Soft stepping is simply installing a lower numbered shaft than the shaft designated for a specific iron. For your C-Taper Lite shaft putting an 8 iron shaft in your 9 iron or pitching wedge would be soft stepping 1 X i.e. on time. Putting an 7 iron shaft 9 iron or pitching wedge would be soft stepping 2X i.e. two times.
What shafts do you put in a soft stepping pitching wedge?
As an example- soft stepping requires a 3 iron shaft to be put into a 4 iron’s head. A 4 iron shaft should go into a 5 iron shaft accordingly. The shaft that’s left will be used as the extra pitching wedge shaft.
What is soft stepping in golf?
This is called soft stepping once and would decrease the stiffness by a quarter flex. Soft-stepping twice would be cutting the shaft as a 3-iron or two clubs more and would decrease the stiffness by a half flex.
What is soft stepping a set of irons?
Soft stepping a set of irons. This is the process of making a clubs shaft a little more flexible. The 3 iron shaft would be fitted into the 4 iron head, the 4 iron shaft into the 5 iron head a so on. The 3 iron would require a new shaft and the PW shaft would be left over.
What shafts should I use for soft stepping?
As an example- soft stepping requires a 3 iron shaft to be put into a 4 iron’s head. A 4 iron shaft should go into a 5 iron shaft accordingly. The shaft that’s left will be used as the extra pitching wedge shaft. You’ll be able to discard it when the 9 iron shaft comes to replace it.
How much difference does soft stepping make?
By using a soft stepping golf iron, you can expect to increase your distance by 10-15 yards.
What does soft stepping do?
Soft stepping is the term used to indicate changing flex of a taper tip shaft by adjusting the stiffness of a set of irons by putting the lower numbered iron shaft throughout the set. For example, the 8 iron shaft is put in the 9 iron, the 7 iron shaft in the 8 iron and so on through the set.
What does soft step mean in golf?
Soft stepping on a parallel tip shaft is simply the process of trimming less than what the manufacturer suggests. For example, if you have a 5-iron, you tip trim the shaft like a 4-iron. This is called soft stepping once and would decrease the stiffness by a quarter flex.
What is stepping in a golf wedge?
Hard stepping and soft stepping is a way changing the flex of a shaft in a club to obtain an in-between flex which will also produce a slightly different ball flight. It works the same way regardless if the shafts are taper or parallel tipped.
What is Tiger stepping?
0:585:39TIGER STEPPING / TIGER WOODS WEDGE BUILD SETUP - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHead on any shaft. It's going to make it more flexible. So for consistency's sake the whole pointMoreHead on any shaft. It's going to make it more flexible. So for consistency's sake the whole point really is we're trying to get the shaft to flex consistently regardless of what iron.
Can you soft step a graphite shaft?
1:276:04Hard Stepped and Soft Stepped Golf Shafts Explained - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWell you can you can soft step it by instead of using if this is a five iron.MoreWell you can you can soft step it by instead of using if this is a five iron.
What is hard step and soft step?
Stepping shafts is a method of reshafting that focuses on a flex between the specific designations, say, between a regular and a stiff flex. "Hard stepping" would make a shaft stiffer, "soft stepping," more flexible.
Do longer shafts play softer?
Also, longer clubs should play 1 to 1.5 flexes stiffer than shorter clubs. So, if your driver is S(6.0), your irons should probably be R(5.0), etc. Some golfers swing harder with their drivers so they may need stronger flexes in their longer clubs.
Should I hard step my iron shafts?
1:062:10What is Hard Stepping or Soft Stepping a Golf Shaft? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if they want to go at one they can really keep up with them. And they have confidence over theMoreSo if they want to go at one they can really keep up with them. And they have confidence over the ball. It's a method used by some of the best fitters on tour some of the best fitters in the world.
What does soft tipping a golf shaft?
A tip soft shaft is one that is designed to be more flexible in the tip portion of the shaft which we define as the last 16” to 21” of the shaft. Likewise there can be any number of variations in how stiff the tip section of a shaft is designed.
Can you soft step parallel shafts?
I have read in many articles a tipped Parallel shaft which is the same flex as a taper tip meant for the same iron head can be softstepped or hardstepped. It has also been my practical experience that this same concept works perfectly for a Parallel shaft.
