Driver shaft snap after install

[Leftyjoe89]

Ended up going to the pga superstore to have my driver shaft changed from a ping to a taylormade. Picked it up and on my first swing the shaft snapped right at the hose where the paint was sanded away from install. On my way hole from

the course I stopped in the superstore and the guy tells me that they can only refund me the price for install of tip and tells me that happens when you retire a shaft.  I figured I went to a professional to do it so it would be done right and they would know not to  sand down too much and weaken the shaft.  I work with graphite/plastics/‘metals for a living so I understand how fragile graphite is but that’s the whole reason I paid a professional to swap a shaft.

 

 

so after that long story my question being is this actually normal to happen and why wouldn’t they mention it before they did the retip.  Should I try and get something else back by calling or emailing heqdquarters.  Hoping a club Tech can give me some insight it’s a $300 shaft I’ve played for years with no problems 

[Stuart_G]

No it's not normal. Although it's very unlikely that the break was from the sanding.  The much more likely possibilities were that it was from (in no particular order):

 

1) a burr on the top of the hosel/adapter bore

2) You were unlucky and that first shot was on the heel side of the face.  Doesn't matter how good the job, heel hits can be brutal on any shaft.  This can come from a single hit or be cumulative over the years.

3) shaft over heated and damaged during the pull of the ping adapter.

 

1) is something that a competent builder should check for and address before installing the adapter (but few do)

2) is something they have no control of

3) is always a risk.  It can't be eliminated entirely even with the best builders but usually is very small with a competent builder.  Also any previous pulls that might have contributed (damage can accumulate and increase over multiple pulls)

 

Unfortunately, the knowledge and training of those people that work in those types of stores is unpredictable.  It's also hard to prove the exact cause which leaves the incompetent with a "way out" in case they mess up.  It's also can be the basis for any large company policies on reparation for damages.

 

So sure, call and complain and see what happens.   The fact that it was so soon after the work was done is not necessarily conclusive but it is valid that it's a strong possibility the work was at least partially responsible.

 

 

 

 

[Leftyjoe89]

1 hour ago, Stuart_G said:

No it's not normal. Although it's very unlikely that the break was from the sanding.  The much more likely possibilities were that it was from (in no particular order):

 

1) a burr on the top of the hosel/adapter bore

2) You were unlucky and that first shot was on the heel side of the face.  Doesn't matter how good the job, heel hits can be brutal on any shaft.  This can come from a single hit or be cumulative over the years.

3) shaft over heated and damaged during the pull of the ping adapter.

 

1) is something that a competent builder should check for and address before installing the adapter (but few do)

2) is something they have no control of

3) is always a risk.  It can't be eliminated entirely even with the best builders but usually is very small with a competent builder.  Also any previous pulls that might have contributed (damage can accumulate and increase over multiple pulls)

 

Unfortunately, the knowledge and training of those people that work in those types of stores is unpredictable.  It's also hard to prove the exact cause which leaves the incompetent with a "way out" in case they mess up.  It's also can be the basis for any large company policies on reparation for damages.

 

So sure, call and complain and see what happens.   The fact that it was so soon after the work was done is not necessarily conclusive but it is valid that it's a strong possibility the work was at least partially responsible.

 

Thanks for the educational post.  It broke clean off where the adapter ends and the shot it broke on was a center face stroke right down the middle no touching of ground. I’ve never been one to complain usually I just take a loss but I was frustrated at his response that it happens when you change shaft tips and I’ve never had that problem before.  Getting someone else’s prospective definitely helps.

 

 

 

[JCAG]

Lefty

 

Help me understand. They were going to pull an adapter (Ping) off an existing shaft and install a new adapter (Taylor Made) on that shaft? If so they probably weakened the tip when removing the Ping adapter versus installing the Taylor Made adapter improperly. It is no them. Raise the issue to the Store Manager. If no satisfaction, go up a level in the company.

[jah7838]

Was it only a 1 time pull or has it been pulled a few times from different adapters and reused multiple times?  If it’s been in different heads, then I could see that being a possibility. 
 

If it was only pulled one time, then snapping shouldn’t happen...I’m not saying it doesn’t, but it shouldn’t if it was prepped properly the first time it was prepped and then pulled/prepped for the TM install.