#1 – NIPPON NS Pro 950GH NEO Steel Iron Shafts

Weight: 94.5, 97, 98, 104 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff, extra stiff

Torque: 1.9, 1.8, 1.7, 1.6

Kick Point: Mid

Selling Points:

• Multi-heat treatment
• Multi Shape adjustment technology
• .355 tapered tip

The NS Pro shaft has a striking look right off the bat. It just gives the look of a premium iron shaft. And this is a great shaft if you have an aggressive swing tempo. The kick point is medium so inn theory, it would suit a wide variety of swing styles.

But in general, our faster, more aggressive testers were getting the best use out of this shaft. The multi-heat treatment that these shafts undergo increase rigidity – and you can feel it after your first full swing.

Overall the Nippon NS Pro 950GH NEO Steel Iron shaft provides incredible power, accuracy and consistency which is pretty much everything you want as an intermediate to advanced player. The launch could be a bit higher but that’s really the only knock we had against this shaft.

Pros:

• Looks great
• Excellent consistency
• Great for mid to low handicappers

Cons:

• Launch could be higher
• Lacking feedback

Overall Rating: 98/100

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#2 – Project X LZ Steel Iron Shaft

Weight: 110, 115, 120, 125 grams

Flexes: Regular, regular+, stiff, extra stiff

Selling Points:

• Loading Zone technology
• Reinforced tip and butt
• .355 tapered tip

If you were turned off by the lack of launch in our first shaft, the Project X LZ Steel Iron Shaft should interest you. It uses variable wall lengths in butt and shaft which allows for a somewhat looser midsection. This combination makes for impressive launch.

This would also be a great steel shaft for anyone who is looking to mimic the feel of a graphite shaft without sacrificing anything in the way of power and consistency. Spin control around the green was also impressive with this shaft.

Even on the wedges, our testers were able to land the ball nearly dead on the green using the Project X LZ Steel Iron shaft.

Pros:

• Good spin control
• Good consistency
• Plays long

Cons:

• A bit pricey
• Flexes a bit

Overall Rating: 98/100

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#3 – KBS Money $-Taper LITE Black PVD Steel Iron Shaft

Weight: 110, 115, 120 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff, extra stiff

Selling Points:

• High CG location
• Stiff tip
• Micro step pattern

This might be the best lightweight steel shaft we have ever tested. It has a softer feel than most of the shafts on our list and makes for very tight shot dispersion. Like the last shaft on our list, the KBS Money $-Taper LITE Black PVD Steel Iron Shaft produces high-arcing shots.

The great thing about this shaft is that you don’t have to be super-accurate or have an incredibly fast swing speed to get good use out of it. It’s a very forgiving shaft that will even help you play longer. Some of our testers were noting increases of 5-9 yards with their 4 irons.

Pros:

• Soft feel
• Great apex height
• Parallel tip

Cons:

• It can be pretty expensive
• Not great for fast swing speed testers

Overall Rating: 97/100

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#4 – Nippon Zelos 7 Shaft

Weight: 73, 74, 77.5 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff

Selling Points:

• Made from pliable steel
• Soft shaft profile
• .355 taper tip

Number 3 on our list is a great choice for any player with a slow swing speed. This is an incredibly lightweight steel shaft that was apparently made using some kind of new, ultra-light steel. Whatever it’s made of, it is incredibly light.

Our slower swing speed testers were clocking faster club head speed according to the launch monitor we were using to track data. This usually led to an increase in overall distance. While they may not be the most durable steel shafts on our list, they make for a smooth downswing.

If you have a smooth swing profile, we recommend going with the regular flex as it will be more conducive.

Pros:

• Great for slow swing speed players
• Soft feel
• Good launch

Cons:

• A bit inconsistent
• Shot dispersion was a bit of an issue

Overall Rating: 96/100

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#5 – Project X Flighted Steel

Weight: 115 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff, extra stiff

Selling Points:

• .355 taper tip
• Higher kick point in the short irons
• Lower kick point in the long irons

The Project X Flighted Steel shafts are a great choice if you are looking for all-around performance. You get the launch you need for long carries in the longer irons and a more controlled flight in the shorter irons.

For this reason we would recommend the Project X Flighted Steel shafts to almost any golfer with a moderate to fast swing speed. Almost all of our testers loved the performance of these shafts. While they aren’t the longest on the market, they represent a great value and versatile usage.

