What is this Joe Powell?

[Stephen8802]

Joe Powell has popped up enough on this forum that I decided to pick this up when I saw it and give it a try. Any Powell experts care to inform me what I have? It is odd.

 

It is an SF P45W, red insert, sweep-back sole plate, nothing on top. Here is the odd part; I knew it was really heavy when I picked it up, and when I weighed it, it is off the scale. As in heavier than G5. I have some drivers in the high D range, but this thing is crazy heavy. And yes, I did check the scale. The other clubs I had in the vicinity weighed in between C9 and D1, so it isn't the scale. And I took a few easy swings and the club is unswingable.  

 

It isn't all that deep of a face, although not shallow, so I don't know. Are they all this heavy? Nothing under the sole plate looks off. Does anyone know anything about this model?

 

I guess you never know what you are going to find until you pick it up. There is one insert screw missing, backfilled with epoxy, and there is some toe damage near the edge, probably from the driving range, but other than that, the club looks normal. It also has a green Victory cord grip, which I associate with better players, so someone used this club for something. Another mystery club comes my way. 

 

 

 

[farmer]

I was going to suggest popping off the soleplate, so I will change that into running a rod down the shaft to see if it has a bunch of lead or tungsten powder.

[Stephen8802]

I was thinking something might have been put down the shaft also, but I had to run to a family obligation before being able to explore. I just cut the cap off the end of the grip and did some exploration. 1) My heating rod stops 12 1/2 inches before the end of the shaft. 2) I did a test drill of about a half inch with my 47 inch bit and this is what came out. The long pieces are soft and bendable.  So, if I had to guess, I'd say someone poured lead down the shaft. Has anyone heard of such a thing? Its a new one for me. 

 

It is going to take some work to get this shaft clear and I'm not sure it is worth trying to save. It might make more sense to cut the shaft to pull it and put in something else in after I refinish it. I am going to feel extra pride getting this club back in playing shape. 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

@Stephen8802

I wonder if the lead was put down there to turn the club into a training aid to build up the muscles used in the swing.

Also, the scratch marks on the sole towards the toe are unlikely to have come from normal play, and the scrapes on the toe might have come from practising while standing with one's back close to a wall. When I was a junior, the pro at my club suggested I try that out with an old club to stop me taking it away too much on the inside. That said, I'd expect to see the scrapes more on the back of the club in that case.

[nitram]

The former owner built himself a swing trainer.

[Stephen8802]

I'm not sure, but I'm starting to have the feeling it might be all the lead shot and lead powder that came pouring out of the shaft that was causing the weight issue. That is about half of it, the rest is on the floor of the garage.

 

Head is free now and weighs in at 194 grams without all the extra heavy metal. It will never be showroom perfect, but this club will live to fight another day. 

 

[nitram]

It used to be pretty common to pour a known quantity of lead skeet or #9 shot down the shaft to increase weight. Some guys would even pour a little melted lead on the top to prevent rattling. I did something similar to a TM Tour Spoon and Tour Cleek with X100 35 years ago.

[BIG STU]

21 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

@Stephen8802

I wonder if the lead was put down there to turn the club into a training aid to build up the muscles used in the swing.

Also, the scratch marks on the sole towards the toe are unlikely to have come from normal play, and the scrapes on the toe might have come from practising while standing with one's back close to a wall. When I was a junior, the pro at my club suggested I try that out with an old club to stop me taking it away too much on the inside. That said, I'd expect to see the scrapes more on the back of the club in that case.

You nailed it because that was exactly what I was going to say--- Yep someone converted it into a training club

[Willber]

What was the length of the club when you were weighing it? When this club was built all drivers, with the exception of Ben Hogans were 43", Hogans were 43.5. I would bet someone extended the club beyond its useful length. 

[Stephen8802]

I didn't measure and that shaft is gone. I have a good shaft in there now and I'm looking forward to getting it refinished.