What happens when you cut the tip of a golf shaft?
That means that the grip end is the strongest part of the shaft and the tip end the weakest, which, Wishon says, leads trimming to have different effects: "Cutting more of the tip will have the effect of getting rid of some of the weaker end of the shaft which, in turn, makes the shaft play and feel more stiff.
Are You cutting the butt end or tip end of the shaft?
Are you cutting the butt end or the tip end of the shaft? The butt end of the shaft is grip end. If you are shortening or extending the length of a golf club, this is where you will cut. If you want to change the play-ability of the club (feel, flex to a certain extent, spin rate, dispersion), you will be cutting the tip end of the shaft.
Can you cut a golf club from the butt end?
Cutting a club from the butt end will have somewhat the opposite effect, making the shaft stiffer overall but shorter as well. The most fundamental difference in a shorter club is shorter shot distance, and you might find the change in stiffness is not worth the change to your club.
Can a shaft have more than one option on tip trimming?
Occasionally you will see where a shaft may have more than one option on tip trimming a shaft. These "combination flex" shafts are designed to reduce inventory by being able to create multiple flexes from a single shaft rather than produce two different shafts.
Which end do you cut to shorten a golf shaft?
Discrete length shafts, where the iron shafts come shorter in lengths as you go higher up in club number, are in most cases also tapered tip (0.355"). These shafts are pre-trimmed at the tip but NOT at the butt end. The expectation is that your club-builder will trim the butt to achieve the desired final club length.
How do you cut off a golf shaft?
Remove the existing grip. With steel shafts, use a tubing cutter to trim the shaft; with graphite shafts, shorten using a hacksaw. Re-install a grip on the newly shortened shaft. And, most importantly, Wishon says, add weight to the clubhead in some manner to restore the swingweight feel of the club.
What happens when you butt trim a shaft?
1:363:54How Does Butt Trimming a Golf Shaft Affect Playability? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipChange when cutting one inch or less or or more off of the butt end probably. The biggest downsideMoreChange when cutting one inch or less or or more off of the butt end probably. The biggest downside of cutting. Or making a closed shoulder is the effect that it has on swing weight.
How do you cut a shaft?
0:394:01How to Cut Golf Shaft DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo for the first step you have to remove your old grip. I find the easiest way to do this is toMoreSo for the first step you have to remove your old grip. I find the easiest way to do this is to literally just cut a line all the way down your club.
Where do you cut a driver shaft?
The butt end of the shaft is grip end. If you are shortening or extending the length of a golf club, this is where you will cut. If you want to change the play-ability of the club (feel, flex to a certain extent, spin rate, dispersion), you will be cutting the tip end of the shaft.
Should I cut my driver shaft down?
Shortening the shaft will make the club shorter but it will also make the shaft stiffer and adjust the swing weight as well. Plus, the more length you remove, the less flex your club will have. Depending on how much you cut it down, it could move a regular flex to a stiff or a stiff to an extra stiff.
How much weight do you gain after cutting a shaft?
Golfers can adjust the swingweight of their golf club by changing the weight of the shaft in their club. Assuming the shaft is not increased or decreased in length, an increase of 9 grams in shaft weight will increase swingweight by approximately one swingweight point (increase from D3 to D4, for example).
Can you cut the tip of a driver shaft?
In most cases, tip trimming a shaft makes it meaningfully stiffer. It also increases torsional stiffness, known as “torque,” which is a shaft's resistance to twisting. On the other end of the shaft is the handle, which is also generally trimmed some amount when building a golf club.
Should you shorten your irons?
Additionally, shorter length golf clubs can provide more control to the golfer, essentially making the golf club more forgiving. While longer clubs can help increase speed and launch angle, shorter clubs can be easier to hit solid due to the reduction in swing arc.
What do you cut a graphite golf shaft with?
One solution to manually cut golf club graphite (or composite) shafts fast, safe and efficiently is the rod saw blade.
How do I shorten my golf clubs?
How to Shorten a Golf ClubSecurely fasten the golf club in place using a vise on a workbench or similar setup, such as a golf club regripping station used at golf courses or pro shops.Cutting off the rubber golf grip using a sharp blade, such as a utility knife with a hooked blade.More items...•
How do you know if your golf clubs are too long?
Here's how to tell if your golf clubs are too long:Completely upright posture.Improper golf swing.Odd ball flight.Feels cumbersome and unmanageable.Shaft feels weak.Consistency hitting with the toe.The measurements are wrong.
Why trim a shaft?
Why trim or cut a shaft at all? When the manufacturers make a shaft, they do so in mind that is could be used for a wide number of golfers and applications, so the manufacturer makes the shaft longer than it will most likely be used in the final golf club. The number one reason for making the shaft longer is to accommodate taller players so they ...
Why do you need to trim a parallel shaft?
This is required to offset the increasing heads weights as the clubs become shorter and maintain the flex the manufacturer designed into the shaft for a finished club.
What is a combination flex shaft?
