:: Ask the Clubmaker - A Golf Clubmaking Resource :: » Procedures

Trimming Shafts

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:47:27 +0000

When trimming the butt end of a shaft, where should the measurement be taken? The raw shaft, or the bottom of the club head where it touches the ground? Thanks.
Rich, Shadyside, Ohio, USA

Rich,

Assuming you are trimming the club to length, the measurement is with the club in playing position to the butt end of the shaft.

Regards,

Jeff

Shaft Removal

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:37:45 +0000

Does the removal of steel tapered tip shafts require a special process? I’m having difficulty breaking the bond on a broken Ping Zing iron.
Jim, Branford, Connecticut, USA

Jim

Nothing special. When all else fails apply more heat.

Ragards,

Jeff

Increasing Shaft Flex

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:52:28 +0000

I have a Nike Sumo 5900, 11.5 degree driver with a regular flex shaft. It is whippy and I tend to slice unless I slow my natural swing speed (85) way down. Will trimming 1″ off the tip help stiffen this shaft? Will trimming the butt do it as well? If so how much? Thanks.
Allen, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA

Allen

Tipping from the tip end will increase stiffness more than from the butt end. Expect a 1/3 flex increase in stiffness for each @1″.

Regards,

Jeff

Cobra Irons Swingweight

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:31:33 +0000

I play Cobra irons and the swingweight is C7 across the board. Would like to get them to D3 and thinking about reshafting. I need 1/2″ short clubs. Would using an Extra Lite shafts be the way to go?
Bradley, Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA

Bradley,

You would need substantially heavier shafts to get D3 at 1/2″ short - in fact, there are no shafts that heavy. You can use lighter grips and perhaps tungsten powder or tip weights in the shaft to get the clubs to the weight you need.

Regards,

Jeff

Shaft Plug Weights Installation

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:44:34 +0000

Jeff, how are shaft plug weights installed, on the shaft tip or down the shaft? I can’t find any information about shaft weight types and the proper way to install them.
Shawn, Durham, Maine, USA

Shawn

They are epoxied into the shaft tip during assembly. Put epoxy on the pin and inside the shaft and then immediately epoxy the shaft into the head.

Regards,

Jeff

Adams Driver Reshaft

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:14:20 +0000

The stock shaft in my Adams Insight XTD A3 driver cracked just above the hosel. The stock shaft was an Aldila DVS 55-S (not a retail weight). I liked the swing weight of the club with the stock shaft but I can’t find the specs on this driver to know what it was. Also, I am a novice at clubmaking, is there an easy way to estimate swing weight without a scale? There was also a copper colored metal disk that was in the bottom of the hosel that seemed to be blocking the hole that opens into the clubhead; do I need to save this little metal disk to prevent epoxy from going into the clubhead while installing a new shaft? Thanks.
James, Franklin, Louisiana, USA

James,

If you know the weight of the head, the length, weight and balance point of the shaft and the weight of the grip, you can calculate the swingweight. The brass stop in the bottom of the hosel is to serve as a shaft stop as well as to prevent epoxy from going into the head during assembly. I am sure if you call Adams, they will have the club specs for you.

Regards,

Jeff

Callaway Iron Shaft Installation

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:40:48 +0000

Hi Jeff. I just purchased some Callaway X-Tour heads and was looking to install Rifle Flighted taper tips shafts. As the top of the X-Tour hosel is .370 and the bottom is .355 how do I correctly install a taper tip shaft on these clubs?
Paul, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Paul,

Simply put the shaft in all the way to the bottom of the hosel and the taper of the .355″ shaft will match the taper of the hosel.

Regards,

Jeff

TaylorMade RAC Iron Reshaft

Fri, 28 May 2010 23:27:32 +0000

Hi Jeff! Thanks in advance for your response. I’m experimenting with the UST Proforce RV2 95g graphite iron shafts, and will install them into Taylormade RAC LT2 iron heads. The trim instructions for “S” flex are straightforward. On the UST site, they go further and offer frequency and swing weight tables. I am assuming [!] that I can customize with the tip trimming, playing length measure and frequency meter to get the slope I want [slightly less “stiff” than what the tables state]. In other words, can I treat the graphite shaft just like I would a steel shaft blank and build the shaft to the slope I want by successive tip trimming, clamping the shaft at the playing length in my freq. meter and noting the frequency reading? Thanks!
Chris, Black Earth, Wisconsin, USA

Chris,

You are exactly correct!

Regards,

Jeff

Adjusting Iron Lofts

Sun, 23 May 2010 22:31:04 +0000

Hi, could you run me through the process of changing the loft of my irons? I am looking to make them 2* stronger in every iron, I have recently purchased a club bending machine, but would like expert feedback. Many thanks.
Lee, Blackpool, England

Lee,

Any machine should have instructions. Without knowing what machine you have, I can’t tell you the exact technique. Basically you probably push the hosel away from the face to change the loft stronger. Go to www.mitchellgolf.com. I think they have a tutorial there.

Regards,

Jeff

Iron Head Removal

Wed, 12 May 2010 21:43:15 +0000

I normally remove a steel shaft with a heat gun and the shaft comes off after a couple of minutes, but I have 3 wedge heads/shafts about 8 years which I cannot take the heads off, loosen the epoxy, should I use a butane torch, will I ruin the finish? It is Chikara wedges, back finish? Thanks.
David, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

David,

Use a propane torch. it will make the job much easier.

Regards,

Jeff