Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast!

Designing a Golf Club -- Part II

jbishop15

Entry posted by jbishop15 in Golf Club Making

2,190 views

 Share

So, I've finished an initial design. 

I used the autoCAD program freeCAD to draw most of it, and the image editor program Inkscape to import the more demanding designs, like the geranium and the American flag. It took me about a week of learning the program to get comfortable with it. 

Not a complex design, but I am happy with the result. I haven't decided where I'm going to make an injection mold, a sand mold, a metal mold, or just CNC mill this first putter for testing. If I CNC it, this will be a fairly quick process, because then I don't have to buy smelting equipment and melt the steel myself (though the plan is it do that in the future. 

Even if it doesn't work the way I hope, it will have been a worthwhile project.

Once the putter head itself is made, I'm going to nickel plate it to protect it from rust (I'll be using carbon steel for the head itself), and then paint the words and designs in their appropriate colors. Once that is done, I'll install a putter shaft and grip and take it to the course. 

Lot more to do, but I'm on a good path. 

Screen Shot 2022-06-02 at 6.22.39 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-06-02 at 6.23.46 PM.png

 Share

10 Comments

Recommended Comments

saevel25

saevel25 3,109

Posted

You may need to do some back of the napkin CG location calculations. As soon as you remove material somewhere, it shifts the CG. So the club might not be perfectly symmetrical.

jbishop15

jbishop15 235

Posted

5 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

You may need to do some back of the napkin CG location calculations. As soon as you remove material somewhere, it shifts the CG. So the club might not be perfectly symmetrical.

My guess is that the CG is closer to the heel than the center, considering the shaft. I don't know the math necessary to calculate the CG; something I'll have to learn! 

Thanks for the input!!!

  • Moderator
boogielicious

boogielicious 5,029

Posted

  • Moderator

Double check the CAD program for CG calcs. Some come with that ability.

  • Administrator
iacas

iacas 15,970

Posted

  • Administrator

Yeah, and the CG location is going to be important.

Also, do you want people staring at a flag when they're looking down at their putter at address?

jbishop15

jbishop15 235

Posted

57 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Double check the CAD program for CG calcs. Some come with that ability.

you can do it by using a python console but it's not working right and I can't figure out why. 

5 minutes ago, iacas said:

Yeah, and the CG location is going to be important.

Also, do you want people staring at a flag when they're looking down at their putter at address?

The flag can be changed; that's more for me than for wide use. I like having both a narrow aim line (the straight line) and a wider one. It helps me for some reason. 

  • Administrator
iacas

iacas 15,970

Posted

  • Administrator

What's the end goal here? To begin to manufacture a putter for sale? Because… visit the PGA Merchandise Show some time, and you'll find lots of putters (as well as tees that get you an extra five yards). Everyone designs a putter, and yet… there's nothing special about any of them, really. Putters are just flat pieces of metal on the end of a stick.

jmanbooyaa

jmanbooyaa 161

Posted

I agree. Looks is really the only important aspect. Looks most likely translates to how a player says it feels nice. Just my opinion. 

  • Administrator
iacas

iacas 15,970

Posted

  • Administrator
6 minutes ago, jmanbooyaa said:

I agree. Looks is really the only important aspect. Looks most likely translates to how a player says it feels nice. Just my opinion. 

Looks are how a player aligns the thing. Looks are quite important to a putter.

jbishop15

jbishop15 235

Posted

3 hours ago, iacas said:

What's the end goal here? To begin to manufacture a putter for sale? Because… visit the PGA Merchandise Show some time, and you'll find lots of putters (as well as tees that get you an extra five yards). Everyone designs a putter, and yet… there's nothing special about any of them, really. Putters are just flat pieces of metal on the end of a stick.

The end goal is to make a putter -- past that, I don't really have any expectations! I like making things, but in my professional life the work I do doesn't really have an end point, and having project that I can "finish" has been a lot of fun. 

I definitely agree RE: the specialness of any particular putter. I like the design I have and I think it'll look cool when it's done. But who know! I might hate it when it's actually out in the world. I've got a few friends and family who want one already, which is a cool feeling

JPGolf99

JPGolf99 1

Posted

Awesome work - nothing like working on something you are passionate about. I can't wait to see the finished product once you get there!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up

  • Blog Entries

  • Posts

    • iacas
      Gauging Wind

      By iacas · Posted

      The wind might be different above 60 feet, but peak height for many golfers is 80-90 feet, so it's spending a good chunk of its time being affected by the wind below 60 feet. But, yes, judging the wind is one of the toughest things. We've had a very windy spring, but it's been a bit more normal lately.
    • saevel25
      Gauging Wind

      By saevel25 · Posted

      So, I was watching some YouTube golf. Ryan Ruffels mentioned that the Australian National Golf Team brought in the sailing team to teach them how to read wind. They said that anything above 60-FT in-the-air basically fallows the wind currents. So, picking up any grass and throwing it in the air is basically pointless since most all golf shots are going to be above 90-FT in the air. He did make the comment that if you do play on courses where trees are routinely above 60-FT, then the swirling wind matters. That is why, like on the 12th hole at Augusta, it's a pain. The trees down there influence that shot. If your shots are getting near the top of the trees, or above the trees, look up the direction of the wind. If you want to get a better gauge of the wind. Go to the national weather service. If you type in the zip code for the location of the course, at the bottom of the page there is a clickable image for a graph of the weather, Hourly Weather Forecast.  The graph will have surface wind (33-FT above ground), but it will tell you the direction the wind is coming from (i.e. out of the north). If you want to be really technical about it. Going from 33-FT to 100-Ft in height, you are increasing wind speed by about 25% as well. 
    • saevel25
      Golf Balls

      By saevel25 · Posted

      If you are the golfer who wants to go out on the weekend. Enjoy a few beers with some friends, hacking it around the course. Don't have intention of practicing to get better. Then go buy the cheapest golf balls. Don't waste money when you are not putting in the effort.  The opposite is true. If you plan on getting trying to get better, playing more, practicing more, or if you are a halfway decent to very good golfer who is in the wrong golf ball. Getting into the right golf ball for your game is beneficial. You are putting in time, money, effort into your game. Why devalue that effort or hurt your game by playing a crappy golf ball. 
    • maulligan
      Vintage Golf Course Architecture and Design

      By maulligan · Posted

      Oh that's too bad 😕
    • iacas
      Golf Balls

      By iacas · Posted

      Golf balls are not all the same, no. You're right about that. Finding a good golf ball for your game is important to play your best.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

  I accept