Want to achieve a higher or lower launch from your clubs? If yes, you would like to soft step your iron right? Well, the reason might be the hard stepping can increase yardage.
When it’s all about optimizing the shaft performance, soft stepping your iron can benefit any player. This article covers how to soft stepping and the benefits of soft stepping irons. So, if you’re an older golfer who wants to benefit a few yards, keep reading the whole article.
What Does the Term “Soft Stepping” Mean?
In the process of soft stepping, club shafts are designed to be more flexible. You know different flexes like regular flex shafts and stiff are preferred by different golfers. Consider you have a stiff flex that you can make almost similar to a regular shaft by soft stepping the club. What do you think? Your issues of being too stiff are over? Of course, yes!
If you have taper tipped or parallel shafts, soft stepping effects still work!
Soft Stepping Irons
You have to go through a process to make your club shaft more flexible. 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.
Soft Stepping Change Flex
Soft stepping helps the flex to be more flexible and softer. Soft stepping a stiff flex can give you a feel between a stiff and a regular flex.
What Does the Term “Hard Stepping” Mean?
Hard stepping is the reverse order of soft stepping. Hard stepping is when the pitching wedge shaft will be moving to a 9-iron head switched over an 8-iron head.
This is how the pitching wedge remains left without a shaft that can lead you to buy one after you’ve done hard stepping. In this case, the 3-iron shaft might be redundant.
Hard stepping results in stiffer shafts, lowering the ball flight, and longer club length. Work on the shaft’s butt if you want to keep the original shaft length.
Benefits of Soft Stepping Irons: 3 Major Benefits
1. Higher Ball Flight
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.
2. Easier Swing with Less Stiff
Having a too stiff flex may result in poor control in shots and losing the loft where the right flex can help improve the accuracy. Remember- the shaft flexes during a swing and this leads the clubhead to change the position.
3. Slower Swing Speed
Swing speed depends on many factors including the shaft material. Steel results better than graphite in case of consistency. Also, the soft stepping irons can help a player who wants a slower swing speed. Remember- having a too flexible shaft might end up with the ball flying higher. So, ensure proper flexibility.
Additional Benefits of Soft Stepping Irons
- Are easier to hit because of having a larger sweet spot
- Are great for controlling the ball as well as for producing more consistent shots.
- Feature faster swings with less effort as they come lighter than the regular ones.
- Help maintain balance when you’re swinging. This is the reason they make the contact easier.
- Feature less offset compared to the regular ones.
- Make hitting the ball easier with less effort because of the larger clubhead they come with.
- Are least prone to bounce off.
- Can be controlled easily because of having a lower center of gravity.
- Are customizable according to the golfer’s height.
- Ensure maximum accuracy with the lighter and smaller club head, unlike regular irons.
- Help easily hit off the ground by the softer face and wider sole.
Conclusion
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.
FAQs
1. How do I know if my iron shafts are too soft?
Ans. Check if you feel a considerable kick sensation while hitting the ball. The feeling is the primary indicator that your iron shafts are too soft.
2. What is a soft tip golf shaft?
Ans. Soft tip golf shaft is more flexible in the shaft’s tip portion that is 16 to 21 inches of the shaft.
3. How do I know if my shaft flex is too soft?
Ans. If the ball flies higher and tends to draw more, or the shot feels more solid are the signs of too soft shaft flex.
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