Shaft length / cutting down shafts

[big_greasy_taco]

First, probably a stupid question, but when measuring the length of irons, what are the two points to measure between?

Second, when cutting down a steel shaft, what kind of saw would you use?

[danscustomgolfshop]

Put your club in the playing position and the rule on the underside. From the point of contact on the ground to the edge of the butt cap is the playing length. You do need a proper scale to get accurate readings but this will suffice.
Hacksaw will work on steel, dremel tool etc.
Do not hack graphite,

Originally Posted by big_greasy_taco

First, probably a stupid question, but when measuring the length of irons, what are the two points to measure between?

Second, when cutting down a steel shaft, what kind of saw would you use?

[big_greasy_taco]

The reason I am asking is because the irons I just bought I believe are 1.25 inches longer than standard. I dont know if the lies were changed, though global golf didn't say they were. So I need to measure to make sure, then cut them back to standard, and prolly check the swing weight.

[Pa Jayhawk]

If you cut 1.25" off the shaft on your irons, you are going to seriously change the lie of the club, and they almost assuredly need to be checked and probably bent to correct for this change. I am guessing this is not something you are prepared to do yourself. So if you are going to take them in anyways, you may as well have it done and checked by a professional to assure you not only have the right length but correct lie. I'm guessing the cost of having both done over just having the lie checked and bent will be negligible. Where the cost to your game by only doing one could be tragic. Just my opinion.

The swing weight will change considerably by cutting 1 1/2", so will the flex of the shaft making it much stiffer unless you correct for each by adding weight back. It is going to take quite a bit of lead tape to adjust, and there may be better ways with tungsten powder or such. Something else that would need to be done prior to regripping them. Again, I personally wouldn't recommend doing this yourself unless you are absolutely certain you are aware of all of the consequences. You may render the clubs useless to your needs.

Again, I am just guessing based on the situation. It would seem as though you bought a set of clubs that may not be fit properly to your needs, I think maybe it is time to consider having them done correctly the second time so as not to compound the issue and the cost. I am also guessing there may be question of whether you have the correct flex shaft. If you take one that may already be to stiff for you swing, and make it stiffer and unusable, you may be very disappointed with having to buy new shafts after having already spent your time and money on grips and cutting down the shaft.

edit 1 - if you are still serious about breaking out the hack saw, I would at least recommend taking about $20 or so and take a week of your time to read the following book so you will at least have general knowledge of what you are getting yourself into. May be some of the best money you ever spend on golf if you have ever been uncertain you are getting the correct clubs for your game.
Amazon.com: The Search for the Perfect Golf Club: Books: Tom W. Wishon,Tom Grundner

[big_greasy_taco]

Originally Posted by Pa Jayhawk

If you cut 1.25" off the shaft on your irons, you are going to seriously change the lie of the club,

I am not cutting that off of standard length, I am taking already lengthened clubs and restoring them to standard length. therefore, atleast I would guess, the flex should be accurate.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by big_greasy_taco

I am not cutting that off of standard length, I am taking already lengthened clubs and restoring them to standard length. therefore, atleast I would guess, the flex should be accurate.

You quoted about the Lie but commented on the flex. I would assume you bought these from a friend since they are longer than standard. I would assume since they are 1 1/2 longer, the person was likely fitted. So the Lie is likely bent according to the longer shaft and I would assume is likely not currently standard but hard to say. The flex on the other hand would depend on how the shaft was fitted. If the took say a stiff shaft and put an insert extension in the shaft, then I would say yes, if you remove the insert the shaft would be the stiff shaft. Although you mentioned cutting down the shaft, so my assumption is that possible the shaft was designed to spec at that length. Regardless, if you either cut down the shaft or remove an insert that is there, the shaft is going to play stiffer and have a different swing weight than it currently has right now. Even though Stiff and regular differ based on the shaft, if they were designed to match the manufacturers idea of a stiff shaft or regular shaft, and you cut the shaft, it will no longer meet the same standards they had when they designed the club. Whether that is right or wrong for your game is a whole other question, but it will change. I would also further assume that if the person had these clubs designed, either they do not currently have the swingweight as advertised for the club, or something was done to the club to correct for this change. I would also say if you are Right handed and currently hit these clubs straight, if you cut them down without adjusting the lie, you will hit them right if you are right handed.

Look at it this way, if they took a stiff shaft and added 1 1/2 inches to the shaft with no other modification, the shaft is not current the accepted idea of a stiff shaft for that manufacturer. So while taking the insert out would make it a stiff shaft, it is still stiffer than what you currently feel when you swing the club now. Is that good or bad? Your guess is as good as mine because we do not have enough information about how you swing the club, but it will feel and act stiffer than it is now. Is that good, again hard to say. But if you cut it down and find you can't get the ball in the air and lose alot of distance, don't be surprised. On the other hand, if you require a stiffer shaft than who you bought the from, because of either a faster swing or quicker tempo, or both, then it may help. I guess to state it in an uneducated manner without know more about your swing, which is not a good thing, I would say if you hit the ball further than the guy you bought them from and have a quicker tempo, then the shorter, stiffer shaft could help. If you hit it shorter or have a slower tempo, you are likely making a mistake and going the wrong way unless you correct for this change. This assuming the guy you bought them from was properly fitted.

Regardless, I still think you are asking for trouble by cutting down a shaft without taking the necessary precautions to assure it maintains the same feel. Assuming you spent the money on the clubs because you currently like how the clubs feel. I can assure you that if you cut 1 1/2" off the club, make no adjustment to lie, or weight, the club will not feel or hit the same.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Something else to consider, there still has been no mention of the type of shaft, or even whether they are steel or graphite, but depending on the shaft there are specific trim instructions for the butt or the tip of the shaft. They vary from shaft to shaft and it is not always as simple as cutting it off from the butt of the shaft and re gripping the club. If you take it all off the butt and that is not the intended method to the specs of the manufacturer, you will likely render the shaft useless.