Sports & Entertainment – The Informed Senior

It is not unusual to lose strength and balance as one ages. Many who have turned to activities like golf may find that they do not have the power that they once had. However, seniors should not stop exercising because of a lack of strength. If golf is your primary source of exercise, do not stop just because of a lack of strength. Using lighter golfing irons, such as graphite irons, can prolong your golf game well into your senior years. Should seniors use graphite irons? Yes. Graphite irons are much lighter than traditional irons. They can allow seniors to play longer games of golf for more years. Graphite irons may be “new age,” but it is made for those in their golden years. If you are concerned about how age is affecting your gameplay because of ailments like arthritis, limited range of motion, or lack of strength, read on to learn more about how graphite irons can help your golf game if you are a senior. Why Should Seniors Use Graphite Irons? Senior golfers are battling against the hands of time, and if they have pains like arthritis, they may even be fighting against their own hands. At some point, the exercise and enjoyment that they get from golf will end because of a lack of mobility and strength. However, golfers can prolong their play further into their golden years by using the lighter graphite irons that are now available. Senior Ailments Getting out and enjoying exercise is essential for those in their senior years. Studies from Population Health Management show that continued exercise for seniors not only keeps their bodies more agile and physically fit but also helps with their social-emotional health and to combat issues of impairment. Ailments that plague seniors include many things that limit mobility, range of movement, and strength. In the Framingham Disability Study, two-thirds of women ages 75 to 85 couldn’t lift more than ten pounds, and 42% weren't able to stand for more than fifteen minutes. As time goes on, these ailments get worse. Arthritis According to the Mayo Clinic, arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of some joints in the body. These symptoms get worse with age and, as most seniors with arthritis know, can limit your actions. The most common symptom of arthritis in seniors are hand and finger pain, making their grip painful and weaker. Graphite clubs are lighter and more comfortable to swing since you do not need to swing as hard to create power, which makes them ideal for those seniors with arthritis. Heart Disease Heart disease is the leading cause of death in senior U.S. citizens, according to the CDC. The American Journal of Geriatric Cardiology states that one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for heart disease in U.S. seniors is obesity. This means that activities like golf, which give senior adults regular exercise, can fight obesity and limit heart disease. Using clubs that cause less pain and make golfing easier can prolong the exercise that seniors get from the game of golf. What are the Advantages of Graphite Irons? According to Golf Monthly, even though many amateur golfers use steel irons, they would significantly enhance their golf game by using graphite irons. Some of the advantages of using graphite irons are: Graphite is lighterEasier to swingNeed less strength to strike the ballFeels better on contact Graphite is Lighter Graphite is a lighter material with less density, yet still has significant strength. According to the University of Minnesota Department of Geology, graphite sheets have covalent bonds that are strong and provide a "low specific gravity," meaning they are created to be lighter than other materials of the same size. When graphite is arranged in layers and produced in specific ways, it can be used as sporting equipment, like graphite irons, that are both strong and light-weight. Easier to Swing According to a Golf Digest interview with John Oldenburg, VP of engineering and new product development at Aldila, graphite irons can provide better swing speed and stability than most steel irons. This means that the golfer using graphite has to swing with less strength to hit the ball hard and far. Also, the graphite iron is more forgiving and stable throughout the swing, keeping a golfer balanced. Need Less Strength to Strike the Ball The flexibility of the graphite iron and stability of the material makes it so that golfers need less strength and swing speed to strike the ball hard and far. The give of graphite allows for inertia towards and through the ball from the angular momentum of the club. A club that can flex a bit more (like a graphite club) will create more significant angular momentum and, thus, more inertia towards and through the ball. Angular momentum is essential to understand when choosing a club relative to how hard you swing. It is the amount of force and distance created by an object’s inertia from rotation (your swing) relative to the angle at which it strikes another object (the golf ball). Feels Better on Contact Steel irons vibrate much more than graphite irons do. When you swing and contact a golf ball, the vibration of the club can cause you to mis-hit, or even injure yourself. One advantage of graphite irons is that they feel better on contact with the golf ball. The softness of graphite absorbs the vibration much better, giving you a smoother, more controlled swing. Are Graphite Irons More Expensive than Steel Irons? Generally, graphite irons are more expensive that steel irons. However, the price gap is becoming smaller. The best graphite irons are becoming less expensive, and seniors are beginning to take notice of how much they help their game. Here are a few of the best graphite irons for reasonable prices or even the same prices as comparable steel irons: Mizuno JPX graphite set of irons: Mizuno made a set of graphite irons that are the same price as the steel irons of the same design. Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Iron Set: The unique face of this golf club is designed with the lightness and give of the graphite shaft, giving you a perfectly angled attack to the ball.Cobra Men's 2018 F-Max One Length Golf Iron Set: This golfing iron set includes irons of the same length, which increases the likelihood of replicating your swing. The graphite gives a better feel, even with longer clubs. Seniors will appreciate the even length of these clubs that are easier to swing than irons with different lengths. Extreme X5 Wide Sole iBRID Iron Set Senior Men's Complete 8-Piece Iron Set (4-SW) Right Handed Senior Flex A Flex Club with Premium Men's Arthritic Grip: This is an excellent first set of graphite irons. The senior “A” graphite shaft is flexible and allows for more comfortable swings. Also, the grip is tacky and formed for those with arthritis and limited grip strength. In Conclusion Graphite irons are an excellent option for any golfer. Even pros in the PGA tour use them and love them. It should be evident that there are some significant advantages to using graphite irons, especially if you are a senior or someone with a slower swing tempo or ailments that make it more difficult to grip or swing with full strength. Consider these benefits and the fact that graphite is becoming much more affordable. You may surprise yourself by making a move to graphite.