How do I choose a wedge shaft?
What shafts should you play in your wedges? The very short answer is play the same shaft in your wedges as you do in your irons. But, boy do we see a lot of variation of what is in our players bags. "Your advice on the proper shaft for wedges is spot-on!
What is soft stepping on a parallel tip shaft?
Soft stepping on a parallel tip shaft is simply the process of trimming less than what the manufacturer suggests. For example, if you have a 5-iron, you tip trim the shaft like a 4-iron. This is called soft stepping once and would decrease the stiffness by a quarter flex. Soft-stepping twice would be cutting the shaft as a 3-iron ...
What is the downside of soft stepping?
The downside to soft stepping is two-fold. First, since you are cutting less off the tip, that means you are cutting more from the butt end. While the variation is small, it can lead in some cases to a smaller grip size under the lower hand.
What is hard stepping?
Hard stepping is the opposite of soft stepping whereby you elect to tip trim more than the amount suggested by the manufacturer to create a stiffer flex. There are two things to be aware of when doing so.
What does it mean to soft step twice?
Soft-stepping twice would be cutting the shaft as a 3-iron or two clubs more and would decrease the stiffness by a half flex. If you soft step once for one club, you will do so on all the irons and wedges to have a uniform progression of flex throughout the set. The downside to soft stepping is two-fold.
Is a taper tip shaft hard stepped?
The concept of hard stepping a taper tip shaft is just the opposite of soft stepping. However, this is rarely done because you run out of raw lengths when you get to your shorter scoring irons and wedges. If you examine the row labeled "hard stepped once", notice the 9-iron and wedge entries.
Can you tip trim a long iron?
Secondly, if you have a long iron or hybrid, you cannot tip trim less than zero which will not maintain uniformity in the set. In the example above would affect the 2-iron by soft stepping once or the #2 and 3-iron by soft-stepping twice.
Is a 39.5" shaft stiffer than a 4" shaft?
The 39" 5-iron shaft is not only shorter, but stiffer than the 39.5" 4-iron shaft to offset the heavier weight. Therefore, if we placed the 39.5" 4-iron shaft into the 5-iron (or soft stepping once), then the club will become more flexible. Soft stepping twice would be placing the 40" 3-iron shaft into the 5-iron.
Benefits of Soft Stepping Irons: 3 Major Benefits
The ball flight differs in hard and soft stepping by changing the shaft’s flex. No matter the shafts are parallel tipped or tapered, it works the same way. It depends. Stiff shafts can give you a softer feel where a regular shaft gives a firmer feel. The best practice is to remove all the shafts and then put them in the proceeding club.
Additional Benefits of Soft Stepping Irons
Now that you know why soft stepping irons are needed, if you find your clubs are too stiff, it’s time to soft-stepping them for better results. On the other hand, opt for hard stepping if you like to have stiffer clubs. The decision depends on your choice how you want your swings.
19hole said
Actually, the recommended shaft flex for wedges is one flex softer than your irons flex. This has always been what Bob Vokey has said and how I generally fit players.
Charles P said
I am currently playing KBS C-Taper Lite Stiff 110gram shafts in my Titleist irons. I play fours Vokey wedges 46/52/56/60.. Trajectory is okay but I wouldn't mind taking a little weight off and adding a little more spin on the greens. I hit my PW/G/S 125/100/85 yards respectively.
Why do golf clubs have soft stepping?
"The main reason for soft stepping or hard stepping is to change the feel of the shaft for golfers who really want their shafts to feel just right.
What are the two ends of a golf shaft?
There are two ends of the shaft to consider. The butt end (the end to which the grip is fitted) and the tip which fits into the club-head. There are two different types of tip, parallel and taper-tip. The parallel-tip shaft is a constant diameter from the last step down to the tip of the shaft. The idea of this is that one shaft can be manufactured ...
What is a taper tip shaft?
The taper-tip shaft, as the name indicates, tapers down from the last step in the shaft. Taper-tip shafts are manufactured to the correct length and flex for each club so it is important that the correct shaft is fitted to the corresponding club. A 3 iron shaft would fit into an 8 iron, for example, but it would play far too soft in flex ...
How to get flex on a parallel tipped shaft?
