Blog
- March 25, 2021
Golfers are constantly looking to increase the distance they hit the ball. One way is reducing the overall weight of the club so it can be swung faster and that is mainly a function of the shaft weight. But re-shafting to a lighter weight shaft does have some consequences.
What happens to the swing weight with a lighter weight golf shaft?
Some golfers assume if the shaft is lighter, a higher percentage of the weight is concentrated near the head resulting into an increase in swing weight (or spelled swingweight). However, that is not the case and let us show you why. If you look carefully at a golf swing weight scale, there is a fulcrum point or position that club pivots around located 14" from the end of the grip. That is a constant.
- February 26, 2021
You may find from time to time that a customer is caught between two flexes. There is a way to remedy this situation called the principles of soft and hard stepping shafts. These terms mostly apply to taper tip steel iron shafts, but the concept also applies to parallel tip shafts. So, let us explain each of the four scenarios.
SOFT STEPPING
Parallel tip shafts
Let us begin with the easiest example using parallel tip shafts. The flex of a unitized, parallel tip shaft is determined by how much to trim off the tip of the shaft based on the weight of the head. As head weight increases, the amount of tip trimming increases incrementally to maintain the flex the manufacturer designed into the shaft.
- February 03, 2021
3 proposed USGA changes
In case you missed it this week, the ruling bodies of golf (the USGA and R&A) reached out to manufacturers for feedback and research to 3 proposed changes to current Equipment Standards. These are the three proposals in short:
Club length
The first proposal is to make available a Model Local Rule (MLR) for Committees that will permit them to limit the maximum length of clubs (other than putters) to 46 inches. The measurement technique will remain as defined within the Equipment Rules and an appropriate accommodation will be made to ensure the fidelity of that measurement. It is currently being contemplated that this MLR, like other equipment related local rules would be recommended for use only in competitions limited to highly skilled players (that is, professional and elite amateur competitions).
- January 13, 2021
Now available in 3 new, exciting camo colors, the Orlimar Pitch 'N Putt Sunday Golf Bag with a stand is ideal for a day at the driving range, a few holes at the executive course or out on the course. The ultra-lightweight construction is easy to carry and the ergonomic handle serves double duty as it easily hooks onto most golf bags for quick access when you are on the cart path and want to tote a few clubs across the fairway or around the green. - December 29, 2020
One task a clubmaker will encounter is replacing a shaft into a club which has an adjustable shaft adapter sleeve whether it is to replace a broken shaft or upgrade to a shaft that better fits the customer. Most name brand drivers as well as many fairways and hybrids will offer this feature to be able to change the lie, face angle and "effective loft" of the club. While there is an extra piece involved, the basic principles of re-shafting remain the same with only a few exceptions.
- November 06, 2020
When you need the club now!
When it comes to epoxy, clubmakers have a choice between slow and fasting curing epoxies. Slow cure epoxy typically fully cures to safely hit a ball in 20 to 24 hours at a normal room temperature. On the other hand, fast curing epoxy can come to full cure in approximately 30 minutes.
Fast curing (or setting) epoxies have come a long way. Chemical manufacturers are able to produce higher shear strength, fast curing epoxies, which appeals to clubmakers as an effort to save time during the assembly process and to establish a rapid turnaround time for their customers in this day age.
- October 15, 2020
We bought tens of thousands of shafts as part of a large OEM buyout and we are sharing those savings with you. Last week we showed you some premium shafts offerings from Fujikura, Mitsubishi Chemical, Nippon and UST-Mamiya. This week we will concentrate on a new batch of TaylorMade closeout shafts; each were co-branded with Fujikura and Matrix. All these offerings are great for repairs or re-shafting, especially now harder-to-find 0.350" diameter wood shafts and many are in the very lightweight range or sub-60 grams. Stock up while they last and save.
- October 02, 2020
Prepare for Longer Lead Times When Ordering (updated July 2021)
Many of you have contacted us and asked why so many products seem to be backordered or when do you expect a certain product to arrive. We all are aware that this year has been extraordinary in many ways. Let us briefly explain what has led up to the current shortage of products, not just for Hireko, but for golf companies industrywide.
For the foundries overseas, the slowest time of year starts in late May and extends all the way into early October. However, the pandemic changed this typical manufacturing pattern. Starting in March until the early part of July, very few orders trickled in for golf goods as there were lockdowns and uncertainty in the market due to the novel coronavirus.
- September 28, 2020
Less Taper, More Power
One of the growing trends in golf that you might not be aware of is that grips are becoming less tapered. If you ask why, there are usually two key reasons. For one is for comfort and secondly it is for control.
Another term you may have heard is "reduced taper", which is the same as a less taper. Both Golf Pride with the MCC Plus4 and CP2 series along with Lamkin's ST Hybrid +2 and Star's Tour Star+ are a few models on the market today. This past year Winn introduce a new model to it very popular DriTac series aptly named DriTac LT for Less Taper to augment their comprehensive series. Now there is a soft, polyurethane model to choose from. The Winn Dri-Tac LT also comes in 3 different sizes to suit the majority of players.
- September 16, 2020
Where do I find shaft trimming instructions?
For those customers who were familiar with our website, you may have noticed a few changes. One is where you will access the shaft trimming guide which will now be now tucked under the main menu Golf Components > Technical. Now the appearance may be different but have no fear the fundamentals remain the same.
For those new customers, we want to welcome you and make sure you also know where and how to use the recommended tip trimming. For a tutorial on how to use our tip trimming guide we have a new updated page by going to the following link.