This year for the first time I have had some pangs of guilt related to leaving for Thanksgiving - because I had to slow down some club builds for good clients. All in all guess this is a good thing, because it means my business is building as I have planned - but I hate saying to people that I cannot their clubs built "right away."
Thinking of this reminded me of one of the really great clubfitters and clubmakers I know tells his clients - that they need to expect it will take at least two weeks to get their clubs built. Truthfully it usually takes me at least this long to build a set of clubs, and here are the typical things that happen when I do a build....
1. After the fitting I order the components - heads, shafts, sometimes grips and ferrules - and it usually takes at least 3 business days to get them from suppliers.
2. As a result of doing a fitting - say for irons - I identify a good match to the right shaft flex and club MOI/Swingweight for the customer.
3. When I get the shafts for the club build, I use a "zone profiling" procedure I learned from Keith Chatham (an AGCP Master). At this time I do a first test of shaft "FLO" - the shaft orientation where the shaft will oscillate in one single plane. When I have the shafts zone profiled, I know which of the shafts would best go in the longer irons and which would best go into the shorter irons.
4. Then I often build at least a test 6 iron - and sometimes also a test 9 iron - for the customer to test. This testing usually involves some final adjustments as needed to the club MOI/SW based on feel and performance.
5. Once I find the final MOI/SW and shaft flex from this testing, I am ready to start building the set to the best MOI/SW and shaft flex. This requires identifying what the right amount of additional headweight to add to the club - or in some cases how much weight to take out of the clubhead - so that the set can be matched for MOI/SW and flex. I do this using a neat trick I learned from Dana Upshaw (another AGCP Master) - club blueprinting. Using one sacrificial shaft I can identify the correct amount of headweight to add/subtract for each club to MOI match the set (I MOI match all sets now). This procedure usually takes a couple of hours to do, but it is a critical one to allow me to build a truly matched set.
6. Once I have identified all of the appropriate headweights, I can then builid the set. I tip each shaft so that it has the right final flex, then cut each shaft to length, then do final shaft FLO and orientation with the clubhead, and then epoxy all of the heads and shafts. I use 24 hour epoxy for most builds, though there are some excellent epoxies that will cure faster.
7. Then - after 24 hours - I sand and polish all ferrules, install grips, and do a final check of the MOI/SW for all clubs to ensure that I build them as I had planned.
So yes..............it does take time to build truly matched set of clubs. Time well spent!
Tony
Showing posts with label clubmaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clubmaking. Show all posts
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thanksgiving!
Some of my Giving Thanks areas this year related to clubfitting and clubmaking....
1. Getting to partner with Des Mahoney at Centenial. Des is a superb golf teacher, and advocate of my clubfitting efforts, and a great friend. Two years ago when I first had the opportunity to team with him at Centenial, I would not have imagined what a good team we would become.
2. The Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP). The best clubfitting group that there is. Every week I learn new things from these guys. No question to them is a dumb question.
3. My clients. I am busier right now than ever before, and I thank the folks who have asked me to help them play better golf by getting clubs that truly fit them.
4. My wife. The one who puts up with me almost every night building clubs in the basement of our house. Could NOT do it without her support.
Thanks to all of you.
Tony
PS.........and one more thing............way to go Scott Stallings getting to the Final Stage of Q School!!
1. Getting to partner with Des Mahoney at Centenial. Des is a superb golf teacher, and advocate of my clubfitting efforts, and a great friend. Two years ago when I first had the opportunity to team with him at Centenial, I would not have imagined what a good team we would become.
2. The Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP). The best clubfitting group that there is. Every week I learn new things from these guys. No question to them is a dumb question.
3. My clients. I am busier right now than ever before, and I thank the folks who have asked me to help them play better golf by getting clubs that truly fit them.
4. My wife. The one who puts up with me almost every night building clubs in the basement of our house. Could NOT do it without her support.
Thanks to all of you.
Tony
PS.........and one more thing............way to go Scott Stallings getting to the Final Stage of Q School!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
AGCP Roundtable 4 - Education, Education, Education!
The Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP) held its 4th Annual Roundtable in Columbus, GA on October 14-17. For me, this event just keeps getting better and better! The best of the best clubfitters get together each year to learn from each other about different elements of professional clubfitting.
The theme of this Roundtable - and the previous Roundtables - was Education, Education, Education. It is an opportunity for the best clubfitters in the world to share their knowledge. Some of the major topics discussed during the Roundtable included:
- Club Grinding Techniques - discussions on key elements of grinding, and then a hands on session where attendees could learn some of these key elements;
- Presentations of how to address some key swing flaws in clubfitting sessions, and on some of the key components of good iron fitting;
- "Tricks of the Trade" - tips to help in fitting and building clubs;
- New techniques for profiling golf shafts, and use of high speed cameras during the fitting process;
- Using shaft profiling techniques in driver shaft fitting;
- Discussion on the influence of Club Balance Point in clubfitting;
- The Hows and Whys of Clubfitting;
- Putter fitting;
- Keys for operating a profitable clubfitting business.
In addition, I think 21 different sponsors were in attendance at the Roundtable. This included shaft manufacturers, custom club manufacturers, and companies that provide materials and services to improve clubfitting and clubmaking.
For me this was another great learning experience to help me get to a higher level of fitting and clubmaking expertise. Probably the best part of the Roundtable is the chance to ask questions of recognized experts, both during presentations and in the evenings.
Just another Wow! Roundtable - can't wait to see this group again next September.
Tony
The theme of this Roundtable - and the previous Roundtables - was Education, Education, Education. It is an opportunity for the best clubfitters in the world to share their knowledge. Some of the major topics discussed during the Roundtable included:
- Club Grinding Techniques - discussions on key elements of grinding, and then a hands on session where attendees could learn some of these key elements;
- Presentations of how to address some key swing flaws in clubfitting sessions, and on some of the key components of good iron fitting;
- "Tricks of the Trade" - tips to help in fitting and building clubs;
- New techniques for profiling golf shafts, and use of high speed cameras during the fitting process;
- Using shaft profiling techniques in driver shaft fitting;
- Discussion on the influence of Club Balance Point in clubfitting;
- The Hows and Whys of Clubfitting;
- Putter fitting;
- Keys for operating a profitable clubfitting business.
In addition, I think 21 different sponsors were in attendance at the Roundtable. This included shaft manufacturers, custom club manufacturers, and companies that provide materials and services to improve clubfitting and clubmaking.
For me this was another great learning experience to help me get to a higher level of fitting and clubmaking expertise. Probably the best part of the Roundtable is the chance to ask questions of recognized experts, both during presentations and in the evenings.
Just another Wow! Roundtable - can't wait to see this group again next September.
Tony
Monday, May 25, 2009
Your Best Iron Length - Extenders - MAYBE!!
This week I had two clients request some help with their golf clubs in terms of putting "extenders" in the end of their iron shafts. One client purchased a new set of clubs but knew they would not be the right length, and we identified the best length clubs for him. The other client had recently bought a set of clubs and had extenders put in, but they are coming loose - so he has asked me to repair this problem for him.
Extending the length of golf clubs is a fairly easy clubmaking operation to do. We purchase extenders from many club component companies, and there are different size and type extenders for different shaft sizes and shaft types. It is important to determine the right size extender, I would not put a small extender into a shaft and hope that it would epoxy together well. And there are a few "tricks" that I have picked up to make SURE that the extenders will fit snugly into the shafts, and that they will not come loose when they have been epoxied into the present shafts.
As a near term improvement, extenders are a great option for getting golfers into the right length clubs. This is particularly true for a golfer who does not play a lot of golf - say once a month or less.
If you play a LOT of golf, and really care about having clubs that truly fit your game, then you should be aware of the pluses and minuses of extenders. Definitely the plus is that they can help you be playing the right length clubs, and achieving more square impacts with your irons should improve your ballstriking.
Adding extenders will increase the swingweight of the clubs - about 2 to 3 swingweight points for each 1/2 inch of extender. My recommendation would be that if you want to extend your clubs much more than 1/2 inch in length, and you are really serious about your golf, then you should consider the option of playing with lighter shafts or shafts with different balance points so that the longer clubs will not feel too heavy for you. FEEL is a key element for all golfers - your clubs need to feel good to you for you to play well.
