Iron Build... Lil Help, Please

[Saluki91]

I recently too possession of a set of Mizuno JPX825 Pro's in very good condition. I love the way they look, sound at impact, and perform. They are every bit as long as my JPX919 Pros (although a bit less forgiving when I'm less than perfect). They were my fathers clubs, so there is that whole side of it as well. I want to use them as a travel/back-up set.

Here is where I need some guidance (or perhaps an intervention):

He played them 3* flat and 1/2" short on Project X Graphite 4.5. I need them 1* flat and +1/2", so changes needed to be made.

My first thought was to reshaft. I found a set of new old-stock Project X Graphite in 5.5 (same vintage as Mizuno's stock offering at the time), and built them up to my specs. What I came up with felt like Thor's Hammer.

6i SW is D6, with a static weight of 405g. I tried back-weighting with lead foil tape under the grip, and could get it back to D3 with no trouble, but the static weight is 420g. It feels like a war club.

In comparison, my Fli-Hi Forged 5i is also +1/2", and built on a similar Project X Graphite in 6.0 (3i shaft soft stepped twice - it was the only way to get a similar shaft without spending way more than I was willing to spend). It comes in ad D3, and static weight is 393g.

So... what are my options? Play them as is, and Embrace D6? Back-weight, and embrace Thor's Hammer? Reshaft with something other than the Project X? Punt?

I appreciate your input - Thanks!

[Howard_Jones]

Head weight sounds very heavy, we consider 260 as the low end for a #6 head, and with a 50 gram grip we have 312 including tape and ferrule, so 405 gives a net shaft weight of 93 grams, and thats the area this shaft was uncut, so something is off here. Was there any tip weights? Whats net head weight on that #6 head?

Counterweight DONT WORK, simply forget it, we cant add total weight and think feel of weight goes down, because total weight is more important than balance and part of the balance feel, so dont even think about it, it demands a lower shaft weight to start with so total remains unchanged.

[SoILgolfer]

Do you know the swingweight from before the reshaft? Shaft weight and grip weight would be factors. Combine those with increased length and sw is going up.

 

[Saluki91]

No tip weights. I can't remember the head weights... should have written them down on something more than a scratch pad. I will definitely make note of it if/when I rebuild! I suspect they were heavy to begin with, as my father ordered the clubs under standard length and with the stock 4.5 Project X Graphite. I believe Mizuno uses heavier heads for those builds.

I'll scrap the lead foil tape idea... never really like the feel of it anyway.

So that leaves me with D6 irons... not ideal. I suspect re-shafting the irons is the best way to go from here. Are there graphite iron shafts available with weight/balance bias that would be favorable in this situation? Better to consider lighter weight shafts than the Project X?

Thank you very much for your input - I really appreciate it!

[Howard_Jones]

I had those heads in mind, that could be "heavy weight" (think they was called C- Weight) heads for shorter play lengths than standard, but if you insist to bring it down and play those heads, shafts can be pulled and the hosels drilled for up to 10 grams, but you need a drill press and a hosel fixture for the job.

If i was in the US, i could most likely have made a living on hosel drilling, its seems to be a large marked and request for lower head weights in lots of cases, and most players and club makers dont even know about the option,.

[Saluki91]

Thank you, sir. You have been very helpful!

[t4t3r]

Likely the heavier Mizuno heads. Ran into this when a friend picked up some 825 Pros from eBay with graphite shafts that he wanted to reshaft with steel a few years back.

[ThreeBoxers]

Hope you get the clubs to the point where you like them! Not related, but for grins I'd hit the cavities with some acetone and knock the black paint off. Did it with a 6i I bought for practicing club building a while back and the final no-color look is fantastic. Possibly better looking than my 850 forged...