February/March 2010 TW Standard E-Tech Report

In the February/March issue of the TW Standard eTECHreport:

NOTE: the complete February/March TW Standard eTECHreport pdf version is available by clicking here - 2.5MB (requires Adobe Acrobat 5 or newer )

TWGT Catalog Hits Mailboxes

While we’re sure Uncle Sam still has some stragglers out there looking for their final destination, we’ve heard from many TWGT clubmakers that the new 2010 TWGT full line catalog found its way to your shop in the first half of February/March. Early reports from the clubmakers who have received their catalog have been all positive for the horizontal layout and the presentation of TWGT’s original clubhead, shaft, grip and accessory items.

If you have not yet received your copy, please give us a call at 800-470-0072. Items delivered by US Postal Bulk Delivery are supposed to be received within 3 weeks of the date of mailing. If you haven’t received the catalog, we’d like to know so we can file the proper notifications with the US Postal Service in an effort to get the 2010 catalog to you as soon as possible.

to top

Spiralock® Shaft to Clubhead Connectors begin to ship.

The golf industry’s best shaft to clubhead fitting device has begun to ship to clubmakers who immediately realized the superiority of the new Spiralock connector design and placed their early orders.

While we still have to work to catch up with the early demand for Spiralock threaded TWGT clubheads to mate with the new connectors, we feel confident that we will soon catch up with the demand to be able to achieve an in stock position for the clubheads TWGT is offering to go with the new Spiralock connectors.

If you’re not aware of Spiralock or what it can do for your clubfitting business, we invite you to learn all about it here – http://www.wishongolf.com/spiralock.php

The new Spiralock shaft to clubhead instant connection system will allow clubmakers to allow golfers to instantly test hit any combination of shaft and clubhead all built to any combination of full fitting specifications.

In short, Spiralock will allow golfers to test hit golf clubs built to a full complement of all fitting specifications to be able to “try before they buy” and experience precisely what full specifications custom fitting can do for their game.

In addition, we know that many clubmakers are not 100% certain if their choice of a specific combination of clubhead + shaft + all other fitting specifications will be right for the golfer. Being able to instantly assemble clubs to a variety of fitting combinations is a perfect way to find the best fitting specs for each golfer.

Latest Updates on Spiralock

• Spiralock 0.335 connectors for drivers, fairway woods and hybrid heads are available and ready to ship.
• The early demand for TWGT clubheads with the Spiralock threading to mate with the Spiralock connectors has been greater than we forecast. Please excuse us as we work hard to catch up with the demand so that all of the TWGT Spiralock threaded clubheads can soon be in stock and ready for shipment.
• The 0.370 Spiralock connectors for iron fitting are slated to be available in early April. Based on the demand we have experienced for Spiralock threaded drivers, fairway woods and hybrid heads, we will do our best to make sure we are in stock with all of the TWGT iron models with Spiralock threading by the time of the 0.370 Spiralock iron connector introduction.
• If you have existing clubheads you wish to have threaded to mate with the Spiralock connectors, we can offer that service for a reasonable fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for this service.

to top

What a Difference Spiralock® Can Bring to Clubfitting

The concept of a connector to allow instant assembly of any shaft to a variety of clubheads for test hitting golf clubs is not new to the golf industry.

On the other hand, having a shaft to head connection device that allows clubmakers to completely duplicate the performance of a traditionally assembled club AND be able to instantly assemble the clubs to ANY assortment of custom fitting specifications so the golfer can actually experience the benefits of a full specifications custom fitting is a quantum leap forward in clubfitting technology!

With Spiralock®, clubfitters will be able to more quickly put the right combination of head and shaft into a golfer’s hands and receive immediate performance feedback.

Additionally, this will shorten the fitting process while making it much more efficient. Golfers will be able to know immediately how well accurate, full specifications custom fit golf clubs can help them improve their ball striking results.

With other shaft to clubhead connection devices, perfectly duplicating the performance of a traditionally assembled custom fit golf club is simply not possible.

Other connectors. . .

