SGBGolf_Oct09_p28:SGBGolf_Sept09_p32 21/09/2009 11:53 Page 28
Custom-fit workshop
The right tools
In part eight of Neil Cooke’s guide to custom-fitting,
the Golfsmith Europe technical director runs through
the essential tools needed in the workshop
On the bench A decent club rack is also a good idea, as this will keep the clubs you’re
The first and most essential piece of kit in a pro’s workshop is a strong, working on out of the way and avoid them getting knocked over while
sturdy bench with and a good quality vice. You can buy a cheap vice from they’re drying. An old manufacturer’s display stand is ideal for this purpose.
any hardware shop for around £15-20 but it’s worth spending a few For convenience and to save money, it is worth investing in a solvent
pounds more to get one with larger jaws and a swivel base. This will not recycling catch pan at around £15-20. These clip on the bench next to the
only put you in good stead for club building, but also for re-gripping and vice and recycle the solvent into a can under the bench. This keeps re-
general club repairs. gripping clean and will pay for itself within a few weeks. Another tool that
Next comes the method for measuring club lengths. There are fairly pays for itself very quickly is a good shaft extractor. At around a £100, at
sophisticated devices with hinged ends to allow for the various lie angles first glance it looks a bit extravagant, but having the capability to save the
and hosel offset, but a 48” ruler screwed to the bench with a block of wood shafts from almost any make and model of head is worth a lot of money. It
at one end is sufficient for most scenarios. is very rare for a customer to want their old shaft back after a re-shaft, and
as the original shafts are normally in good condition they can be re-used. A
Cutting edge re-shaft charged at £25-35 using a ‘pulled’ shaft takes three jobs to pay for
Cutting shafts is another area where, depending on the volume of work, it the extractor - after that all re-shafts are100% profit.
is a good idea to invest in a small chop saw with an abrasive wheel that cuts The last item is unfortunately the most expensive, a Loft & Lie machine.
both steel and graphite shafts. If the volume of shaft cutting is only small, a These cost anything from £350 to £1000, but are essential for the
simple pipe cutter is adequate for steel and a tile blade attached to a hack workshop. It is no good carrying out a fitting and advising the customer
saw will work for graphite. they need more upright or flatter clubs if you don’t have the facilities to
One piece of machinery I highly recommend and think is essential for the make these adjustments. Income can easily be generated once your
serious club maker is the 30” belt sander. These little machines have 1001 members/customers are aware that you can offer this service; at around £3
uses in the workshop, and they take all the pain and effort out of removing per club or £30 a set it doesn’t take long to recoup the investment.
the chrome from the tips of steel shafts, the paint from graphite shaft tips A well-equipped workshop makes it so much easier to produce high
and for turning down ferrules in a professional way. quality work, which enhances a pro’s reputation and results in higher
profitability. It is worth that initial investment.
Weighing in
Swing-weight scales are one of the few tools in the workshop that are
www.golfsmith-europe.co.uk
exclusive to the golf industry, and are vital in matching the feel within a set
of clubs. Again, there are expensive machines and more economic versions;
both do the same thing so it’s worth looking at the use you’re going to get The right tools: Tasks such as re-gripping are made
out of them before buying. much simpler with the appropriate equipment to hand
“
A well-equipped
workshop makes it so
much easier to
produce high quality
work, which enhances
a pro’s reputation and
results in higher
profitability
”
28 SGB GOLF OCTOBER 2009
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