A golf club might need a change of shafts for a repair or to alter the playing characteristics of the club by changing to a shaft that has a different weight, flex or flex point. Club repair shops can handle the change in just a few days, and some club manufacturers will do the work if you have the time to ship the club. With a few materials and room in your garage or shop, you can do the replacement at little cost.
Changing Graphite on Irons
Step 1
Clamp the club about 6 inches from the edge of the vise to the top of the clubhead. Cut off the ferrule, working away from you. Use care to not cut into the graphite shaft in case you want to reuse it.
Step 2
Place the club in a shaft extractor. Attach a hosel collar to protect the hosel. Slide the extractor slot that fits the club over the shaft against the hosel. Rotate the extractor's bolt to apply pressure.
Step 3
Use an electric heat gun or propane torch to heat the hosel evenly while adding pressure with the shaft extractor. Stop the heat when the epoxy breaks and the clubhead pulls away. Put on heat-resistant gloves and remove any epoxy from inside the hosel with a flex hone tool. Let the clubhead cool for 30 minutes.
Step 4
Trim the shaft, if necessary, using a hacksaw with a rod saw blade or a cutoff wheel. See the manufacturer's instructions for which end to trim to achieve the desired length. Mask the cutting area with tape to avoid splitting the shaft. Never use a tube cutter on a graphite shaft. Remove the tape when the cut is complete.
Step 5
Test assemble the parts, sliding the ferrule on the shaft and the shaft into the hosel. Mark with tape where the top of the ferrule sits on the shaft when assembled and flush against the hosel.
Step 6
Abrade the shaft by delicately cutting away the protective coating and paint on the last 1 1/4 inches that fits into the hosel. Take care not to cut into the graphite fibers.
Step 7
Mix the epoxy thoroughly for one minute. Apply a thin layer to the shaft and the inside of the hosel. Slide the ferrule on, then insert the shaft in the hosel, pushing and twisting the shaft until it seats fully into the club. Rotate the shaft to align any shaft graphics with the leading edge of the clubhead. Set the clubhead on the ground with the shaft vertical for 24 hours.
Step 8
Trim the butt end of the shaft, if necessary, to achieve desired length, following trimming instructions in Step 4. Allow 1/4 inch for the butt cap of the grip.
Step 9
Hold the grip next to the shaft to determine the length of grip tape needed. Center the top of the shaft in the center of the vertical tape and leave 1 inch hanging off the end. Use more layers if the overall grip thickness needs to be larger. Overlap the tape at the underside of the shaft and tuck in the extra tape in the butt end.
Step 10
Mix 1 tbsp. of dish detergent and water in a 1 qt. spray bottle, and dampen the grip tape. Do not soak the tape. Slide the grip on fully, aligning any grip graphics with the clubhead's leading edge. Allow the grip to dry for 24 hours.
Replacing Graphite Shafts with Drivers and Fairway Metals
Step 1
Clamp down the club with about 1/4 inch between the vise and the hosel.
Step 2
Protect the hosel with the hosel collar. Insert the shaft puller between the vise and hosel collar to start to separate the clubhead.
Step 3
Apply heat evenly to the hosel, as in Section 1, Step 3. Pry the clubhead loose, but don't twist the clubhead or you might split the shaft. Clean the hosel interior and let the clubhead cool.
Step 4
Follow Section 1, Steps 4-10.
Tips and Warnings
- Steel shafts are a little easier to replace.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber-clamp vise
- Shaft knife
- Hosel collar
- Shaft extractor
- Propane torch
- Heat gun
- Pry bar
- Masking tape
- Hacksaw with rod saw blade
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Flex hone tool
- Replacement ferrule
- Club epoxy
- Replacement grip
- 1 qt. Spray bottle with water
- 1 tbsp. dish soap
- Water-activated vertical wrap grip tape
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