Reshafting your golf clubs

Posted on May 29, 2017December 26, 2020 by luminaryws

If it’s time to update your golf clubs, consider reshafting them instead of buying a whole new set of clubs. The right shaft can really improve your game, and it’s an inexpensive way to improve your clubs.

You can reshaft your clubs yourself, but if your not too confident, you can take your clubs into your local pro shop and they’ll be happy to help. Many times you can get your clubs reshafted the same day since the process isn’t too labor intensive.

Here is a video from our friends from Golf Analytics and step by step instructions provided by Golf Galaxy. You’ll need to know a few key terms before you reading through the instructions:

Hosel – The socket of a golf club head into which the shaft fits.

Ferrule – A component of most golf irons and some golf woods: It is the small, usually black, usually plastic cover over the point where the shaft enters the hosel.

Steel Shafts: To remove a steel shaft from a metal wood or iron, place the shaft in a super lock tight shaft holder. Tighten the STSL in a vise. If there is a plastic ferrule in place, wrap a wet paper towel around it to prevent burning. While wearing protective leather gloves, aim the flame of a torch at the hosel. After heating the hosel for about 30 seconds, grasp the head with your gloved hand and twist. If the head does not loosen, repeat heating in 15 second increments until it can be removed. Note: Some older heads are pinned in place.

Graphite Shafts: To remove a graphite shaft, place the shaft in a graphite shaft extractor following the instructions that came with the tool. Heat the hosel with a heat gun while wearing leather gloves. Slowly turn the extractor’s threaded bolt with a box wrench. If the head does not loosen, reapply heat to the hosel. Note: DO NOT TWIST the clubhead when removing graphite shafts.

Steps 2 through 5 apply to both steel and graphite shafts:

2. Measure the shaft tip. Most iron shafts have a .370 of an inch tip and most wood shafts have a .335 of an inch tip. Follow the tip trimming instructions to trim the tip end of your new shaft so it matches the size of the shaft you extract.

3. After the tip has been trimmed, abrade or roughen the shaft tip. If a ferrule is to be installed, slide the ferrule up the shaft, and then mix the epoxy. Dip the tip of the shaft into the mixed epoxy, making sure that a small glob of epoxy remains on the tip. Insert the shaft into the club head’s hosel. Rotate the shaft while sliding it in and out of the hosel, evenly coating the shaft and hosel with epoxy.

4. Align the shaft graphics the way you want them by rotating the shaft. Then, tap the butt end of the shaft on the floor to seat the tip against the bottom of the hosel bore. Recheck alignment of graphics. Wipe any excess epoxy with a clean paper towel. The club should be set aside until the epoxy has cured.

5. Position the club in the normal playing position. Slide a 48-inch ruler behind the club. Use a felt tip pen to mark the shaft an 1/8 of an inch below the desired playing length. Note: The grip cap will extend the club’s length by an 1/8 of an inch.

Hopefully you don’t have to update your golf clubs now, and you can simply reshaft them. The best advice to newbies is to find a cheap set of irons and some cheap shaft pulls to practice on before you do it for yourself the first time. Get in touch with us at ProClubs because we can help with that. And, happy reshafting!

Top 5 obscure golf rules that people aren’t familiar with but should know.

Posted on May 22, 2017December 26, 2020 by Kody

There are 34 rules to the official game of golf, within these 34 rules there are over 100 sections, and 2000 explanatory decisions and subsections. Golf is governed by some of the most bizarre rules of any sport. The most recent example is professional golfer Dustin Johnson being penalized two strokes at the PGA Championship for grounding his club in a hazard. Many critics blame Dustin, others blame his caddie, but here at Proclubs we unanimously feel it was the result of the needlessly complicated Rules of Golf.

There are a large number of rules that professional golfers miss. This gives what might be one of the simplest sports, the most complicated set of rules. So, without further ado, here are the top 5 obscure golf rules that people aren’t familiar with but should know.

1. Divots and Holes

Imagine playing in the group behind Tiger Woods. Then imagine that Tiger hits a huge drive into the middle of the fairway, and then hits a 5-iron landing his ball on the green. That 5-iron shot creates a 2 inch deep divot. If you hit an identical drive to Tiger, as highly unlikely as that may be, and land in the exact same spot, you’ll be denied the same playing conditions he had. If a cart or mower created the deep divot-like hole, you get relief, meaning you can move your ball out of the hole, but if the hole was made by a golfer, then you are screwed.

If your ball falls into a hole on the course made by a burrowing animal, like rabbits or groundhogs, you are subject to relief and your ball can be re-positioned. However, if a ball finds its way into holes considered abnormal by USGA, abnormal being holes made by non-burrowing animals, like a dog, it is not subject to relief. The Solution: Golfers should get relief from all unusual conditions and those conditions should include divots and all animal made holes.

2. Hitting another player

There is no rule penalizing a player for hitting another golfer. And, should you happen to hit an out of bounds opponent, Rule 19-3/1 allows you to replay the shot if the ball rolls out of bounds. Of course, unwritten and proper golf etiquette dictates that you should use the term ‘fore’ to warn your possible victims. Don’t forget to apologize to the stricken opponent.