• … weigh too much and adversely affect the swingweight and/or center of gravity of the clubhead. Spiralock® weighs just 4.5 grams. After reaming and threading a Titanium head there is no net weight change from a traditionally assembled golf club that would use a ferrule and epoxy. For Stainless Steel Wood heads, Hybrids and Irons, the net weight change is results in a club that is slightly lighter than a traditionally assembled club.
• … do not allow the shaft to penetrate fully to the bottom of the hosel bore of the clubhead. Spiralock® allows all shafts to be fully inserted to the bottom of the hosel to ensure the same, exact shaft performance of a traditionally assembled club.
• … require the use of epoxy to secure the connector to the shaft and to the clubhead. Spiralock®’s unique, proprietary compression fitting allows a secure attachment of the shaft to the clubhead without the use of any epoxy.
• … require you to purchase a separate connector for every shaft and clubhead you wish to connect for test hitting. Spiralock® does not so clubmakers can save money in setting up a Spiralock® fitting system.
• … do not last over repeated tightening/loosening or the threads seize and lock and have to be replaced. Spiralock®’s proprietary 30° ramp threading ensures long life and no seizing of the connector to the clubhead. After 2000 tighten/loosen operations, Spiralock® still works properly!

to top

Fitting with Spiralock®

Spiralock® allows much more in the fitting process than simply allowing the golfer to test different shafts with different clubheads. All of the pertinent fitting specifications can be tailored to the golfer during a Spiralock® fitting session as well.

The following key fitting specifications can be tested by selecting different CLUBHEAD models to go with the Spiralock® connector. What we mean is that by choosing different clubheads to connect to Spiralock®, you are able to test fit the golfer for these following specifications:

• Loft
  
• Lie Angle
  
• Face Angle (woods)
  
• Clubhead Face Design
  
• Clubhead Center of Gravity
  
• Clubhead MOI
  
• Clubhead Sole Design (chiefly irons)
  
• Clubhead Offset/Face Progression

The following key fitting specifications can be tested by selecting different SHAFT models to go with the Spiralock® connector. What we mean is that by choosing different SHAFTS to connect to Spiralock®, you are able to test fit the golfer for these following specifications:

• Shaft Weight
  
• Shaft Flex
  
• Shaft Bend Profile
  
• Golf Club Total Weight

Finally, when using Spiralock® the last of the key important fitting specifications can be test fit to the golfer as follows:

• MOI / Swingweight
  • Use lead tape on the outside of the test clubhead to establish the swingweight or MOI for the test club.
  • As an alternative to lead tape, each TWGT clubhead is made with a hosel weight bore located at the bottom of the shaft installation bore. For test hit purposes it is completely OK to simply drop a weight plug into the weight bore with no epoxy to achieve the desired swingweight or MOI for the test club. Yes, there can be a little rattle when the club is tapped on the ground, but for test hit purposes to determine the right swingweight/MOI for the golfer, the weight will not rattle during the swing and won't create any problems for performance.
• Grip Style and Grip Size
  • We strongly recommend clubmakers use a small, portable air compressor to install and remove grips during the fitting process. Using air to blow grips on and off instead of using 2-way tape and solvent, you can change grip styles and grip sizes so the golfer can immediately test hit the club to find their preferred grip style and size.
• Length
  • Instead of having to spend more money buying several of the same shaft model and flex to be cut to different lengths in the Spiralock® test club(s), we recommend you set up the shafts you choose as a part of the Spiralock® fitting system as follows:

FOR DRIVERS

• Trim each shaft model/flex you have in your Spiralock® program for a 43.5” or 44” playing length for men, 42.5” or 43” for women. If you wish to test for a little longer length, you can insert a shaft extender with no epoxy for +1/2” and +1” longer than these advised starting lengths.

  For test hit purposes, you can secure this short of an extender for the few test hits the golfer would need to hit by wrapping vinyl tape around the joint between the end of the shaft and the extender. Installing the grip will add to the tape to keep this short of an extender in place well enough for the handful of test hits required to test the different length for each golfer. If the grips are installed by air, removing the grip and changing the length will be quite easy and fast.

• Keep in mind for the vast majority of men, 44” is going to be the longest driver length that will allow the golfer to achieve their best overall performance, 43” for women. When you encounter a golfer who could benefit from a longer driver, you’ll know these golfers by virtue of the swing characteristics of smoother tempo/transition, inside out to square swing path, higher level of ball striking skills and later wrist cock release.

FOR FAIRWAY WOODS

• Virtually all of the Spiralock® threaded fairway woods we offer are a #4 wood so the shaft requirements for using Spiralock® can be more controlled and cost effective. We recommend you trim each shaft model/flex you have in your Spiralock® fairway wood program for a 42" or 42 ½” playing length for men, 41" or 41 ½” for women. Again, hit testing for slightly longer lengths of +1/2” to +1” can be done the same way we outlined above for Drivers using a short extender that can be held in place for test hitting purposes without epoxy.

FOR IRONS

• Because all of the Spiralock® threaded ironheads offered by TWGT are 6-irons, we recommend you trim each shaft model/flex you have in your Spiralock® fairway wood program for a 37 ½” or 38” playing length for men, 36 ½” or 37” for women. Again, hit testing for slightly longer lengths of +1/2” to +1” can be done the same way we outlined above for Drivers using a short extender that can be held in place for test hitting purposes without epoxy.

