Interchangeable Shafts - Lots of fun if you like to experiment.
 

For the last few months, I've been thumping on the drums about the new "Interchangeable Shaft" technology. Callaway, Taylor Made and Nickent have products in the marketplace. It's interesting to be able to swap shafts from club to club but the proprietary systems have one major defect: you can only use their heads with their shafts. In the case of Callaway and Taylor Made, that means that you're going to spend about $1000 to buy their system. Nickent is cheaper, but offers fewer shaft choices.

Much more interesting is the Club Conex (CC) interchangeable shaft system. You can try the CC interchangeable shaft system with clubs and shafts that you already own. It is inexpensive. We will install the CC fitting in any driver head that you have for $30. Installing the fitting on a shaft is just $25.

 

 Check out our "Library".
 

This is where it gets interesting. Let's imagine that you have a driver that you like and you want to know how that head will perform with another shaft. You might be thinking about a $350 Matrix OZIK, a $300 Fujikura Speeder, $350 Mitsubishi Whiteboard or a simple $100 UST V2. In the past, if you wanted to try one of those premium shafts all you could do was get out your checkbook and take your chances.

We have an extensive "Library" of high performance shafts - all set up with the Club Conex exchangeable shaft fittings - all SST PUREd and all tested for flex. If you want to try an "exotic" shaft, all you have to do is sign up for our "Demo" program. Here's how it works.

We will install a Club Conex adapter in one of your drivers. That costs $30. For an additional fee of $150, you have access to our entire "Library" of custom, high performance shafts - two shafts at a time - for a month. You can play them with your own driver head, swap them back and forth, practice all you want, and play all you want on your home course. Any time during the month you can exchange your demo shafts for others of your choice. If, at the end of the testing period, you decide to purchase one of the shafts you tested, we will credit half of the demo fee toward the purchase.

That demo program gives you access to almost every exotic, high-performance shaft in the world. If we don't have a shaft you want to test, we will get it for you. There is not better way to know, for sure, if a certain shaft is right for you.

 

 How about High Performance Driver Heads?
 

Suppose you want to try the new Nike SUMO "Tour Square" head with a Mitsubishi White Board - or ACCRA SE 60 favored by Stewart Cink? What about the new Adams XTD drivers - the official driver of the Long Drivers' Association? How about the Taylor Made Burner TP? Think about the options: Any head, any shaft.

For a demo fee of $250 you have access to any head and any two shafts in our "Library" - swap them out as frequently as you want - for a month. At the end of that testing period, if you decide to make a purchase, half of your demo fee will be credited. There is not better way to know exactly what you're getting by testing unlimited alternatives.

Here's what the Club Conex system looks like:

 

 USGA Approval for Club Conex
 

At this time, Club Conex is still waiting for USGA approval for sanctioned play. As useful as the CC system is for fitting, imagine how interesting it will be to play the interchangeable head and shaft system from day to day. For the first time, you will be able to choose your driver configuration for the course and weather conditions that you're playing. Windy or wet? You might want a lower loft driver. Hard and fast? Windy? Hungover? There's no reason you have to play the same driver every day, under all conditions.

The Club Conex system is well made. It is machined from aircraft grade aluminum. It can be installed and removed without altering your current club.

It is also available for fairway metals and utility clubs. We are building a library of fairway metal heads and shafts and utility heads and shafts to compliment our driver "Library". The CC system will revolutionize the way you think about testing golf clubs.

 

 Update Your Driver Fitting - No Risk
 

We're getting so good at driver optimization that we're offering a "no risk" guarantee that we will improve the performance of your driver or you don't pay for the fitting.

First, we're going to analyze your swing with our Achiever launch monitor and benchmark your performance with your current driver. We'll get detailed performance numbers from our Max Out Launch Max.

Then, we'll gain some insight from our Max Out Shaft Max. That's the gizmo we use to determine shaft weight, flex and bend profile. The Shaft Max will give you an "EKG" for your swing - reflected in a graph that shows your acceleration. You'll know more about your swing and how you hit the ball than you ever imagined.

With that information, we'll offer you a series of test drivers to compare - each head selected for shape, face angle, launch and spin characteristics. We'll choose shafts appropriate for your tempo and the way you load the shaft. The result we're looking for is higher ball speed with correct launch angle and spin rate. These are not random drivers. Each head and shaft is interchangeable so you get the exact head and exact shaft that we think will produce the best results. You waste no time with "guesswork".

The next step is to change the specifications of your driver. We might cut it shorter or (rarely!!) make it longer. We might add a little head weight if we cut it shorter. We will surely install a Balance-Certified Shaft Stabilizer and test for improved performance.

If after all of that, we can't prove that we've improved the performance of your driver with measurable results - higher ball speed or better center face contact - you will owe us nothing for our efforts. We'll even install a new grip in your driver for your trouble.

Here's what the Balance-Certified Shaft Stabilizer system looks like:

 

 "Mornings at the Muni" May Schedule.
 

Why sleep in? If you're in the mood to have a little fun before work in the morning you should get up early and join me for nine holes and a great breakfast at the Palo Alto Muni. I'm there most mornings - Monday through Thursday. We might work up a little contest to keep things interesting but the golf is strictly casual.

There is no better way to start off a fitting than nine holes of on-course play. I can get a great idea of how you play and how your clubs are working. There is absolutely no charge for a "morning at the Muni" session. Even breakfast is Dutch Treat.

Give the Golf Lab a call to make sure that the "game is on". (650) 493-1770. I'll meet you there.

Leith Anderson
Contact: Leith@calgolftec h.com