Shafts
Shaft weight by swing speed
ELDRICK fits driver shafts at 40-49g under 71 mph, 50-59g from 71 to 85.9 mph, 60-69g from 86 to 110 mph and 70-79g above 110 mph. Iron shafts run from 40-49g graphite under 60 mph 7-iron speed to 120g+ steel at 95 mph and up.
| Driver speed | Shaft weight |
|---|---|
| Up to 70.9 mph | 40-49g |
| 71-85.9 mph | 50-59g |
| 86-110 mph | 60-69g |
| Over 110 mph | 70-79g |
A quick tempo or transition moves you one band heavier, a smooth one one band lighter. Under 70 mph you stay at 40-49g whatever your tempo.
| 7-iron speed | Shaft weight |
|---|---|
| Up to 59.9 mph | 40-49g |
| 60-64.9 mph | 50-59g |
| 65-69.9 mph | 60-69g |
| 70-74.9 mph | 70-79g |
| 75-77.9 mph | 90-99g |
| 78-79.9 mph | 100-109g |
| 80-83.9 mph | 90-99g |
| 84-89.4 mph | 100-109g |
| 89.5-94.9 mph | 110-119g |
| 95 mph and up | 120g+ |
78-79.9 mph sits one band above 80-83.9 mph on purpose: ELDRICK's fitting team moved it after reviewing solid strikers at that speed. Tempo and transition together shift irons at most one band either way.
Iron shaft material ELDRICK fitted, by 7-iron speed
- Graphite
- Either
- Steel
The switch from graphite to steel happens between 75 and 80 mph 7-iron speed.
What moves you off your speed band
Driver weight drops one band for a golfer 5'6" or shorter and under 130 lb, and one band for a slice pattern (face more than 2° open to path, or asking for fewer slices). A strong out-to-in path at 86-96 mph drops it too. A Light driver head caps the shaft at 50-59g, because a light build only works if the whole club is light.
In ELDRICK fittings, 84% of 90-99 mph driver fittings landed at 60-69g, and 61% of 110+ mph fittings at 70-79g.
Fairway woods and hybrids step up from the driver
ELDRICK builds woods from your driver band. A fairway wood is one step heavier and a hybrid two. The step depends on driver speed: 10g at 95 mph and up, 5g to 10g at 85-95 mph depending on tempo, 5g at 70-85 mph, and none under 70 mph, where every wood stays light.
So a 60g driver shaft at 100 mph leads to a 70-79g fairway shaft and an 80-89g hybrid shaft. More on gapping those clubs in fairway wood vs hybrid.
Frequently asked questions
What driver shaft weight for 95 mph?
60-69g. ELDRICK fits 60-69g from 86 to 110 mph, one band heavier with a quick tempo or transition and one lighter with a smooth one.
When should I switch from graphite to steel irons?
Around 75 to 80 mph 7-iron speed. ELDRICK's iron weights jump to 90-99g at 75 mph, and in ELDRICK fittings almost everyone under 75 mph got graphite while 89% at 80-84 mph got steel.
How heavy should my iron shafts be at 85 mph?
100-109g. ELDRICK fits 100-109g from 84 to 89.4 mph 7-iron speed.
Is a heavier shaft more accurate?
Not by itself. ELDRICK adds weight for faster, quicker swings and for fast iron players who pull it left, and takes weight off for slicers and smaller golfers.