Add this all up and it means that Spiralock® allows clubmakers to offer virtually any combination of all possible key fitting specifications for golfers to instantly test hit to truly experience the full benefits of custom fitting.

Call TWGT today toll free at 800-470-0072 and we will be happy to set up the most economical Spiralock Fitting System package of shafts, clubheads and Spiralock connectors to keep your costs as low as possible while being able to offer the best fitting service to the golfers in your area.

to top

The “How-To” of Professional Clubfitting – Part 4 – Set Makeup

As part of our on-going series of articles describing the ‘how-to’ of clubfitting, this month TWGT will offer the key elements and procedures for the ‘how-to’ of fitting Set Makeup for the golfer.

The correct fitting of Set Makeup for all clubs in the bag starts with obtaining the right information about each golfer from which the Set Makeup decisions will be made. The minimum fitting information required is as follows:

• The golfer’s preference/confidence for different clubhead styles within the different Set Makeup options
• What is the lowest loft of the woods and of the irons that the golfer can hit comfortably and confidently well up in the air off the fairway
• An evaluation of the golfer’s Transition, Tempo, Release and Swing Path
• The player’s “golf athletic ability” i.e. overall ball striking proficiency

Nowhere in the fitting process is common sense used to make fitting decisions than for the Set Makeup. Without question, all Set Makeup decisions are based on finding which clubs in the golfer’s existing set pose more difficulty for the golfer to hit consistently well, and to replace those clubs with clubs that hit the ball the same distance, but which are easier to hit consistently well up in the air to fly.

The Three Primary Set Makeup Decisions

In fitting each golfer for the best Set Makeup, there are three main areas within the full set of golf clubs that must be analyzed for making the best overall Set Makeup recommendation for the golfer.

1. “Second Longest Hitting Wood” Set Makeup

2. Hybrid/Fairway Wood/Iron Set Makeup

3. Wedge Set Makeup

“Second Longest Hitting Wood” Set Makeup

For those of you not yet familiar with this term, what we mean is to never, ever assume that the second longest hitting wood after the Driver should be a 3-wood. Most golfers simply do not have the ability to hit a modern 3-wood loft well up to fly. Therefore, job number one in fitting set makeup is to do whatever you can to HONESTLY learn what is the lowest wood loft that the golfer can consistently hit well up in the air from a normal fairway lie.

That becomes the golfer’s “second longest hitting wood” and starts the common sense procedures of fitting the proper set makeup for every golfer.

Hybrid/Fairway Wood/Iron Set Makeup

TWGT only views hybrid clubs or high loft fairway woods as a replacement for the hard to hit lower loft irons. The best Set Makeup for the full set of irons for any golfer consists of hybrids or fairway woods to replace all of the irons the golfer has a difficult time hitting well up in the air to fly, then followed by conventional irons.

The most important piece of Set Makeup fitting information for determining how to fit the golfer for the full set of irons is to truthfully know the lowest loft iron the golfer can hit consistently and confidently well up in the air from a normal lie. The common sense of Set Makeup fitting says to fit the golfer with either hybrids or high loft fairway woods up to the iron loft the golfer truly can hit consistently and confidently well up in the air from a normal lie.

As to whether the golfer should use fairway woods or hybrids up to the conventional iron loft the golfer can hit consistently well, here are a few guidelines.

• First and foremost, the golfer has to like the look of the clubhead they are using to hit any shot. Some golfers prefer the look of a fairway wood, while others prefer the look of a hybrid clubhead.
• The more the golfer sweeps the ball off the grass, the earlier the wrist-cock release, the less aggressive the downswing tempo, the more tendency to fit the golfer with high loft fairway woods as replacements for the low loft irons they cannot hit well up to fly.
• Conversely, the more the golfer can hit down and through the shot, the later the wrist-cock release, the more aggressive the downswing tempo, the more tendency there is to fit the golfer with hybrid clubs as replacements for the low loft irons.
• Finally, these above two points are tendencies only! The golfer’s confidence with the style of clubhead used as a low loft iron replacement is the most important consideration when making the decision for a fairway woodhead vs hybrid clubhead as the replacement clubs for the low loft irons.

Wedge Set Makeup

Wedge Set Makeup is dictated as much by the design and condition of the golf course as by the golfer’s playing characteristics and game improvement desires.