To obtain the correct flex with a parallel-tipped shaft, the shaft is cut from the tip end at the appropriate point to achieve the correct flex. Then the shaft is cut from the butt end to achieve the desired length. The taper-tip shaft, as the name indicates, tapers down from the last step in the shaft. Taper-tip shafts are manufactured ...
What is hard stepping?
Hard stepping and soft stepping is a way changing the flex of a shaft in a club to obtain an in-between flex which will also produce a slightly different ball flight. It works the same way regardless if the shafts are taper or parallel tipped. Depending on which way you go, a regular shaft can be made to feel a little firmer ...
What shaft would fit a 9 iron?
The PW s haft would be fitted into the 9 iron head, the 9 iron shaft would fit into the 8 iron and so on. The PW would require a new shaft and the 3 iron shaft would be left over. The effect on each club would be that each clubs shaft would be a little bit stiffer than they originally were and produce a slightly lower ball flight.
What is the size of a Wilson over fit shaft?
There are others such as the Wilson over fit shaft (fat shaft) manufactured by True Temper and Apollo which measures in at .500 but most the common are .335, .350, .355 and .370. The smaller sizes,.355, .350 and .355 are what a wood would usually require and. .355 and .370 for irons but this is not a steadfast rule as club manufacturers are ...
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I’m looking into getting 2 new wedges (54*,58*) to replace my current SM7’s (same lofts). I play Project X 6.5 in my irons through gap wedge (PW and GW are both Vokeys as well). Been considering soft stepping 7.0s twice or 6.5s once. Which would perform better or what would be better?
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Just looking at today's CJ Cup WITB ....you'll notice 95% play DG Tour Issue s400 or x100 ss [I assume] even when playing 6.5/ 7
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My vote is for soft stepping 2x either way. 6.5 if you like the weight and current trajectory. 7s if you want a tad more weight and a negligibly lower ball flight.
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For consistent weight and feel to the set go 7.0 ss2 times. So 8 iron shaft in the 7.0. Cutting the extra length keeps weight about dead on the 6.5 with more feel.
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I played 7.0 8 irons in wedges for about a year. Went back to S400’s this year and my wedge game is better. On full shots the 7.0’s shined, super consistent and workable. Around the greens the S400’s were better for me.
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Why do golfers use soft stepping?
A paraphrased quote from Tom Wishon (Master Club Maker. "The main reason for soft or hard stepping is to change the feel of the shaft for golfers who really want their shafts to feel just right. The second reason is to try to change the launch angle and trajectory of the shot or to reduce or increase spin. A ½ inch can exhibit the beginning of ...
What is hard and soft stepping?
Hard and soft stepping is a way of changing the flex of a shaft in a club to obtain an in-between flex which will also produce a slightly different ball flight. It works the same way regardless if the shafts are taper or parallel tipped. Depending on which way you go, a regular shaft can be made to feel a little firmer and a stiff shaft can be made ...
How to make a stiff shaft feel firmer?
The most common practice is by removing all the shafts from your matching irons (3 iron through to PW) then put each shaft in either the following or proceeding club.
What happens when you soft step?
3iron will become 4iron length, 4iron will become 5iron length and so on. When you soft step, the club lengths will increase. PW will become 9iron length, 9iron will become 8iron length and so on.
Can a PW shaft fit a 9iron?
This is the process of making your clubs shaft a little stiffer. The PW shaft would be fitted into the 9iron head, the 9iron shaft would fit into the 8iron and so on. The PW would require a new shaft and the 3iron shaft would be left over.
What shaft is used for Tiger S400?
A VERY good option to S400 or Tiger Stepped S400 (tip trimmed 3/8 or "hard stepping by tip trim"), is using a X100 #8 iron shaft.
Can you put a 9 iron shaft in a wedge?
If you install the 9-iron shaft in a wedge, you are effectively soft stepping the wedge due to the wedge having a heavier head weight than the 9-iron. An 8-iron shaft would be even softer. You just have to decide what flex slope you want and how you want the wedges to play. Once you decide this, then you can ask Titleist what their protocol is on soft stepping a wedge. A lot of the pros are playing x100 in their irons and s400 in their wedges, thus they are going heavier and softer in their wedges.
