Groove Sharpener
- Thread starter Crazyface
- Start date
Crazyface
Tour Winner
No...but surely taking a teeney tiny bit of metal off isn't such a bad thing? We can't all have a deal with club manufacturers who give us brand new clubs for free. In fact I don't know of any one at my club that has one.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
CHrist...what was the outcome?
Can't remember TBH, I don't think i even posted on the tread.
pbrown7582
Money List Winner
exactly this. it would be virtually impossible to hand scrape a groove to the maximum tolerances allowed in the rules.
Foxholer
Blackballed
These tools DON'T make wedges non-conforming! at least, they are designed to NOT affect conformity"!
They (supposedly) merely push any metal that has been pushed into the grooves back to the edges, so making the grooves 'like new' again!
I've used one. It's quite a bitch to actually get it to work - fingers suffered quite badly! The effect was noticeable to feel, but hardly incredible, for me, on the course!
I wouldn't use one on wedges I wanted to use in top level/elite competition, but that ain't going to happen anyway, so I've no problem with either using one, or their use by other folk (at my level).
They (supposedly) merely push any metal that has been pushed into the grooves back to the edges, so making the grooves 'like new' again!
I've used one. It's quite a bitch to actually get it to work - fingers suffered quite badly! The effect was noticeable to feel, but hardly incredible, for me, on the course!
I wouldn't use one on wedges I wanted to use in top level/elite competition, but that ain't going to happen anyway, so I've no problem with either using one, or their use by other folk (at my level).
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
How bad are these grooves?
I've a sm4 56 wedge in the bag that's hit thousands upon thousands of shots. The extra face milling is long since gone but I inspected the grooves last week and they looked fine.
Well aware that a brand new Mac daddy wedge spins significantly more on chips and normal approach shots but that's what you pay the money for.
I've a sm4 56 wedge in the bag that's hit thousands upon thousands of shots. The extra face milling is long since gone but I inspected the grooves last week and they looked fine.
Well aware that a brand new Mac daddy wedge spins significantly more on chips and normal approach shots but that's what you pay the money for.
"These tools DON'T make wedges non-conforming!" That's a bold statement, can you back it up?
"They (supposedly) merely push any metal that has been pushed into the grooves back to the edges, so making the grooves 'like new' again!" So you hit a stone swinging your club at 80 mile an hour and it bruises the face and pushes metal into the groove, this device is supposed to push it back is it? It might remove it, but you won't push it back.
"I wouldn't use one on wedges I wanted to use in top level/elite competition" Why not if it doesn't make them non conforming?
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
I also fail to see how using one of these devices won't alter the club and make it non conforming. If used to ONLY remove dirt from the grooves then fine but removing any metal whatsoever must have an effect on the shape/size/spacing of the grooves.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Was your omission of the 2nd part of my first par deliberate? Shame on you if it was - as that's the important bit!
Not using a 'treated' one simply eliminates any possibility of issue! Not much different from announcing ball brand, number and marking on the 1st tee!
Was your omission of the 2nd part of my first par deliberate? Shame on you if it was - as that's the important bit!
Not using a 'treated' one simply eliminates any possibility of issue! Not much different from announcing ball brand, number and marking on the 1st tee!
How can you shout they "DONT" make them non conforming then follow it up with "at least they are designed NOT to" bit of a contradiction.
(whistles added just for you 
) I can guarantee I could remove metal from a groove using one of these tools, which will render the club non conforming.
Foxholer
Blackballed
How can you shout they "DONT" make them non conforming then follow it up with "at least they are designed NOT to" bit of a contradiction.
I can guarantee I could remove metal from a groove using one of these tools, which will render the club non conforming.
I don't play in comps where the particular requirement for conformity exists!
From 1/1/2024, I might take a different view! Check this site out! http://www.randa.org/RulesEquipment...ubs-and-Balls/Club-Grooves/Groove-Information
Ad here's an extract from a Hacker's Paradise review of 3 different styles of 'sharpener'....
"One question that comes up each time we talk about these gadgets is, are they legal? There really is not an answer to that. If you alter the grooves of the club, then of course they are not legal. But if you are keeping the same shape as the club, then they are no more illegal than cleaning the grooves. It is up to you to decide, but after this review, I would say that pulling them out at a USGA event might not be a good idea."
Refer my 1st para - no different to using ('non-conforming') Ping 'U' groove wedges that Mickelson threatened to use when the rule first came in!
Last edited:
You said they do NOT make the clubs non conforming, then added a get out clause saying they are designed not to.
Then in your defence you quote from Hackers Paridise which says "are they legal, there really is not an answer to that". Then you go on about ping grooves! Now what an old style club and grooves has to do with a home hacked sharpened club is beyond me. I still maintain, give me ones of those sharpeners and I will make your club non conforming.
If your happy using these gadgets then fill your boots but there not for me.
G
guest100718
Guest
good to see opinion being spouted as fact. Has anyone used these tools and then had thier clubs checked by the R&A?
To me, these tools remove bugger all but foreign debris. Unless it has a spinning head, you wouldn't be removing any metal at all. On eBay the same people selling these also list bikinis and binnoculars, I'd dare say they are no leading voice on club rejuvenation. They are groove cleaning gimmicks, nothing a Stanley knife or steak knife couldn't do.
Sats
Challenge Tour Pro
Are we talking about those "groovfix" flat head screwdriver thingys? I had a mate who had one, got to admit he was more upset about scratching the bejesus out of his chrome plating on the wedges. No one actually questioned the conformity of them.
Lwatson-jones
Assistant Pro
Thats not quite the case with Bionic gloves.. they are not illegal at all if used in the manner they are intended.
I use them all the time, and pretty much don't use any other glove now (due to very poorly left hand) and my club pro (who is also the club manager is happy to order them!)
There is also wording on the packaging that they are "Sanctioned for use under USGA guidelines"
I know this, because I have just taken delivery of 2 gloves, and one is still in the package
this is a quote from their website
which is... 14.3
exceptions
Last edited:
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
Couple of really simple observations -
1. If it sharpens groves then it's illegal. If it cleans them it shouldn't be. Not rocket science.
2. One of the problems with the exception (c) to 14-3 occurs when the marketing of the product claims an advantage...
I completely agree that manufacturers that knowingly continue to market products without any comment on their legality after they have categorically had it confirmed that, as marketed, it's illegal should be boycotted (not allowed to shoot them apparently) - Lynx and their Boom Boom heated head cover being the obvious candidate.
1. If it sharpens groves then it's illegal. If it cleans them it shouldn't be. Not rocket science.
2. One of the problems with the exception (c) to 14-3 occurs when the marketing of the product claims an advantage...
I completely agree that manufacturers that knowingly continue to market products without any comment on their legality after they have categorically had it confirmed that, as marketed, it's illegal should be boycotted (not allowed to shoot them apparently) - Lynx and their Boom Boom heated head cover being the obvious candidate.
