Project X Iron Shaft
The Project X iron shaft is a cult classic stepless iron shaft as well as one of the most popular iron shafts on Tour. Geared towards players with a more aggressive iron swing, the Project X aims to keep both your launch and spin numbers down. Looking for lower ball flight or reduced spin off of your irons? The Project X iron shaft might be the right option for you!
How Does it Feel?
My first thought when I swung the Project X iron shaft was “huh, I don’t remember them being this stout.” I may have been swinging the 6.5 (~x-flex) as opposed to my usual 6.0 in Project X, but nonetheless, it felt fairly stiff. Why? stiffness in the tip of the shaft. The Project X is designed so that the butt and tip sections are consistent through the set, while the midsection’s stiffness varies from iron to iron. This creates consistent tip stiffness, and thus, that more stiff feel throughout the swing. However, there’s a notable progressive kick point throughout the set. It’s definitely not a bad feel by any means, but more aggressive swingers with a quicker transition will most likely feel the shaft loading better.
Project X shafts are also known for their range of flex options. Rather than the traditional regular, stiff, x-stiff, etc profiles, Project X uses a numbering system in .5 increments. The flexes range from the softest at 5.0 up to the stiffest at 7.0, giving players five different flex options. The 5.5 to 6.5 also offer two different weight options each, while the 5.0 and 7.0 have one. These are all things to take into account to get that feel and performance finely tuned to exactly where you need it.
On-Course Performance
The Project X iron shafts advertise a low launch with low spin. Again, the way the Project X shaft is constructed creates a very stable tip, which is how they create that low, piercing ball flight and reduced spin. I found that this is exactly what is delivered with this shaft. My ball flight was much more piercing and penetrating than my current gamers. My ball seemed to just cut right under the infamous Spring Chicago winds. If you have issues with really high iron shots, the Project X might be worth a look.
Spin-wise, I also saw a pretty steep reduction from my current gamers. This can be both good or bad if you don’t necessarily need less spin from your irons. The good: my dispersion was more contained. The Project X shafts tend to stay on line, and misses are fairly abbreviated. The accuracy is good. Where it’s not necessarily a good thing is holding greens. With a combination of low launch and low spins, I found it somewhat difficult to stop the ball on the putting surface. Adjusting to the roll out of the Project X may take some time. But again, if you don’t have trouble spinning or launching the ball, you may not see the same issues. A nice little cheat that may help a spin/trajectory issue is to go down a flex.
If you like the feel of the shafts, but need need to tune the flex a touch, you can always hard or soft step them, since the weights of the shafts are the same throughout the set. This means that you can put the 3 iron shaft in a 4 iron, or vice versa, in order to change that midsection profile. This will change both the launch and spin either up or down depending.
Final Thoughts
There’s a reason that the Project X has not only been around forever, but is so popular on Tour. It’s a great iron shaft. If you’re looking for more penetrating iron shots, or to reduce your spin, take the Project X for a whirl. With all of the flex and weight options available, faster, quick-transition swingers are sure to find a fit that matches their game for both feel and performance.
I recently picked up a set of TM P770’s with Projext X Rifle 6.0 shafts
My previous set are 716 AP2’s with kbs tour shafts.
I made the switch seeking a lower ball flight and the project x is launching incredibly high?
I’m perplexed. I’ve been hitting on a trackman and im losing close to a full club on each iron!?
Any feedback on this!?
Next step would be checking the lofts for accuracy
So first, always a good idea to check lofts regardless. Just to know you’re hitting what you expect to be hitting there.
The thing we always stress with any fitting/performance, especially shafts, is that regardless of what they say on paper, your specific body and swing may respond to the gear combination a certain way and you’ll see different results. Like I’ve hit low launch/ low spin shafts exactly the opposite of what they’re supposed to do because it’s just how I’ve interacted with the gear.
So long story short, yes, one would think the Project X would be lower than a Rifled set, BUT that may just not be the right combo for you and your swing due to a variety of possible reasons. I’ve seen it a million times.
I love the regular project x shafts. I had some in my ping g irons. I bought a set of ping g425 irons they put the new project x lz in them. I dont care much for them.
