Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts are the gold standard brand when it comes to iron shafts. They are a very traditional steel iron shaft, and one of the most common selections when it comes to players of all types, but especially pros and high-level players.
However, not all True Tempers are created equal! There’s a few variations of TT DG’s: R300, S200, S300, S400, and X100. For the purposes of this article, we’ll get into the similarities and differences of two of the most common options - the S200 and S300.
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True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 Shaft Overview
The S200 is the lightest True Temper Dynamic Gold that comes in stiff flex. It’s nominal weight is 127 grams and all in all, it is actually the exact same shaft as the S300 or S400, made in the exact same manufacturing run and from the exact same materials and processes, but the shafts that come out on the lighter end of the spectrum get the S200 label.
True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 Shaft Overview
The Dynamic Gold S300 Shaft is going to weigh an average of 130 grams and is the shaft that True Temper is “trying” to make when they make all of the S-series iron shafts. We say this because the S200 and S400 options are just due to manufacturing tolerances producing some over- and under-weight shafts that are then labeled accordingly for retail sale.
Dynamic Gold S200 Pros & Cons
The Dynamic Gold S200s are going to give you all of the same advantages of the rest of the DG family, but at a slightly lighter weight than their S300 and S400 counterparts.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Dynamic Gold S300 Pros & Cons
Dynamic Gold S300s might be some of the most widely-used iron and wedge shafts on the market, and are a great “neutral” choice for many semi-athletic, adult male recreational golfers, while many competitive golfers with TOUR-level speed opt for the X100 version.
What We Like
What We Don't Like
S200 Vs S300 Shaft: Key Differences
The S200 and S300 shafts both come from the exact same manufacturing run, and are sorted for weight afterwards. So on average they should be virtually identical, except for weight. However this loss in weight also slightly affects the flex as well.
Flex
Both the S200 and S300 are “stiff” flex. Many amateur golfers wouldn’t be able to even perceive the 3 gram difference in an assembled club, but along with this weight difference also comes a very slight change in flex.
S200 shafts will be slightly softer than S300 shafts, but on a very subtle level. There is just less steel in the shaft, meaning it is ever so slightly thinner-walled, and will weigh less and flex more.
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Shaft Weight
S200s are going to average 127 grams while S300s are going to average 130 grams. These shafts are sorted by weight and can still fluctuate around 1% or so up or down from these numbers in reality.
Swing Speed
All else being equal, lighter things can be swung faster. In practice, some people do actually swing lighter things slower because they change the way they swing them.
When it comes to picking between Dynamic Gold S200s and S300s however, most of the time a faster swing speed player will go for the heavier shaft, and vice-versa for somebody looking to pick up a little swing speed.
Launch Characteristics
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All of the True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts are considered low-launch shafts. The slight variation in weight between the S200 and the S300 might cause a slight change in launch in either direction, but any configuration of TT DG is going to be considered a low launching option. The consensus amongst clubfitters is that the S300 will launch slightly higher than the S200, but it’s easy enough to test it out for yourself.
Accuracy
The S200 will be just a HAIR lighter and just a HAIR more flexible, which could make it lean towards being less controllable for a higher-speed player. Some will have no problem with it, but if you have plenty of speed and accuracy is more of a concern, and you have choices, there’s no reason to not go with an S300 or even S400 instead.
Feel
As we’ve highlighted, these two shafts are about as close to identical as you can get. When you combine them into a fully built club, however, the total effect of the weight, the swing weight, and the shaft flex being SLIGHTLY softer in the S200 can definitely be felt by an experienced player.
The S200 shaft will make a club feel a hair more head-heavy and have a tiny bit more play in the shaft.
Who Should Use The True Temper Dynamic Gold S200?
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A wide variety of golfers could use Dynamic Gold S200s. In fact, almost any golfer can. They may still be too heavy for junior or senior golfers, but they are meant for the those who might just be looking for a tiny break of 3 grams from what many stiff shafts weigh. They are good for anyone who wants to feel slightly more head weight without adding lead tape to their irons. They are also good for anyone who wants to change as little as possible from their stock S300s when it comes to looks and feel, but maybe gain an extra percent of swing speed.
If you want to experiment with a significantly lighter shaft that will make a much bigger difference in feel, try a DynaLite Gold from True Temper or look at lightweight graphite options.
Who Should Use The True Temper Dynamic Gold S300?
The True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 might be the most “traditional” shaft on the market. The “S” stands for stiff flex and the 300 designates it has been weight-sorted to a spec of 130 grams.
These are very traditional dimensions for a fairly hefty set of clubs that an able-bodied adult male might likely fit into. They are, in fact, the stock shaft choice for many iron sets and closely related to the X100s, the extra-stiff version, the tour version of which is the most common iron shaft on the PGA Tour.
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S200 Vs S300 Shaft: Comparison Chart
True temper shaft | s200 | s300 |
|---|---|---|
Flex | Stiff | stiff |
Weight (grams) | 127 | 130 |
Length (inches) | 41.0-37.0 | 41.0-37.0 |
Tip Diameter | .355 | .355 |
Butt Diameter | .600 | .600 |
Launch | Low | Low |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is stiffer S200 or S300?
The S300 is slightly stiffer than the S200, but both are considered stiff flex shafts. The extra stiffness in the S300 just comes from a slight variance in the manufacturing process.
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What does S200 Flex mean?
The S200 means that the club is stiff flex. The “S” means “stiff.” The 200 is in reference to its weight sorting category. These are slightly lighter and play slightly softer than their S300 counterparts.
What is Dynamic Gold S200?
Dynamic Gold S200s are a lighter weight version of the S300. The S200s are spec’d to 127 grams instead of the 130 grams in the S300.
What’s the difference between S200 and S300?
The only difference between S200 and S300 is the weight. The S200 is 3 grams lighter, weighing in at 127 grams instead of the 130 gram S300 shaft.
They are made from the same materials, using the same design and processes - they even are manufactured in the same batch, and natural fluctuations in the manufacturing process produce shafts which are then sorted into each weight category.
Which shaft is more expensive: S200 or S300 Shafts?
S200 and S300 shafts are usually the same price. They are made the exact same way so there is no difference at all to the manufacturer in cost to produce either.
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Final Thoughts
The main thing to know about the Dynamic Gold S200s and S300s is that they come from the same production batch, but are simply sorted by weight. All of the Dynamic Gold series are considered to be the most popular iron shaft on the market, it’s just a matter of choosing from a handful of weight and flex options.
The S200 and S300 differ on paper by only 3 grams on average, with the S200’s being 127 grams and the S300s 130 grams. On paper they are both stiff flex, but to the very sensitive player the S200s can and will play softer.
Most recreational players honestly would have a hard time telling much of a difference between the two, as the adjustments are ever-so-slight. Trying to decide between the two would be more relevant in fine-tuning with a club fitter and a launch monitor than trying to correct a mis-hit.
Both shafts, like all True Temper Dynamic Gold’s, are amongst the most common and highly regarded options on the market.
So common, in fact, that almost anywhere you have more than a few clubs laying around, you will find some TT DG’s! So next time you get the chance, check out a couple of clubs that are S200s and S300s side-by-side, and see if you can tell the difference! If you can, then congratulations: you now know what 3 grams feels like!
