S300 VS. S400 (What’s The Difference?)

 

Finding the perfect golf shaft for your irons can be quite a process.

There are so many different options on the market that you will often have to spend quite a bit of time trying out other choices before you can find the one that works best for your game.

Luckily, the True Temper Dynamic Gold golf shafts have been on the market for many years and have always stood out as some of the best there are.

If you are someone who is curious about the different golf shafts that are put out by True Temper, including the S300 and the S400, we have all the answers you need.

This information is critical when you are shopping for used golf clubs.

Sometimes you will find a set with just what you need, but if the shaft happens to be just a few grams off, will this affect performance?

Is it a deal-breaker?

Let’s take a look.

 

S300 VS. S400 (What’s The Difference)

 

The main difference between the S300 and the S400 golf shafts is the weight.

Weight tolerances for golf shafts are probably a bit different than you may think.

Even though you would expect a golf shaft to come off the shelf being the same weight as all others in its product category, this is not exactly how golf shafts work.

Essentially, everything that is produced is measured, and depending on what range it fits in, it will get categorized at that point.

The fact that the S300 and S400 both start with the letter S means that they are stiff golf shafts.

However, anything that weighs 130 grams and below will be the 300, and anything above this number will be the S400.

Of course, there is also an S200 that will help to take care of the lighter weight golf shafts that come off the assembly line.

Therefore, it may seem as though the 300 or the 400 is just a few degrees off in weight, but this weight difference is going to have an impact on the performance of the golf club.

Heavier golf shafts typically go a little lower than lighter golf shafts, and they tend to perform better for those who have faster swing speeds.

The most popular of the Dynamic Gold golf shafts made by True Temper is, by far, the S300.

This is the shaft that most golfers find to be a good match for their golf game.

However, when you are comparing an S300 and an S400, it is crucial to make sure you are comparing Dynamic Gold to Dynamic Gold.

The S400 shaft is also available in the Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400.

Any of the tour issue shafts are going to perform a bit differently and have tighter manufacturing tolerances.

We are going to explore the features and benefits of the S300 Dynamic Gold and the S400 Dynamic Gold Tour Issue, so you can see where the major differences will be.

 

Features And Benefits Of True Temper Dynamic Gold S300

 

The True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 is one of the most popular golf shafts on the market.

With the S300 golf shaft, you are going to get performance that works for both mid and low handicappers who have a decent amount of clubhead speed.

In addition, the S300 is a high-performing golf shaft that still comes at a fair price.

Putting a set of these in your golf irons can completely change the feel of your clubs, but at the same time, you won’t feel as though you had to break the bank to do it.

The Dynamic Gold S300 uses something called variable wall technology in their golf shafts.

This variable wall technology will allow more control and accuracy for the players who understand the importance of this in the game of golf.

One thing you will enjoy is how easy it is to work the ball when you have a Dynamic Gold shaft in play.

Many players also talk about how the feel of these irons is going to be better than the competition that is on the market.

Overall, the Dynamic Gold S300 tends to be a relatively high launching shaft that has plenty of flexibility.

So many stock golf shaft options coming from companies are going to be sold with the S300 in them as this is one of the most popular golf shafts on the market.

 

Features And Benefits Of The True Temper S400

 

The True Temper S400 Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shaft is a bit different from the typical S400.

For starters, it is a good thing to recognize the fact that the S300 is not made in a Dynamic Gold Tour Issue.

The Tour Issue takes the shaft manufacturing to another level, and the weights of the shafts are going to have an accuracy of +/- 0.5 grams.

This is much higher than the tolerances in the Dynamic Gold golf shafts, and that is because the players who are using these clubs need tighter tolerances.

Most golfers are not going to be able to notice a difference of a gram or two in a golf shaft.

However, if you are a professional golfer who swings a golf club for a living, you will quickly notice when the shafts are off by a gram or two.

The only two flexes that the Dynamic Gold Tour Issue golf shafts are offered in are the S400 and the X100.

True Temper knows that the majority of their customers are going to need this type of iron only if they are swinging at a rather fast swing speed.

The X100 Tour Issue is a very common golf shaft on the PGA Tour.

With the S400, you will notice that the golf shafts are very accurate, and they allow players to control the ball flight quite a bit.

In addition, the ball flight overall tends to be a little bit lower, which is something that the faster swing speed player will need.

You can purchase the S400 Dynamic Gold Tour issue shafts as a complete set option so that you know you are getting golf shafts that are all made together.

The shafts come in a .355 tapered tip that will fit most standard golf irons.

With the S400 shaft, you are going to want to make sure your game is going to warrant a change like this.

The shaft is a very premium option that is really for those that can understand and feel the difference.

