering the driver SS and flexes. I end up with a massive draw, bordering on a hook, with stiff shafts in my irons. Have you considered hard stepping?

Would love to hear your thoughts on them. Especially in comparison to the SP Blues, that is my target flight.

Out of curiosity though, why not have Yamaha build up the set with them in it in stead of getting the components separate? Yam is offering the Diamana and GD shafts as stock upgrades.

bec im going to oz for a cpl of weeks ealry -mid dec and i wantthem ASAP to take downthere.

thats why im shedding so many ironse now... i have to get stokc to play then i can get them changed to my shaft ASAP here.

i play X in almost everything but ive built a cpl of stiff just veceasue, just like TX..

but x is m yhting

the diaman thump in s shud be fine u hsud seeth e thicknessof the tips in htese wow there! like steel billets

im guessing s will be no probs at all.

[RIduffer]

How about the UST Mamiya Recoil shaft? I think they are weighted in a style that may be ok for your application. I liked their IS980s shafts.

Or the Attas Tour iron shafts that are available in JP. Check with Tario on those. I recall many weight options, etc.

Bogey,

I play both the Attas Tour and the IS980/990 and like both of them a lot. Think the Attas edges the IS out though.OP has club detail. In this case, neither are offered as options by Yamaha in the Tours. Since the cost difference is material when doing the after market shafts vs having the mfg put them in, then I am trying to go that route.

So which would you do, play maximum length to your spec, or shorten and play maybe a half club down?

bec im going to oz for a cpl of weeks ealry -mid dec and i wantthem ASAP to take downthere.

thats why im shedding so many ironse now... i have to get stokc to play then i can get them changed to my shaft ASAP here.

i play X in almost everything but ive built a cpl of stiff just veceasue, just like TX..

but x is m yhting

the diaman thump in s shud be fine u hsud seeth e thicknessof the tips in htese wow there! like steel billets

im guessing s will be no probs at all.

Stew,

That solid graphite pole is one of the reasons I have not gone the Diamana route in the past. Again, not having played any Diamana shaft to date, I do not know how true to flex they are. But the only iron shafts I have played that are not a true X for me are the Crazy CBI Evo series.

Definitely looking forward to your feedback on them.

[supo]

still not sure about the new yammy tours.. dont think ill put the diamana thumps in them they are only 95 grams, and i msue to playing 128 + now.....,

but they are very taught.i had a hit with my tourstage 701 irons tonight and they went like a dream but they ahve NS 950s in them, which is no damn good.

they are the likely candidate for these shafts as these heads will get a lot more use going forward.

depenedning on what club- sensei says of course... his recomendation it paramount to my build

the comment about u being abit paranoid is prob un- true but.... depending in yr height. i dont htink it hurtsthat much by playing 1/4 below what u htink is stock, id do that on prupose for control and its been great , when i go back to " stock" length i feel the club is def too long esp i nte long irons.. im all over the shop.

if u dont neeed heaps of distance with irons then the slightyl sohrter shaft is perfectly ok.

just go heavier.

.

[RIduffer]

Am leaning towards 1/4" short, but not much I will need to do for static weight or SW...

[supo]

1/4 is max.

need to see the weight of the yama heads hopefully they arnt like the 905s which are a light head . ,, too light for me. ive discovered.

if they are like the epons then woooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooo were quids in with everything

[RIduffer]

I posted the specs of the '13 Tours in the launch thread. You would have to back in to the actual head weight though… Are you saying or asking 1/4" max?