DIY Shaft Extensions and Grips

[TheLauncher]

After messing around with different clubs at the end of last season and over the winter I have determined that I would like to lengthen my clubs by a half inch. I have done grips myself before and found them to be quite simple, if a little annoying. I was wondering if there was any particular challenge in doing the shaft extensions or putting the grips on them aftewards. I'm pretty handy and I think I can save myself about $75, but I wanted to avail myself of the wealth of knowledge here at the Sand Trap before I got in over my head. Any advice on taking on this project? Also, I am assuming any change in swing weight would be negligible, is this correct?

[lumpuckeroo]

I have done this and while it is pretty simple it can be annoying also. I used a metal extention, one extention will lengthen two clubs. Simply epoxy the extention into the shaft, once the epoxy has set, cut the extention to the desired length and then regrip.

Not real sure about how it would effect the swing weight but you are actually putting 2 or 3 inches of the extension in the old shaft and then cutting it 1/2 longer, so there is more weight than just the 1/2 inch of the extention.

[TheLauncher]

Not real sure about how it would effect the swing weight but you are actually putting

OK, that makes sense. I was thinking more like an inch, but you probably need more for rigidity. Thanks for your help.

[basesloaded190]

Done many extensions. We usually use scrap shafts, but im assuming you don't have any lying around. Make sure you get metal extensions and nothing else. All that plastic and graphic crap will break for sure. When you epoxy the extension into the shaft make sure that the shaft is parallel with the floor at all times. You don't want the epoxy to run down the shaft. Let the shafts dry horizontally for 24 hours before cutting them. then just cut them to length. when you put the tape on the shaft to grip them, make sure you put some masking tap on the extension so that diameter lines up with your shaft diameter if it doesn't. If you don't do that, it may feel very weird with the grip on. Its pretty simple, hope that helps.

P.S. I don't know if this is something you yourself want to try, but when we do extensions, we "Punch" the extensions. What that involves is taking a hammer and a metal punch and putting the club on a flat surface and popping a dent into the shaft on both sides. Not putting a hole, but a good dent in the shaft right below where the extension goes in. I will guarantee you that extension will never come out on its own. Like i said i don't imagine this is something you want to try on your first time, but its great for securing the extension in the shaft.

[mc0388]

The extensions I use are made of aluminum and very light in weight. I cant immagine that the swing weight is effected all that much. Also, make sure how long you want your clubs to be when finished regripping. A 1/2" is a lot more than it seems, and realizing that they are too long after your done CAN make this DIY project more expensive when you have to regrip again.

2 cents

[Randy4h]

1/2" extension will add about 3 swingweight points, discounting the weight of the extension itself. If your clubs are currently D1, they will become D4. For some folks, that may not be a big deal, but you may find the clubs will feel heavier due to the added length.

[TheLauncher]

P.S. I don't know if this is something you yourself want to try, but when we do extensions, we "Punch" the extensions. What that involves is taking a hammer and a metal punch and putting the club on a flat surface and popping a dent into the shaft on both sides.

This seems like a good idea if the fit isn't exactly tight. I'm imagining a nial set making two small indentations on either side, but how do you do this without collapsing the shaft?

A 1/2" is a lot more than it seems, and realizing that they are too long after your done CAN make this DIY project more expensive when you have to regrip again.

I hadn't thought of this. I guess the butt if the gip is about a quarter inch, and so if I wanted to end a half inch longer I would need only a quarter inch of the extension? At any rate it seems like having them a little long would be better than too short, as they are now.

[basesloaded190]

This seems like a good idea if the fit isn't exactly tight. I'm imagining a nial set making two small indentations on either side, but how do you do this without collapsing the shaft?

Its a light, but strong tap with a metal punch and a hammer. All you want to do is make a slight dent or puch in the shaft. you don't want to put a whole in the shaft and you don't want to collaspe the shaft. We usually do this a a very hard surface such as the flat part of a vice. It takes two people to do this, one to hold the shaft and club parallel to the ground and the other to do the actual punching. If your brave, it a sure way to never have those extensions come out. Trust me you would have to torch the crap out of the extension and shaft to get them out. Do this at your own risk, but once you get the hang of it, its really easy and effective

[Scots Golf]

If your only extending it by 1/2" then you only need the same inside the club.
Same goes if your doing it by 1", you need 1" inside the club.
Also for the swingweights, each 1/2" increases it by 2.