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

[Fozcycle]

My 6 iron arrived Friday afternoon......got the grip changed to the Midsize GP Tour Wrap 2G....

Played two rounds this weekend.....no breakage to report......

Thanks Powerbilt .......you stand behind your products!

[Fozcycle]

PowerBilt Nitrogen iron number 3 broke today.......my PW broke after a 20 yard pitch on a par 3....

So on Monday I'll be calling PowerBilt to inform them....and see if they hold up on their word that they would replace the whole set of irons.

[sean_miller]

PowerBilt Nitrogen iron number 3 broke today.......my PW broke after a 20 yard pitch on a par 3....

Maybe they have a set of vintage Powerbilts in the warehouse - like from back in the 80s when they had some form of quality control.

[Fozcycle]

Maybe they have a set of vintage Powerbilts in the warehouse - like from back in the 80s when they had some form of quality control.

LMAO.......that might work......the thing is.....I really do like the nitrogen irons.....they have been spot on for my game as my Hcap has dropped from 21 to 14 in just 4 months.

[ronaldkuntoro]

It seems the Powerbilt shafts have a very low quality. I have been using graphite shafts on my iron for 4 years. None of them ever broke even on grounded swing.

[Fozcycle]

It seems the Powerbilt shafts have a very low quality. I have been using graphite shafts on my iron for 4 years. None of them ever broke even on grounded swing.

The original shafts just say "UL 65 Powerized"......they ara made for Powerbilt by Apollo I found this concerning Apollo Graphite shafts.... Apollo shafts have had a long and distinguished history in the golf industry. The company was started in the Midlands of England, the main site of the industrial revolution. In the mid 1890’s as one of the founding five members of the TI Group (Tube Investments), the company was then known as Accles & Pollock. The company was referred to as a “tube manipulator”, which produced all types of steel tubing. In 1913, Accles & Pollock received a patent for the first tubular steel golf shaft. After the steel golf shaft was finally legalized by the R & A, golf’s governing body in 1927, it rapidly replaced the wood shafts that had been used since golf began in Scotland. Accles & Pollock soon worked with an American company, named American Fork and Hoe, which eventually became the present day True Temper. As a licensee of the American company for nearly forty years Accles & Pollack produced steel shafts under the True Temper name for the European and Japanese golf markets. The agreement was dissolved in 1977, and Accles & Pollock began selling directly into the North American markets of USA and Canada, under their own brand name and shaft models. In 1986 the company was split to focus more on the golf side of the business, and took on the name Apollo Golf, which was the name of the shaft models. In 1988, Apollo golf was the first steel shaft manufacturer in the world to also offer its own branded graphite shaft models. The present day Apollo Golf Company is as dedicated to shaft quality, performance, and customer service as the original company. We will continue to offer a variety of shaft models in both steel and graphite, backed by engineering and quality assurance. We look forward to servicing your shaft requirements and helping your company be successful. Some of the more popular Apollo shafts are the Apollo Shadow, Apollo Hump (which has been played by Vjay Singh, Jim Furyk and many other PGA tour pros), Apollo Acculite, Apollo Masterflex, Apollo Balistik, Apollo Shadow UL, and many more! So I guess the shaft is pretty legit...I got an AW, SW & 3 Hybrid after I bought the irons...and have had no problems with them.... only 3 of the initial 7 irons with the Hollow nitrogen filled clubheads have broken. My guess is the PowerBilt graphite shaft is the same as Apollo Shadow UL Graphite Iron Shafts....here is a brief description for the web..."The Apollo Shadow UL is one of our favorite shafts – because it's hard to get a solid ultra-light graphite shaft at a reasonable price like the Shadow UL most definitely is. Designed for the mid-handicapper, this light shaft will allow a quicker swingspeed, and the mid torque provides a smooth feel and excellent kick through the zone." I honestly believe that the problem was in the assembly of the shaft to the clubhead as all three have broken the same way in the same place, just inside the Hosel. I am hoping that with the promised complete replacement set that the shaft breakage will not be a factor. I'll find out something later today.

[Fozcycle]

I called Powerbilt Customer Service this afternoon, and they are going to ship a new set of irons (4 thru PW) with Golf Pride Midsize Tour wrap 2G grips, as I had regripped all my clubs recently....then I can return the original set (including the recently replaces 9 & 6 irons as well as the broken PW) with a return FedX label.

