PGA SS strikes again

[gevans24]

Had a new shaft installed at PGA SS and I asked them to sand the ferrule down to sit flush with the adapter.

 

I go to pick up the shaft and I look at the ferrule and it is sanded down to where it's not flush. 

 

Now I'm a believer in that the ferrule adds strength to the shaft and that it supports the shaft when you swing. I put a lot of torque on the shaft.

 

I go the the range before my round and when walk off to go to the 1st tee, I feel something weird, I look down and see that my driver head is hanging by a thread, the shaft has snapped right where the club tech at PGA SS had sanded down the ferrule.

 

Now I don't always hit dead center of the club face but I don't miss so bad that I hit the hosel.

 

I look at the ferrule and it looks as the he sanded it down so much that it lost some integrity. 

 

Is that something they can warranty or am I effed?

 

**I do have a club guy that I always go to but he was out when I needed the adapter installed**

 

[1s1k]

First mistake was having any club work done at PGA SS.  But lesson learned and hope you get it sorted out.

[phizzy30]

I hope they would make things right with you but it could go either way.  I would never have PGA SS or any other major retail store work my clubs unless it's to adjust loft and lie for my irons or to regrip my clubs. 

[Smokey227]

Was it a brand new shaft or was it a pull?  Normally if a shaft breaks near the adaptor it would be one of 3 things.  Too much heat when the shaft was pulled (not an option if it was actually a new shaft) , overprep of the tip of the shaft, or something like a burr inside the adaptor that caused a pressure point on the shaft.

 

The only way I could see sanding down the ferrule could have any effect on the shaft breaking is if when using a belt sander to turn the ferrule they nicked the shaft.

[Old Tom Morris]

Usually the ferrule is taken down with acetone as it is made of polystyrene or some other simple polymer and can be dissolved by acetone.  Isn’t that the case?

[semarlor]

11 minutes ago, Smokey227 said:

Was it a brand new shaft or was it a pull?  Normally if a shaft breaks near the adaptor it would be one of 3 things.  Too much heat when the shaft was pulled (not an option if it was actually a new shaft) , overprep of the tip of the shaft, or something like a burr inside the adaptor that caused a pressure point on the shaft.

 

The only way I could see sanding down the ferrule could have any effect on the shaft breaking is if when using a belt sander to turn the ferrule they nicked the shaft.

That was my first thought, too...sounds like the tip was over prepped or damaged being pulled. I really don't think this would be an issue with the ferrule unless he was really aggressive and got the shaft while he was turning it...like really, really aggressive. 

Edited April 14, 2021 by semarlor

[toc]

Not sure how much integrity a plastic ferrule adds to a shaft, but something went wrong with the job.  Unfair to blanket blame PGA though as boils down to the actual human doing the job, not the building he/she is in. 

[puttingmatt]

Ferrules are cosmetic in use only, they add no so called strength to the shaft. 

Your breakage issue is elsewhere.

[mogc60]

You had a shaft issue not a ferrule issue. 

[kidrobot]

I mean, I would've thought that the integrity of the connection would be based in the 4500psi epoxy connection, but sure let's involve the decorative bit too.

[Valtiel]

The should absolutely be liable for the work, but this has nothing to do with the ferrule. 

[seis]

Before the PGA SS bashing begins quit painting with a broad brush. The PGA SS store in Schaumburg Illinois does great work.

[dab]

The most likely case was that the shaft tip was damaged/weakened either before installation or by tip over prep. I do agree that the ferrule adds strength and stability- I have installed graphite shafts without ferrules into some driver heads because I wanted a little more kick from the shaft.

[RichieHunt]

Pretty much everybody here has posted what I think.  Either this was a pull and the tip was weakened either over time thru using too much heat or sanding the shaft down too much thru previous pulls or this was a new shaft and the tip was sanded down too much.

 

As far as the PGA Tour SS work goes...it really depends on the person working on clubs.  Some of their stores do superior work overall.  Other stores you get the wrong person doing it and it's a disaster.

 

If it's a new shaft then they should have to pay for it.  If it's a pull...personally I would pay for it if I owned the store because the builder should have recognized that the shaft was weak and warned you beforehand and it's just a good follow thru for customer satisfaction.  But i have my doubts that they will make things good with you.

 

 

 

RH

[tsecor]

i use the PGA SS for grips only.....most of the staff at our local PGA store are high school kids who have no training in this area.

 

 

[markheardjr]

Did you hit on rubber mats/rubber tees? Are you sure your club is .335" or is it .350" and the shaft was .335"? (Still not likely to cause catastrophic failure.)

[Skhacker]

5 hours ago, puttingmatt said:

Ferrules are cosmetic in use only, they add no so called strength to the shaft. 

Your breakage issue is elsewhere.

This is somewhat true. Try building a graphite shaft without a ferrule and see how long it lasts before breaking at the shaft and head meeting point. It won't take very long for an aggressive swinger creating a lot of torque. While the ferrule itself is very weak, the proper install of one at the stress point helps to dissipate the impact to the shaft. Can't tell you how many times I've seen this in 25 plus years of building clubs. Ferrules most definitely play a part, and I suspect people saying they are “purely” cosmetic just haven’t gained enough years of club building experience yet.  
This particular case sounds like a weakened shaft though.  
 

Edited April 14, 2021 by Skhacker
Spelling

[mogc60]

The top of the hosel is the stress point and the ferrule is purely aesthetic. It’s a plastic ring, it’s served zero purpose other than looks. It’s like trim on a car. I didn’t hear the op say the ferrule broke. You never hear that. It’s the shaft that snaps. It’s a shaft issue. Could be a myriad of issues but the ferrule is not any part of the cause. 

[gevans24]

So I've never had a shaft snap or break but long story short at this point.

 

Brought it in and one of the guys there said they cannot replace the shaft, but he asked after his statement if I wanted to talk to his manager. The manager came over and he said they would replace the shaft since they did the club work.

 

I was pleasantly surprised, I told him I wasn't trying to be an a**hole I just had never had a shaft break and he was real good about it. 

 

No PGA SS will not lose my business, I'll keep going in to get odds and ends etc.