Equipment
Tech Talk: UST Recoil Graphite Iron Shafts
In the last decade, graphite has become the material of choice on the PGA Tour for the shafts in drivers, fairway woods and hybrids.
It would make sense that graphite shafts would slowly have started to creep into irons as well, but almost every top player on Tour is still using steel shafts in his irons and wedges.
Mike Guerrette, vice president of brand development and Tour operations for UST Mamiya, said the reason why graphite shafts haven’t become popular with Tour players in their irons was because of a problem with their design.
According to Guerette, graphite iron shafts of the past had walls that were too thick, which decreased ovaling and resulted in poor energy transfer. That resulted in less feel and less distance — two things that never go together on Tour.
UST’s new Recoil iron shafts are made with denser graphite fibers that allowed engineers to decrease wall thickness. Because the fibers are denser, the shafts can be made as heavy as 110 to 125 grams, the weight range that is preferred on Tour. Click this link to read more about the Recoil Shafts.
Check out the video below, where Guerrette explains in detail the construction and benefits of the new shafts, which he says will give golfers more distance and a better feel than steel.
Read more and join the discussion in the forums
[youtube id=”yxA4LqQpKN0″ width=”620″ height=”360″]
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Rick
Mar 6, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Why should I take your word? Haven’t even heard your story. Have not seen any reviews on the 800 or 600 series but I’m sure they r out there.
Mike Boatright
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:25 pm
I like this concept but what I fear is breakage with let’s say a 9 iron over time. Your hitting down pretty hard vs a driver that never sees much ground impact.
Mike
Jan 26, 2014 at 7:41 pm
I purchased these shafts, F4, in the Callaway Apex irons. I own a Trackman, here’s the numbers with a 7i, club speed 83.6, ball speed 120.5, spin rate 5970, carry 177.5, total 185.9, launch angle 19.2, dynamic loft 24.1, spin loft 26.5, smash factor 1.44, angle of attack -2.2. Five shots all about the same. Look at ball position to adjust height, spin, carry, etc. Shafts feel great. Would love to feel these in my Ping S55’s with the 110 shaft and see the numbers. These shafts don’t feel like the graphite I’ve tried, tip soft, launch high. I know where the club is, I can feel it.
Gerald
Feb 18, 2013 at 3:43 pm
This sounds like the same comments I heard when people were being asked to put down their persimmon woods and try metal heads.
JEFF
Jan 31, 2013 at 12:37 pm
I shot a 68 yesterday with my crappy DG X 100 STEEL shafts. I got them for 6.00 each!
Bill Gabbert
Jan 31, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Do your homework fellows. You can buy these shafts from Hireko Golf fo only 44.99. And if you haven’t tried them maybe some people on here should try them first before you write such negative comments on a product that might just changed your golf game. I have one coming to demo in an extra TM 7 iron.
Sean
Jan 30, 2013 at 9:00 pm
I’d be very interested in these shafts, but the price is a bit out of my reach.
S
Jan 31, 2013 at 2:33 am
Yes. Me too
Pingback: Graphite Iron Shafts??? | Golf ETC in Hilton Head
Chris
Jan 28, 2013 at 9:21 pm
Wow – lots of negative comments. Have any of the previous people actually hit one of these? They feel great, the offer many of the positives of steel shafts without the negative vibrations. We’ve only had the demos in our shop for a couple of weeks and have already had a couple of “steel only” guys that don’t need or want a lighter weight shaft, make the switch after picking one up. They loved the distance, improved dispersion and feel. Maybe give them a shot???
S
Jan 31, 2013 at 2:34 am
I would love to, if you could sell each shaft for around $30, I would do it. $125 is a bit much, especially when there is nothing wrong with steel
Scott
Jan 28, 2013 at 3:54 pm
If these are so great why aren’t PGA Tour players playing them? Two guys on the Senior Tour are playing them, but that’s what they were always made for: old people.
Famous Davis
Jan 28, 2013 at 1:21 pm
The opening sentence of the article is a hoot. In the last decade, graphite has become the material of choice on the PGA Tour for the shafts in drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. Like graphite wasn’t already the default choice in 1998? GMAFB. To see my ungodly ballstriking for yourself, just come out to Admiral Baker any Tuesday. I’m the guy in the dumpy khakis.
Desmond
Jan 28, 2013 at 9:21 am
I like his hair, wish he spoke English instead of terminology. When he discussed torque towards the end, he reverted back to English. Interesting concept – they should go down to lighter weights and give Aerotech a run…
G
Jan 28, 2013 at 2:34 am
It has NOTHING to do with DESIGN. It’s all to do with COST!
Why would you want to pay $125 PER SHAFT for your irons!!!!!! That’s INSANE.
Andy
Jun 13, 2013 at 7:52 am
They are worth every penny! Take my word for it.