How to Shorten Golf Clubs
If you have purchased a set of used golf clubs that are too long, you can quickly cut them down to size with a hand-held rotary tool. You can also resize your old clubs and pass them on to your children. The shaft of a golf club is narrower at the head end to generate power on the swing. When shortening a golf club, you must remove the grip and cut the wide end of the shaft so the club can still flex properly.
Insert the golf club into a shaft clamp and tighten the clamp to keep the club from moving around while you work on the grip.
Use a utility knife to cut the side of the existing grip. Pull off the grip and discard it. Scrape off the underlying layer of grip tape with the utility knife. If you have trouble removing the grip, use solvent to dissolve the glue as you scrape. Clean off any remaining adhesive from the shaft with solvent and allow it to dry.
Wrap masking tape around the area of the shaft that will be cut. The tape will keep the end of the shaft from splintering as you cut. Use a tape measure and pen to mark off the exact length of the new shaft.
Insert the cutting blade attachment into the rotary tool according to the instructions in your owner's manual. Use the rotary tool to cut the club shaft along your marked line. Smooth out the end of the shaft with a piece of fine grain sandpaper.
Start at the end of the club and wrap grip tape around the shaft. Overlap the previous layer of tape slightly to keep it tight. Smooth out any wrinkles or bumps in the tape as you go along.
Insert the pointed end of a golf tee into the hole at the end of the new grip. Pour a small amount of grip solvent into the open end of the grip. Cover the open end with your thumb as you shake the grip up and down a few times to distribute the solvent throughout the interior of the grip.
Place the grip over the end of the shaft and push it down before the solvent dries. Inspect the fit of the grip and press out any uneven spots with your fingers. Allow the grip to dry overnight before using the club.
Warnings
Wear safety goggles when using the rotary tool.
Writer Bio
Denise Sullivan has been writing professionally for more than five years after a long career in business. She has been published on Yahoo! Voices and other publications. Her areas of expertise are business, law, gaming, home renovations, gardening, sports and exercise.