For years, super heavy and strong steel shafts like Dynamic Gold X100s or Project X 6.5s have dominated the PGA Tour.
But can lighter, softer graphite shafts finally capture some of the Tour market share? Given the quick swings at the highest level of the game, it seems impossible, but you never know until you try.
AND 2016 PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker is trying it.
On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-host Johnny Wunder reported that Walker has been testing Fujikura Axiom 75R iron shafts in his clubs and has seen some pretty crazy numbers.
“So they built a 7-iron, and Jimmy’s normal ball speed with a 7-iron is like 128 to 130 mph,” Wunder said. So he doesn’t hammer his irons, but like he’s not like one of the holy gods where they’re like 140. He’s a normal tournament player with his irons.
“He’s getting 135, 136 on these regular shafts, but the ball is still spinning with a 7-iron at 6600, going up. He’s like, I can get them back, but I’m swinging 80 percent. I don’t have to work hard.”
So the real question is how did Walker get the chance to test a shaft designed for much slower players?
Apparently, he did some ripping with his dad’s driver, which had a regular Fujikura Ventus flex shaft, and found that despite the mild flex, he was able to maintain the same ball speeds as his putter.
His initial fear of hitting the ball left was unfounded. So he went to a golf shop and asked someone to build him a 7 iron with lighter steel shafts, but someone suggested he try Axioms.
Fujikura Axiom Iron Shaft
AXIOM introduces an unparalleled level of iron shaft performance. For the first time, Fujikura’s proprietary VELOCORE TECHNOLOGY has been integrated into an iron shaft that delivers the same industry-leading performance benefits first introduced in the VENTUS and VENTUS TR. Extreme accuracy and durability combined with unmatched workability give golfers the same level of confidence they’ve come to expect from VeloCore powered products. Whatever the shot demands, AXIOM delivers. VeloCore technology is the engine that drives the performance of the AXIOM iron. An extremely stable platform delivers optimized results on every shot through tight distribution, increased ball speed and improved accuracy. AXIOM is designed in a unique 3-parallel system that creates constant weight and reduced torque values ​​throughout the kit. Consisting of a long parallel (#2, #3, #4), a medium parallel, (#5, #6, #7) and a short parallel (#8, #9, W), the AXIOM allows more flexibility in design and material integration versus a single hollow iron shaft. Each iron is specifically designed to compliment each design, reducing the number of SKUs while maximizing results.
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For Wunder and co-host Jake Morrow, the idea is enticing, especially for days when you’re not feeling your best and swinging 80 percent might be the limit. The thing is, you have to move 80 percent of the time, something Morrow said he can struggle to do.
