How hard is it to reshaft clubs?

[DrBrown]

The reason I ask is I stopped by a custom club maker and found out my my s300 shafts in my irons are playing at a 3X. I ordered them from Maxfli and requested STD loft/lie with S300's and they cut the shafts down so the tips are really strong. He says they do this because the head design gets the ball up quick so they stiffen the shafts to make up for it so they have a more normal ball flight. That's about the queerest thing Ive heard of! I only swing a 5-iron 87mph so there's no chance of me loading these shafts or having any kind of feel. I can't believe Maxfli thinks a 3X stiff shaft should be used EVER. Tiger and Keeney dont even have shafts that strong and they swing 120mph+. I think I know why I lost all my distance!

Well the club builder quoted me ~$400 to reshaft my irons (SW - 3iron) which includes the fitting and new grips but that seems expensive when I could get a brand new set for 700. He charges $700 for chrome KZG forged blades that are beautiful and fairly forgiving. I hit one and loved it but I just dont have 700 bucks right now because the IRS just raped me.

So my point here is I could probably find out what shaft I need and then buy the shafts/grips and do the work myself. I would prefer to get new ones but I dont know what to do. My dad built his set years ago and says its easy but I know as much about club building as I do about rocket science heh. If you guys were in my shoes what would you do?? Im open to suggestions!

[Slingblade61]

new shafts, $60

epoxy $7

DIY book on club making $4.95

Ruined clubs smashed against the basement wall in a fit of rage......priceless.

[Slingblade61]

Ok, it is easy, ask your dad how to do it........fathers are good for stuff like that.

[Adam Pettman]

I can do it-anyone can do it

[Scotty01292]

I can do it-anyone can do it

You see adam... That's where you're wrong. I can't do it, so i'm left using stock shafts...

[ualtim]

It is not too terribly difficult. The most important thing is to find out the correct shafts that you need to replace the stock shafts with. A lot of OEM's have .355 taper tips, but some have gone to the unitized standard of .370 parallell tips. From the sound of it, you probably have the .370 tips as you can not tip trim taper tips. Find out what you have before you buy.

Unlike regripping clubs, you will need a vice to reshaft your clubs. Additionally, you will need a heat source (heat gun or a mico flame torch are the most popular) and a shaf protector for the vice (cheap ones start around 3$.) Some recommend items include some leather gloves or some sort of device to help twist the clubhead off of the shaft that will protect your hand from the heat. Some tools to clean out the hosels and prep them for reshafting. Golfsmith sells some wire brushes that do the trick fast and easy, but combinations of sand paper or other abrasive devices can do the trick with a little bit more effort.

Once your clubheads are removed and prepped for reshafting, you will need a few more items to prep your new shafts. A long ruler or measuring device to measure club length and trim lengths. A pipe cutter or hacksaw to cut the shafts (other tools such as a Dremel Tool, Bench Grinder with Cutoff blade or Chop Saw with cuttoff blade will simplify this step but is not required.) Sandpaper to abraid the tips of the shaft so that they will accept and adhere to the epoxy (beltsander simplifies but is not required.) Ferrules for the shaft (the platic things that sit just above the hosel.) Grip tape, grips, and grip solvent for the gripping process (alternatives exist, but 2 sided grip tape and solvent are easy to work with.) Epoxy to adhere the shaft inside the hosel of the club (several different options here, I would recommend a longer set time to begin with so you will not be rushed to finish.)

A book or manual that describes the process would be most helpful especially as it is your first reshafting job. Even better, if you have a local Golfsmith they offer a basic club assembly class which includes a book on clubmaking. The local GS current is offering the class for $25 but they give you a $25 gift card plus a page of coupons to use on clubmaking equipment. Besides, you get to keep the two clubs you build and gain some valuable experience.

Have fun!

[DrBrown]

Wow thanks for all that!

The only part that seems intimidating to me is exactly how much do I cut off the shaft and where at so my lie/loft turn out perfect. Little minor details like that. And Im not sure how to tell what shaft I should use. There are 50 kinds of steel regular flex shafts so I dont even know where to begin getting an affordable fitting so I can order shafts. I know the local guy want $80 just to fit people. That seems awfully steep for something that takes all of 10 minutes to do.

[Andy_79]

Why you reckon you don;t need a vice to re-grip clubs, ualtim ?

That seems very expensive to get your shafts replaced ! Are you going for D.Golds ?? We charge 20 quid per club with said shaft, INCLUDING regrip with Tour Velvet / Lamkin Crossline, etc. That includes fitting, btw!

20 quid is about 36 US dollars, so does seem very expensive, IF you are getting the same shafts fitted...

[Slingblade61]

I get shafts from golfsmith, they have a tip trimming guide for shafts. They also hav a few different devices used to measure the shaft for butt cutting once the shaft is installed.

Have a look at the club building kit available at golfsmith for $99, it has everything you need to build, shaft and grip clubs.

[DrBrown]

This place was charging me ~$34/club for fitting, grip and shaft swap. So its about the same. My instructor thinks I should be using regular flex tip iron shaft 1/2", whatever that means. Im asuming the 1/2" refers to the cut length you use on the tip??? He said that would put me a tad over a regular flex with the right kick. I would have to say that sounds about right because I played well with my old rifle shafts that were supposively just over a R flex.

I've been looking a Golfsmith's stuff and its not too bad for price. Im considering building some 600B snake eyes blades because they are similar to the KZG blades I tested and I liked. Only problem is I want to see it in person and hit it first, nobody around here has snake eyes fitting.

[ualtim]

Why you reckon you don;t need a vice to re-grip clubs, ualtim ?

A vice definitly makes the re-gripping process easier, but you can regrip clubs without one. I once regripped two sets of clubs over a sink in an apartment as I did not have all my tools with me. Its a bit harder, but not impossible.

[DrBrown]

Well I have serveral vices so no worries there!

[Rockford35]

I regrip 8 clubs with an ice cream bucket, a utlity knife and a towel in 20 minutes. It's so easy and mess free i do it in the bedroom.

You don't need a vice. Just use more solvent. If you can't get the grip on extremely easy, you need more solvent.

R35

[mont86]

How much does everyone spend per grip? I have been buying the 3 dollar grips I see some going for 11 USD.

[DrBrown]

I just had my old ones gripped with the green lampkin and I hate them already. My right thumb has already worn off the rubber after a couple weeks of playing. Thats a pretty lame grip for $5 a piece.

I think Im going to try some kind of cord next time because they dont wear down fast.