Golf clubs don’t come cheap, so we can’t blame you for thinking about getting your damaged or non-performant club reshafted. The question is: how much does it cost to reshaft irons? Is it worth it?
Well, a couple of factors determine just how much it’ll cost to reshaft your irons. The one that immediately comes to mind is the metal used to forge them.
In this guide, we go over the costs involved in reshafting irons, whether you should seek professional expertise or do it yourself, and much more.
Can Golf Irons Be Reshafted?
Yes, golf irons can be reshafted. To elaborate, you have the option of commissioning the services of a company that repairs golf equipment or attempting to reshaft them yourself. The latter method requires club-specific tools and supplies readily available at your neighborhood supermarket.
So, while it may seem cheaper, it requires the right tools to get the job done properly. Also, it’s possible to damage the club. Therefore, we recommend that you seek assistance from professionals. That way, you’ll save yourself hours spent learning how to reshaft clubs and the money needed for a replacement if any damage occurs.
Is It Worth Reshafting Your Irons?
Most golfers would agree that it’s worth reshafting your irons if the shaft gets damaged or doesn’t suit your swing style. Reshafting your irons also saves money, as it costs less to reshaft clubs than to replace them altogether. Better yet, you’ll get the improved swing and higher speed and distance of a new club, all for a fraction of the price.
In our humble opinion, the only time buying a new club is a better option to reshafting is when you know you’ll need to change the irons in some months’ time. In other words, reshafting irons is best done when the clubs are still in relatively new condition. Therefore, the opposite applies to old, worn out clubs.
How Much Does It Cost to Reshaft Irons?
A couple of factors determine just how much it’ll cost to reshaft your irons. The one that immediately comes to mind is the metal used to forge them.
Golf iron shafts are either made with graphite or steel. Of the two, graphite shafts cost more to replace. That’s because a lot more goes into their manufacturing process. In comparison, replacing a shaft made of steel is much more wallet-friendly. For ball-park figures, expect to pay between $40-$100 for a graphite shaft and $20-$75 for a steel shaft.
In addition to the shaft price, you’ll have to pay for labor and a grip. Regarding the latter cost, it’s next to impossible to transplant the grip from an old club onto a new shaft. As for the cost of labor, it depends on the repair service you use. For example, the local country club will charge close to $100, which is more than the golf club repair center ($15-$35).
Reasons for Reshafting Irons
You might need to reshaft your irons for one of three reasons.
Damaged Shaft
Once a shaft breaks, it’s pretty much beyond repair and will need to be replaced. Luckily, buying a brand new club isn’t your only option. Simply replacing the shaft with a newer graphite or steel one will suffice.
Poor Performance
A dramatic change in ball flight is a pretty good indicator that you might need to get your clubs reshafted. For example, being unable to achieve the intended speed or distance even when the ball connects to the iron’s sweet spot is a tell-tale sign of a shaft that needs replacing.
Change in Swing Mechanics
You might also need to reshaft your clubs when there’s a change in your swing mechanics. Such a change may occur for a few reasons. For example, you can outgrow your clubs after gaining more experience as a golfer. In another instance, you may desire a different swing and require a lighter or heavier shaft to get the intended result.
Benefits of Reshafting Irons
Reshafting irons provides benefits when it comes to performance and finances. Its benefits include that it:
Improves Your Swing
Speed and accuracy take a dive when the shaft on a golfer’s club isn’t fitted properly. Thus, replacing the offending shaft will make a world of difference in terms of improvements to the golfer’s swing. The same is true for reshafting when you deliberately want to change your swing mechanics.
Improves Speed and Distance
The shaft’s flex determines how much speed and distance you get when you take a swing. Therefore, reshafting a poor-performing (to your expectations) club usually does the trick for achieving higher speeds and greater distances.
Can Save You Money
Golf clubs aren’t cheap, and that’s what makes reshafting a great alternative to buying a new club when you’ve got a damaged/non-performant shaft on your hands. In addition, it’s infinitely cheaper to have a club reshafted, as it only costs a couple of bucks in comparison to the many hundreds/thousands of dollars you might spend on a new club.
Pros & Cons of Reshafting
PROS
- Infinitely cheaper than buying a replacement club
- Could potentially improve the golfer’s playing style
- May increase your golfing speed, distance, and accuracy
CONS
- If not done properly, it can ruin your play
Can I Reshaft My Irons Myself?
You can. However, you’ll need many tools and supplies to do a decent job of it. Some of them are a tube of shaft epoxy, grip solvent, graphite shaft extractor, tube cutter, and double-sided grip tape.
With that said, going down the DIY route does come with several risks. For one, the above tool list will be an excessive amount of money to spend on reshafting one lone club. Also, you won’t learn DIY reshafting overnight, so you’ll be losing time that you could spend doing something else while a professional gets the job done for you.
Additionally, if you don’t do a good job of reshafting your irons, you might damage your clubs. Finally, under no circumstances should you use whatever you have lying around in your garage. Instead, make sure to get golf-specific tools and supplies like the ones mentioned above.
Speaking of tools and supplies, we have to point out a few things: first, there are many different kinds of epoxy (glue), each having different uses. And you can’t use any of them to couple a golf club. Also, humid environments are more likely to ruin epoxy than other glues, so keep that in mind.
In addition, even though it’s possible to use lighter fluid in place of grip solvent, you probably shouldn’t (unless you want your grip to stink of gas for a while). Finally, it takes considerable effort to cut a shaft using a tube cutter, and it takes a certain level of experience and skill to get the job done right.
If it sounds like we’re trying to discourage you from DIYing this, that isn’t what we want to do. But you need to be aware of the risks of taking this route. When all else fails, seek the help of a professional.
Reshafting Irons From Steel to Graphite
In some instances, it’s possible to reshaft steel irons with graphite ones. The first thing you’ll need to do is check whether you can by inspecting your golf club. If you see the words “Full Cast” or “Forged” on the club, then it isn’t possible to do so without the help of a professional welder.
On clubs that aren’t forged, it’s possible to switch from one kind of iron to the other, though light (welding) work may still be needed.
Should I Reshaft My Clubs or Buy New Ones?
If your golf clubs are fitted and new, you can have them reshafted. However, if the clubs are old and unfitted, it’s better to go for some new clubs instead.
When you have old clubs on your hands, it’s more economical to get a new set. Unfortunately, trying to extend the life of an old set of clubs will end up costing you more, as you’ll inevitably have to change them anyway.
FAQ’s
Wrapping Up
Overall, how much does it cost to reshaft irons? As explained above, it depends on many factors. They include whether you have steel or graphite-based shafts, how much the repair company charges for labor, and more.
Reshafting is an excellent alternative to the full-on replacement of the club with a brand new one. While reshafting may cost you under a couple of hundred dollars, a new club could set you back at least a thousand grand.
In addition, if you’re used to DIYing your way through projects, you can reshaft the club yourself. Just make sure you use the proper tools when doing so. Otherwise, seeking the help of a professional repair company will have you teeing off with a club that’s as good as new.
