Project X LZ Iron Shafts
The Project X LZ iron shaft features a new technology to their already-acclaimed stable of steel iron shafts. That technology is the Loading Zone. By reducing the mid-section’s stiffness while the butt and tip section remain “robust,” the LZ iron shafts are designed to maximize speed and spin properties accordingly through each flex. If you’re a fan of the signature Project X feel, but like a little added punch, you may want to read on.
How Does it Feel?
By creating this “Loading Zone,” the Project X LZ iron shafts are naturally going to have a distinct feel. There’s a certain firmness created by the stiffer butt and tip sections, but the overall feel of the shaft is crisp and active. The key is that the “active” feel is very precise. This was achieved through the micro steps in the mid section which give the shaft more flex in this specific spot. Through the backswing, the LZ feels very stable and firm. Coming into impact, you can feel the load and the impact has a great snap to it. The release isn’t a massive release, but rather a very smooth and precise kick.
In terms of feel in the hands and response, I don’t think any other shaft in the Project X barn tops the LZ. The LZ has a very clean feel and perfect response throughout the set. In my personal opinion, the LZ has a great feel for a wide range of golfers.
On-Course Performance
The Project X LZ is the most “one-size-fits-all” shaft of the entire Project X lineup. As mentioned earlier, the feel is very smooth but you get a nice pop with it. That nice mid-shaft kick in the LZ should give you a nice penetrating mid-trajectory flight. While the stock flight is “medium,” the LZ is easy to manipulate. Should you need to flight one low or high, right or left, the LZ has that shot. Furthermore, I’d say those shots are easy to hit with the LZ. That says a lot. If you’ve ever played an iron shaft that’s the polar opposite, you know what that constant struggle feels like, and that’s the last thing you need to score well.
Final Thoughts – Project X LZ
Versatility is what makes the Project X LZ so appealing – especially if you’re a Project X fan. There are a lot of familiar Project X characteristics in the LZ, but I don’t believe any shaft in the lineup has the LZ’s versatility along with its ease of use. Good feel and easy kick with a good flight are about all you can ask for in an iron shaft. As always, make sure you do your proper testing to make sure this shaft is right for you.
i have the mizuno hot metal irons, with the project x graphite lz 90 gr stiff shafts ! Will I have a tuff time getting the ball up because of the stiff shaft & mid kick ? i have about a 90 mph clubhead speed !
Kevin,
You’re asking to compare the steel to the graphite iron shafts. Totally different animals.
Also, difficulty getting the ball in the air isn’t so much just due to your swing speed, the flex, or kick point. It’s how your specific swing reponds to each of those elements. Some people could have the stiffest, lowest-launching shaft with slow swing speeds and still hit the ball a mile high.
I guess I’d also ask if you have the clubs with the shaft in them already, how are you hitting them? Or have you not hit them yet?
Hi there, spent an afternoon in a PGA Superstore testing the Callaway Rogue Irons with the LZ regular 105 5.5 shaft. Felt nice, but not wanting to spend the $$ from a retail shop I was wondering what your thoughts were in the following three options:
KBS Tour V
KBS V90
KBS Max
My ball speed is optimally 109. I’m sure these are all completely different, but I feel I’ve run the patience of the store clerk. 🙂
Thanks!
While I hate blind recommendations like this, I would immediately take the Tour V off that list. It doesn’t fit the profile you’re looking for.
Neither of the remaining KBS shafts is really similar to the LZ either. My honest opinion, and what I would do – pony up for the LZ if they’re truly the best fit for you. Clubs are investment so you might as well do it right.
At this time I’m playing Callaway H2Hot irons with the rifle flighted 5.5 shafts, I switched fro the flighted 6.0 last year. What LZ shaft would you recommend. My 150 club is my 9 iron
Thomas,
That’s not enough data to really make any type of recommendation. You truly need to hit the club/shaft and see what your flights and dispersion are. It’s not an apples to apples comparison that you’re trying to make.
I have had two fitters warm me about the TT XP 95, said they were bending and breaking. I am thinking the LZ 105 would be a good choice. Have you had any experience with the XP
I don’t have any real extended experience with that shaft because it just isn’t remotely a good fit for me, but I’d the LZ will play a little tighter and firmer.
I have the opportunity to buy a set of JPX 919 HM irons from a friend of a friend of a friend. Problem is, this person is a thousand miles away so while Ive hit the HMs before (and liked them) I havent hit THESE specific ones. My issue is they have the PX LZ 90 5.0 shafts in them. I cant seem to find consistent info online about them. The set I just sold had KBS Tour 90 R flex in them and I got on pretty well with them. Driver SS is 97-100 and 7 iron SS is 78-80 (unless I really try to get after one). Where does the 5.0 fall w/r/t stiffness? I’ve seen some reviews that make me think they’ll be good, others make me worry my “good deal” will evaporate in $200 for re-shafting and re-gripping. Thanks for all your work here, always unbiansed and informative!
