The "Ask a Clubmaker" Thread

[Ashes]

When I started playing, I had someone look at the lie of my clubs and noticed that I needed 1 degree up, but to get around bending the clubs I went with 1/2" longer which changed the effective loft and got me getting proper contact on the ground.

Is bending your clubs a better option over the extra length ?

Everything I've read suggests getting the right length first, then adjusting the lie angle. Which is what TourFit did when fitting me for my irons.

[oldracer]

Went on the Mizuno shaft thingy and was spec'd at PX 6 and a few others, thought I would soften it a bit and put in a couple of 5.5's but kept losing almost everything right, now that was probably the swing. A couple of months later and the purchase of another set of bats but with tour spec X100's which I thought would have to go in short order but lo and behold, the ball flight is great, a lot lower than I'm use to, more distance and interestingly, when I miss hit, it is not a huge lose to the right but the ball actually holds it's line pretty well. After all that my question is, is there not that much difference in PX6 to X100 that I should not be able to hit these well at all? Getting properly fitted end of this month, thanks racer

[Daves]

I have quote hocko's recent relevant post below. In addition, I have found shaft sets can vary up a full flex from what they are supposed to be at times. And there always seems to be an outlier shaft in every set, that is between 1/3 and even a full flex different to the rest of the set.

Went on the Mizuno shaft thingy and was spec'd at PX 6 and a few others, thought I would soften it a bit and put in a couple of 5.5's but kept losing almost everything right, now that was probably the swing. A couple of months later and the purchase of another set of bats but with tour spec X100's which I thought would have to go in short order but lo and behold, the ball flight is great, a lot lower than I'm use to, more distance and interestingly, when I miss hit, it is not a huge lose to the right but the ball actually holds it's line pretty well. After all that my question is, is there not that much difference in PX6 to X100 that I should not be able to hit these well at all? Getting properly fitted end of this month, thanks racer

PX 6.0 are 6.5 fcm, S300 are 5.8 fcm.
PX 6.0 is roughly an X100 soft stepped.
An inch longer would make PX 6.0 about the equivalent to a hard stepped S300.
So Stiff +

[oldracer]

I have quote hocko's recent relevant post below. In addition, I have found shaft sets can vary up a full flex from what they are supposed to be at times. Any there always seems to be an outlier shaft in every set, that is between 1/3 and even a full flex different to the rest of the set.

thanks Daves, so in practicality there is not much difference from a 6 to X100. What are the characteristics of a shaft that is too stiff or is the answer different for every player?

[Daves]

thanks Daves, so in practicality there is not much difference from a 6 to X100. What are the characteristics of a shaft that is too stiff or is the answer different for every player?

It can vary I gather, depending on your swing speed and type. For me, they tend to go left (your right) i.e. fade, I struggle to launch them and the ball flight is lower. As I understand it, if a shaft is too stiff for your swing/tempo, you will struggle to close the face through impact. A soft shaft, in woods/hybrids particularly, tend to be prone to hook, as the face closes too quickly through impact

[oldracer]

It can vary I gather, depending on your swing speed and type. For me, they tend to go left (your right) i.e. fade, I struggle to launch them and the ball flight is lower. As I understand it, if a shaft is too stiff for your swing/tempo, you will struggle to close the face through impact. A soft shaft, in woods/hybrids particularly, tend to be prone to hook, as the face closes too quickly through impact

thanks again, will be interesting to see how the fitting goes

[AusOdy]

wondering how much normal charge from shops for pulling steel shaft from cast irons then install graphite?
where in sydney i can go? start to think of my elbow........

[Captain Nemo]

Where are you located?

[AusOdy]

strathfield

[Captain Nemo]

Try Dave here:
http://golftraders.com.au

[mrbluu]

wondering how much normal charge from shops for pulling steel shaft from cast irons then install graphite?
where in sydney i can go? start to think of my elbow........

I would think it would be cheaper to sell your current set and buy one with graphites already in them??

