Dent on My Driver?

[weswilkes]

i called nike today and damange to the bottom or crown cant be caused by "normal play" so is not covered

[Island Par]

wow, from the pics its kinda discouraging to get that kind of a driver. I've been "abusing" my driver with the same hits (topping, turf smashing etc.) but I've yet to get those kinds of defects.

[weswilkes]

well went to a driving range today and seems to be no affect on the club from the dent, thanks for all the help and input

[DJYoshi]

that really is a little suspect that people are getting the same dent, location about the same size... and really from topping a ball? That's gotta be real tough to dent it like that from topping the ball..it looks like you hit downward with the club smack into the ball.

[CG031]

off topic but DJYoshi i remember you at the rutgers games...i am season ticket holder, lol.

[ERC7.5]

that really is a little suspect that people are getting the same dent, location about the same size... and really from topping a ball? That's gotta be real tough to dent it like that from topping the ball..it looks like you hit downward with the club smack into the ball.

Actually, I think it's more of a collapse or buckling than a dent. I think it's caused not so much from topping the ball but actually from catching the ball toward the bottom board near the hosel. I would think the club head would be very weak there.

This is just what seemed to cause it when I got my "dent".

[weswilkes]

i talked to a guy today and he said the most common way of gettin this dent is when someone swings and hits behind the ball in the dirt(so are really really bad swing) and on the up swing the ball hits the bottom

[Guest]

I just got a new set of woods yesterday. I went out golfing with my 14 year old nephew and on the first hole, I decided to hit the 3 wood and let him hit the driver. Well he "topped" it by which I mean he literally hit the bottom of the club on top of the ball. I didn't notice until a couple of holes later that he had dented the club, it looks just like the picture earlier in this thread except there is a small crack as well. I hadn't even hit the club yet!! I did hit it a few times and it seemed to perform ok, but I plan on filling the dent with epoxy so it seals the crack.

[Dent]

I just got a new set of woods yesterday. I went out golfing with my 14 year old nephew and on the first hole, I decided to hit the 3 wood and let him hit the driver. Well he "topped" it by which I mean he literally hit the bottom of the club on top of the ball. I didn't notice until a couple of holes later that he had dented the club, it looks just like the picture earlier in this thread except there is a small crack as well. I hadn't even hit the club yet!! I did hit it a few times and it seemed to perform ok, but I plan on filling the dent with epoxy so it seals the crack.

I'd be so angry with a Dent in the driver, I would honestly cry, I couldn't stand to see such a nice looking club with a big ugly dent in it.

[Thomas Prickett]

This guy is not your friend.  I unfortunately wouldn't be able to handle this matter as easily as you appear to be handling it.  I really would let him know in no uncertain terms what an a--hole he is.  Probably would not limit my exchange with him to just verfbal, but would pound him.  Take a tire iron with you.

[delav]

I'm sorry to hear about the bad luck and the lame friend.

It's good to hear that you (and others) haven't noticed a difference in the play of the driver, but I'd be very surprised if this dent isn't affecting the clubs performance to some degree.  Remember that at impact, these clubs deform a considerable amount.  Engineers use FEA to optimize the thickness of the material around the clubface to provide consistent trampoline effect and ball speed for center and off-center hits.  This dent will change the stresses within the titanium and likely change the clubs behavior as it deforms.  It may not cost your distance now, but these new stresses are what is causing the above poster's club to crack.