Tour Insider

Interchangable Driver Shafts - 01/23/2008

Editor's Note: This is the latest in a weekly Q&A feature from GOLF CHANNEL's Chief Technical Advisor Frank Thomas. To submit a question for possible use in this column, email letsbefrank@franklygolf.com
 
Frank,
This spring a couple of manufacturers are introducing drivers that you can change shafts for different conditions. First, is this going to be allowed by the USGA? Secondly, if it is legal, would I be able to use Conex shaft adapters to do the same thing?
 
Thanks,
-- Steve
 
Steve,
 
The USGA is making some changes to the equipment rules with regard to adjustability but not telling us what they are. They say that some forms of adjustability, in irons and woods -- a few of which are already allowed in putters -- will be permitted but to find out what these are you need to submit the product to the USGA and they will deal with each submission on a case-by-case basis.
 
Some interchangeable shaft mechanisms have already been approved and Nickent, Callaway and others will have these in the line soon.
 
In a forum discussing "adjustability" at the PGA Show last week, the USGA haughtily opened the discussion justifying the seemingly popular move, by stating that this will help the average golfer and is a win/win situation for all. Some manufacturers in the forum then lauded the change and suggested that this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg in that grip changes, loft changes, lie changes, and bounce changes are all things that will now be possible. At every new suggestion, the USGA representatives became visibly more uncomfortable. The USGA is opening a can of worms that will soon get out of hand and be difficult to monitor.
 
There are some problems associated with this apparent windfall, which is perceived to be a needed stimulus, in an environment, where coming up with something new and meaningful to sell equipment has become a real challenge.
 
First, manufacturers are going to charge more for a set of clubs or just a single club with adjustable features, which allow for interchangable component parts. However, there are not going to be any interchangeable standards so your ZOO-Zoo club heads will only fit with ZOO-zoo shafts and ZOO-zoo grips etc.
 
The USGA also has some 'tiger-by-the-tail' problems. When training grips and non-conforming shafts and heads with unacceptable moving parts are able to be interchanged with other conforming parts making the final assembly either non-conforming or conforming, things start getting sticky. The number of permutations are enormous and an absolute nightmare for a tournament director to make a call on the first tee or to keep track of and help advise the players as to the conformity of their equipment. We do need rules, but not silly rules or those which have the potential to complicate interpretation.