Bottom line - playing clubs that are the right length should be a given for any golfer. Using extenders is a great low-cost option for changing the length of your clubs so that they are the right length. In some cases, there may be a change in feel of the clubs that you do not like and if you so you should consider getting a professional clubfitter to help you find the right shafts for your clubs to get you the right length, swingweight/MOI, and shaft flex for your game. And for sure - if you do get extenders put into your clubs - make sure the job is done right; it is no fun to play with clubs that have shafts that twist at the end!!
MORE ON THE CLUBS WHERE EXTENDERS NOT WORKING.... After I finished writing my initial post, I went downstairs and pulled a grip for one of the clubs. Very interesting! Actually, the extender had NOT come apart. But what the person who put on the extender did was to put grip tape over the old grip tape rather than stripping all of the old tape off and starting with a clean shaft.....SO the grip end of the shaft with tape on was not the same diameter as the other part of the shaft....and the grip slipped at the end. In addition, the extender on this club was 2 inches - WAY too much, the swingweight of the gap wedge was E1, very high. Hopefully I have enough ammo to help this player find a better shaft option for him!
Tony
Extending the length of golf clubs is a fairly easy clubmaking operation to do. We purchase extenders from many club component companies, and there are different size and type extenders for different shaft sizes and shaft types. It is important to determine the right size extender, I would not put a small extender into a shaft and hope that it would epoxy together well. And there are a few "tricks" that I have picked up to make SURE that the extenders will fit snugly into the shafts, and that they will not come loose when they have been epoxied into the present shafts.
As a near term improvement, extenders are a great option for getting golfers into the right length clubs. This is particularly true for a golfer who does not play a lot of golf - say once a month or less.
If you play a LOT of golf, and really care about having clubs that truly fit your game, then you should be aware of the pluses and minuses of extenders. Definitely the plus is that they can help you be playing the right length clubs, and achieving more square impacts with your irons should improve your ballstriking.
Adding extenders will increase the swingweight of the clubs - about 2 to 3 swingweight points for each 1/2 inch of extender. My recommendation would be that if you want to extend your clubs much more than 1/2 inch in length, and you are really serious about your golf, then you should consider the option of playing with lighter shafts or shafts with different balance points so that the longer clubs will not feel too heavy for you. FEEL is a key element for all golfers - your clubs need to feel good to you for you to play well.
Bottom line - playing clubs that are the right length should be a given for any golfer. Using extenders is a great low-cost option for changing the length of your clubs so that they are the right length. In some cases, there may be a change in feel of the clubs that you do not like and if you so you should consider getting a professional clubfitter to help you find the right shafts for your clubs to get you the right length, swingweight/MOI, and shaft flex for your game. And for sure - if you do get extenders put into your clubs - make sure the job is done right; it is no fun to play with clubs that have shafts that twist at the end!!
MORE ON THE CLUBS WHERE EXTENDERS NOT WORKING.... After I finished writing my initial post, I went downstairs and pulled a grip for one of the clubs. Very interesting! Actually, the extender had NOT come apart. But what the person who put on the extender did was to put grip tape over the old grip tape rather than stripping all of the old tape off and starting with a clean shaft.....SO the grip end of the shaft with tape on was not the same diameter as the other part of the shaft....and the grip slipped at the end. In addition, the extender on this club was 2 inches - WAY too much, the swingweight of the gap wedge was E1, very high. Hopefully I have enough ammo to help this player find a better shaft option for him!
Tony
Monday, March 23, 2009
AGCP - My BUDDIES!!
The Association of Golf Clubfitting Professionals (AGCP). I thought it was time to give these guys a bit of a plug - though to tell you the truth many of the folks in this group are at a pretty incredible level of clubfitting and do not need any help from me!
I think it was about 2 years ago, probably around this time of year, that I found the AGCP web site. Something about them, the resources and approaches that they promoted, and the fact that they have a yearly "Roundtable" meeting where clubfitters get together to talk details of clubfitting, seemed attractive. So I joined.....and it was the best move I have ever made in clubfitting.
