A cracked ferrule, a loose head, or the exciting project of installing a brand-new shaft doesn't have to mean a trip to the repair shop. Learning how to properly glue - or more accurately, epoxy - your own graphite golf club shafts is one of the most rewarding DIY projects a golfer can take on. This guide will walk you through every step of the process, from removing the old head to letting the new bond cure, so you can get back on the course with a club you built yourself.
Before you start, gathering the right tools will make the entire process smoother and more professional. It might look like a long list, but many of these items are common workshop staples. Think of it as setting Caddie youp your own mini tour van.
The first step is to break the bond of the old epoxy. If you're building with a new shaft and head, you can skip this part. Otherwise, patience is your best friend, especially with graphite.
Secure the club in your vise using the rubber shaft clamp to avoid crushing the delicate graphite fibers. Position the clamp a few inches below the club head.
Put on your safety glasses and set your heat gun to a medium-low setting. You want to apply heat evenly and consistently around the hosel (the part of the club head the shaft goes into). Do not point the heat directly at the graphite shaft itself.
Slowly rotate the club while heating the hosel for about 30-60 seconds. The goal is to warm the metal enough to soften the epoxy inside. Once it’s hot, grip the club head with a heat-resistant glove or thick rag and give it a firm, twisting pull. If it doesn't budge, apply a little more heat in 15-second cycles. Don't force it or you risk snapping the shaft. Soon, the head will slide right off.
A clean surface is crucial for a strong, lasting bond. This is where you’ll lay the foundation for a professional-grade repair.
While the hosel is still warm, use your wire hosel brush to scrape out any old, softened epoxy. Twist it in and out a few times to get the walls clean. Once it has cooled down, use a rag with a bit of acetone or denatured alcohol to wipe out any remaining dust and residue. The inside of the hosel should look like clean, dull metal.
This is the most delicate part of the process. Graphite shafts get their strength from their layered construction, and you don’t want to damage those outer layers.
First, dry-fit the shaft into the club head and mark with a pencil or masking tape how deep it goes into the hosel. You only want to abrade the section of the shaft that will be epoxied. There’s no need to sand any higher than that mark.
Next, take a piece of 80-120 grit sandpaper and lightly sand the glossy finish off the tip of the shaft, only up to the mark you made. You are not trying to remove material, you are just scuffing up the surface paint and finish to give the epoxy something to grab onto. Sand around the shaft, not up and down it. You should be left with a dull, slightly rough surface. Wipe it down with a clean, dry rag to remove all the dust.
With everything prepped, it's time to create the bond. A little attention to detail here pays off big time. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear an FFP3 mask.
Squeeze out equal parts of your two-part golf epoxy onto a disposable surface like a piece of cardboard. Most modern epoxies are a 1:1 ratio, but always check the manufacturer’s instructions. Use a stir stick (a popsicle stick a coffee stirrer works well) to mix the two parts together thoroughly for at least a full minute. You need a completely uniform, gray mixture. Inadequate mixing is the #1 cause of epoxy failure.
If you're using shafting beads, now is the time to add them. Sprinkle just a small amount into the mixed epoxy and stir them in. You don’t need much, the mixture should still look like epoxy, not sand.
Using your stir stick, apply a thin, even layer of the epoxy mixture all around the prepped tip of the graphite shaft. Don’t gob it on, just a solid coating is fine. Then, use the stick to put a small amount of epoxy down inside the hosel, making sure to coat the inner walls.
Now for the main event - putting it all together.
First, if you haven’t already, slide the new ferrule onto the shaft. You can use some epoxy to help it slide on if the fit is very tight. Push it up the shaft well out of the way.
Next, push the epoxied shaft tip into the club head's hosel with a gentle, twisting motion. Make sure it goes all the way in until it bottoms out. You should feel a little “thud” when it’s fully seated. A small amount of excess epoxy will be pushed out around the top of the hosel, which is a good sign that you used enough.
Use your rag and a bit of solvent to carefully wipe away all the excess epoxy from the top of the hosel and the shaft. Then, slide the ferrule down into place against the hosel. Some builders use a piece of cardboard with acetone and quick wiping to wipe up around ferrule to clean it without melting it. If there is a small gap you can gently tap the butt end of the club on the floor a couple of times to fully seat the head and close the gap, then do one last final wipe-down for any new epoxyが出てきた場合。
You’re on the home stretch. Getting this last part right means the difference between a playable club and a do-over.
After 24 hours, your club is officially ready for the course. You've now done a repair that most golfers would pay a pro to do, and you understand your own equipment on a much deeper level.
Learning to epoxy a graphite shaft is a fantastic skill that gives you ultimate control over your golf clubs. By following these steps carefully, you can confidently build, repair, and adjust your own equipment for a perfect fit.
This deeper understanding of your equipment goes hand-in-hand with smarter play on the course. Once you know a club is built exactly to your specs, you can swing with total trust. I've found that when you combine this kind of detailed equipment knowledge with on-demand strategic help like Caddie AI, you remove a lot of guesswork from the game and play with more confidence from any lie.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
