Club-builder messes up length, lie and loft...you realize months later. Share your experiences here

[BearQ]

So I got my old wedge set of Callaway MD3's - 50, 56, 60 : reshafted with KBS 610 shafts this summer at a very reputable (albeit overhyped) golf club-building shop in my area.

 

Now before you jump on me for negligence, I admit it, I should have quickly noticed these horrifyingly off specs. Ive already spent a good time laughing at myself.

 

I have had work done at this shop before and everything is usually spot on. Besides, loft lie length are the most standard requests for a shop, child's play right? I played with the wedges very briefly and struggled with some wheelhouse type shots, something seemed very off. I benched the MD3, and conceded they weren't for me.

 

So I finally bring in the MD3's to a different shop this time around to get checked. I knew the specs would be off but not to this extent...

 

Requested Gap: 50* / 35 3/8" / 2.25* flat

Received: 51* / 36" / 1* upright

 

Requested Sand: 55* / 35 1/8" / 2.25* flat

Received: 57* / 35.75" / 1.25* upright

 

Requested Lob: 59* / 35" / 2.25* flat

Received: 60.5* / 35.50" / 0.5* upright

 

Anyone else have a similar experience? Way off specs, you continue to play them, you have nightmares and blame yourself...realize months/years later it was actually the clubs fault for once!

[ruffellprefley]

seems like they probably just got your requested specs and someone else's mixed up. someone else out there prob got your specs.

[EntourageLife]

I always stand as close to machine as possible and hover over the guy as he checks and makes adjustments.

 

I'd never ever leave my clubs alone...

[Bad9]

I always stand as close to machine as possible and hover over the guy as he checks and makes adjustments.

 

I'd never ever leave my clubs alone...

 

If I had a shop and you wanted to do that I'd be like many garages and charge you double for the work.

[blazman11]

Happened to me once before when I lived in Rochester NY. Probably the most popular place in the area for fittings and work botched a reshaft. I thought it was mostly cosmetic as they didn't turn the ferrules down but turns out they didn't bend anything close to spec.

[EntourageLife]

I always stand as close to machine as possible and hover over the guy as he checks and makes adjustments.

 

I'd never ever leave my clubs alone...

 

If I had a shop and you wanted to do that I'd be like many garages and charge you double for the work.

 

And I'd be happy to pay double for good work! I've got enough things to worry about while playing. My club's specs will not be one of them!

[cardoustie]

I use a place here close to me, guy's been doing it for 35+ years and used to work with Knudson

 

I've used them for 25 years (this season)

 

Never a screw up

 

I think they may have someone that has no idea what they are doing.

 

My guys won't give an iron back if it's off 0.25* and they hit my heavy swing weight requests BANG ON every time

[xflex]

There is so much value in educating yourself and KNOWING what specs and shafts work best for you.

[OfficeNerd]

When I purchases my first set of irons, I decided to go to Golfsmith. They fit me for +3" maroon Ping G15. Now mind you I'm 6'4" so I thought nothing of it. Struggled for a couple of years.

 

Finally gave up and decided it might be the clubs. This time I went to Mile of Golf in Ann Arbor. Had all the fitters laughing about the original fitting of +3". When they finally stopped laughing was fit at +1.5" and 1.5* upright. Fist swing was a nice little draw.

 

Of course they are not all perfect shots, but now at least I know if i produce a good swing I can get a favorable result.

 

I am not bashing Golfsmith, I just had a bad fitting IMO.

[Mikeski]

Last summer I bought a set (5-pw) of Apex MB from Callaway at a supposed 2* upright. One club out of 6 was to spec. I had one 1* flat, 2 at standard, 2 at 1* upright.

[jrwingate6]

Nike VR Split Cavity. Ordered .5 inches long and they came in 1.5 inches long.

 

They made it right though.

[Cwebb]

When I purchases my first set of irons, I decided to go to Golfsmith. They fit me for +3" maroon Ping G15. Now mind you I'm 6'4" so I thought nothing of it. Struggled for a couple of years.

 

Finally gave up and decided it might be the clubs. This time I went to Mile of Golf in Ann Arbor. Had all the fitters laughing about the original fitting of +3". When they finally stopped laughing was fit at +1.5" and 1.5* upright. Fist swing was a nice little draw.

 

Of course they are not all perfect shots, but now at least I know if i produce a good swing I can get a favorable result.

 

I am not bashing Golfsmith, I just had a bad fitting IMO.

 

I'm guessing that fitting was based on lie board tests, where you couldn't get the mark off the toe side until you tried a massively long and super upright club?

