05-02-07
Now that you invested in your custom golf clubs, you should learn how to properly maintain them in order to keep them in their top-notch condition. All too often, at the completion of a round of golf we are in a hurry to go home so we simply throw the clubs in the trunk or in the back of the vehicle and forget about them. The next time you go out and play, you notice how a little preventative maintenance would have saved you some time and possibly even a few strokes around the course.
Let’s start with the clubhead, especially irons and wedges. When looking at the
bag of by the number of players who have caked in grass and dirt embedded in the grooves from their last round (or possibly players waiting to tee off, I am amazed before). To maximize the back spin on the ball, these should be kept clean of any debris or moisture. Even though it is easy enough to pick out the gunk from the grooves with a tee or sharp pointed object, wouldn’t have been nice to have spent just a minute right after the previous round?
Before dunking your brand new cavity back irons in a bucket of soapy water, think about the following. The golf course you play relies on fertilizer to keep the grass nice and green and remains on your clubs until they are washed. When golf clubs are left unattended overnight, it is possible for a reaction to occur between the fertilizer and any moisture which will create surface rust, especially inside the grooves or in deep crannies of the cavity or undercut of a stainless steel iron. Any clubs where it might be difficult to thoroughly dry the interior cavity of a club you are better off bringing the soapy water to the clubhead rather than the club to the soapy water. What I mean by that is the likelihood that dirt and grass are in the cavity will be slim and none, so why expose it to water? Simply take a stiff nylon brush and dip it in the soapy water and scrub the face and the sole. Never soak your clubs in a bucket of water. Once clean wipe the club dry with a clean towel.
The first home I owned was approximately a century old and actually haunted by a friendly gentleman (but this is another story). Being an older home, storage space was at a premium if non-existent. My golf club collection was banished to the basement or maybe a better term would be a cellar where the washer and dryer were present. The dark, damp cellar coupled with the humidity caused by the washing machine would routinely create surface rust on all of the steel shafts. I never could convince my wife that the second bedroom might be a perfect storage area for all my golf clubs, so I simply had to rub down all the steel shafts with 000 steel wool on a monthly basis. I also made sure the rust did not go through the chrome and cause pitting otherwise those would have ended up being tomato stakes.
The one practice you may want to start is to regularly clean your grips to provide a more slip-resistant surface and extend their life. Under normal play, the soil and perspiration from your hands will either permeate the grip or lay on the outer surface to create a slick exterior. For rubber and rubber composition grips, the best way to clean them is with warm soapy water. Mix common liquid dishwashing soap in a bucket or in a sink. Dip a soft bristled brush into the water and started scrubbing the outer surface. Next, rinse with clean water to remove any soapy residue then allow the grip air dry.
Cleaning synthetic over-wrap grips such as a Winn or Karakal model is done slightly different. Don't use a brush and soapy water as you can scratch the outer surface and destroy the tackiness and slip-resistance of the grip. Instead, take a soft clean towel moistened with water or rubbing alcohol and simply wipe the exterior surface.
DO NOT immerse any grip in a bucket of water to clean them. This will saturate the underlying layer of tape and potentially cause the grip to slip on the shaft and may even ruin the grip. In addition, it may cause a steel shaft to rust from within.
by Jeff Summitt
Hireko Technical Director
jsummitt@hirekogolf.com
05-02-07