3. Who’s Ball Is It?

You and another golfer are using the same ball brand, and it just so happens that you both hit said balls into the same bunker. When looking at each other’s position, you find that neither of you can differentiate on who’s ball is whose. Neither one of you put an identifying mark on the ball. What to do? Well, rule 12-2 says that both balls are viewed as lost and both players are penalized a stroke and need to go back to play their previous shots. The Solution: Mark your balls and compare them before teeing off.

4. Don’t get disqualified

If you commit a penalty that becomes apparent after your scorecard is signed you’ll be disqualified. Even if your penalty is not malicious or unintentional there is no “the two-stroke penalty” mercy. Instead, you’re disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.The Solution: Just give the golfer his penalty, but don’t DQ them under another rule.

5. Play the ball as it lies

You just hit a great ball landing at the perfect spot on the green. As you make your way towards the ball, the wind picks up and blows several hypothetical pine cones onto the green. One of the cones just happens to land right behind your ball. As unfortunate as it may be, Rule 13-4/18.5 states “…that because this new object was placed by natural phenomenon and not as a malicious act by an ‘outside agent’, you must play the ball as it lies”. The Solution: Let the golfer move the pine cone.

Although these rules are collectively a bit obscure, there are many of golf’s standard rules that golfers aren’t aware of. But there are many more rules that fall into the quirky category, and those are widely unknown. Hopefully you found these rules helpful, and if not, hopefully you got a laugh out of it. Happy Golfing!

How to repair a ball mark

Posted on May 8, 2017December 26, 2020 by Kody

We have all been there before…You just hit a great approach shot, look down, and realize you’ve taken a chunk out of the fairway. Don’t worry though, it’s a common occurrence for most golfers. The damage, as a result of your swing or golf ball, is called a divot. Although divots are easy to fix, they are often intentionally or unintentionally overlooked.

Here is what Golf Rulebook has to say about divots in Section I “. . . a player should ensure that any divot hole made by him and any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired.” A survey taken by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America shows that the most prevalent breach of course etiquette is the failure to repair ball marks. This breach is followed closely by the failure to replace divots and to rake bunkers.

Here are the steps recommended on how to properly repair divots:

Step #1:

Make sure you have a divot repair tool before you hit the course.

Step #2:

Take your divot repair tool and insert the prongs into the turf at the edge of the hole.

Step #3:

Push the edge of the ball mark toward the center.

Step #4:

Gently tap down the repaired ball mark with a club, preferably a putter.Ensure that fairway divots are filled with the seed/sand that is provided on the cart, or replace the grass divot.

Divot repair is important and good etiquette

By repairing your ball marks it allows us to keep the courses we love in great shape, especially for who will come behind you. When divots are neglected, weeds can take over, golfers to come can face difficult shots, and the general appearance of the course can suffer. Remember while golf is fun, entertaining, and relaxing – respect for the course is equally important.

Selecting the right putter for your game

Posted on May 1, 2017December 26, 2020 by Kody

If you’re in the market for a new putter, there are few things you should know. There are more putters on the market than any other type of golf equipment. Putters come in all shapes and sizes, weights and lengths. Below are some of the factors that will affect your putting stroke. So before you buy, consider these factors.

1. Length

Putters you’ll find in pro shops are nearly all the same length. The so-called “standard” putters are 35 inches long. Most of the top golf brands offer lengths from 33 to 37 inches. If you grip a “standard” length putter and find you’re gripping down the shaft, you will need a shorter putter. If you grip beyond the end of the putter, you will need a longer putter.

If you want a more exact formula assume your comfortable putting stance, with the arms hanging down naturally toward the ground. Have someone measure the distance from the ground to the top of the hand while you are in that position. This is the preferred length of the your next putter.

2. Balance Point

There are basically two types of putter heads; face balanced and toe balanced. If you lay the shaft on your index finger with the shaft parallel to the ground and the face is turned up, you have a face balanced putter. If the toe is facing toward the ground, you have a toe-balanced putter. If you have an arc stroke you would benefit from a toe balanced putter.

3. Head Design

This is where it becomes a little more player preference. Putter heads come in all different shapes and sizes, but it really boils down to do you prefer a mallet head or more of a blade head?

If your putting stroke is straight back and straight ahead, a mallet putter is ideal because of the club’s center of gravity, which is toward the back of the club. If you are an arc putter, you may benefit from a blade putter.

Pick the putter that improves your game

There really is only one criteria that counts when determining if a putter is right for you: Does it help you make more putts? With putting counting for more than 40% of your score, and the putter being used more times than any other club in the bag, we hope this article makes the important choice a little bit easier for you.

10 Ways to save money on golf

Posted on April 24, 2017December 26, 2020 by Kody

Do you love to play golf? Do you also love to save money? The Proclubs team has pooled their collective knowledge together and come up with some serious golf saving tips that you might not have considered before. Between equipment and greens fees, the costs of golfing can add up quickly, there’s no wonder why the game of golf still retains somewhat of a stigma as being an “elitist’s” sport.

Learn to Save Money and Play Golf

golf carts — HINT: Don’t use one of these.

