Birdie or Bogey

[TonyN]

Ok guys, you decide.

Click for item

This item claims that after 100 shots with a wedge your stopping power is significantly reduced and the groove grinder will get your wedges back to great again.

Just a bit of fun so you decide, is this item any good? how do you rate it?

Is it a Birdie or Bogey?

 

[johng]

One of the (much) better players at the club used something like this back in the summer on his Callaway Wedges. It really did work. The spin he regained was incredible. He plays off scratch so I'd suggest hits it well enough (and consistently enough) to be able to accurately judge.

Thought of giving it a go but brought a new wedge instead.

Definetly a BIRDIE for me.

john.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

If it works deffo birdie.Ive seen this before and quite tempted to buy one to see if it really does work

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My only concern would be does it alter the grooves into non conforming shape or depth. If not definitely a birdie and I have a number of old wedges which could do with restoring.

 

[Leftie]

Now and again I'll clean out the grooves with a stanley knife and it's amazing how much muck you can get out of them. It definitely improves backspin.

Be careful though if you try it, the blade can slip and at best mark the club face, at worst remove a finger.

 

[MVP]

looks like a mini chisel to me! and probably would work! I just clean my grooves with a nylon brush thingy

 

[Herbie]

I have my own little groove cleaner but it is hard plastic so as not to damage or alter the club. I dont see the point of this kit with the average golfer who rarely clean their clubs anyway, or even seasoned players who clean less often than they should.lol.

It takes one shot to fill grooves with cack, after a number of wipes and hits that cack builds up and has a small, but nevertheless, significant effect on the performance of the club.( i dont see anyone groove cleaning at all in a round) Anyone who goes a few rounds without propper cleaning of the grooves is bound to feel a difference after cleaning the grooves.

Because I clean my clubs after every round or before the next round thoroughly I think my vote will have to be Bogey!

 

[HTL]

Par, not convinced yet. Go on buy one for the team and report back.

 

[ColinR]

Well, I have just ordered one and will report back. Only a tenner, so worth a go.

I Bought my Callaway wedges at the beginning of the season, used on average for two rounds per week + many 100's of balls up the range. So theory would say they need a touch up.

Worth a try....

 

[RGuk]

Eagle!.....for sure.

I do the grooves on mine from time to time with a tool, but it's not ideal as it was designed for something else. I even sand the face of my SW from time to time (just lightly) and the combination of the two is cracking....
Doesn't last long though, maybe this'll do the job properly.

 

[Cernunnos]

This little tool will become illigal when the regulations come into force for new groves in 2010. And I believe that although currently legal under USGA rules I have a distinct feeling that it will be illigal under R&A anyway already even before the new regs.

However, for the amateur game I doubt most of anyones playing partners will pay the slightest attention to anyones elses gooves. So if a wedge or even an old set has seen better days I'm sure at least for social play there is really nothing to loose for most everyday golfers.

So its both a birdie & a bogey, for this nifty file.

In other words, by all means use one I'm sure it'll bring new life to a club thats at the end of its useful life, but due to its dodgey legality within the UK regulations, a questionable investment, except in the hands of the unscuprulous or brassic golfer

 

[DCB]

Double Bogey !

Since the manufacturer has already taken his design to the limit to produce the backspin we all dream off, anything that alters the dimensions of the grooves is bound to make the grooves break the rules on at least one point.

Not a good idea IMO

If you are willing to let this go then why not put that old driver back in the bag !

 

[TonyN]

Excellent point DCB, now my post is kicking off in the right direction...

 

[Twire]

As a precision engineer (toolmaker) I do know a about different steels and the machining of them. My initial reaction was that a ball would not change the make up of the groves after 10,000 shots let alone 100. I put this to the test by looking under an electronic microscope at my old X12 9 iron, which was brought in 1999 and used up to 2006..not sure how many shots it's made, but a fair few. This was compared to my Big Bertha 3 iron which has never struck a ball.........and the result....no visable difference. So in my opinion , unless this has changed the make up of the groves by scrapeing/broaching to give the groves a sharpe edge (quote from rules of golf "markings in the impact area must not have sharpe edges or raised lips") I can't see it making any difference.

 

[RGuk]

As a precision engineer (toolmaker) I do know a about different steels and the machining of them. My initial reaction was that a ball would not change the make up of the groves after 10,000 shots let alone 100. I put this to the test by looking under an electronic microscope at my old X12 9 iron, which was brought in 1999 and used up to 2006..not sure how many shots it's made, but a fair few. This was compared to my Big Bertha 3 iron which has never struck a ball.........and the result....no visable difference. So in my opinion , unless this has changed the make up of the groves by scrapeing/broaching to give the groves a sharpe edge (quote from rules of golf "markings in the impact area must not have sharpe edges or raised lips") I can't see it making any difference.

QED.....

What a good post.

 

[HTL]

Man I love this place! Great reply twiregolf.

 

[vig]

I'll stick to my little brass wire brush

 

[TonyN]

Twiregolf thank you. I wanted a couple of things from this post. A good debate on the pros/cons and for someone to provide a statement like yours above. Thinking about it, it seems a little daft that a ball could mishape todays irons.

 

[teetime72]

Whether or not it does render the club illegal is a moot point,but which G C has the equipment to test the grooves.

 

[Imurg]

As a precision engineer (toolmaker) I do know a about different steels and the machining of them. My initial reaction was that a ball would not change the make up of the groves after 10,000 shots let alone 100. I put this to the test by looking under an electronic microscope at my old X12 9 iron, which was brought in 1999 and used up to 2006..not sure how many shots it's made, but a fair few. This was compared to my Big Bertha 3 iron which has never struck a ball.........and the result....no visable difference. So in my opinion , unless this has changed the make up of the groves by scrapeing/broaching to give the groves a sharpe edge (quote from rules of golf "markings in the impact area must not have sharpe edges or raised lips") I can't see it making any difference.

Good to have someone on here who knows a thing or two.