The AGCP, lead by Roy Nix of Columbus, GA is one tremendous organization. They attempt to keep things simple in my view - How Can We All Improve As Clubfitters And Clubmakers? And they do it in a deceptively simple way - All members are encouraged to buy in the philosophy that There Are No Dumb Questions. This is an easy philosophy to say but not easy to realize - but it is the bread and butter of the AGCP. Questions come from clubfitters who are new, clubfitters like myself who have a few years of experience, clubfitters who have many years of experience - and answers come from people who have qualifications like International Clubmaker of the Year, and may others who have been the business and fully know ropes. And always the response is thanks for the question and here is your answer.
As a result, many of the really great clubfitting and clubmaking techniques that I have learned have come from being an AGCP member. Some of these include....
1. Zone profiling of iron shafts....to determine which shaft in a set of untipped shafts to use in which irons to get the most consistent shaft flex profile.
2. Using unscented baby wipes to clean epoxy off the outside of clubs when doing a build.
3. The "Butt-Mid+Tip" profiling technique for picking the best driver shaft for a player's swing speed, tempo, and release point.
4. 3M DP 810 epoxy, which has great strength characteristics and is playable in about 30 minutes.
And a lot more.
And the ROUNDTABLE events.....well, these are the highlights of being involved in the AGCP. In the late fall in 2007 and 2008 I attended these, with about 60 other clubfitters. Each time I came away with lots of new knowledge and connections and ways to improve my clubfitting techniques.
Now, clearly if you read this and are in the Knoxville area your clubfitter of choice ought to be me! (and I believe in fact I am the only AGCP fitter in this area). But if you are from another area of the country, and are looking for a great clubfitter to help improve your game, I suggest you get on the AGCP web site - www.agcpgolf.com - and look for an AGCP fitter in your area. You will be pleased with the results!
Tony
I think it was about 2 years ago, probably around this time of year, that I found the AGCP web site. Something about them, the resources and approaches that they promoted, and the fact that they have a yearly "Roundtable" meeting where clubfitters get together to talk details of clubfitting, seemed attractive. So I joined.....and it was the best move I have ever made in clubfitting.
The AGCP, lead by Roy Nix of Columbus, GA is one tremendous organization. They attempt to keep things simple in my view - How Can We All Improve As Clubfitters And Clubmakers? And they do it in a deceptively simple way - All members are encouraged to buy in the philosophy that There Are No Dumb Questions. This is an easy philosophy to say but not easy to realize - but it is the bread and butter of the AGCP. Questions come from clubfitters who are new, clubfitters like myself who have a few years of experience, clubfitters who have many years of experience - and answers come from people who have qualifications like International Clubmaker of the Year, and may others who have been the business and fully know ropes. And always the response is thanks for the question and here is your answer.
As a result, many of the really great clubfitting and clubmaking techniques that I have learned have come from being an AGCP member. Some of these include....
1. Zone profiling of iron shafts....to determine which shaft in a set of untipped shafts to use in which irons to get the most consistent shaft flex profile.
2. Using unscented baby wipes to clean epoxy off the outside of clubs when doing a build.
3. The "Butt-Mid+Tip" profiling technique for picking the best driver shaft for a player's swing speed, tempo, and release point.
4. 3M DP 810 epoxy, which has great strength characteristics and is playable in about 30 minutes.
And a lot more.
And the ROUNDTABLE events.....well, these are the highlights of being involved in the AGCP. In the late fall in 2007 and 2008 I attended these, with about 60 other clubfitters. Each time I came away with lots of new knowledge and connections and ways to improve my clubfitting techniques.
Now, clearly if you read this and are in the Knoxville area your clubfitter of choice ought to be me! (and I believe in fact I am the only AGCP fitter in this area). But if you are from another area of the country, and are looking for a great clubfitter to help improve your game, I suggest you get on the AGCP web site - www.agcpgolf.com - and look for an AGCP fitter in your area. You will be pleased with the results!
Tony
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