I’m sort of lost in this, but if you’re asking what 5.0 means, it’s a lighter flex along the lines of senior/junior/ladies. I can’t tell you how you’ll hit this shaft vs the other one. Only you can by testing. You may have a totally different physical response to it than we did here. I also haven’t tested the low in the flex ratings so would be a shot in the dark.
im thinking about buying some pzg irons with project x lz 6.5 shafts my swing speed is probably high 80;s to mid 90’s not are these shafts to firm for me. Thanks
No way to really answer without seeing your flight data and whatnot, but my guy would tell me that 6.5 is likely to stiff if your driver swing speed is high 80s to low 90s.
Swing speed 7 iron average 83mph.
I’ve got Aerotech steel fibre i95 stiff in Titleist CB716.
Now I’ve made a reserve on Titleist T100 with Project x lz 5.0 regular 110g.
Do you reckon I’m good to go?
I mean, you’re really comparing apples to oranges, right? Two very different shafts, different weights and flexes, different club heads. Really, it comes down to how your swing and hands respond to the combinations, not so much what your swing speed is, etc. Swing speed only plays a certain amount of a role in the whole scheme of things.
My 7iron(95g shaft,SW c9) swing speed is 89mph. My driver swing speed is 110mph on SW D3.3. Should I change my iron sw to D3 by replacing with PX Lz6.0 and adjusting club head weight in order to achieve faster SS?
Swingweight is more about balance and feel, not so much about swing speed. Overall shaft and club weight can play a role in swing speeds, but the decision you’re trying to make isn’t as simple as considering the information you presented. As always, it’s best to get a proper fitting and find the optimal performance. Blind adjustments could lead to more swing speed, but you may struggle to launch the ball and you can’t get enough carry so you lose distance. OR maybe you actually lose speed because the club feels too heavy for you and you can’t lug it around. There’s no way to blindly guess that.
Is the kick point in the LZ stiff similar to the modus 120 stiff.
I’d say both are in the area of a “mid” kick point but won’t necessarily feel identical.
Hi Bill! I currently game KBS Tour 120s and really Like the feel. About to shop some new irons and, with the KBS delays, I was wondering if these LZ shafts in 6.0 will have a similar feel?
This is answer is pretty subjective, but I don’t think they feel the same. Pretty apples to oranges. KBS Tour has sort of a signature feel as do Project X shafts, and they really don’t feel alike. The LZ is going to have more of that signature Project X feel.
HI Bill, upgrading my AP3s to possibly t100s. I have AMT Black in my AP3s, I am right around high 80s in speed with a steep swing and i hit the ball really high. Hit my 7 iron 155ish, mostly carry. I demo’d the t100s with the AMT black and red, and was really hitting it high. Do you think a 5.5 LZ might lower that a bit? I am thinking the AMT and my swing hit it so high, I might be losing some distance. I am not too keen on the 6.0 as it is 120g. I don’t like light clubs, but heavy is not keen either. Or, other than flex, would I even notice the difference in weight 5.5 vs 6.0. Any thoughts would help.
Really no way to tell from just the information provided to be honest. The only way you’ll really know is to test. AMT Black really shouldn’t produce a high launch on its own, so that’s likely something with your swing.
As far as being able to tell the difference between 5.5 and 6.0, again, I wouldn’t really be able to tell you. That “sense of feel” is fairly subjective and will vary from player to player. Think about the stories of how Tiger Woods can sense the slightest air bubble in the tape underneath his grips. Same thing with a lot of shaft weighting. What I might REALLY notice in two different shaft weights, you might not realize a difference at all. Then when you factor in swingweight differences and the sense of feel, that introduces a whole new element.
I currently play the Project X 6.0 in Mizuno JPX900 Hot Metal irons, but I recently got fitted for Srixon ZX5 irons. The fitters top 4 shafts were KBS Tour, the LZ 6.0 , Dynamic Gold S300, and the standard Project X 6.0. He did the shafts blind bit I could tell the difference in all 3 shafts I tried. I cant remember which was which, but with the KBS and S300 both felt too heavy; one overall heavy the other heavy in the head; whereas the LZ felt balanced and well weighted. The LZ definitely felt effortless to swing and created the most consistent strikes. I would definitely recommend paying the money for a fitting as it also identified I needed 2 degrees upright. The other component was I was fitted with the ball most suitable for me to use, which was the Srixon Z Star; the fitted identified I need more spin.