Dynamic Gold R300 vs S300 | What Are The Differences?

Many would argue that choosing the shaft is the most important part of the club. With the right weight, length, flex, and launch, it can truly enhance your game. However, if you are choosing between two shafts like the Dynamic Gold R300 and S300, you may be wondering what the difference is and which one is better for you. 

What is the difference between the Dynamic Gold R300 vs S300? The main difference between the R300 and S300 is the flex. The R300 has a regular flex and the S300 has a stiff flex. This means that the R300 is better for players who have slower swing speeds, whereas the S300 is better for players who have faster swing speeds. This also means that the R300 and S300 have different kick points. So, the R300 has a slightly higher launch angle than the S300.

With this chart, it is easy to notice that aside from the flex, there are no other differences between these shafts. The weight, butt, tip, length, and launch are all the same. The fact that there is only one difference makes it much easier to decide between the two shafts. 

However, the flex of a shaft is a complex feature, so below we broke down how these two different flexes will impact your game and who they are both good for.

Swing Speed

Traditionally, stiffer shafts are designed for players with fast swing speeds. This is mainly because the faster the swing speed, the more prone a shaft is to bending. When a shaft bends too much it could cause a bunch of issues. 

If a shaft is not stiff enough, it could cause the head to move at a different speed than intended, and it will not make contact with the ball at the right point in your swing. So it is very important that you have enough stiffness to compensate for the speed.

On the other hand, a shaft that is too stiff is much harder to square at the point of impact. In other words, the face of your club will be harder to square to the ball if the shaft is too stiff.

What Flex Is S300

The Gold Dynamic S300 is a Stiff Flex Shaft. A Stiff shaft is the second stiffest shaft available, meaning it’s generally a better shaft for those with higher clubhead speeds. A “Stiff” Shaft is optimal for these clubhead speed:

• 6-iron: 84 mph – 91 mph
• 4 hybrid: 90 mph – 96 mph
• 3-wood: 93 mph – 97 mph
• Driver: 97 mph – 104 mph

So, if you know your general clubhead speed, this will be super useful. If you have a faster clubhead speed that is within these ranges, then the S300 is better for you.

What Flex Is R300?

The Gold Dynamic R300 is a Regular Flex Shaft. A Regular Flex shaft (also referred to as average flex) is the middle-most flexible shaft available. It is the 3rd most flexible and the 3 least flexible, hence, the average flex. A “Regular” Shaft is optimal for these clubhead speed:

• 6-iron: 75 mph – 83 mph
• 4 hybrid: 80 mph – 90 mph
• 3-wood: 84 mph – 93 mph
• Driver: 84 mph – 96 mph

If you don’t have as fast of a clubhead speed, but can still generate a decent amount of power, then you could go with a regular flex shaft like the R300.

Kick Point

The flex also impacts the kick point of the club. The kick point is the area in the shaft where the club bends during the swing. A regular flex shaft and a stiff flex shaft both have different kick points, which will impact the flight of the ball.

Golf clubs with less stiffness in their shaft have a lower kick point (the kick point is located closer to the club head). Golf clubs with more stiffness have a higher kick point (the kick point is higher up towards the grip).

The lower the kick point, the higher the launch angle, and the higher the kick point the lower the launch angle. So, with the R300, you are going to get a slightly higher launch angle and with the S300, you will get a slightly lower launch angle. So depending on what you need out of your swing

What Weight Is The S300 and R300?

Depending on the length that you select, the overall weight will vary for both the S300 and R300 shaft. The weight for the S300 ranges from 124 grams to 137 grams. The weight of a shaft doesn’t have as much of an impact as the flex, but it does slightly change how you swing. Generally, the heavier the shaft, the slower the clubhead speed. While this may not always be true, it is something to consider. 

The main reason why these golf shafts are a bit heavier than the average golf shaft is because they are made from steel. While steel is arguably the most common material for golf shafts, many people don’t realize how heavy they can be. If most of the shafts in your bag are graphite, then you may not be used to the weight that these shafts have.

Final Thoughts: S300 vs R300

Both of these shafts present great benefits if chosen correctly. Despite the minimal differences between the two, it is still important to know how they differ and how each will impact your game. If you know your clubhead speed, it will make this decision process easy, as the R300 is better for slower clubhead speeds, and the S300 is better for higher clubhead speeds.

If you are not sure what your clubhead speed is, try going to your local pro shop and they should be able to measure that for you. Through this, you will be able to figure out which one of these shafts will improve your game.