• Raised Greens, Small Greens, Undulating Greens, Fast/Firm Greens means a wedge Set Makeup with higher lofts and/or more wedges
• Level Greens, Large Greens, Flatter Greens, Slower Greens, Softer Greens typically means a wedge Set Makeup with lower lofts and/or
  fewer wedges
• Deep Bunkers, Small Greens, Undulating Greens, Fast/Firm Greens means a Sand Wedge with higher loft, typically between 58-60°
• Shallow Bunkers, Large Greens, Flatter Greens, Slower/Softer Greens means a Sand Wedge with lower loft, typically between 54-56°
• Deep Sand, Finer/Fluffier Sand (less sand resistance to the clubhead) opens the option for fitting golfers with a Sand Wedge with a wider sole or more bounce sole angle or both together
• Shallow Sand, Coarse/Grainy Sand (more sand resistance to the clubhead) offers the fitting potential for a Sand Wedge with a more narrow sole, less bounce sole angle, or both together

Golfer Ability for Wedge Set Makeup

• Steeper Angle of Attack, less clubhead acceleration through impact can typically point toward a sand wedge with more bounce sole angle, a wider sole or both together
• Shallow Angle of Attack, more clubhead acceleration through impact is better matched with wedges that are designed with less bounce sole angle, a more narrow sole, or both together

In the next installment, TWGT will offer the simple but effective “how-to” of shaft fitting

to top

Shaft Bend Profile Update #1

During the third week in Feburary, TWGT emailed the first of the 2010 updates for our Shaft Bend Profile software to clubmakers who have bought this unique and valuable shaft comparison program. If you have bought the Bend Profile software and you have not received this first 2010 update, please contact us so we can get this update in your hands. In addition, if you have any difficulties in importing the update file, please contact us and we will be glad to help.

The first Bend Profile software update for 2010 includes all of the new TWGT S2S shaft models, all iron shafts from FST Shaft Company, and the majority of the new 2010 shaft designs from UST. In a few months we plan to issue another update to the software which will include as many of the new shaft models from the other major shaft manufacturers.

to top

S2S Shaft Fitting Software – A Sneak Peek

TWGT’s new and easy to use S2S Shaft Fitting System software program that will enable clubmakers to find the best TWGT shaft design for golfers is in the process of being programmed. While we’re a little behind our original schedule for completion, it won’t be too long before clubmakers will be able to input all the pertinent swing analysis points for each golfer and receive TWGT’s best recommendation for the best shaft for any golfer.

We wanted to give you a little sneak preview of the new S2S Shaft Fitting System software so you will be able to see how simple the program will be to use and how helpful it will be to your task of finding the best shaft for each individual golfer.

Below is a view of the main screen for the S2S Shaft Fitting Software.

TWGT’s new shaft fitting software will allow you to input 6 different parameters about each golfer:

• Driver or 3 wood swing speed from under 50mph to 120mph.
• 5- or 6-iron swing speed from under 40mph to 100 mph
• Downswing Transition Move – smooth, average, forceful (1, 2, or 3)
• Downswing Tempo Move – smooth, average, aggressive (1, 2, or 3)
• Wrist Cock Release Position – early, midway, late (1, 2, or 3)
• Golfer Strength – weak, average, well above average (1, 2 or 3)

After inputting these important shaft fitting parameters for each golfer, a simple click on the Submit button will reference all of TWGT’s shaft fitting knowledge to offer clubmakers 4 different shaft recommendations for each different golfer:

• S2S Graphite shaft for the Driver and Woods
• S2S Graphite shaft for the Irons
• S2S Steel shaft for the Irons
• S2S Graphite shaft for the Hybrids

In addition, a very special feature of TWGT’s new S2S Shaft Fitting software is to offer clubmakers information as to whether any of the recommended shafts need to be additionally tip trimmed or not for each golfer and their individual shaft fitting requirements.

We at TWGT are very excited about how this new and FREE software program will allow clubmakers to offer accurate shaft fitting recommendations for each golfer. Our knowledge of shaft fitting, our knowledge of our original shaft designs, combined with your analysis of the golfer means a better fit shaft for better performance.

Plans are for the S2S Shaft Fitting software to reside on our wishongolf.com web site. Clubmakers will only have to access our web site, click on the link that will be created to access the software, and use it to find the best shaft for golfers instantly… and for no charge!

to top

979SS Irons – A More In-Depth Look

This month, TWGT wanted to offer clubmakers a more in-depth look at one of our new iron designs for 2010 – the 979SS (Smart Set) investment cast stainless steel irons.

KEY DESIGN FEATURES

• Progressive Face Height - No other iron design offers the game improvement feature of the face height progressing from a shallow 50mm on the 3 iron to a normal 59-60mm face height for the wedges. This design feature keeps the Center of Gravity lower on the longer irons for assistance in getting the ball well up to fly, yet allows the CG to be in a more normal position for the irons that are already easy for golfers to hit.