More than ever, the game ends up a casualty of a limited budget, but don’t stress because there are tons of ways to save money on and around the golf course. There’s no reason to think of golf as an expensive hobby anymore. It can be fit into the most frugal lifestyle in 2017. So continue enjoying your time on the green, knowing that you’re saving big using these 5 pro tips.

1. Buy used clubs

Purchasing golf equipment can be expensive but there are ways to save money if you’re on a budget. Like automobiles, golf clubs depreciate in value. I always try to buy my clubs used whenever possible. If you desperately want a set of Pings, Titleist, Callaways or any of the major golf brands clubs you can save 30%-70% buying used. Golf clubs rarely wear out. You can get top-notch equipment at a fraction of its original cost. And if you have some old clubs you no longer want, you can sell them and lessen the amount of cash coming out of your own pocket for the purchase.

2.  Stop at your grocery store or pack a lunch before your round

Instead of buying overpriced snacks at the course, visit your local grocery store beforehand. If you make this a habit you’ll start to save real money. If you are rushed on the way to the course, and in need of healthy options, Trader Joe’s has quite a few of my favorites. Some of their meals are made for on-the-go. Pre cut veggies and healthy salads are quick, easy and healthy to grab for a full 18-hole round of golf.

3. Walk, don’t ride

Walk instead of renting a golf cart. It’s a simple suggestion, but you can save a lot of money over time. Walking the course won’t only save you money, it will give you more time doing what you love, and will promote better health for you as well. Renting a pull cart, or even buying one if you play a lot is always a good choice. You’ll find that walking also helps you better pace yourself; there is much time to contemplate between tee and green.

4. Play in the afternoon

Many of the best public courses in the country offer twilight fees. Just like airlines and hotels, nearly all golf courses have flexible rate structures to optimize utilization. Even on weekends in high season, rates can begin to drop as early as 11 a.m. to ensure that the golf course remains full. Be sure to ask your local course if it offers mid-morning, weekday, or “twilight” rates. In addition to paying a lot less for the same course, you’d play at times that are generally less crowded.

5. Buy and carry a golf ball retriever

It’s easy to lose balls in the deep rough or in the water. However, if you carry a golf ball retriever, you can fish back not only your golf balls but balls left behind from other golfers.

6. Buy / Bring used golf balls

When you’re playing unfamiliar courses, especially courses with a lot of  hazards, bring used golf balls. You’re usually going to lose at least 3 golf balls a round. Keeping a good supply of used balls in your bag prevents burning through a sleeve or two of new balls per round.

7. Use weather to your advantage

Many golf courses follow a scaling pricing system for tee times. On days that are too hot or have a chance of rain, courses often reduce their rates to attract more golfers. Chances are the weather will clear up, and you’ll have the course to yourself.

8. Become a member of your favorite course

This only works as a money saver if you love the course & golf there often. There are many advantages of getting a club membership but each club is different so do the math and make sure it’s worth it for you.

9. Don’t subscribe to golf magazines or buy gimmick products

When you become obsessed with golf you’ll want to subscribe to golf magazines. This can be very costly, because the main purpose of those magazines is to convince you that you can’t be a great player without the latest gear. Golf has just as many gimmick products as fishing. Don’t be fooled by the hype.

10. Use your savings to buy lessons

Lessons are the best way to get better at golf, not fancy equipment. This investment will go much farther toward helping you enjoy the game of golf than anything else.

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How to choose the golf club that is right for you

Posted on April 16, 2017December 26, 2020 by Kody

How to choose the right golf clubs

If you are a beginner or just started playing golf, use borrowed, or purchase used, clubs. Use these clubs to become familiar with the game and to decide if what works best for you before you begin putting your bag together.

Step 1 – Define your budget

Golf clubs vary in price, so it is important to have an idea of how much you want to spend before you begin this process. After you define your overall budget, it’s time to figure out how much you will allocate to your driver, woods, irons, wedges and putter.

Step 2 – Choose your Shafts and Flex

Golf club shafts are made from either graphite or steel. Graphite shafts are usually more expensive but they are lighter and better for beginners. With graphite shafts you will be able to swing the clubs faster, which helps increase your distance.

If you are a more advanced player, steel shafts are a better choice for a few reasons. Many high level players already have a fast swing speed; the steel shafts help with accuracy and feel.

After you pick between graphite and steel, it is time to choose flex. Flex is how much a shaft will bend when it is swung. The only way to decided what flex is best for you is to hit the range and see what feels good or you can consult with a professional club fitter.

Step 3 – Choose your club heads

Club heads are made of steel, titanium, or a combination of both. Titanium clubs are usually more expensive than steel. Titanium weights less than steel, and usually the titanium club heads are larger, thus making it more difficult to mishit shots.

Step 4 – Assemble your clubs

Now it is time to pick your combination of metal, woods, hybrid clubs, irons and wedges that make up your bag. You cannot have more than 14 clubs, including a putter, in your bag. Many players, including myself, choose to give up their long irons and replace them with hybrids. Also adding another wedge, sometimes two, is popular choice amongst today’s golfers.