Removing the steels shafts should be easy, you just need a heat gun and drill bit with a wire brush to clean the inside of the hosel out.

[Shane788]

I recently went back to my mp60s, I havnt had the lies checked in years and myself and the blokes i play with noticed on the weekend that my divots were pointing at least 20-30m to the left of target but the ball was going straight. I am thinking its just my swing since I havnt been playing/practicing as much but a random said I should get them checked, could this have anything to do with it?

[chappy1970]

Shane the lie's and lofts on forged clubs can get out of whack over time. How quickly this happens, will depend on how often you play and the courses you play i.e. clay belt type vs sand belt type.

Doesn't hurt to get them checked everynow and again.

From what you've described however, I would suggest the resultant divot is more a result of swing change than L/L deviation

[Shane788]

Thanks chappy yeah I thought it was my swing just getting a little worse recently just thought I'd ask, cheers mate!

Shane

[madboarder]

I have a question regarding taper tip shafts as I need a 38.50 (5iron) these days not as nimble and my arms got shorter. (fat guts)
If getting standard tapers in S300 how much will cutting the butt .75 over std add to the dead weight and is there something these days that assist with this? Going in a set of MP 33's. will this be too much and how much will it soften the shaft. Im presumming the shafts are tapers!
Look forward to hearing

Shane the lie's and lofts on forged clubs can get out of whack over time. How quickly this happens, will depend on how often you play and the courses you play i.e. clay belt type vs sand belt type.

Doesn't hurt to get them checked everynow and again.

From what you've described however, I would suggest the resultant divot is more a result of swing change than L/L deviation

[chappy1970]

Mitch this will drop the CPM count a few cycles and bring the SW up. Not a noticeable difference for mine, perhaps a touch softer.

I have the full cycle count at home, but not with me

When you played more regularly. What was your preference in an iron shaft (read when your arms were longer )

[madboarder]

Cool chappy are the mp 33's taper tips?

Mitch this will drop the CPM count a few cycles and bring the SW up. Not a noticeable difference for mine, perhaps a touch softer.

I have the full cycle count at home, but not with me

When you played more regularly. What was your preference in an iron shaft (read when your arms were longer )

[chappy1970]

Yes and I have a mint set of them in my workshop too.

I'm in there right now tinkering

[madboarder]

Played at 38.25" S400 tiped in my old blades + 10 years ago. 1 up + weak lofts. Presuming that Im slower, older, weaker, fatter and lazier now a s300 shaft would work as my old clubs wont work the ball like it should. But then again its off to exercise class for this biggest loser wannabe! Going to come into town when to drop of my weapons now I have something to play.

Cool chappy are the mp 33's taper tips?

[Outcast]

Can you bend a hybrid to change loft?

& if yes, by how much?

[popper81]

Can you bend a hybrid to change loft?

& if yes, by how much?

Yes.*

Lots.

*disclaimer - this is not done by normal industry accepted standards.

[Steve57]

Yes.*

Lots.

*disclaimer - this is not done by normal industry accepted standards.

I dont think around a tree counts!

[chappy1970]

Can you bend a hybrid to change loft?

& if yes, by how much?

Yes they can mate, with the right equipment and expertise. Of which I have neither.

I could be wrong but I think Tommo had or has a hybrid bending machine.

I've seen footage of experts in tour vans bending them with "made for purpose" equipment.

If it was me, I'd buy a different loft rather than go to the effort of getting it bent.

[Outcast]

Cheers Chappy,

Just looking at a few options...

New 5 wood going in the bag is 19*, current hybrid is 21* then to 4 iron at 24* & so on.... was considering weakening lofts throughout the bag & maybe put a 22* hybrid in... other end of the scale is to drop the hybrid altogether & put an extra wedge in..

[golfbound]

Just wanted to say I had Perci put new shafts in my irons and set the lie and loft angles he set the at 2* up and 1* strong, what a difference played my best game ever after this.
Thank Heaps Perci your a legend.