Whay would you do.......broken shafts

[Fozcycle]

I purchased the new Powerbilt AFO Hollow Nitrogen charged irons with a regular graphite shaft and received them at the end of April.

The play was terrific!...very accurate and they helped lower my handicap from 21 to 14.

Last month the shaft of the 9 iron broke at the hosel during a round of golf.....I contacted the Powerbilt reps (in California, not Louisville). They sent me a new 9 iron and I returned the broken club to them. They were very understanding and timely in the club replacement (took about 2 weeks).

I got the replacement 9 iron about 10 days ago and have been using it.

Yesterday, during a round, the 6 iron broke at the same place....at the hosel.

I'm not sure what to do.....again, give them the opportunity to replace the iron or shaft?

That would be fine, but it appears that I may have defective shafts....that cannot stand up to normal use for a couple rounds of golf each week.

Should I ask them to replace the entire set?

Or should I just eat it and have Golfsmith replace the shafts with something like a Graphalloy or UST IROD?



The original shafts just say "UL 65 Powerized".......The Driver & 3 Hybrid have Fujikura shafts.

What would you do?

[snofrog]

graphite shafts will all break eventually . irons take the worst of the abuse . if you like the heads then just reshaft with steel and move on . getting the company to do it for free would be better ; )

[The Road Dog]

Sounds like a question for whomever you purchased the set from. Have you contacted them with the second failure? Also when was that last time you snapped a shaft?

[jamo]

Contact them again and see what they offer you. Maybe ask for a replaced full set first and if they don't bite on that just the 6 iron.

[WUTiger]

Two different irons break at the hosel? Sounds like a possible manufacturing system defect.

I'd contact PowerBilt and ask to have the set replaced. What kind of guarantee does it carry?

[Fozcycle]

Here is the Powerbilt Warranty info:

Warranty Claims/Defective Returns

PowerBilt Golf warranties most clubs or sets in our 2009 catalog produced by PowerBilt. PowerBilt products are guaranteed to be free from manufacturing and material defects, and not otherwise, for the life of the original purchaser of the product. If any defect occurs, the original purchaser will receive a comparable replacement. Warranty claims are subject to the discretion of PowerBilt Golf. One-year limited warranty on PowerBilt Junior, PowerBilt Grand Slam Men's and Ladies, TPS, Countess and Dynasty complete sets. Any Defective product may be returned anytime within one year of purchase with prior return authorization. Please contact PowerBilt Golf customer service 888-488-4653 prior to returning any merchandise for warranty or defective consideration. The customer is responsible for all shipping costs and associated expenses of return merchandise.

A five-year leak proof warranty is offered with all Air Force OneTM clubs for the original purchaser of the product. If defective we will replace the head and use the existing shaft and grip.

Exclusions

Warranty does not cover any cosmetic defects, including; paint chipping, paint scratching, scratching of metal surfaces due to normal wear and tear, grips and damage caused by abuse or neglect.

There is no warranty, guarantee and/or returns for custom orders of the Air Force OneTM or any other PowerBilt product.

[Fozcycle]

Thanks for the comments.....I'll contact them today and let you know what happens.

By the way, in the past 3 weeks, I have played the best two rounds in the last 24 years.

77 @ Babe Zaharias GC(5,400 yds) and 76 @ Pebble Creek GC(6,032 yds)

so I really do like the clubs and want to continue with them.

The only modification I have made was to have the original grips replaced with Golf Pride Midsize Tour Wrap 2G's......due to arthritis in my fingers.....the Tour Wrap is softer and more shack absorbing and the Midsize lets me hold the club without squeezing my hands so tight.

So, if they replace the irons, I want the Midsize Tour Wraps on them.

[Fozcycle]

Just spoke with Powerbilt's Customer Service.....the same rep that replaced my 9 iron a couple weeks ago.

He's going to send me a new 6 iron without a grip today.......when I receive it, I can then take the Midsize grip off the broken shaft and put it on the new 6 iron, then send the broken 6 iron to them.....freight paid by Powerbilt both ways.

Now, if this happens again, they will replace the entire set of irons.

He said when they produce the clubs that they do not do one set at a time. Rather they do a run of 6 irons, then 7 irons, etc. so the chances that the entire set is defective should be slim to none.

Powerbilt is standing behind their product, as expected.

Thanks Powerbilt!

[sean_miller]

Just spoke with Powerbilt's Customer Service.....the same rep that replaced my 9 iron a couple weeks ago.

Unless of course they're all garbage. Hey, it's possible. I had a set of Ram Accubar irons in the late 80s that looked and felt great (back then anyway - I see pictures of them now and throw up a little - meh) but the heads were a little too heavy for the stock shafts. After replacing my 4th shaft, I dumped the set. I've never broken a shaft of any kind since then, and that was a long time ago.

