Frequently asked questions
What is the turn-around time for a Job?
It’s a one-man crew here at GBG, so it’s all dependent upon workload, demand, and what you need at the time of inquiry. That being said, turn-around time is also dependent on the products needed for the job. Typically, items such as grips, shafts, custom ferrules are ordered based upon need, and not kept in stock. So order and shipping times will factor into job length, and estimates for this can be made at time of inquiry.
What is swingweight, and how does it factor into my swing?
A golf club’s swing weight (SW) measures its "resistance to being swung in a circle.” SW does not measure a club’s total weight, but rather its distribution. Ever hold a golf club upside-down and swing the grip end - you can swing it fast but it’s hard to get a feel for where the end of it or get it “on plane.” Conversely, if I gave you the same shaft with a ton of weight on the end of it, you might have a hard time swinging it back and through and gathering speed, but you would definitely be able to feel the weight. It’s not how heavy a club is but more so how heavy it feels. Why does it matter?
In a nutshell, SW can affect your swing path, swing speed, and tempo if drastically too high or low, but there is usually a gray area where across multiple points where you will find comfortability. Most manufactors build their irons somewhere between a D2 - D4 scale; woods a little lighter while wedges and putters are heavier. SW may not play a big role in your golf swing if you fit into the gray area, but you may find more consistently having your clubs weighted the same. You may have those one or two clubs in your bag that just feel right when you swing them; more often than not this is because they are a certain SW.
While measuring your SW is a simple process at GBG that we can do to within 0.1 of a SW point, it is easier to increase SW to clubs then it is to decrease it. To do this we typically have to remove weight from the clubhead or increase weight in the shaft and/or grip end - process that may require more in-depth discussion. You may see some players with lead tape on their clubheads - this is most like to maintain that consistent, perfect feel across the bag. Addressing SW across your bag is perhaps one of the easier but beneficial things you can do for your game.
What is hotmelting?
Hotmelt is definitely more of a feel and preference thing, but won’t alter the output of the club. Hotmelting can serve a few purposes, but two are more dominant than most. Adding hotmelt to your clubhead, mainly your driver, will dampen noise at impact while deepening feel. Many describe it as a more “persimonny” feel, giving your wood more of a muted crack than a pitchy ping. Hotmelt both reduces and dilutes the sound vibrations made at impact. Another analogy would be hitting an aluminum bat versus a wooden one. It only takes a small amount of hotmelt (1-3 grams) to make a big difference in sound and feel.
Hotmelt can also be used to increase SW of a club, though many manufacturers and third parties make additional weights that can replace the stock ones to do this now (you can also decrease your SW with these!). Another use of hotmelt is to alter ball flight and center of gravity (spin and launch) characteristics; however, this takes a great deal of hotmelt and not something that is recommended. Adding this much hotmelt will drastically alter your SW which would have to be compensated for. Another thing to remember is adding hotmelt can rarely, if ever, be undone since the glue is binding and almost impossible to remove.
Can I provide my materials (grips, shaft, etc…) instead of GBG ordering them?
Of course! GBG is not big enough (yet!) to pull any weight, so the prices you find are probably the same that I will find. If you have a deal or connection for a great price, by all means take advantage of it. As mentioned, I simply charge whatever my cost is for materials such as grips, shafts, clubs, and custom ferrules, so it would be the same of you providing it yourself. The only benefit of my ordering is direct shipping to me rather than your ordering and transport. Buying new is great because you know what your are getting, but if you are looking to save then there is also the option of finding used material/clubs. I do have a few avenues in this area to assist, so please contact if this is a preference.
Do you fit for clubs?
I wish I had the equipment and space to do this! A little out of budget and square footage for me. I would highly recommend anyone looking to switch out shafts or any equipment really to get fit first. Being able to build my own clubs has helped with the budget, but it is always worth getting fit by a professional to find what works first, or at the very least fits your profile. Being a techie, my countless hours of research and reading lends itself to advising on what equipment is comparable to each other and what you may currently have, but if you are starting from scratch then the small price of a fitting can go a long way to both getting the right equipment and understanding why!