The "Ask a Clubmaker" Thread

[Daves]

Does it need to be acetone or will the acetone free nail polish remover do the same?

Either will do.

[timah!]

For cleaning out hosels

8.5 & 9'mm drill bits.

Also use the plastics pipe cleaner kits from bunnings. I use plastics because they last a lot longer.

Bunnings do a kit for ten bucks that have about fifteen spiral pipe cleaners that go on the end of your drill.

If you use steel one's... Heat up the hosel before cleaning for best results.

Plastics don't like hot hosels

Got a link or a picture V?

[Hatchman]

I see all this mention of soft stepping and hard stepping iron shafts.
I'm not sure I understand what it is. Can some one please explain so this simpleton understands?

[timah!]

I see all this mention of soft stepping and hard stepping iron shafts.
I'm not sure I understand what it is. Can some one please explain so this simpleton understands?

My basic understanding:

Hard stepping is taking an over length set of 4-GW and putting them in 3-PW, making them std length and a touch stiffer.
Soft stepping is taking a std length 3-PW and putting them into 4-GW, making them +0.5" and slightly softer...

I think I've got that right...

[hardboiled]

SS = 3 iron shaft into 4 iron
4 iron shaft into 5 iron head... Etc
Softens shaft by about a third.. Slightly higher launch.

HS = 9 iron shaft into 8 iron head, 7 shaft into 8 head.. Etc.

Should stiffen shaft by a third of flex lower launch etc..

You can also SS or HS twice, EG 3 iron shaft into 5 iron head etc.

[chappy1970]

Hatch, soft stepping is putting the 3 iron shaft into the 4 iron head, 4 into 5, etc.

Hard stepping is going the other way I.e. 4 iron shaft into 3 iron.

This is a way to alter the flex of the shaft in increments. Soft stepping softens the flex and hard stepping stiffens the flex.

Broadly speaking

[Daves]

I see all this mention of soft stepping and hard stepping iron shafts.
I'm not sure I understand what it is. Can some one please explain so this simpleton understands?

Soft stepping ( x1) is putting a 4i shaft in a 5, a 5 in a 6, a 6 in a 7 and so on. The flex of set built this way is about 1/3 to 1/2 a flex softer than standard. Hard stepping is the reverse build, 5i in a 4, 6i in a 5 an so on. The other outcome is that a soft stepped set ended up 1/2" (or whatever your build steps are) longer, unless you trim them.

[Bitter]

I am about to soft step a set of PX 6.0 into my KZG irons, will this make them similar to a PX 5.5?

[Daves]

I am about to soft step a set of PX 6.0 into my KZG irons, will this make them similar to a PX 5.5?

You would probably need to soft step twice (3i into 5) to get that sort of flex difference. Lengthening the set will also soften the flex a tad.

[Bitter]

Cheers, I am probably somewhere between the 2 anyway so hopefully works out ok.

[Daves]

Probably should add that this is where Parallel shafts come into their own, because you can simply change the tip trim to get the flex you are after.

[Hatchman]

Cheers everyone.
First impression I get is that's it's easier to soft step than it is to hard step and maintain some form of standard playing length unless already over length.

How hard is it to tell what you've really got when buying second hand?

[benno_r]

Cheers everyone.
First impression I get is that's it's easier to soft step than it is to hard step and maintain some form of standard playing length unless already over length.

How hard is it to tell what you've really got when buying second hand?

Nippons or true temper have a screen printed code telling you the stock length (hence shaft).

Kbs tour and c taper have a dodgy sticker under the grip (that is easy) to lose with that info. If gone, you can work it by step pattern on kbs tour. Lose the sticker on c taper - good luck!

[solarbear]

Here you go:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5x-Gold-C...item485ff3e93a
The lead weights are easier to use as you can cut to correct weight easier.

Bah after all this fussing around I ended up making my own. Took 2 boards clamped them together and drilled a hole to the desired depth right down the middle of the two boards which acted as a die. Then melted down some fishing sinkers and poured in. The smell of burning wood was nice.

Anyone else trying this go a size smaller on the drill bit then drill the top 1 cm at the larger flush size. I found 1 cm = about 5-6 grams. You can easily cut or sand off a gram if your fussy.

Is this ghetto?

I assembled my first club and it feels great.

[Daves]

Bah after all this fussing around I ended up making my own. Took 2 boards clamped them together and drilled a hole to the desired depth right down the middle of the two boards which acted as a die. Then melted down some fishing sinkers and poured in. The smell of burning wood was nice.

Anyone else trying this go a size smaller on the drill bit then drill the top 1 cm at the larger flush size. I found 1 cm = about 5-6 grams. You can easily cut or sand off a gram if your fussy.

