Question:
A couple of years ago I decided to replace the shafts in a set of Ping Eye-2 irons, and discovered after removal of the ZZ-Lite shafts that they all had a perceptible bend in the shaft where it enters the hosel. Not enough to notice while the shaft was in the head, but definitely there when I sighted down the shaft. I had never hit off mats, only grass. I tend to hit down with the irons and take deep divots. The bend was in the direction such that the loft was reduced. I did once have a 3 iron shaft break during a shot on the 18th at St Andrews but it was about a foot above the head of a brand new Maxpower club. The ball went about 20 yds, and the broken end fell to the ground behind me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Last week while driving off (in an effort to stay straight) I hit a Wilson Staff 3 Iron. The offending head flew a good sixty yards into some trees and was only recovered by my golf partners, as I, like a good, (I hope), golfer, had kept my head down. While this has its comical side, I have never heard of this happening. My local supplier, who I trust implicitly, told me that regular hitting fat on driving ranges and hard turf can weaken the club, which may eventually cause a sudden fracture. I was wondering what the feelings of you ordinary high handicappers are to this situation. Is it as common as Iam led to believe? Regards To All, David Regan (Westwood Golf Club, England)
Martin Halterman Duncan, Oklahoma
Response:
About ten years ago I broke my 2 iron and 5 iron early in the *same* round. Both clubs broke where the shaft enters the head while I was hitting normal (well as normal as I ever hit!!!) shots. Losing the 2 iron was not a major problem, but I *really* missed the 5 iron for the rest of the round. Needless to say, I had all my clubs re-shafted the next day!!!! Geoff Schuler
Response:
You said the head flew "clean off". Was there any of the shaft broken off at or inside the hosel? If the shaft is broken, it’s not that unusual and it can occur from repeated fat hits. And, it probably broke or weakened, unbeknownst to you, on the previous use of that same club. I’ve seen it happen about 4 or 5 times, usually with older clubs. If the shaft appeared to be bent and not broken cleanly, Wilson probably won’t fix it free. But, it’s worth a try. -Barry
Response:
(snip) My local supplier, who I trust implicitly, told me that regular hitting fat on driving ranges and hard turf can weaken the club, which may eventually cause a sudden fracture. I was wondering what the feelings of you ordinary high handicappers are to this situation. Is it as common as Iam led to believe? Regards To All, David Regan (Westwood Golf Club, England)
I had an H&B Powerbilt 5wood almost disintegrate on impact once at a driving range. I was hitting off the grass and was not hitting it fat. I was a 10 handicap at the time. I sent the shaft and head pieces back and complained ( I had actually only hit my 5 wood about 2 dozen times). There answer was that they would fix it but charged me $35.00. Needless to say I was not satisfied with that so I gave the clubs away (how could I charge someone for garbage) and bought Pings (about 1984) Today I have sold the Ping irons and play Hogan Edge but I still have my Ping woods and wouldnt part with them.
Response:
My local supplier, who I trust implicitly, told me that regular hitting fat on driving ranges and hard turf can weaken the club, [...] Is it as common as Iam led to believe? Yes
No, and it’s surprising that you would break a club from a name brand manufacturer. You can hit a club fat into mats all day every day and unless you are really beating the daylights out of it, it should not fail. Sure, if you hit 200 fat shots a day your clubs will experience more wear and tear than normal, but impact is something that clubs are designed to withstand. Was it cold? I have heard that low temperatures can increase the chance of failure. Anyway, I’d expect Wilson to replace the club unless it’s of ancient vintage. You might check to see if the lot of clubs had some sort of known manufacturing defect; in that case you could wind up with a whole new set. -joseph
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week while driving off (in an effort to stay straight) I hit a Wilson Staff 3 Iron. To my utter amazement there was a metalic clang and while the shot stayed straight ( even more amazement!) the head flew clean off the club. Fortunately there was nobody slightly in front or they could have been killed. The offending head flew a good sixty yards into some trees and was only recovered by my golf partners, as I, like a good, (I hope), golfer, had kept my head down. While this has its comical side, I have never heard of this happening. My local supplier, who I trust implicitly, told me that regular hitting fat on driving ranges and hard turf can weaken the club, which may eventually cause a sudden fracture. I was wondering what the feelings of you ordinary high handicappers are to this situation. Is it as common as Iam led to believe? Regards To All, David Regan (Westwood Golf Club, England)
Thank you for those of you posted and e mailed as a result of my previous message. Some of you quite rightly pointed out that I had failed to mention a few important facts. The club was a steel shafted firestick Wilson Staff mid size 3 iron. It was about 18 months old. It was a fairly cold windy day (they all here I’m afraid!) although it wasn’t frosty. I hope this helps people form a more considered response.
Response:
Last week while driving off (in an effort to stay straight) I hit a Wilson Staff 3 Iron. To my utter amazement there was a metalic clang and while the shot stayed straight ( even more amazement!) the head flew clean off the club. Fortunately there was nobody slightly in front or they could have been killed. The offending head flew a good sixty yards into some trees and was only recovered by my golf partners, as I, like a good, (I hope), golfer, had kept my head down. While this has its comical side, I have never heard of this happening. My local supplier, who I trust implicitly, told me that regular hitting fat on driving ranges and hard turf can weaken the club, which may eventually cause a sudden fracture. I was wondering what the feelings of you ordinary high handicappers are to this situation. Is it as common as Iam led to believe?
Yes Ari Huhtamies http://www.sci.fi/~arih
Response:
Last week while driving off (in an effort to stay straight) I hit a Wilson Staff 3 Iron. To my utter amazement there was a metalic clang and while the shot stayed straight ( even more amazement!) the head flew clean off the club. Fortunately there was nobody slightly in front or they could have been killed. The offending head flew a good sixty yards into some trees and was only recovered by my golf partners, as I, like a good, (I hope), golfer, had kept my head down. While this has its comical side, I have never heard of this happening. My local supplier, who I trust implicitly, told me that regular hitting fat on driving ranges and hard turf can weaken the club, which may eventually cause a sudden fracture. I was wondering what the feelings of you ordinary high handicappers are to this situation. Is it as common as Iam led to believe? Regards To All, David Regan (Westwood Golf Club, England)