What is the most common project X shaft for a senior golfer,hcp 12 hits 7 iron 135-140 yds
Way too many variables here. What’s your transition, swing speed, ball flight, etc.. Do you mean project x steel? Taper tip or parallel? Simply based on the above it’d probably be the softest flex that they offer in which ever shaft you go with, preferably 5.0. But that may not work for your game because again, too many variables.
My recommendation is to visit a local fitter and have them help you find the shaft that’s right for you.
Thanks for stopping in!
Tommy
I’m going to add to your reply too. You’re dead on, but my thoughts are a great example of why you’re answer is dead on.
Senior or not, a 12 hdcp hitting a 7 iron 135-140 yards isn’t all that short for a seven iron. So sounds like he can swing the club a bit still. Maybe a 6.0 flex gets the job done?
But your point about ball flight I imagine is the big factor. Would the 5.0 be way too left hooking? Would the 6.0 get around or be a big right leaker?
Late reply, but someone might find it useful. I was fitted for a set with Project X 5.0 flighted 10 years ago. At that time I was a 45 with a 22 hcp and hit my 7 iron about +-130 m (142 yeards) with quite an aggressive swing. This was the only shaft that gave me a tight dispersion and also kept the flight down a bit to prevent it from going too high.
Now, 10-11 years later with an 11 hcp, I still love my clubs and hit the same distances. Due to aging my swing is far less aggressive, but I probably compensate with better hits, because the distances have not changed at all. Everything else about the flight is still “perfect”, except I no longer have any feeling of the head, which sometimes causes me to overswing.
I saw some old Wilson FG Tour V2s with KBS Tour Regulars for almost free and decided to buy them in order to test softer feeling shafts over several rounds. I immediately gained both feel and about 3 mph club head speed. Unfortunately it was all lost to higher spin and a higher ball flight, which I realy don’t need. Totally different feel, but results are the same (except when it is windy). And because its windy most of the time where I live close to the coast, high and spinny is not good. Maybe softstepping the Project Xs once would give some of the feel I’ve been missing without getting too much extra spin? Stronger lofts may fix two problems when at some pint age starts to cause shorter distances, but until then I’m not going to mess up my approach distances.
I’m a scratch golfer, 44 year old, with swing speed of 120 mph with the driver. I have a TM forged irons with project x 6.0 rifle shatfs. Is that ok for me, considered my age? Or I have to switch to 6.5 or even a 7.0 shaft? I also have a set of KBS 125 S+ shafts. Which one you reccomend for me?
Just been fitted with t100 irons. The project x lz 5.5 shafts were chosen. I have 7 iron swing speed of 70mph. I have lost 10 to 20 yds with the 7 iron. Put an ns950gh shaft in the 7 iron and gained more than what I lost. I think shaft too stiff and too heavy for me (75 years).
YOU ARE RIGHT ,I HAD PX RIFLE 5.5 IN MY MIZUNOS, I ALSO HIT 7 IRON 130 TO 140 ,DRIVES 240 TO 250, 5.5’S TO STOUT & STIFF, FOR ME 79 YRS. OLD. REPLACED 5.5’S WITH D.G. 105 R-300 AND AM VERY HAPPY WITH RESULTS.
What flex is the 5.0 installed in a set of Hogan irons
A 5.0 is a 5.0 regardless of the head. That’s the flex system project x uses. It’s the softest flex in the line, and would be most similar to a stiff flex in another brand.
Might be a silly question, but are you talking about vintage Hogans with Apex shafts in them? If they are Project X shafts, Tommy is dead on correct.
Is there a project graphite shaft that light that I can feel the head that gives me higher launch in a regular shaft
May want to check out this review:
https://drivingrangeheroes.com/project-x-cypher-shaft-review/
Do you know exactly what this means?? I was fit for these, but I’m just trying to understand what this means. Callaway-True-Temper-Project-X-S-0.355 thx
I’m assuming Project X – stiff flex (6.0 in PX terms) – .355 taper tip as opposed to .370 parallel tip.
oddly for me, i had the project x 6.0 on my Srixon ZX7 and after getting on trackman trying out different shafts, to my surprised, both Nippon NS 850 gh and Modus 130 Stiff gave me the lowest ball flight that i preferred.
Hank – Diff strokes for diff folks. I hate PX shafts and just switched to Nippon Pro Modus 125x to lower my ball flight. Love them.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tommy