These "combination flex" shafts are designed to reduce inventory by being able to create multiple flexes from a single shaft rather than produce two different shafts. Here are the most common ones below.
What does a trimming chart show?
It is also important to understand the trimming charts show how much (if any) to take off the tip end (the skinny part or where the head will be attached). The trimming charts will not tell you an amount to take off the butt end (the fat part where the grip is installed).
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I know this might seem obvious, but be sure to measure and mark off the point at which you are cutting. Especially while tipping a shaft (you can’t undo this), it is important to have precise measurements. Use a sharpie to make your marks on the shaft. Here is a tutorial on how to measure golf clubs.
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Hey!! I'm Zach, the founder of The DIY Golfer. I created this site in 2015 while playing D1 collegiate golf to help myself understand the game of golf better and improve as a player. Fast forward a few years, and it has become much more than a journal.
What does cutting the shaft shorter do to a golf club?
The swing weight, or weight at the head of the club and any additional weighting inside the shaft, is still in place, and cutting the shaft shorter changes the balance of the club as well.
How much should a golf shaft be tipped?
Many pros have their shafts tipped as much as one or two inches. The idea behind tipping is to make the clubhead end of the shaft stiffer and even lower torque than it was designed to be to minimize twisting of the club at impact.
Why do tour pros have their shafts tipped?
Tour pros often have their shafts "tipped," or cut back from the clubhead end slightly to make the tip of the shaft stiffer. This enables them to keep the same length club but have a slightly stiffer shaft near the ball. Cutting a club from the butt end will have somewhat the opposite effect, making the shaft stiffer overall but shorter as well.
How does changing the length of a golf club affect the swing?
Changing swing characteristics: Changing the length of a golf club can moderately or severely change the swing characteristics of the club. Removing length from the butt end of the shaft also removes weight from that end and changes the swing weight and balance of the club. Cutting a shaft from one end or the other also changes the kickpoint ...
How to adjust length of golf club?
Step 1. From the butt: The easiest and quickest way to adjust the length of a club is to remove the grip and cut a given amount of the shaft off the butt end. Traditionally, this is how many youngsters get their first sets of golf clubs. Their parents cut the clubs down so they are easier for them to handle. Keep in mind, though, that cutting the ...
Is a shorter shaft stiffer than a longer shaft?
A shorter shaft is typically stiffer than a longer one. Although a shorter golf club shaft tends to be firmer than a longer one, it is important to understand the changes trimming a shaft will make to a club before making such a permanent change.
Can you cut a shaft from the butt end?
Cutting a shaft from one end or the other also changes the kickpoint of the shaft–lowering it if you cut from the butt end or raising it if you cut from the tip. Even a small adjustment to a putter can cause a significant change in feel. Keep these changes in mind when planning any changes to your club.
How does shortening a golf shaft affect swing weight?
Shortening the shaft can make the golf club less flexible. If you are going to shorten a golf club, there are a few things to keep in mind. The more shaft you cut off, the lighter, more stiff, and effectively flatter the club becomes. For every 1/2 inch you remove, you will lose approximately three swingweight points.
How many swingweight points do you lose when you remove 1/2 inch?
For every 1/2 inch you remove, you will lose approximately three swingweight points. You can readjust the swingweight by adding lead tape to the head of the club. Any amount of cutting will slightly stiffen the club. It will probably go unnoticed if you take 1 inch or less off the club.
What is a parallel shaft?
A parallel shaft is one that has a constant diameter from the tip and up to a specified distance on the shaft. Conversely, a taper tip is as it’s described — the shaft tapers towards the tip. Most new clubs (irons and woods) are designed to accommodate parallel shafts, but can also accommodate a taper shaft using brass adapter shims.
What is a hard step in golf?
A “hard step” is to put a 5-iron shaft into a 4-iron clubhead and so on through the set. This makes the shaft play a little stiffer. A “soft step” is the opposite — it means putting a 3-iron shaft into a 4-iron head (and so on through the set) to make the shaft play a little softer. To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.
What does it mean to tip a golf club?
“Tipping” or “tip trimming ,” as it’s sometimes called, means trimming a club shaft from the clubhead end, not from the grip end where it’s most often cut. ...
Does tipping affect spin rate?
Lastly, tipping won’t do much to affect spin rates and launch angle — two popular misconceptions when it comes to trimming the lower end of a shaft.
What happens when you add weight to a swing?
That is the tricky part. If you butt cut and then add head weight to get back to the original swing weight you will end up with a softer flex than you started with.
Does shortening the shaft stiffen the shaft?
Shortening the shaft will stiffen it no matter which end you cut (not a lot, but maybe enough to notice). Cutting the tip end will stiffen it more than cutting the butt end. It will also bring the swing weight down. To compensate, you have to add weight to the head or put a lighter grip on, or both.
Does shorter shaft play stiffer?
A very simple answer to the OP's question is, Yes, shorter length will make the same shaft play stiffer then " before" the trim, whether trimmed from the tip or the butt. Trimming the same length from the tip will feel stiffer than trimming from the butt end, simply because the thicker the less flex.
