I shot my old match gun( Q5 polymer) side by side with new Q5sf (changed 13lb wolf recoil spring/ tr spring), can only feel a little softer but not much, Stock 2 and Shadow 2 are much sofer.. But in same level (Stock 2, shadow 2, G34, Q5 match etc) I think the soft gun is just easy to shoot, but not guarantee you a better score. Q5 match poly is still a competitive reliable gun..