50 Words or Less
The Aerotech SteelFiber i110 graphite iron shafts are a nice option for the player looking for the smooth and consistent feel of graphite with a ball flight similar to a steel shaft.
Introduction
After years of hearing the cult of graphite iron shaft players preaching of all the glory to be had if I went over to the Dark Side, it was time for me to finally dip my toes into the pool. I eased my way in by testing the Aerotech SteelFiber i110 shafts, which are used by Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara, and Rocco Mediate. The SteelFiber i110 shaft is popular on the Tours and feature a mix of elements that make both graphite and steel shafts desirable to golfers of all skill levels.
Looks
At first glance, the Aerotech SteelFiber i110 looks like a fairly plain grey iron shaft that doesn’t do much to catch your eye. The graphics and details are simple and do just enough to get the job done when it comes to letting you know which shafts are installed in your clubs. At closer look, you notice the surface of the shaft has an appearance of fine wire wrapped around the shaft. What you are seeing is 59 miles of the SteelFiber, from which these shafts get their name, wrapped around the core of the shaft. It’s a cool look and gives you that “all business” feeling when you’re inspecting it closely.
Feel
When it comes to feel of the Aerotech SteelFiber i110, there are two comparisons worth noting. First is that the i110 feels a lot smoother and dampens vibration much more than a typical steel shaft. Compared to other SteelFiber graphite iron shafts of lighter weights, the i110’s feel is much more solid, stout, and responsive. I was able to feel the club head a little bit better with the extra weight, which made controlling the swing easier for me. To me, the club felt a bit more balanced than it did with lighter SteelFibers, but this makes sense as I’m much more used to playing heavier shafts. According to Aerotech, the i110 is the most popular SteelFiber option on the Champions Tour because the transition in feel from their old steel shafts is much easier.
Performance
If you’re looking for a shaft with better feel characteristics, but still want to maintain similar flights and control of your favorite steel iron shafts, the Aerotech SteelFiber i110 are a really good choice. I found the distances and launches to be pretty similar to my gamer steel shafts and the dispersion was fairly tight. The flight was a nice medium launch with lower spin, so that is something you will want to consider. As always, it is going to be key to get fitted for the right SteelFiber shaft and consider what shot characteristics you want to put the most emphasis on. Personally, the i110 may be low spinning, but I found the SteelFiber i110 to be consistent and predictable which is a bigger advantage for me than spin.
Making the Switch
I’m adding this section about making the switch from steel iron shafts to SteelFiber iron shafts based on a conversation I had with Chris Jorgensen, Director of Club Fitting Services at Aerotech. The first thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to make a weight change beyond 20 grams. In fact, only better players should consider a weight change up to 20 grams. So for instance, if you’re playing a 120 gram steel shaft, switching to the SteelFiber i95 is going to be a struggle. What ends up happening to players when they struggle to adjust to the weight is that they end up releasing the club slightly earlier. This will hurt less in the long irons, but the short irons will be more difficult to control the trajectory.
Aerotech recommends keeping the weight reduction in the 10 to 20 gram range. The next step is to keep the swing weight the same. Keeping these things in mind will make the transition to SteelFiber nice and smooth.
Conclusion
As far as an introduction to graphite iron shafts, the Aerotech SteelFiber i110 is a great starting point. Yes, the shaft felt totally different from a steel shaft, but the overall change wasn’t so significant that I wasn’t able to adjust and realize there are some pleasant characteristics that make graphite iron shafts worth considering, most notably the smooth feel. Again, when selecting an Aerotech SteelFiber shaft, I can’t express the importance of getting properly fit enough, because there are a variety of options that are going to perform significantly different for each golfer.
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Bill plays Scott Readman Concepts putters and accessories.
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15 Comments
Looking for something to put into a callaway utility iron .. looking for off the tee without swinging to hard
X100 true temper vs Aerotech I110
Thanks for very informative information.
Great Information
With the Tru Temper sensicore inserts off the market, this is a fit for arthritic hands. I love the i110 steelfiber shafts in my Ping i210 irons.
Playing currently project x 5.5 and before this the 6.0 steel shafts ! Because if joint issues and tendinitis want to switch to a graphite shaft ! Which you suggest i110 or i95 !!
Joe,
I’d suggest getting fit, but if you’re going to buy blind, I’d suggest that the 110 will be a less jarring transition since the weight is closer to your PX.
-Matt
Hard to get fit where I live so better i110 rather than a lighter model like i95 !! Since playing a stiff steel shaft for si long
Now playing kbs 110.
Will I see a difference in my irons.
Robert,
There’s no way for me to know if these will be meaningfully different for you. You need to try them, preferably with a fitter, to know.
Best,
Matt
So I ordered the i110 for my hot metal 923’s.
I was fitting with them but during fitting the i110 had the cw on it.. but when I custom order them, there’s no cw option…
Is that cw mean tapered different to fit different heads??
I’m your write up, u spoke of i110, yet the pictures have the cw.
Thanks
Derek,
The “CW” indicates Constant Weight design. This means that every shaft, regardless of length, has the same weight.
Best,
Matt
The specs on the Extra stiff and Stiff i110CW are identical. Why would they be identical yet named differently?
Keep this gοing pleaѕе, great job!
I am extending the shafts on a set of Irons………SteelFiber i110cw. I am having a heck of a time finding the correct size extensions for the irons. Nothing seems to fit. Please let me know the correct butt sizes for these irons.
Curt,
I would suggest contacting the manufacturer to get those specs.
Best,
Matt