Checking Iron Lofts

[Club Rat]

I would like to check my Callaway XR irons lofts at my home.
I do not have the proper equipment like club builders have at their disposal.
But with a little ingenuity, I think it would be possible to check them on my work bench.
After I check them, I plan to take them to a fitter and have them adjusted/tweaked if needed.

I've seen handheld items such as the loft gauge or golf protractor.
My friend had the Malby Machine and we used to check our clubs periodically, 
but he lives in Colorado and we don't get to enjoy golfing together much anymore.

Anyway, any thoughts on primitive methods of testing? @Adam C @boogielicious
I hope to buy one one of these someday, it is sweet !!! 

[iacas]

Just go visit a store. Takes a few minutes, and they shouldn't charge you much.

We have a loft/lie machine (Blue) downtown. Like I said, takes 30 seconds per club.

[boogielicious]

I don’t have a gauge, but I do have my late FIL’s machinist angle gauge. I clamp the iron so the shaft is vertical as in set up and make sure the head is set correctly. I can then measure loft using the gauge. I use a level for the shaft.

[Adam C]

48 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

I don’t have a gauge, but I do have my late FIL’s machinist angle gauge. I clamp the iron so the shaft is vertical as in set up and make sure the head is set correctly. I can then measure loft using the gauge. I use a level for the shaft.

That angle finder is sweet!

If you have a modern smart phone from the last few years, you can use a leveling app and very easily check lofts. Just position the shaft straight and lean the phone against the club face. Lie angle is a bit tricky just making sure you have the head sitting level, but loft is straight forward, especially on irons.

No additional tools needed.

[onthehunt526]

On 4/30/2021 at 11:46 AM, Adam C said:

That angle finder is sweet!

If you have a modern smart phone from the last few years, you can use a leveling app and very easily check lofts. Just position the shaft straight and lean the phone against the club face. Lie angle is a bit tricky just making sure you have the head sitting level, but loft is straight forward, especially on irons.

No additional tools needed.

I tried it with my 3-iron. It was 19.5° which is what it specs out to be after I had it strengthened.

[WUTiger]

GolfWorks sells a magnetic loft and lie gauge for $15, and a heavier protractor for $20. 

[onthehunt526]

1 hour ago, WUTiger said:

GolfWorks sells a magnetic loft and lie gauge for $15, and a heavier protractor for $20. 

Yup. Or you can go to the dollar store and get an protractor and grab a piece of kite string and a washer. Hold iron vertical tie washer to hole. Place protactor on face and measure angle with straight edge. I just saved you $14 + shipping.

It’s like the dad in WarGames who was really a genius in disguise. See they have all these corn-on-the-cob buttering devices, where for the cost of one slice of bread, you can butter a slice of bread and roll the corn-on-the-cob around in it. You don’t necessarily need a lie and loft machine to check the angles. Oh and start buttering your corn with bread (the heel works really well)

Edited June 30, 2021 by onthehunt526
Corn on the cob analogy

[boogielicious]

8 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Yup. Or you can go to the dollar store and get an protractor and grab a piece of kite string and a washer. Hold iron vertical tie washer to hole. Place protactor on face and measure angle with straight edge. I just saved you $14 + shipping.

It’s like the dad in WarGames who was really a genius in disguise. See they have all these corn-on-the-cob buttering devices, where for the cost of one slice of bread, you can butter a slice of bread and roll the corn-on-the-cob around in it. You don’t necessarily need a lie and loft machine to check the angles. Oh and start buttering your corn with bread (the heel works really well)

Man you really like corn on the cob!😜

[Vinsk]

11 hours ago, onthehunt526 said:

Yup. Or you can go to the dollar store and get an protractor and grab a piece of kite string and a washer. Hold iron vertical tie washer to hole. Place protactor on face and measure angle with straight edge. I just saved you $14 + shipping.

It’s like the dad in WarGames who was really a genius in disguise. See they have all these corn-on-the-cob buttering devices, where for the cost of one slice of bread, you can butter a slice of bread and roll the corn-on-the-cob around in it. You don’t necessarily need a lie and loft machine to check the angles. Oh and start buttering your corn with bread (the heel works really well)

Yeah…but the corn was raw. Lol.

[TL308]

On 4/30/2021 at 10:56 AM, iacas said:

Just go visit a store. Takes a few minutes, and they shouldn't charge you much.

We have a loft/lie machine (Blue) downtown. Like I said, takes 30 seconds per club.

This.  It is worth the peace of mind.  Shouldn't take that long.  

[onthehunt526]

On 8/29/2021 at 1:06 PM, TL308 said:

This.  It is worth the peace of mind.  Shouldn't take that long.  

Funny you should say that. When I had a gap test done with my Z Series clubs, my short irons were dead on and I mean right on spec from the factory. My long and mid irons, were a lot squirrely... meaning the bread wasn't buttered enough for the corn. My 7-iron was like 30.5 which is 1.5 degrees strong and my 6-iron was like 26 and the guy at GG wanted to keep them there. I went 0.5 degree strong on my 5, 6, and 7 irons, then the 4-iron I left alone... I actually have been playing my clubs from last year, mainly because I don't want to sell them. 

Moral of the story, get them checked on a lie and loft machine, it's worth the $2 a club max... GG only charges if they actually bend it.