• Undercut Back Cavity

- In 1995, TWGT designer Tom Wishon was the first to design an iron with an undercut cavity. The 979SS takes the concept of a deep undercut cavity to a new level to allow the sole design to more precisely control the CG position for each head.

• CNC Milled Face with New USGA Scorelines

- In 1988, TWGT designer Tom Wishon was also the first to design a full set of irons with a CNC milled face. The 979SS becomes one of the first iron models to be designed with a milled face to enhance backspin since Tom’s original milled face design of 22 yrs ago.

- As per the requirement of the USGA Rules of Golf for all new irons introduced after January 1, 2010 to be created to meet the requirements for the new USGA scoreline rule, the 979SS is produced with scorelines that do match to the new groove rule.

• Symmetrical Sole Width

- Most irons are designed so the toe end of the sole is wider than the heel. Most irons are also designed so the sole becomes wider as loft increases. The soles of the 979SS irons are designed to be more symmetrical in width through the set to offer golfers a more consistent movement of the sole through the turf for more shot consistency.

• Twin Weight Bores

- The combination of the hosel weight bore with the lower backpad weight bore offer clubmakers the chance to add as much as 15 grams to the weight of each 979SS iron head. This allows clubmakers to use the 979SS to achieve fitting requirements for shorter lengths, much lighter weight shafts, or higher swingweight/MOI to fit a far wider range of golfers.

The 979SS irons are scheduled for availability in late March to early April.

to top

New Scoreline Versions of TWGT Irons

TWGT is in stock with the new scoreline versions of our three different forged carbon steel iron models 560MC, 555C and 555M. Verification of these models being conforming to the new USGA scoreline rule can be found at the following link – www.usga.org/infoclubsdb/index.asp

Once again, because there has been so much confusion among golfers and clubmakers about the new scoreline rule, TWGT will offer the following information to continue our efforts to keep everyone correctly informed.

• The only golfers who will be required to use clubs with the new scorelines in 2010 are men or women who compete on one of the various world professional tours or mini-tours as well as the USGA Men’s and Women’s Open, USGA Senior Men’s and Women’s Open, This chiefly means the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European PGA Tour, European Women’s Tour, Challenge Tour, Nationwide Tour, Champions Tour, Austral-Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour, Japan PGA Tour, and most mini-tours around the world. Players who compete in the first round qualifying tournament for the US Open will not be required to use the new scorelines. However, 2nd round US Open qualifying rounds will require the players to use clubs with the new scorelines.
• There may be a handful of other tournaments that have exercised the “condition of competition” to require their players to compete using clubs with the new scorelines. There are no lists of any of these lower level tournaments to reference. Therefore, if any golfer is unsure whether the tournaments in which he/she competes in 2010 will require them to use clubs with the new grooves, those golfers must contact the tournament officials personally to inquire.
• Any brand new irons or wedges introduced after January 1, 2010 must be produced with the new scorelines. Existing irons and wedges introduced before January 1, 2010 do not have to be converted to the new scorelines until January 1, 2011.
• The new scoreline rule only applies to clubheads with a loft of 25° or higher. Any clubhead with a loft below 25° will NEVER have to be made with the new scorelines.
• Golfers who compete in the USGA Men’s/Women’s Amateur, British Men’s Women’s Amateur, USGA Senior Men’s/Women’s Amateur, British Sr Men’s/Women’s Amateur, USGA Junior Boys/Girls Amateur, USGA Men’s Women’s Public Links, NCAA Men’s/Women’s Championships and other national amateur events do not have to convert to the new scorelines until January 1, 2014. Most likely the amateur championships in each US state will also subscribe to this January 1, 2014 date.
• Golfers who compete in local club or course events or who play and post scores for a USGA handicap will not have to convert to the new scorelines in their clubs until January 1, 2020 at the earliest. This is a date that is still under consideration by the USGA but will not be earlier than January 1, 2020.
• TWGT does not have information as to whether PGA Club Pro events will require the new scorelines for events conducted in 2010. PGA members are advised to contact their PGA Section officials to inquire about this.
• The new scoreline rule DOES NOT require the new scorelines to be V shaped. U-shape grooves are ok under the new rule as long as the grooves conform to the TWO new rule requirements.
• The area of the groove is reduced
• The top edge radius of the grooves is more rounded
• Only clubheads with a loft of 25° and higher are required to have the new scorelines
• U-groove shapes are allowed

We hope this helps end some of the confusion golfers have about the new scoreline rule. When in doubt, have your golfers contact the officials in charge of the tournament(s) in which they play to inquire.

to top

to top