[Lagavulin62]

Your specs appear to be consistently wrong in each club. I feel if you allow for error you could go back with new requests that would get it right.

 

Seriously I never had that problem, but only because I never had a need to change loft and lie. But I understand getting back sub par work and it's a total pain many times getting it reworked correctly. Although never had issues with golf related you don't want to hear some of the auto goofs. And that is why I do everything myself I possibly can.

 

 

[Togatown22]

Not to thread-jack, but I recently had a cosmetic mess up on some wedges.

I really wanted black shafts in my 54 and 58 SM6's. So I sprung for the DG TI Onyx S400 wedge shafts. Felt a bit superficial having to go the Tour Issue route, but it was the best option for me based on the specs vs the existing shafts i play. Anyway, I take them to a 'Master Club Builder' in my town, highly recommended by everyone. I go to pick up the shafts, and he's installed the shaft band on top of the shaft, so i have to look down at it on every shot. I realized immediately that I should've specified them label-down, so I didn't complain. But man, I just assumed that was basic protocol. You live and learn I guess!

[EntourageLife]

Not to thread-jack, but I recently had a cosmetic mess up on some wedges.

I really wanted black shafts in my 54 and 58 SM6's. So I sprung for the DG TI Onyx S400 wedge shafts. Felt a bit superficial having to go the Tour Issue route, but it was the best option for me based on the specs vs the existing shafts i play. Anyway, I take them to a 'Master Club Builder' in my town, highly recommended by everyone. I go to pick up the shafts, and he's installed the shaft band on top of the shaft, so i have to look down at it on every shot. I realized immediately that I should've specified them label-down, so I didn't complain. But man, I just assumed that was basic protocol. You live and learn I guess!

 

Some install logo up, most install logo down. Where is that photo from in your member ID?

[magnus7319]

A few years ago, I took a brand new set of 714 Ap2's to the local GG here.

 

I'll preface this story by saying I do my own club-building and the only item I need is a loft/lie machine. Just waiting to find one used locally. I've been building clubs and doing small work myself for 10 years or so...

 

In the meantime I've gotten to know the local guys and I watch as they bend a set of irons flat, or adjust a wedge for loft etc...I'm a pretty big club Ho, so I'm in there quite a bit getting things adjusted.

 

I should have known better... <you ever get that feeling>?

 

I walk in and neither of the normal guys are there. It's a guy in his mid-20s. Ok, no problem, I tell him, hey, new set of 714 Ap2 irons, set of 8, can you check the lie on them, and get them to 1* flat from Titleist Standard for me. You know how to do that right, I ask?

 

Sure he says, just got his 'degree' from clubmaking school.

 

Ok, cool.

 

He takes the PW and puts it on the Mitchell and I see him messing with the loft gauge, not the lie measurement on the side... He says, well, your PW is 47 Degrees...

 

Um... what?

 

47 Degrees?

 

No, I want the lie adjusted not the loft

 

Yea, the lie is 47 Degrees...

 

Over to my immediate right is a TM rep setting up a display, I look over at him, and I see him smirk...

 

Give me my clubs back, thanks, I'll come back.

 

I walk away and the TM rep says... good idea man, and laughs.

[OfficeNerd]

When I purchases my first set of irons, I decided to go to Golfsmith. They fit me for +3" maroon Ping G15. Now mind you I'm 6'4" so I thought nothing of it. Struggled for a couple of years.

 

Finally gave up and decided it might be the clubs. This time I went to Mile of Golf in Ann Arbor. Had all the fitters laughing about the original fitting of +3". When they finally stopped laughing was fit at +1.5" and 1.5* upright. Fist swing was a nice little draw.

 

Of course they are not all perfect shots, but now at least I know if i produce a good swing I can get a favorable result.

 

I am not bashing Golfsmith, I just had a bad fitting IMO.

 

I'm guessing that fitting was based on lie board tests, where you couldn't get the mark off the toe side until you tried a massively long and super upright club?

 

If i remember right, they were heavily relying on the strike board.

[Pinger89]

The problem is loft and lie machines are very hard to calibrate and for the most part it's a guessing game if the club is soleing correctly on the sole plate. If it's even just a hair off it will give the wrong reading. At least that's how most loft and lie machines I've used have worked. Although I would imagine most master club builder and fitters would have updated digital measurement devices. The most common Mitchell devices though require the club to be set by eye, which is not easy with a lot of clubs, especially wedges that have grinds and relief in the sole.

 

 

EDIT: by calibrate I mean set the iron/wedge in the actual clamp properly. Obviously Mitchell machines are incredibly accurate and the best of the bunch, but actually soleing the club correctly in the machine can be tricky with certain clubs.