From good fairway woods for high handicappers to the top golf irons for the money, metal is the default choice for golf clubs. It can be different types, including steel and titanium. It is rare that you will find one that is made of wood. The latter is more often used as a collector’s item or a display in a golf enthusiast’s home, but it is not used in a tournament.
For whatever reason, if you want to learn how to make a wooden golf club, read on and learn from the insights we’ll be sharing in this quick guide.
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How to Make a Wooden Golf Club
Making a wooden golf club is like making a golf club out of a cardboard[how to make a golf club out of cardboard]. Nonetheless, it is a more complicated process that requires more advanced tools. Below is a quick preview of how it is done.
Pick the Right Wood
The first thing to do is to choose the right type of wood to use for this DIY task. This will impact the overall quality of the end-product, including its durability. While the types of woods are endless, not all of them will make a good pick for a golf club.
In the early days of golf, most clubs use hardwood for the clubhead, such as beech. The shaft, on the other hand, uses ash or hazelwood. In the 1820s, however, hickory clubs became more common. In the 1900s, persimmon, a type of ebony, became the default choice. Today, if you want to make a golf club, we recommend using persimmon.
Slice the Wood
Once the wood is ready, the next thing to do is to slice it. Most people will slice it into a quarter and throw the center because of its low quality. Look for the portion of the wood that looks the best, which is what you will be using for the golf club.
Trace the Clubhead
With the wood cut, trace the shape of the clubhead. You will need a pen or marker for this task. More importantly, you will need an actual clubhead as this will dictate the shape of the end-product.
Start Cutting
At this point, the shape of the golf club must already be visible. Cut the clubhead depending on the shape. Alternatively, you can also put it in a duplicating machine, which will copy the shape of a master model. This is easier, but the machine is expensive, and hence, most people will not have it in their workshop. You can also opt to do it manually using a chisel.
Carve a Slot on the Face
After you have cut the clubhead, the next step is to carve a slot on its face. Put a glue around the slot and plug an insert, which should be made of a rigid material like plastic. This is important because it will protect the head from the force of a golf ball when hitting during a swing. If you intention is to use the golf club only as a display, you can skip this step.
Sand the Clubhead
The clubhead is almost ready, but it is still probably rough. Sanding is the next step. This will make the surface smoother and easier to paint or varnish. More so, it will make sure that the insert you have earlier attached will seamlessly blend with the rest of the clubhead.
Add a Sole Plate
This step is only for wooden golf clubs that you would like to actually use in a game. Carve underneath the clubhead and add a sole plate. Often, the latter is made of lead. This will add weight to the clubhead, which will add force to your swing, making it easy to send the golf ball on the direction where you want it to be.
Add the Shaft
Put a hole on the clubhead and connect a shaft. The shaft can be made of a wooden stick. Cut it depending on the desired length. Alternatively, it can also be made of steel. This will depend on your personal preference.
Paint the Golf Club
You are almost done at this point. However, you will first need to paint the golf club. Varnish will also look fine, especially if you want it to look like a vintage golf club in display. Painting a golf club[how to paint a golf club] will make it look like the real thing.
Conclusion
Thinking of the next golf DIY project to try? Why not make a golf club out of wood? While it is no longer used in tournaments, you can build one for fun! It will also make a nice display at home. Choose the right wood, such as persimmon. Cut the wood into the shape of a clubhead. Add a shaft, which can also be made of wood if you prefer. Sand and paint to make the golf club look more appealing.