If you think that your game is getting better and improving and it’s time for a shaft change, the traditional Dynamic Gold and not the Tour Issue could be a good choice to consider.

 

What Makes A Tour Product Different?

 

The fact that the Dynamic Gold and the Dynamic Gold Tour Issue offer different performances has many golfers starting to wonder what this Tour designation really means in a golf club.

It’s essential to know these things when you are shopping for both equipment and golf components like shafts.

Here are a few of the things that set the Tour products apart from the standard issue.

 

1. Price

 

As soon as a golf product gets the name Tour attached to it, the price is going to go up.

Of course, a lot of this is marketing, but other times, there are reasons behind this.

Some of the tour products use better materials, higher-quality manufacturing, or something that will legitimately raise the price.

In addition, golfers who are searching for tour-level products typically have no issues spending money on the game.

Chances are if you can shoot below 75, you take golf quite seriously and will do whatever you can to shoot some very low numbers.

If this means using the same equipment as the golf professionals on Tour, then the price is typically not an issue.

When you compare the S300 with the S400 Tour Issue, you will notice right away that there is a significant difference in the prices of the shafts.

Unless your game can warrant this type of price adjustment, don’t feel the need to spend the extra money.

Try to balance how important golf is with your budget, so you don’t take this to the extreme.

Manufacturers are going to continue to put out high-end equipment at high prices, but this doesn’t mean you need all of it.

 

2. Performance

 

Most of the time, the performance of the Tour Issue golf products is going to cater to the golfers with higher swing speed looking for more precision.

These golf shafts happen to offer players control and more accuracy than the non-Tour Issue options.

However, the performance of a Tour Issue shaft is not going to be better for all players.

If you are a mid to high handicap golfer who has a slightly slower swing speed, you are not going to need this extra performance revolving around speed.

Instead, you will be much better off with a standard issue golf shaft that is built more for your specific level of performance.

Therefore, the Tour Issue golf shafts do not necessarily offer golfers better performance, but they simply fill the needs of certain players.

Some amateurs think that the reason professionals shoot so low is that their equipment is better.

Of course, the equipment these players use is quite impressive, but it is not necessarily better than something that amateur players or higher handicappers have access to.

 

3. Manufacturing

 

The manufacturing process of a Tour Issue golf product is typically more involved than it is for a standard golf product.

The main reason behind this is that the customer can tell the difference.

Let’s take things outside of golf for a minute.

When you put a grilled cheese sandwich in front of a kid, they are likely going to eat it and be completely satisfied.

However, if you took that same grilled cheese sandwich and put it in front of a food critic, they will know right away that the cheese and bread are not gourmet.

This is the difference between the players who use the standard issue golf shafts and those who use the Tour.

Since the Tour golfers can really tell the difference in the shafts, the manufacturing has to be pristine and top-notch.

The process is more time-consuming, requires more labor, and will result in higher costs.

However, for the golfer who can tell the difference between something that is manufactured to within 0.5 grams, this is the only way to go.

When you watch a player like Collin Morikawa and how precise he is with all of his golf shots and measurements, you know that he can tell the difference in a golf shaft that is slightly off.

These are the players for whom the Tour products are made.

 

4. Player Type

 

Some golfers go out on the course to have a great time while others will try to score low.

There are lots of ways to play this game, and you can make golf into something that works for your personality and your skill level.

If you are a golfer who likes to play golf once a month and may enjoy a bet with friends, the Dynamic Gold option is going to be a suitable choice for you.

If, however, you are trying to line your fireplace mantle with Club Championship trophies, then the Tour Issue shaft could be something to look into.

Golf manufacturers know that there are many different types of players on the market.

They try to appeal to as many of these players as possible to capture the most significant portion of the market share.

Just be sure that you are purchasing clubs within a category that makes sense for your golf game.

 

What Is Better: The S300 Or The S400?

 

Now that you understand the difference between the S300 and the S400, you will have to decide which is better for your golf game.

Luckily, there is only going to be a slight difference between the standard S300 and the S400.

The weight difference will be just a few grams.

The significant difference is going to be between the S400 and the S400 Tour Issue.

If you are comparing these two shafts, make sure you are considering the ball flight and the tolerances in manufacturing.

Overall, it is going to be hard to say that one of these shafts is better than the other.

The major consideration is going to be which one is the better fit for your game.

If you are a golfer who is deciding between the S300 or the X100, then the S400 could be a smart choice.

It has a little extra weight to it and can help control that higher swing speed that you are getting.

Overall, the fact that both of these shafts are made by True Temper means that either product is going to be a good one that will last in your clubs for many years.

This is one of the most trusted golf shaft brands in the game.

The good news is that even if you are not swinging fast enough to benefit from an S300, there are R300 golf shafts available in the standard regular flex.