How to Make a Left Handed Golf Club Set
By Bill Herrfeldt
Whether you are new to golf or think it's time to replace your clubs, equipment prices have increased. A single driver costs $300 or more. Manufacturers make clubs to fit the average player, so the equipment might not be the best for you. With a little effort, you can make left-handed clubs that will fit and save you money. More than 85 percent of golfers are right-handed, but there are plenty of sources to buy everything left-handers need.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Decide between steel or graphite shafts. Steel shafts are cheaper and more durable, but graphite shafts are lighter and less likely to twist in your hands. Decide on the flex of the shafts that best conforms to your swing speed, strength, height and age. Graphite and steel shafts need to be cut to the proper length, based on the club you are building. Buy clubheads and grips from companies that specialize in them. Many companies sell clubheads for lefties. See "Additional Resources" for examples.
Make the shafts' tips rough so they will adhere firmly with the clubheads. For graphite shafts, remove the outer coating from the shaft's tip with a belt sander. If you don't, the shafts may shatter. Use a small piece of sandpaper to roughen the area where the shafts meet the clubheads. For steel shafts, simply use the sandpaper because they do not have a protective coating. Ream out the hosel or clubhead connector with a wire drill bit, which will make them rough.
Put a small amount of epoxy on the inside of the hosels and tips of the shafts, making sure they are completely covered. Put the shafts' tips into the hosels, turning the clubheads slightly to make sure they have epoxy on both surfaces. Make sure the shafts are all the way inside the hosels by gently tapping the other end of the shaft on something hard.
Shorten the shafts after the epoxy dries. For graphite shafts, wrap where you plan to make your cuts with about three to four layers of tape; to prevent damage, use a band saw to make the cuts. Steel shafts are more durable, so make the cuts with a band saw or a hacksaw.
Install the grips. Clean the area where the grips will go with grip solvent, then wrap each shaft with double-sided tape and soak it with grip solvent. Pour a little solvent into the grips and swirl it around to provide complete coverage, then pour out the remaining solvent. Slide the grips onto the shafts and make adjustments to them in the approximately 15 minutes it will take for the solvent to dry.
About The Author
Bill Herrfeldt specializes in finance, sports and the needs of retiring people, and has been published in the national edition of "Erickson Tribune," the "Washington Post" and the "Arizona Republic." He graduated from the University of Louisville.
