The dilemma - Cast club bending?

So I ordered two Nike V-rev cast wedges from golfsmith a few weeks ago.  Wanted the clubs extended +1inch and +2 degrees upright on the lie (64 to 66 deg).  They get here and on the box label and package slip, it says they are +1inch and standard lie.  So I get them checked and they are indeed standard lie (64 degrees instead of 66 deg). Boo!!!

Now I'm left with one of two options -
1. Send them back to Golfsmith/Nike and go without my new wedges for probably another month.

or

2. Get them bent locally and hope they don't break.

Any advice on getting cast Nike clubs bent up two degrees?  Anybody done it before? Impossible? I've looked all over the place online and have seen a bunch of different opinions ranging from 'OMG Don't Do It' to 'You can bend cast clubs up to 4 deg no problem'.

Right now I'm leaning on sending them back so I make sure I'm not out the money I spent.  But I really don't want to because it'd be like taking a Christmas present away from a kid right after he opens it. Also, the weather is supposed to be great here in Ohio for the next two weeks and I don't want to miss out on quality playing time with my new toys.  But I really can't afford to eat the money I paid in case they break.

Note - Paying the extra money for forged wedges next time so I don't run into this problem ever again...

For a long time, the main difference between cast and forged irons was the manufacturing process, and the type of metal used.

Forged clubs tended to have softer (more pliable) metals than cast. But, this has started to change as wider varieties of steel show up in cast clubheads.

You should contact Golfsmith/Nike to find out for sure if these wedges can be bent. Sometimes the "no bend" advisories are because of harder metal in head, other times it's because the hosel design is such there's not much to "grab onto" for bending.

If you have time, do a search on "metal" in the Maltby/GolfWorks site and the Cleveland and Titleist OEM sites. It's really interesting the changing metallurgy of golf clubs since about 2000.

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I notice you live in Dayton area, seemingly in the heart of golf country. Any reason why you did mail order rather than walk in?

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I'm left handed and I have to get them custom fit.  Most of the time the lefty clubs I want are a lot harder to come by.  Also, by the time you add in the cost of new shaft, length, and lie adjustments its cheaper to get them online where I can get all the custom for no extra price through the golfsmith club fitting.

According to everywhere I looked, it says the Nike V-rev clubs are made from 8620 carbon steel.  It claims this is a "soft" carbon steel.  So maybe it will be possible to get them bent.

I did call golfsmith and I asked the guy about bending them and it sounded like he almost crapped his pants at the question.  "Cast clubs can break if you try to get them bent.  They can only be bent 1 to 1.5 degrees. NEVER to 2."  Sounded like he was trying to cover his ass more than anything, but who knows.

I've seen and heard that most places won't attempt to bend a cast iron more than 1 - 1.5 degrees.  I don't know if that's a stock answer or if it's true, but I guess if you're willing to take the risk you'll find someone willing to try.

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Originally Posted by RichWW2

Quote:

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I notice you live in Dayton area, seemingly in the heart of golf country. Any reason why you did mail order rather than walk in?

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I'm left handed and I have to get them custom fit.  Most of the time the lefty clubs I want are a lot harder to come by.  Also, by the time you add in the cost of new shaft, length, and lie adjustments its cheaper to get them online where I can get all the custom for no extra price through the golfsmith club fitting.

According to everywhere I looked, it says the Nike V-rev clubs are made from 8620 carbon steel.  It claims this is a "soft" carbon steel.  So maybe it will be possible to get them bent.

I did call golfsmith and I asked the guy about bending them and it sounded like he almost crapped his pants at the question.  "Cast clubs can break if you try to get them bent.  They can only be bent 1 to 1.5 degrees. NEVER to 2."  Sounded like he was trying to cover his ass more than anything, but who knows.

Maybe what he meant to say is, "it seems we've ordered them incorrectly so why don't you bring them back and we'll order the proper ones and have them rushed here at no extra charge since we made the mistake."

Personally, Id send it back.  They screwed it up and they should be the ones to fix it.  As for bending a cast club, it all depends upon the metal that is used.  If its carbon steel, you can bend it just like you can a forged club.  If its stainless steel, its a risk and I wouldnt bend it.

I would send them back and it shouldn't take a month to get them from golfsmith. They are typically pretty good about correcting mistakes it might take a week since they are a special order.

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Sean,

Thanks for the translation, man. So that's what the clerk meant.

Update:

Went to Indianapolis this past weekend, and they had a golfsmith there so I took my clubs in.  They said they would try bending them and if they broke one they would replace it at no cost to me. So I let them bend it and everything is fine now.  Very strange to hear everyone's opinion about bending cast clubs.  The guys bending the clubs at the store said they bend cast clubs all the time no problem.  Maybe it's just an old myth that cast clubs can't be bent? Either way...I have my new toys now.  Time to go hit the range this week and test them out.