Question

1.76K viewsFebruary 7, 2019

Popeye 179 February 6, 2019 0 Comments

I understand the reasoning on keeping construction simple and not having an adjustable hosel. But I do see a lot of players really enjoying being able to tinker with shafts from week to week. A shaft can even fit better for certain playing conditions. What if a simple screw and tip receptacle (but non adjustable) was built into a new design. It would greatly help club fitters and the end consumer alike. It wouldnt effect swingweight as with an after market club connect system. Just a thought but seems as it would be a true benefit without being complex.

2 Answers

Answer 1 · 2019-02-07T13:50:25+00:00

Hi Popeye,

I’m one of those that likes to tinker with shafts. My solution is Club Conex connectors (Fuse-Fit) to be specific. These allow you to swap shafts between various heads (within reason). I purchased a bunch of these from Golfworks when they handled them, you need to buy them from Club Conex now. If I recall correctly I installed them on three STW driver heads (9.5/10.5/12) and three 6 irons (adjusted lies standard +2 and -2). In addition with the shafts I set up three shafts each with L, A, R, S flex with different lengths. I use these for fitting right handers. (For left handers I have 3 6 irons and use the same shafts- for driver fitting I have a bio-cell and a hand full of shafts with cobra adapters on them).

I have a few connectors left over that I can change out when I want to test a new shaft I’ve acquired and move the connectors around to various other shafts when the need arises.

With the Fuse-Fit connectors you still use the OEM tip trim instructions, but you must strip back the paint to two inches I believe. If I do decide to use the shaft permanently, I remove the connector, slip a small piece of heat shrink (1/2″ or so) assemble as I normally do, and hit the heat shrink with my heat gun. Gives a more finished look.

Club Conex used to make a connector that you could adjust face angle with (+/- 1 degree), but they’re no longer available.

Also, the Club Conex connectors are legal for USGA play, so you can leave them in place if you so desire. They add about 9-10 grams of weight to the head.

Regards,

Randy

Answer 2 · 2019-02-07T12:14:02+00:00

If you see a lot of players that like to tinker from week to week with shafts, that is an exception not the norm, according to all the sources I have. We hear regularly that “adjustable” drivers are rarely adjusted after they are set. Of course, the more avid, the more technical, the more into it a player may be the more he or she is likely to tinker, but the vast majority of players do not tinker. However, that is not why we did not design adjustability into this design. We decided, with the 3 loft options and based on the testing and feedback we received, that the extra engineering and expense of an adjustable system was not necessary. That being said, I do understand the benefit it is to clubmakers and fitters, no doubt. My view is if you are going to make a system that allows for shaft replacement only (originally done by Nickent before all the other adjustability started), you might as well design face angle/loft adjustability into it as well. Then you can do both, just change shafts or adjust specifications of the head. The other thing that must be considered is that there are multiple patents on adjustable hosels and to develop one that is “clean” and is not in danger of violating some other companies patent takes time and dollars. We have a couple of systems at our disposal, but they are not completely what we would like to do with regards to an adjustable hosel.

As I said before, if the ISO-T driver turns out to be successful, we may offer an adjustable option in another generation. Or, in the other driver we are developing, we may add the option.

As Always, thanks for the feedback and input. It is definitely taken seriously and we genuinely appreciate it.

Britt Lindsey

Although I’ve been using the ST2A for fitting my golfers and I have numerous shafts already in adapters for that very reason, still it makes total sense not to add to the cost of a new driver by having the adjustable hosel. I’m not sure an adjustable driver is a needed option anymore, unless, like me, it’s for a club fitter. (I wouldn’t mind having a couple more ST2A heads, especially a 9 degree!) By the way, I’m glad to learn that the ISO-T is being offered in 3 lofts.