Shaft stepping is a way to fine-tune the feel and stiffness of an iron set when a player falls between two flexes. With soft stepping or hard stepping, the shafts can be made slightly softer or slightly stiffer – without having to switch to a completely different shaft model.
It is an important detail we use in our customers’ custom fittings, because the right shaft feel can influence tempo, strike, launch, spin and control throughout the whole set. For many golfers it is not about choosing the stiffest or the softest shaft, but about finding the perfect balance between feel, stability and performance.
Soft stepping means the shaft plays slightly softer than standard. This is done by fitting the shaft intended for a lower iron into the next higher iron throughout the set. For example, the shaft normally meant for the 8-iron goes into the 9-iron, the shaft for the 7-iron goes into the 8-iron, and so on.
The result is a slightly softer feel, often with a little more help loading the shaft. Soft stepping can suit players who find a shaft almost right, but a touch too stiff or hard to get working naturally in the swing – without wanting to drop a full flex.
Hard stepping is the opposite of soft stepping and makes the shaft play slightly stiffer than standard. This is done by fitting the shaft intended for a higher iron into the next lower iron. For example, the shaft normally meant for the 9-iron goes into the 8-iron.
Hard stepping can suit players who like a particular shaft model but want a slightly firmer feel, more stability or better control – without moving up to a completely different flex.
| Shaft Step | Plays | Feel | Often suits players who... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | Slightly softer than standard | Softer, smoother feel | Find their chosen shaft a little too stiff |
| Standard | True to the chosen flex | Original feel of the chosen flex | Are well suited to their current flex |
| Hard | Slightly stiffer than standard | Firmer feel and more stability | Find their chosen shaft a little too soft |