Dick's Sporting Goods Club Building

[PatScan]

and how they butchered my 3 Wood

I have had some problems with the local club builder guy and I noticed Dick's Sporting Goods in the town over from me had recently hired a PGA Professional, offering club building services. I figured I'd give it a shot, as I needed to put a new shaft into a Sonartec SS-07 that I won off ebay ($50 bucks... sweet deal).

So two days later, I go to pick it up. The PGA pro hands me the club and my receipt. Immediately I notice the graphics are up, but it doesn't really irk me to the point that I bring it up. Yet I assume that to be the mark of a novice or otherwise oblivious clubmaker. Then I come to the hosel area. A massive chip, maybe an 1/8 th of an inch deep, and two very deep scars running down the shaft for about 2 inches. There is excess epoxy around the hosel and the ferrule has been scuffed and ill treated.

The PGA Pro was embarrassed, to say the least. He wants to "make it right for me", but I'm just not sure what that entails. What do I do? He had no knowledge of the Pro95 shaft, offering me a fujikura E 360. I tried to tell him politely that it wasn't anywhere near the same. I have already received my money back for the installation cost. I'm not sure what steps to take next. Will this chip affect performance? Do I ask for a credit for a new shaft?

-Miffed in Massachusetts

[Triplebogey16]

I see you are in Western Mass...What Dick's did you go to I'll try to avoid it.

[Klubster]

It looks like he nicked your shaft with the linen belt when he was turning the ferrule.

 

Unfortunately, I did this on one of my own driver shafts but not to the extent that yours looks. If he did not go through the paint and cut the fibers on the shaft, it should still perform fine and not break. You can put a little clear nail polish on it to make it less noticible.

 

I would at least get a written guarantee from him that he would replace the shaft if it breaks. Not a very professional looking job.

[golfasaurus]

Probably does not affect performance unless there is some kind of hairline crack. I have fitted my own clubs before. Not a professional club fitter but I can tell you i can do a better job than that.

[Southern Ca Boy]

Horrible and the worst thing I've ever seen by a "professional club builder" you would have been better putting the thing together in your garage with some sand paper and some gorilla glue!!

 

get a written guarantee because if you swing over 90 mph and golf a couple times a week this shaft will splinter, weaken, and break!

 

He should replace it.

[mat562]

That is horrendous work.

 

Really, really bad.

 

The shop should have no argument against replacing the shaft (or appropriate credit) as you see fit.

[Awalkspoiled]

How close are you to me (I'm in Lenox)?

 

I can't really tell from those pix how bad the damage is, but if you like you could send me a close up via email (jyepstein(AT)aol.com), or if you're also in the Berkshires I'd be glad to take a look.

 

If the Pro 95 was new then you may have some hope, since Fuji will protect the reputation of a dealer with a Fuji account and I take it that they do an account since he had a 360 on hand. If it was a pull I think you're going to have a hard time getting whole on the deal.

 

I can poke around the shop to see what I have which might be similar if you like - probably the closest is a prolaunch 95.

[Konrad]

I don't know which one you went to, but when I lived near Greenfield, I avoided EVERY Dicks. One guy tried to convice me that the stock Nike shaft is the same as a $300 Diamana...

 

go to Fran Johnsons in West Springfield instead. Or Golf Dimensions in Hartford, a hike, but they do good work.

[PatScan]

I had always used fran johnson's, but the clubmaker, Bill, was on vacation. That as well as the last three wood he built for me broke after about 9 months.

 

I swing about 115 with driver, so I hope this thing holds up at least until this issue gets resolved.

 

 

It was the West Springfield Dick's. I did it sort of as a test experiment on their services. They have failed. I have also noticed that they did hit the fiber, but the hack colored it in with sharpie to make it look less obvious. Hack.

 

 

I leave for school in a week. Hopefully I can get this sorted out before the season.

[Konrad]

Ohh, the one in West Springfield is brutal.

[Triplebogey16]

I live over in South Hadley. If you ever need clubwork done locally shoot me a PM.

[Tomba29]

It should be a straight forward shaft replacement. He damaged it, he replaces it. I know that the customer accepts responsibility if anything breaks while bending for loft/lie but not for this.

[Young04]

well, you live in massachusetts. that's your first problem. unfortunately, i'm similarly cursed.

 

i would demand some kind of refund. look up the full retail value of the shaft and make them pay it. "making it right" through store credit or whatever solves the problem when the seller gives you a defective product. but when you entrust someone with a perfectly good one and they destroy it, you deserve full compensation.

[idiotbox]

When did Stevie Wonder start club building?