Pros:

• Great all-around performance
• Good for a wide variety of golfers
• Satisfying feel

Cons:

• Lacking some distance
• Lacking some feedback

Overall Rating: 94/100

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#6 – UST Mamiya Recoil 660 F3 Smoke Chrome

Weight: 68, 71, 82 grams

Flexes: Amateur, regular, stiff

Torque: 4.3, 3.8

Selling Points:

• Carbon fiber design
• Spring effect in the shaft walls
• .370 parallel tip

The UST Mamiya Recoil 660 F3 Smoke Chrome shaft looks so sleek and smooth that you’ll want to hit the links more often. While it’s not technically a steel shaft, we felt we had to include it because it gives the tight shot dispersion and consistency of a steel shaft.

The radical carbon fiber design (a material with a very favorable strength to weight ratio) keeps the weight of all these shafts very low – even if you opt for the stiff flex. This would be a great choice for senior players who want to spare their joints.

The UST Mamiya Recoil 660 F3 Smoke Chrome has a soft feel overall and it produces the same kind of distance as a steel shaft.

Pros:

• Great feel
• Looks amazing
• Great for seniors

Cons:

• Not great for fast swing speeds
• Launches a little low

Overall Rating: 93/100

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#7 – TRUE TEMPER Dynamic Gold AMT X100

Weight: 94-115 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff

Selling Points:

• Ascending Mass Technology
• .355 taper tip
• Low spin

We’ll admit that we’re a bit biased towards the Dynamic Gold AMT shafts – many of us have them on our irons. And we would recommend them to anyone who wants to optimize the scoring ability of their shorter irons.

We love the way the Dynamic Gold AMT shafts hinder spin in the long irons but promote it in the short irons. Spin consistency is excellent in the short irons and you would do well to have these shafts fitted on your wedges as well.

Pros:

• Great all-around performance
• Gives the look of a premium steel shaft
• Great shafts for fast swing speed players

Cons:

• Not great for beginners
• Low kick point

Overall Rating: 92/100

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#8 – Project X Rifle 6.0

Weight: 110, 115, 120, 125 grams

Flexes: Regular, regular+, stiff, extra stiff

Selling Points:

• Long taper rate
• .355 taper tip
• Stepless Design technology

We would recommend the Project X Rifle 6.0 shaft to anyone with an aggressive swing and fast swing speed. The Project X Rifle 6.0 shaft produces a low launch but you are able to get piercing ball speeds with it.

It would be a great fit for players who prefer a flatter shot trajectory. The Project X Rifle 6.0 shaft transfers energy from your swing to the ball very efficiently so distance shouldn’t be a problem so long as you have a swing speed between 85 and 100 MPH.

It also does a great job of creating a stable ball trajectory. Of course, this has a lot to do with the low launch but it’s still worth mentioning.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Stable trajectory
• Great for fast swing speeds

Cons:

• Scratches easily
• Not great for beginners

Overall Rating: 92/100

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#9 – True Temper Elevate 95 VSS

Weight: 93, 94, 96, 98 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff

Selling Points:

• .355 taper tip
• High spin
• High shot trajectory

The True Temper Elevate 95 VSS would be a great choice for anyone who has a deliberate swing tempo. This is a pretty straightforward mid to high handicapper shaft. It launches very easily so anyone should be able to get good carry distance with it.

It has a medium to high kick point so it would fit the needs of a variety of players. However, it was our slower swing speed testers who liked the True Temper Elevate 95 VSS shaft the most. It’s lightweight and will help increase club head speed as well.

Pros:

• Great for high handicappers
• Great launch
• Good short-game spin

Cons:

• Almost too light
• Poor shot dispersion

Overall Rating: 91/100

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#10 – KBS Tour 90

Weight: 95, 102, 101 grams

Flexes: Regular, stiff

Selling Points:

• Advanced step pattern
• High CG
• Lightweight design

Last on our list is another great lightweight steel iron shaft. The KBS Tour 90 is one of the lightest steel shafts that KBS produces and would be an excellent choice for anyone who is making the transition from graphite to steel shafts.

And you aren’t likely to find shafts that yield this much distance in the same weight class. The  KBS Tour 90 would also be a great choice for mid to high handicappers looking to increase distance with their long irons.

Pros:

• Great for distance
• Very wieldy in the hands
• Good for increasing swing speed

Cons:

• Produces a somewhat unstable trajectory
• Lacks feedback

Overall Rating: 89/100

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Final Thoughts

The steel iron shafts on our list represent the needs of very different kinds of players. We did that on purpose so that everyone will be able to find a shaft that suits them.

If you were to ask us which shaft we would recommend to the widest array of players regardless of swing metrics we would choose the Nippon NS Pro 950GH NEO because it gives great all-around performance and you don’t need a ridiculous swing speed to wield it. Be sure to check out the Nippon NS Pro 950GH NEO shaft and the other shafts on our list!