Is this ghetto?

I assembled my first club and it feels great.

Very clever! Just a word of caution, though I suspect you already know this. Lead fumes are very dangerous, use a mask if you are melting it.

[Johnny Canuck]

Bah after all this fussing around I ended up making my own. Took 2 boards clamped them together and drilled a hole to the desired depth right down the middle of the two boards which acted as a die. Then melted down some fishing sinkers and poured in. The smell of burning wood was nice.

Anyone else trying this go a size smaller on the drill bit then drill the top 1 cm at the larger flush size. I found 1 cm = about 5-6 grams. You can easily cut or sand off a gram if your fussy.

Is this ghetto?

I assembled my first club and it feels great.

Were you able to leave a 1-2mm collar at the top of the weight to prevent it potentially coming loose in the shaft, and to also help it removing it, if you ever wanted to?

[Blackhelmo]

Am looking at purchasing a new TM M1 driver and would like to know what shaft I should have fitted. I'm 51, play off 21 and play maybe once to twice per month. I currently have a 63g stiff shaft in my Cally FT IZ DRIVER and want to know what the difference will be between a 60g and 70g shaft.

My head tells me a 60 g but still unsure


Thanks for any upcoming advice

[solarbear]

Were you able to leave a 1-2mm collar at the top of the weight to prevent it potentially coming loose in the shaft, and to also help it removing it, if you ever wanted to?

Sort of. You can simply drill out a couple of mm with an even larger bit.

And I had some serious ventilation.

Took the club to the range and it played pretty nice. Going to do the whole set at the D4 swingweight.

[3Puttpete]

Am looking at purchasing a new TM M1 driver and would like to know what shaft I should have fitted. I'm 51, play off 21 and play maybe once to twice per month. I currently have a 63g stiff shaft in my Cally FT IZ DRIVER and want to know what the difference will be between a 60g and 70g shaft.

My head tells me a 60 g but still unsure


Thanks for any upcoming advice

If you're spending that coin retail, hit everything they've got before you buy

[timah!]

Am looking at purchasing a new TM M1 driver and would like to know what shaft I should have fitted. I'm 51, play off 21 and play maybe once to twice per month. I currently have a 63g stiff shaft in my Cally FT IZ DRIVER and want to know what the difference will be between a 60g and 70g shaft.

My head tells me a 60 g but still unsure


Thanks for any upcoming advice

Not one of those things mentioned is relevant to club fitting.

[Hatchman]

Am looking at purchasing a new TM M1 driver and would like to know what shaft I should have fitted. I'm 51, play off 21 and play maybe once to twice per month. I currently have a 63g stiff shaft in my Cally FT IZ DRIVER and want to know what the difference will be between a 60g and 70g shaft.

My head tells me a 60 g but still unsure


Thanks for any upcoming advice

If you're spending that coin retail, hit everything they've got before you buy

How else are we supposed to fight over a cheap second hand M1 on here when it sux with that logic

Seriously Helmo, if your paying new release coin get fitted and or hit every combo possible like others have suggested.

[Ron Burgundy]

Seriously Helmo, if your paying new release coin get fitted and or hit every combo possible like others have suggested.

If you're not keen to fork out for a full fitting you could just head into Vic Park on their Taylormade demo nights and hit as many shafts as possible. Only catch is they're the 4th Tuesday night every month, which is tonight, so you'd have to wait a month to do it. I think the range near the airport is doing free M1 fittings also. Whatever you do don't just hit one into the net at Drummond or Golf World.

[benno_r]

Am looking at purchasing a new TM M1 driver and would like to know what shaft I should have fitted. I'm 51, play off 21 and play maybe once to twice per month. I currently have a 63g stiff shaft in my Cally FT IZ DRIVER and want to know what the difference will be between a 60g and 70g shaft.

My head tells me a 60 g but still unsure


Thanks for any upcoming advice

Buy it with the shaft that will sell for the most when your Ozgolfitis kicks in and you want something "not stock".

[Blackhelmo]

Not one of those things mentioned is relevant to club fitting.

Could you point me into the right direction then please. Thanks.



As for the other replies, thanks for the input, and what is a worthy type of shaft you guys would do battle over in the pro shop ?????

[timah!]

Could you point me into the right direction then please. Thanks.



As for the other replies, thanks for the input, and what is a worthy type of shaft you guys would do battle over in the pro shop ?????

What's your swing speed?
Do you know if you hit up or down on the ball?
Is your flight 'consistent' or 'piercing' or does it 'climb funny' due to spin?
Carry distance and total distance currently?