[Fozcycle]

Thanks for the comment sean,

You are so right.......but like I said, they committed to replace the entire set if one more breaks.

And they can't be a crap set, otherwise how do you explain the significant improvement in my game? From 21 to 14 is not BS! Besides that I've had two sub 80 rounds in the last month.

[sean_miller]

Thanks for the comment sean,

Didn't say they weren't working for you. I went from a max to a 20 in season one and by the end of season two (or was it 3? whatever) I was a 10.0 with those Rams. The quality control was lacking though.

[kpaulhus]

You are the only person I have ever heard of using the powerbilt irons. So I havent heard of their quality other than this.

Also, Im an 8 and I really, really, really hate Babe Zaharais in Tampa. Even from the back tees I was hitting par 4's in 1 or completely flying the green. IDK why, but I shot a 95 my first go round there. I also walked for the first time.... Havent had a chance to play Pebble Creek, but I like playing Heritage Isles, which I think is only a few miles away. I went to USF btw.

[Fozcycle]

You are the only person I have ever heard of using the powerbilt irons. So I havent heard of their quality other than this.

Babe Z is a very short course...mostly played by Seniors....but at 5400 yds can be challenging....to shoot a 77, you still have to make the shots, whether driver & 6 iron or driver & PW....I shot a very respectable 77 on the day I broke my 9 iron (17th hole).

Pebble Creek is 6032 yds from the white...not overly long, but skillfully challenging, all the greens are elevated and there is water on 17 holes (# 9 has no water) plus plenty of bunkers. The 76 I shot there from the Whites was very respectable... I have played other courses in Tampa at 6400 yds that played easier than Pebble Creek's 6032 yds. As for the Powerbilt clubs.....they are made in Louisville, KY by Hillerich & Bradsby, who also makes the Louisville Slugger bat & Bionic glove....They were popular on the PGA Tour in the 50's & 60's but fell back to a regional golf club (Ohio River Valley area) until Fuzzy Zoeller started promoting the Nitrogen charged clubs (Fuzzy has always used PowerBilts). Before I switched back to PowerBilts in April, I played Callaway Fusions & Cobra L5V driver with a 21 handicap. I was comfortable there since I have a shattered left wrist with a steel plate & 13 screws. I never thought I could return to the 10 handicap I once was in the 1980's....but with the PowerBilt nitrogen charged Driver, a 3 Hybrid (nitrogen charged) and the nitrogen charged irons, I have been able to drop to a 14 and will be lower this month....The Driver got me an extra 10 to 30 yds off the tee which allowed me to use a shorter iron for the approach. The Powerbilt nitrogen charged irons have been very accurate, the wedge play has improved tremendously getting me closer to the hole (the AW & SW are PowerBilt cavity backs and have been spot on.) All the nitrogen does is provide equal support for a thinner club face that provides a larger sweet spot which yields more yardage due to the Trampoline effect off the face. I have an 87 mph swing speed and most "off the rack" clubs are based upon a 110 mph SS. That is where I have gotten the extra distance on my drive and iron shots. The nitrogen is just a pressurized gas that provides equal support for the thinner clubface. Besides being available online at Poerbilt.com they are now available at Edwin Watts.....they are not cheap....but well worth the price if you have a slower swing speed. Thanks PowerBilt!

[sean_miller]

Babe Z is a very short course...mostly played by Seniors....but at 5400 yds can be challenging....to shoot a 77, you still have to make the shots, whether driver & 6 iron or driver & PW....I shot a very respectable 77 on the day I broke my 9 iron (17th hole).

There must be a few driver/putter holes on that first course.

[kpaulhus]

There must be a few driver/putter holes on that first course.

very small greens. Lots of twists n turns. 6 iron , 4 iron on some holes.

[sean_miller]

very small greens. Lots of twists n turns. 6 iron , 4 iron on some holes.

That sounds very interesting. Like, I'd check it out if I was in the area kind of interesting.

[CWHolland]

Two different irons break at the hosel? Sounds like a possible manufacturing system defect.

+1 It definitely sounds like there is a manufactures defect. Contact them and see what they will do for you.

[Fozcycle]

BTW, the Babe had a course record of 62, set by Woody Austin some years ago.......Last September the club pro, T J Heidel shot a new course record 60 so woody audtin played him in a charity event at the Babe in december and lost....

Here a link to the course for more info.... http://www.babezahariasgc.com/

June 26, 2011 will be the 100th anniversary of Babe Zaharias' birth so they plan on a big tourney that week to commemerate Babe Zaharias.