Cheap Jailbird Build

Logansoto654 · July 12, 2023

Was looking on second hand website for a cheap jailbird to build to Fowler's spec. Instead I ran into the Odyssey White Hot 7 Bird, look the same but is a different color. Bought one for fairly cheap and built it to spec. Couldn't be more happy with how it came out. Used a Superstroke 17 in grip, added layers of lead tape until the head weight was a total of 380g and extended the length to 38 5/8 inches.

Edited July 12, 2023 by Logansoto654

cwhite71883 · July 13, 2023

is the superstroke counterbalanced? im looking at making one as well while anxiously awaiting my new one to be delivered in 3-4 months from Callaway, lol. also, do you have a "heavy" shaft + extension... or regular shaft and extension? thanks in advance.

03trdblack · July 13, 2023

I built up a 7 Bird as well after seeing someone post on here that they did the same. Grabbed one off of Callaway Pre-owned site for cheap, extended it to 37" and added the Superstroke 2.0 XL grip which is 15". I didn't like how thick the 3.0 felt. I also added heavier weights to the sole to bring up the head weight.

These putters are rock solid to putt with for sure.

DriverOffTheDeckGuy · July 14, 2023

I would love some more details and pictures!

What kind of extension did you use on the stroke lab shaft?

With a 380 gram head, will the swing weight be incorrect since the Fowler Special has a steel shaft?

03trdblack, did you use a CounterCore weight since the 15" 2.0 is lighter than the 17" 3.0?

Logansoto654 · July 15, 2023

On 7/13/2023 at 10:46 AM, cwhite71883 said:

is the superstroke counterbalanced? im looking at making one as well while anxiously awaiting my new one to be delivered in 3-4 months from Callaway, lol. also, do you have a "heavy" shaft + extension... or regular shaft and extension? thanks in advance.

I used a steel shaft extension so that I didn't have to add do much lead tape under the grip. I did end up having to add lead tape to make it counter balanced.

Logansoto654 · July 15, 2023

On 7/13/2023 at 11:17 PM, DriverOffTheDeckGuy said:

I would love some more details and pictures!

What kind of extension did you use on the stroke lab shaft?

With a 380 gram head, will the swing weight be incorrect since the Fowler Special has a steel shaft?

03trdblack, did you use a CounterCore weight since the 15" 2.0 is lighter than the 17" 3.0?

I used a 17in flatso super stroke, used a steel extension with a bit of lead tape to counter balance the head. I made the head 380g because that is what Richie plays but I had to increase the wait in the grip to make up for the stroke lab shaft. I don't have any other picture. I played 3 rounds with and sold it for $450.

Oneshort99 · July 16, 2023

Well, I had an 0- works mini jailbird as a backup putter till I got my SC phantom. So for fun I turned it into a modification of the fowler bird (lol)

Specs: Putter started at 35 inches, head weight was 355 grams

New Specs:

Head weight 379.7 grams (with paint and lead tape)

Extended to 38 inches (regular shaft extension as I used a counter balanced grip)

Grip: Winn 15 inch counter balanced putter grip (128 grams)

Lie angle and loft the same as the new jailbird (this is heavier than the super stroke. (super stroke is 93 grams i think)

I weighed out each piece of lead tape and paid close attention to perimeter and back weighting to help with MOI.

Paint: I used Duracoat a firearms 2 part paint which is super durable works great on my handguns.

I originally had it at 39 inches with the 17 inch super stroke 3.0 (grip was too big and just did not like it)

39 inches was a tad long for my liking so cut it to 38. (Did some research on how bettinardi and how they did counter balanced and they extend and said a typical length for is 35, 38 and 40.

So, I stripped down the putter to bear metal and repainted it. So here is before and after. Still need to do some slight touch ups where the tape was not tight to the metal and paint in the red portion on the back. I also painted the lead tape with duracoat, it seems to hold up well, any scratches in the lead tape are touched up with a sharpie.

DriverOffTheDeckGuy · July 17, 2023

On 7/15/2023 at 2:59 PM, Logansoto654 said:

I used a 17in flatso super stroke, used a steel extension with a bit of lead tape to counter balance the head. I made the head 380g because that is what Richie plays but I had to increase the wait in the grip to make up for the stroke lab shaft. I don't have any other picture. I played 3 rounds with and sold it for $450.

Nice, hopefully you made a tidy little profit!

DriverOffTheDeckGuy · July 17, 2023

11 hours ago, Oneshort99 said:

Well, I had an 0- works mini jailbird as a backup putter till I got my SC phantom. So for fun I turned it into a modification of the fowler bird (lol)

Specs: Putter started at 35 inches, head weight was 355 grams

New Specs:

Head weight 379.7 grams (with paint and lead tape)

Extended to 38 inches (regular shaft extension as I used a counter balanced grip)

Grip: Winn 15 inch counter balanced putter grip (128 grams)

Lie angle and loft the same as the new jailbird (this is heavier than the super stroke. (super stroke is 93 grams i think)

I weighed out each piece of lead tape and paid close attention to perimeter and back weighting to help with MOI.

Paint: I used Duracoat a firearms 2 part paint which is super durable works great on my handguns.

I originally had it at 39 inches with the 17 inch super stroke 3.0 (grip was too big and just did not like it)

39 inches was a tad long for my liking so cut it to 38. (Did some research on how bettinardi and how they did counter balanced and they extend and said a typical length for is 35, 38 and 40.

So, I stripped down the putter to bear metal and repainted it. So here is before and after. Still need to do some slight touch ups where the tape was not tight to the metal and paint in the red portion on the back. I also painted the lead tape with duracoat, it seems to hold up well, any scratches in the lead tape are touched up with a sharpie.

Very cool! Great craftsmanship, looks professionally done

Oneshort99 · July 17, 2023

Thanks, was just a fun project. I still have it. Kind of like it and as of now no plans to sell.

ckay · July 23, 2023

38”

30g weights

SS17

3” putter extension from Golfworks

https://www.golfworks.com/universal-golf-shaft-extensions/p/gw1047/

Edited July 23, 2023 by ckay

Duffman57 · August 19, 2023

Ive been wanting to go the ultra (beyond) cheap route and turn my TA impact 3 into a Jailbird shape. I love the headshape and feel of the putter (and putt well with it), but played around with some white tape to see how it would look with a jailbird look and I loved it. I already added a few layers of lead tape to get it to the weight I wanted. Something about that double white line helped a lot. IDK how i'd do it, my first thought was 3d printing something that would fit on the end of the fangs that I could just glue on, my second thought was to weld a bar between them but I don't have the skills for that. But here's my super janky test of what it might look like. And it was way more similar than I ever thought it would turn out. First step is definitely to and it and repaint.

Edited August 19, 2023 by Duffman57