Clubmaking 201: Altering the Recommended Tip Trimming

Categorized | Technical

Clubmaking 201: Altering the Recommended Tip Trimming

Posted on 13 February 2008 by Jeff Summitt

Jeff Summitt Discusses Being Creative With Tip Trimming Charts To Dial In The Ultimate Fit

Properly trimming a golf shaft can be somewhat confusing for the novice clubmaker considering all the different shafts and the number of golf shaft trimming options that are in our catalog or on our website. There is a certain amount of logic involved that goes into the suggested trimming amount for each shaft. The trimming is selected to create a desired flex based upon the weight of each head, the length is might be normally assembled to, plus the length of the parallel tip section of the golf shaft (how long the shaft remains the same diameter as the very tip of the shaft).

In some cases a clubmaker can alter the flex by deviating from what the instructions suggest. Why? On occasion, a golf clubmaker might find it advantageous to trim a different amount than what the manufacturer suggested in order to create a specific flex. But don’t worry you won’t have the Shaft Trimming Police knocking on your door!

By shaft trimming less off of the tip than suggested, this will result into a slightly more flexible club, while trimming more off of the tip makes the club stiffer. However, this should only be accomplished if the clubmaker understands the consequences and more importantly if it is at all possible to begin with.

Let’s say we are looking for a heavier graphite shaft for a fairway wood to provide a little more control for a golfer. One example if the Cadence 85 wood shaft, but it is only available in a stiff flex. Looking at the recommended trimming tells us to follow Trim Chart N.

Chart	1W	2W	3W	4W	5W	6W	7W	9W	11W	13W	15W
N	1″	1.25″	1.5″	1.75″	2″	2.25″	2.5″	2.75″	3″	3.25″	3.5″

However, what if the golfer is not quite strong enough to use the S-flex? The clubmaker can elect to modify the tip trimming to adjust for the player’s swing speed and tempo. Instead of taking off the recommended 2” off of the tip for a 5-wood, taking 1” from the tip will result into something between an R and S-flex shaft. The clubmaker alters the trimming to create something that did not exist before, but ends up fitting the player.

For the True Ace Pink Diamond Ladies and many of our other house brand shaft models for woods, the recommended trimming tells us to follow Trim Chart D.

Chart	1W	2W	3W	4W	5W	6W	7W	9W	11W	13W	15W
D	1″	1.25″	1.5″	1.75″	2″	2.25″	2.5″	2.5″	2.5″	2.5″	2.5″

This trimming schedule will start out with trimming 1” from the tip of the shaft for a driver. For a very slow swinging woman, you can opt to leave that 1” on the tip creating a softer sub-flex or a flex softer than the normal L-flex. But if you do so with the driver, you would want to trim 1” less off of each fairway wood to provide consistency within the set.

What does the 1” represent in terms of stiffness?

1” less tip trimming = @ 5 cpm (cycles per minute) lower

1” additional tip trimming = @ 5 cpm higher

10-15 cpm is generally considered by many of as 1 full flex

In our examples above we took off less than what was required, but it is possible to take additionally off of the tip to create a stiffer flex. Often there are times when you cannot take more off of the tip, otherwise you will run out of parallel tip section to be able to insert the shaft into the hosel or have sufficient shaft left to obtain the desired length. It is always helpful to calculate the possibility of trimming additionally prior to cutting the golf shaft.

While there might be certain times that the clubmakers may deviate from the recommended tip trimming procedure by the manufacturer, it is best to follow the normal tip trimming procedures whenever possible. But if you are in doubt or have a question concerning the proper trimming, contact the distributor or manufacturer of the shaft to get a second opinion as manufacturers will not warrant incorrectly cut shafts.

For More Information:

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Includes the latest information related to fitting each and every specification of a golf club. With emphasis on dynamic fitting, this definitive guide incorporates many approaches to a “best fit” situation. Face angle, loft, lie shafts, grip and head selection are all discussed in detail.

The Modern Guide to Clubmaking 4th Edition Book By Jeff Summitt
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Explains in detail the proper procedures for modern clubmaking. Step-by-step photos and text explain how to assemble clubs, trim shafts, install grips – every procedure to properly assemble component clubs. Subjects covered are modern shaft installation, grip installation, swingweighting, putter assembly, iron & wood assembly, common questions and many more.

15 Comments For This Post

Tim Bowen Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Jeff,

That is a great article! I have been doing just as you said for a couple of years now. Many have told me that I should not deviate from tip trimming charts but I would argue. I have built several iron sets for friends using stiff flex shafts but cutting them 1 inch less to create “firm shafts”. I see many that regular flex is too flexible and stiff flex are too stiff. There are many golfer’s swings that fit into a mph category needing a shaft flex between regular and stiff.