My cost is zero and they have held to their word.

As always, the proof is in the pudding......will let you know when i receive the replacement irons.

[jime]

Years ago I went from steel to graphite shafted irons. I quickly started breaking them at the hosel, about one every third round. When the third shaft broke (9-iron, then PW, then 6-iron) and it cost $80 to repair each, I decided to go back to steel shafts. The guy who makes my clubs said that when I hit down on my irons on very hard ground (San Francisco Bay in the summertime), the graphic just could not take the shock.

[Fozcycle]

I opened the FedEx box last night and found, 7 brand new PowerBilt Air Force One Air Foil hollow nitrogen irons with Regular graphite shafts and Golf Pride Midsize grips (4 thru PW).

I know that I had put GP Midsize Tour Wrap 2G grips on and noted that Powerbilt put GP Midsize Tour Velvet grips. I'm okay with that as the Tour Velvet actually has more dampness control than the Tour Wrap 2G, but not as much shock absortion & tackiness.

So I wrapped up the old irons, including the broken PW and they are now in a box waiting for FedEx return....at no expense to me.

Through all of this adventure, I can say that PowerBilt's distributor agents in Thousand Palms, California have been Outstanding!

Thanks Ryan, Brian & Cameron!

Thanks PowerBilt!

[Fozcycle]

Went to the Driving Range last night to hit the replacement set of irons before I can play on Saturday......the grip was a Midsize Tour Velvet. All clubs were fine.....I was extremely straight and accurate.....I also got a nitrogen charged 4 Hybrid and a 5 wood......they were awesome!

[sean_miller]

Went to the Driving Range last night to hit the replacement set of irons before I can play on Saturday......the grip was a Midsize Tour Velvet. All clubs were fine.....I was extremely straight and accurate.....I also got a nitrogen charged 4 Hybrid and a 5 wood......they were awesome!

Okay, I'll take . . . September 17 th . . . 6th hole . . . and the 8 iron this time.

[James_Black]

Okay, I'll take . . . September 17 th . . . 6th hole . . . and the 8 iron this time.

LoL, I guess your not a fan of powerbilt?

How do you break a club at the hosel anyway? Do you have a really steep swing plane or something?

[Fozcycle]

Okay, I'll take . . . September 17 th . . . 6th hole . . . and the 8 iron this time.

I have been using the 8 iron a lot lately.......................hmmmmmmm.

[Fozcycle]

How do you break a club at the hosel anyway?

My iron swing is pretty normal....I hit the ball first with a descending blow, resulting in a 2" divot after the ball. The divot is flat, so my clubs are hitting the ground at the proper angle, not toe or heel heavy. As for the broken shafts, all three had been played 2 to 3 rounds per week over a 3 month period. They all cracked just inside the hosel. The last one, broke after I hit a 15 yard pitch to a Par 3. No real power, just a light pitch and run....when I went to lay the club on the green, I heard & felt a crackle, snap. Before i could let the shaft drop from my hand, it was in two pieces.

Several people said it might have resulted from the actual assembly of the shaft and hosel process, not the shaft itself. They said if it wasn't prepped correctly, the shaft could splinter and snap at the hosel. I really don't know.....Powerbilt has all of the original set now....and I have a complete replacement set.....I really doubt that this will happen again....My swing speed is only 87 mph so I don't think I broke them from swinging too hard.

[Fozcycle]

5 rounds played with the replacement irons......no issues at this time....pushing alittle to the right..probably due to my weak left wrist.....metal plate & 13 screws holding it together.....need to work on this.

[Fozcycle]

This is just an update to let you know that I've been playing the replacement irons every week(2 to 3 rounds per week) and have not broken another club.

[NEOHMark]

Originally Posted by Fozcycle

This is just an update to let you know that I've been playing the replacement irons every week(2 to 3 rounds per week) and have not broken another club.

Nice.   I bet they had some sort of burr, or sharp edge issue with the original hosels that cut into the shaft.  Graphite would be way more susceptible to that kind of defect v. steel.  Glad to hear they stood behind their product and made it right for you.