Bent 6 Iron Shaft... What Are My Options?

[TristanBlevins]

I was out playing the other day when I looked at my 6 iron and noticed it was bent just a little bit to the heel side. I have my first tournament of the year in just a few weeks, so I'm kinda panicking. I pretty much have 4 options that I can think of:

1) Bend the shaft back and hope it holds up/works for at least the first tournament

2) Get it reshafted, but the stock shafts in all of my irons are 85g with a .370 tip, I cannot for the life of me find another shaft with those dimensions. (Closest I can find is around 120g)

3) Get 4, 5, and 6 irons all reshafted with a shaft around 120g, the only problem is that I already have trouble hitting my 5 and 4 irons, would a heavier shaft make it harder to get them off the ground with? Or should I get a regular flex as opposed to a stiff, which is already in my irons? Would that help me get those clubs up in the air?

And the only thing about reshafting is that the only place I know of around here to get clubs reshafted is Dick's, but I don't see them offering steel shafts - only graphite. If I order shafts off of somewhere online could I take them and the clubs in and have them reshaft/regrip them for me? And does anyone know how much this typically costs?

[clearwaterms]

Shafting clubs is actually very easy. If you lived in Chicago I would happily do it for you for the cost of a beer. Most golf stores (golf galaxy, golfsmith, etc) will reshaft clubs for you. You could also any pro shop that does gripping service. What brand of clubs do you currently play? I wouldn't get a shaft that is 35g heavier, it will drastically change the way the club plays. Finding an ultra lite 85g shaft shouldn't be hard. As for getting the ball airborne with one shaft vs another, I don't believe that shafts have that much to do with it. It is likely still a swing issue. Now different shafts will give you different dispersions, but skulling an iron with a 85g shaft vs a 120g shaft is likely still going to result in the same worm burner. Heavier shafts tend to be preferred by stronger (physical strength, not skill) players as it helps them keeping tempo in check.

[TristanBlevins]

Originally Posted by clearwaterms

What brand of clubs do you currently play? I wouldn't get a shaft that is 35g heavier, it will drastically change the way the club plays. Finding an ultra lite 85g shaft shouldn't be hard.

I play TaylorMade Burners right now. And I figured that wouldn't be smart, but I can't find a shaft close to 85g anywhere.

[clearwaterms]

Well, I wouldn't recommend playing the club with a compromised shaft. The amount of stress a golf club makes, especially one that takes a divot is very high. Playing a golf club with a shaft that is any way bent is dangerous both to you and others. You won't be able no straighten it out either, Hireko.com Golfworks.com Both would be able to sell you a shaft. However, I think you should call TM directly and see if they will sell you a direct replacement. Are you sure they are in fact 370 tipped? Most factory clubs are 355 taper tips, and as such the old shaft removed and a new shaft installed.

[TristanBlevins]

The closest weight I can find is 94g. Will that have any significant impact on feel/playability vs. my other irons?

Originally Posted by clearwaterms

Well, I wouldn't recommend playing the club with a compromised shaft. The amount of stress a golf club makes, especially one that takes a divot is very high. Playing a golf club with a shaft that is any way bent is dangerous both to you and others. You won't be able no straighten it out either,

Hireko.com

Golfworks.com

Both would be able to sell you a shaft. However, I think you should call TM directly and see if they will sell you a direct replacement. Are you sure they are in fact 370 tipped? Most factory clubs are 355 taper tips, and as such the old shaft removed and a new shaft installed.

I'll try calling them later. I'm pretty sure they are 370 tipped, I read from a couple of places that they are.

[clearwaterms]

While 94g isn't a lot heavier, the difference is likely that the burner are probably a mid flex soft tip shaft with the intent of getting the ball airborne. Another shaft isn't likely to play the same way. Since a 370 is parallel shaft, it will need to be cut on both sides so the uncut weight will be heavier than the cut weight. I don't know hat weight tm lists when they said it is an 85g shaft. So it might end up being the same weight, but it will adjust the shot dispersion. That being said, I have been in a similar situation, where I was building myself a set of clubs and ended up one shaft short and took a different shaft that was a different brand (fst vs Apollo) and I never even noticed it was different. I don't play those irons enough to notice if the play ability is noticeable. Please note that I am only a 18ish handicap so I don't expect the tightest dispersion to begin with. So in a pinch the 94 g would probably work, but it would be best to have all of the shafts be the same.

[WUTiger]

Check out the GS85 shaft from True Temper:

http://www.truetemper.com/golf/product_info.php?cPath=1&products;_id=40

It's an ultralight, high-launch, medium-spin shaft. Several SGI iron models use them as a stock shaft, so it shouldn't be hard to find. The parallel version shafts (R300 and S300) tips at 0.370" and the taper version tips at 0.355".

You might go to a golf shop and verify for sure the type and tip  of shaft.

[Club Rat]

You could also check for a replacement club, Check Ebay or iron finder (http://www.ironfinder.com/Individual-Irons/taylormade/burner_2.0-11.htm)

Ebay has several listings for your club - $40 bucks or less, shipped to your house.

Or, buy a shaft and replace it yourself. It is very easy and many people on this site to offer instructions, or pick up the shaft and take it to where ever is most convenient, either a private club, or golf shop near your home.

Having the club repaired somewhere will cost you more than replacing the club, probably.

If you plan to try it yourself, don't forget to buy a "ferrule" the trim piece above the club head to match your set.

Club Rat

[forepoints]

Originally Posted by TristanBlevins

I was out playing the other day when I looked at my 6 iron and noticed it was bent just a little bit to the heel side. I have my first tournament of the year in just a few weeks, so I'm kinda panicking. I pretty much have 4 options that I can think of:

1) Bend the shaft back and hope it holds up/works for at least the first tournament

2) Get it reshafted, but the stock shafts in all of my irons are 85g with a .370 tip, I cannot for the life of me find another shaft with those dimensions. (Closest I can find is around 120g)

3) Get 4, 5, and 6 irons all reshafted with a shaft around 120g, the only problem is that I already have trouble hitting my 5 and 4 irons, would a heavier shaft make it harder to get them off the ground with? Or should I get a regular flex as opposed to a stiff, which is already in my irons? Would that help me get those clubs up in the air?

And the only thing about reshafting is that the only place I know of around here to get clubs reshafted is Dick's, but I don't see them offering steel shafts - only graphite. If I order shafts off of somewhere online could I take them and the clubs in and have them reshaft/regrip them for me? And does anyone know how much this typically costs?

I would contact a Roger Dunn store in Palm Springs and see if they have a 6-iron Taylormade Burner iron on hand. You might want to mention that you're looking for a "desert club". Every year when new clubs come out, golf stores are sent 6-irons to be used as demos. Over the years, these individual clubs are thrown into clearance bins but in Palm Springs, they sell them as 'desert clubs' for $20 each. People buy them to use when their ball ends up in these desert wastelands. This saves them from scratching up their good irons.