Thank you for many informative articles about golf and club building.

Tim Bowen
charles White Says:
February 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Okay….good info for changing the stiffness of a shaft, but what if you want the same flex for either a longer length club , or a shorter length club? If you have a lady measure for a 36 1/2″ 5 iron and the shaft spec shows a 1″ tip for a 37″ length club how do you get the same flex for her? Would you only take off 1/2″ at the tip and cut the shaft length to the measured 36 1/2″ so you would get the same flex?
Jeff Summitt Says:
February 29th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Charles:

That is not an easy question to answer because it depends as a clubmaker what you do. If you simply make the club shorter, then the swingweight will be lower as a result. You could do one of two things. The first is nothing and the swingweight will be lighter and the shaft itself will be stiffer. However you are cutting off the stiffest portion of the shaft, which is the butt end which somewhat negates some of the stiffening effect. You could elect to tip trim less to offset this and provide more feel.

The other thing you could do is add weight via a tip weight. In this case, the additional headweight will offset the stiffening of the shaft by making it shorter. If you do this, then no alteration in tip trimming would be needed.

For longer clubs, in general I do not adjust tip trimming over what I selected in the fitting process. Yes, the longer shaft is more flexible, but it possesses the stiffest portion of the shaft. Since you cannot lighten the head weight (very few exceptions), the heavier swingweight offsets the fact you have the stiffer butt end.
charles White Says:
March 1st, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Thanks Jeff….I agree with you 100%….I cannot get a competitor of yours to agree with this…so I guess I know I will come to your company more in the future! I also now have more faith in ordering the finished sets from you too! The research you guys did was phenomenal! You finally did the dirty work to prove what we clubmakers have always suspected! Thanks!
John Nardecchia Says:
March 7th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Thank You, I have done that before with steel shafts,with great success, but I did not know it could be done with graphite shafts. Thank You, John
Maqsood Ali Says:
December 1st, 2008 at 12:07 am
Hi Jeff
Good Stuff
I have an iron set with TT Light XL in R flex. Lets say if I cut 2.5″ from every club and put a plug of that length at the butt end, will this change it to a S flex. How will this affect the swing weight. And lastly is it a good idea to leave the 3,4,5 irons in the R Flex.
Maqsood Ali
Edmonton Alberta Canada
Jeff Summitt Says:
December 1st, 2008 at 11:00 am
Massood:

Actually there is a 2″ difference between R and S-flex in the TT Lite XL. You could do what you are asking for but only cut 2″ off of the tip and extend the same. It is not recommended to extend the shafts any longer than 2″, otherwise there is a possibility of breakage.
Maqsood Ali Says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Thanks Jeff
Does the same apply to UST SR2 (in Nickent irons) if I want to stiffen them.
Maqsood Ali
Jeff Summitt Says:
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Maqsood:

Graphite is less predictable than steel when tip trimming additionally for flex. It may very well be less than 2″ to create a S-flex from an R-flex shaft. The limit on the extension still applies. But the main concern is graphite shafts have far less parallel tip section than steel shafts. Chances are you could run out of parallel tip section and not be able to install the shafts back into the clubhead without reaming the hosel larger.
tony Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 6:16 am
i’ve read some warnings saying that dynamic gold taper tip shouldnt be tip trimmed.
is that true?
i’ve got a 4i shaft that i want to put into a 6i, should the tip be trimmed 1″ to keep the same flex while providing the correct length?
Jeff Summitt Says:
April 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Tony:

If you tip trim any taper tip steel shaft, you will not be able to insert the shaft fully into the hosel as it will increase in diameter. You could tip the shaft to maintain the flex, but it will require you to re-bore the hosel to accommodate the now larger tipped shaft.
tony Says:
April 25th, 2009 at 1:21 am
thanks jeff, so my s300 4i shaft will be more like a regular flex if it is butt trimmed and put in the 6i?
Jeff Summitt Says:
April 26th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Tony:

It will play half way between R and S-flex.
bill w Says:
May 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I have a adams speedline with a prolaunch blue axis stiff shaft. The shaft is a little bit too stiff for me. I would also like a slightly longer shaft. If I extend the shaft by 1-1.5″ will that soften the flex ?
Jeff Summitt Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 5:34 am
Bill:

Not really because you will adding to the stiffest portion of the shaft. Luckily the swingweight will increase to offset this affect so essentially it will be a wash and end up being the same flex. You would be best off re-shafting with a more flexible shaft.

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[...] Properly trimming a golf shaft can be somewhat confusing for the novice clubmaker considering all the different shafts and the number of golf shaft trimming options that are in our catalog or on our website. There is a certain amount of logic involved that goes into the suggested trimming amount for each shaft. The trimming is selected to create a desired flex based upon the weight of … continue here [...]