Driver Head with Weight Removed

[Typhoon92]

If I take the weight and screw out of my Ping G400max driver at home and then go to the course use it with the hole exposed is it legal or do I have to cover it with tape.

[iacas]

I don’t think covering it with tape makes it legal.

I think it’s non-conforming either way, but definitely with the weight removed and a hole in the club head.

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, Typhoon92 said:

If I take the weight and screw out of my Ping G400max driver at home and then go to the course use it with the hole exposed is it legal or do I have to cover it with tape.

If you don't want to use the weight maybe Ping has a screw in cover.  I had a Callaway driver a few years ago that had two weight slots, but only one weight. So the other slot you covered with a screw-in lid.

Edited November 18, 2020 by Double Mocha Man

[ChetlovesMer]

21 minutes ago, iacas said:

I don’t think covering it with tape makes it legal.

I think it’s non-conforming either way, but definitely with the weight removed and a hole in the club head.

Can he put the screw in, but not the weight?

 

[DaveP043]

4 hours ago, iacas said:

I don’t think covering it with tape makes it legal.

I think it’s non-conforming either way, but definitely with the weight removed and a hole in the club head.

For my own education, can you explain why a "vacant" hole in the underside of the club, normally filled by a screw holding in a weight, would make the club non-conforming?  I don't see anything in the Equipment Rules that leads me to the same conclusion.

[dennyjones]

I was under the impression that if you started the round with the club as such it was fine as long as you didn't make any changes during the round.   

[iacas]

45 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

For my own education, can you explain why a "vacant" hole in the underside of the club, normally filled by a screw holding in a weight, would make the club non-conforming?  I don't see anything in the Equipment Rules that leads me to the same conclusion.

I’m not able to check right now. I know that holes in the head are allowed for some cavity-back irons (not THROUGH the head, but like in the cavity back area) and putters, but they really limit the holes in “wood” heads (drivers, fairways, hybrids). I think there’s a pesky “through” word, but the interpretation is often that the club head isn’t “plain in shape” if it has a hole in it (because the internal geometry is no longer “inside”?)

I’m probably simplifying things a bit in the sense of “better safe than sorry” and not wanting to get too close to the line. I found this, for example:

http://www.canterburygolf.co.nz/assets/Rule-PDFs/CGRA-Is-your-Driver-still-conforming.pdf

If a latch covering a hole in a driver is detached, it’s non-conforming, but for some reason a single weight missing on another head is legal so long as the other weight isn’t missing because then you’d have a hole “through” the head.

So again, I may be simplifying to say “holes in driver, danger area, don’t even do it.”

2 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

I was under the impression that if you started the round with the club as such it was fine as long as you didn't make any changes during the round.

You can’t start the round with a non-conforming club. I won’t die on the hill that a club without a weight and thus a hole is non-conforming, but as I just wrote, it’s a danger area for sure.

[Typhoon92]

I found this on the Golfworks website. Scroll down into the Q&A and they say it’s legal.

Ping G410 Driver Weights | The GolfWorks

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Ping G410 Driver Weights

 

I was reading the same piece that Iacas found this morning from Canterbury golf about one hole vs. two holes.  Looks like it’s fine.  Thanks guys!

[iacas]

37 minutes ago, Typhoon92 said:

I found this on the Golfworks website. Scroll down into the Q&A and they say it’s legal.

Ping G410 Driver Weights | The GolfWorks

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Ping G410 Driver Weights

I was reading the same piece that Iacas found this morning from Canterbury golf about one hole vs. two holes.  Looks like it’s fine.  Thanks guys!

Wait, you said there was a hole. What hole is there with that weight missing? There’s no hole with this weight removed, really. Just the little place for the weight to screw in, but two of those are always exposed. And I don’t think they count as holes as I don’t think they go all the way into the club head (or else stuff could get into the two unused ones).

Sorry, though - I know what a G410 head is. I have one, so I should have thought to ask a better question first.

[Typhoon92]

On my G400max I don’t know if the hole goes into the head.  But the Canterbury link showing the Callaway head said one hole from a missing weight was ok but 2 holes was not because it was an entrance and exit I think.  Maybe I’ll email Ping.  The his is what I hate about the season winding down, I think about stupid things.

[DaveP043]

I was picturing a "weight port", a hole with a specific bottom extending into the clubhead, but not through it.  I do agree that the Canturbury ruling seems to apply to a hole that extends completely through a clubhead, which isn't allowed.  I suppose I'd say its the difference between a hole and a tunnel.  The hole is acceptable, the tunnel is not.

[iacas]

5 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I was picturing a "weight port", a hole with a specific bottom extending into the clubhead, but not through it.  I do agree that the Canturbury ruling seems to apply to a hole that extends completely through a clubhead, which isn't allowed.  I suppose I'd say its the difference between a hole and a tunnel.  The hole is acceptable, the tunnel is not.

The equipment rules will use the word "hole" but say "through" the clubhead, and has pictures showing such. But I get what you're saying, too.

I'd be careful about holes in your clubs, though, as they can be "filled" with things (water can get in, etc.). even if it's not rules-related.

[DaveP043]

39 minutes ago, iacas said:

I'd be careful about holes in your clubs, though, as they can be "filled" with things (water can get in, etc.). even if it's not rules-related.

Amen, I wouldn't play a driver with any screws missing.  I've been accused of having a screw loose, but its never been in one of my clubs.