Mitchell - Club Repair News

February/March 2007

Volume 2, No. 2

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Editor's Blog
Has The PGA Merchandise Show Transformed Into A Conference?
The 2007 PGA Merchandise Show concluded with mixed reviews. Reed Exhibitions and PGA of America made a concerted effort to transform the old “show” into something new. It used to be a get together of the good old boys (golf pros) who met each year to shake hands and bring each other up to date about things at their respective clubs. But those days are gone forever. The something “new” is educational seminars.

But is it time to drop the word “SHOW” in favor of ”BUYING” and limit the attendance to qualified buyers? Ed Mitchell thinks so. The exhibitors pay all of the freight for this annual event and they must get renewed benefits from this transformation.

Respond to Editor’s Blog here.

Featured Repair Shop
JD’s Golf Club Repair
Our featured “Recognized” Mitchell® Club Repair Shop this month is JD’s Golf Club Repair, Inc., located in Longwood, Florida.

J. D. Thoms started his repair shop in this north Orlando suburb 10 years ago after a lengthy career working in a local club repair shop. He quickly gained the respect of golfers of all abilities, including tour professionals who reside in the Orlando area. J. D. is a certified club repair technician and True Temper Shaft-Lab fitting specialist. He is respected by his peers and has consulted to others in setting up repair shops for their golf course operations.

Club Repair Workbench
Proper Trimming & Tip Preparation For The Ultra Thin Wall GS 75 True Temper® Shaft
Last year True Temper ® introduced their new GS 75 lightweight steel iron shaft. This shaft weighs less than 80 grams after it has been trimmed to playing length. It is over 15% lighter than current super light steel shaft models. It is designed for golfers who play graphite shafts in their iron clubs.

However, because of its super thin walls care must be given to abrading the tip. It is normal to use 80 grit sanding belts on regular steel shafts, but True Temper® recommends using a 150 grip belt on the GS 75 shafts.

For instructions on abrading and trimming...

Playing By The Rules
USGA And R&A Rules Dictate Club Performance
The Rules of Golf, Appendix II, 3 defines how the grips on your clubs are manufactured. The grip is for the purpose of assisting you in holding the club firmly so it does not slip or twist out of your hands. Can you play with a molded grip to ensure a perfect grip on the club every time? Do you play with a reminder rib? Find out why the grips we play with conform to the Rules Of Golf.

In this article we are addressing grips for clubs other then putters. Learn what limitations grip manufacturers must adhere to in order to make conforming grips.

TechReport Library
Golf Science
With the recent introduction of “square” shaped drivers you probably have wondered why has the traditional shape given way to this? You most likely have heard of the term “MOI”, or Moment Of Inertia. Yes, the square drivers are all about MOI. When you remember that the USGA has set a size limit to driver heads; 460cc, 5” from heal to toe and less than 5” front to back, it makes it easier to envision the square shape. Manufacturers are trying to maximize the MOI with square heads. By putting more weight in the back corners of the head they effectively move the center of gravity further away from the face. This is designed to eliminate twisting of the head on off-center hits.

This month we have added an article written by Frank Thomas that explains MOI. Read this and you will understand why club manufacturers are trying to push the envelope for improved performance with square headed drivers.

Teaching & Fitting Studio
Custom Clubs Direct From Manufacturer
Club performance upgrades continue to grow throughout the golf industry. Whether it’s done as a retrofit to existing clubs or custom fitted clubs directly from the manufacturer, golf club performance has come of age.

This month we highlight KZG Fitting Center in North Hollywood, California. They truly have a state-of-the-art fitting studio. KZG has become known as the number one custom pro line club in the industry.

"At KZG, there is no one-club-fits-all approach,” says Steve Benzin, Director of Fitting & Education. “That’s why we have the KZG Fitting & Training Center. It’s designed to help players find the perfect set of golf clubs to improve every aspect of their game.”

Read more about the opportunity they offer with their custom fitting program.

Tour Workshop
TaylorMade Golf introduced two new drivers at the recent PGA Merchandise Show. They have brought back their famous trademark “Burner” and added the r7 SuperQuad. Both drivers are 460cc in size and are offered in different head shapes. The Burner has an advanced bullet-shape that locates the CG towards the back of the head. This helps launch the ball higher. The Burner TP has a classic shape that looks distinctly “TaylorMade Tour”. The new r7 SuperQuad shape uses their inverted cone technology.

Both driver models are getting attention on tour with several players putting them in play. Read more from their own tour report.

Test Performance
GolfTestUSA
GolfTestUSA conducted a test by golfers with a wide range of handicaps for grip quality, appearance, durability, comfort and feel. The golfers used grips from Golf Pride, Royal, Karakal, and Winn to determine which brand and model they got the best performance with.

Check out the results of the GolfTestUSA golfers…

New Upgrades
Product Introductions - Shafts
Grafalloy introduced its new Epic shaft at the PGA Merchandise Show last month. It features a patented and proprietary Nanofuse® technology. The Epic shaft is produced from fusing nano-crystalline metal molecules with a composite polymer substrate, which produces the strongest and lightest golf shaft material ever created.

At only 20 nanometers (1000 times smaller than the grain size of typical metallic structures) the nano-crystalline molecules are able to penetrate millions of specially engineered fissures within the composite polymer substrate.

Grafalloy claims from robotic and player testing the Epic shaft will produce increased distance and deliver a 35% improvement in shot dispersion when compared to graphite shafts on the market today.

This shaft will be available in March and is sure to be in popular demand.

Product Introductions - Grips
Golf Pride has taken its tour proven MultiCompound grip material and made a putter grip to compliment their popular grip line. It has a small diameter with a traditional tour shape of a flat top and a slight pistol curve under the upper hand. The MultiCompound putter grip provides the moisture management of cord in the upper hand with the comfort of rubber in the lower hand for sure traction and soft touch needed for putting.

It is available in the popular color combination of black and red.

Classroom
Learn How Better Club Performance Can Lower Your Scores?
Do you have specific questions about how improved club performance can help your game? We welcome your questions. Email them to us and we will respond with the answer. Selected questions and answers are posted here for our readers to view.

Larry Burke of David Gates Golf in Jacksonville, Florida asks what is the best way to remove graphite shafts from Titanium driver heads when the shaft is broken off flush with the top of the hosel. His concerns are to prevent debris from falling into the club head and producing a rattle.

Submit your question here.