Why & When to Replace Golf Irons
What size iron do you use? Most golfers carry a whole set of golf clubs as their make their way down the fairway. Those with higher numbers will send the ball soaring to greater heights. Those with lower numbers are better for shooting across greater distances. Both are needed to get a nice, low score.
If you use the same irons for too long, though, you may see those scores climb regardless of which number you choose. Knowing when to replace golf irons is as essential to maintaining your game as regripping golf clubs . We will show you everything you need to know.
Why You Should Replace Golf Irons
The idea of replacing a golf iron may seem strange at first glance. Exchanging golf club grips is understandable, because rubber is soft and vulnerable to wear. Getting a new club altogether is not uncommon, if more for style than for any practical purpose. Irons, on the other hand, are hardy metals designed for hard whacks. Surely they are durable enough to last, right?
They are durable, certainly, and they can last a long time. However, nothing lasts forever. Iron — or, more commonly and accurately, stainless steel — may be harder than rubber, but it is still vulnerable to wear. Microscopic traces of the material may shed with each strike against ball and ground. They add up over time to create marks on the metal, which eventually become more difficult to ignore.
Accompanying these marks is a drop in quality. The grooves on the club heads are not just for show: they directly affect the spin rate. When they scar or wear away, the spin rate becomes harder to control. Even if you have great aim and know how to read winds, your hits may fall short or veer way off-course. You may land in the sand or pond more often than before, and your scores may shoot up.
This is just one notable way in which overusing the same old clubheads can hamper your performance. With that said, replacing golf irons is not just about restoring your performance to its old self. Using a fresher iron may add the benefits of new technology and more optimized design tactics. You may be able to not just recover your abilities, but enhance them.
When to Replace Golf Irons
Now that we have explained why club head replacement is not just recommended but necessary, we can start discussing when to replace golf irons. The truth is that there is no single answer to the question. It depends on how often you go out golfing. People who play a few hundred rounds every five years will need to swap out less often than people who do that in one year.
Professional players and hardcore enthusiasts are definitely the ones who will wear out their clubheads the fastest. They may need to change them about once a year, but that is if they hit the green just about every day. We would advise investing in more durable irons. It will be costlier than the average product, but it may be more cost-effective in the long run.
If you prefer to space out your golfing sessions, then it does not make sense to replace irons that often. They should remain at or near their peak performance for about three years. When that time approaches, we recommend inspecting the piece, particularly around the grooves, for signs of wear. If they seem minor, you can put it off and check again in six months.
Our advice is general, and there are other factors to consider. Golf iron technology is getting better all the time, and the irons' durability and longevity are improving. Different materials may need replacement at different rates — for example, aluminum is much more prone to wear. Finally, only you will know how the irons are affecting your performance. Keep our information in mind, but trust your own judgment.
How to Replace Club Heads
You know why you should replace golf irons, and you have a better idea of when to replace golf irons. Once that time comes, you should learn how to replace them yourself. It is not as simple as yanking it out from the shaft — otherwise, it would come loose all the time when you swing. Manufacturers use powerful glue to ensure that the head stays on the club.
Look for the point where the end of the iron meets the rest of the shaft. This point is called the hosel. To get rid of the old glue, you will need to heat the hosel with a propane torch or heat gun. Needless to say, be careful where you hold the club. The heated epoxy will loosen its bond, allowing you to separate club from head.
Once it is free, clean the inside of the iron and remove any traces of glue with a wire brush. We also recommend sandpapering the rim around the hosel. After that, you can prepare the new batch of epoxy. Place it in a container and rub the end of the club's shaft around it. Once the glue is all over that part of the club, insert it into the new golf iron.
Hold them together for about a minute to make sure the glue sticks. Then, set the club down where it will not get touched and leave it alone. As with new golf club grips, the new head will need time to settle in, harden, and become part of the whole. 24 hours should do the trick. After that, you can break in the new iron on the golf course.
More Golf Supplies at Tackimac
Knowing how and when to replace golf irons is a great step towards becoming a better golf player. It may not be quite like practicing your swing, but it still affects your performance, minimizes bad spells, and gives you greater self-sufficiency.
Tackimac is home to a wide array of golf supplies and golf grips that can also improve your game. Feel free to visit our online superstore today and see everything we have to offer.