Removal of Ping Putter Shaft

[GenErr]

I got hold of an old Ping putter with a snapped shaft. I'd like to pull the shaft, and install a new one and re-grip it.

I took it to Golfsmith to get the shaft extracted, and the clubmaker said it was "iffy" at best, since Ping has a machined piece at the base of their putters that prohibits "normal" shaft removal. He tried, but the shaft would not budge. The other option he said was for him to drill through the base of the club, and tap the shaft out from the bottom. I thanked him and left, telling him I might be back.

He was very accommodating and would have performed the normal shaft removal for free.

I don't want to get complicated, or pay a lot for this removal. Is there any way I can get this shaft off by myself, using normal "home owner" tools?

thanks

[GenErr]

I found a thread on another forum that says if you freeze the head and shaft it will cause the ball bearing to shrink. After removal from the freezer quickly put the shaft into a vise, heat the part of the putter head that meets the shaft - almost pointing the heat through the hosel toward the grip. This will expand the shaft before the ball bearing swells. Supposedly the head will "pop off" with some pulling pressure.

I'll try this over the weekend.

[GenErr]

Originally Posted by GenErr

I found a thread on another forum that says if you freeze the head and shaft it will cause the ball bearing to shrink. After removal from the freezer quickly put the shaft into a vise, heat the part of the putter head that meets the shaft - almost pointing the heat through the hosel toward the grip. This will expand the shaft before the ball bearing swells. Supposedly the head will "pop off" with some pulling pressure.

I'll try this over the weekend.

Wow - talking to myself never felt so good!
I put the putter head and about 10" of attached shaft in the freezer for about 5 hours, went to the garage and applied heat from a mini torch (all I had) for about two minutes - the head wouldn't budge. Maybe I need a bigger torch to really heat up the hosel/shaft connection.

I wrote to Ping and they said for me to send it in and for $28 they'll remove the shaft for me. Sounds like they're giving me the shaft if you ask me! I'll keep trying and if I can't get the shaft loose, I'll cut it off at the hosel, clean it up, and use it as a paper weight.

All done here!

[Bigvivec]

I wish I had something I could tell you, but I was just reading eagerly hoping that I would pick up a "Heloise-esque" secret regarding this...I bet that with a vise and a hammer I could remove it, but you would never want to play it again...

[drstroud]

I have an Anser 2 with a bent shaft that I need to replace. I guess I am in the same position as you. Maybe I'll take it to my local shop and have them do the work.

[MarkinTN1]

Whats the trouble? hahaha, I did the same thing on an Odyssey. Vise grips can crush the shaft from a couple different sides, then it may give, or try to sheer it off close to the hosel and break out the drill and just drill it out. Good Luck, word of caution with all the straining and drilling going on be carefull not to roll the head in the metal shavings (I did and its scarred for life).

[GenErr]

Originally Posted by drstroud

I have an Anser 2 with a bent shaft that I need to replace. I guess I am in the same position as you. Maybe I'll take it to my local shop and have them do the work.

drstroud - the clubfitter I went to said it was 50/50 with Ping putter shafts. Sometimes they come loose, but more times than not they don't. Its the ball bearing in the end of the shaft that keeps it "seated" in the neck of the putter.

I'm gonna give the freeze/heat thing one more try, but with a bigger propane torch (the one I used was barely bigger than a lighter).

I'll let you know if it works.

[drstroud]

I contacted PING today and for them to do the work, reshaft, and regrip will be $28. I think I'll send it to them. After the labor, shaft, and grip, it will not be much more than if my local shop did the work.

[GenErr]

drstroud - let us know how it works out with Ping. I'm tempted to send the putter to them, but I sometimes get very STUBBORN (the Italian in me). I think if this was a putter I used, or one that I had some attachment to, I might be tempted to send it in for the work to be done - but it isn't.

Good luck with the Anser.

[Tee 1 Up]

I bought a anser2 awhile back and the shaft was rusted. My local club repair shop took it right out. He gave me the old shaft so I saw the bearing you all are talking about. Try another shop is my advice.

[JimSomebody]

Originally Posted by GenErr

...I sometimes get very STUBBORN (the Italian in me)...

You Calabrese, Gene? I've got a little of that. I know about testa dura.

[drstroud]

Just got back my Anser 2 today. They called me on Friday to verify the work - I indicated they should do so. They did a great job and quick turnaround. Cost for the shaft, grip, and shipping was $37.85. For some reason, the putter feels light to me. Probably becuase the PING Finger Lock grip is +/- 89 grams. I'm going to add some lead tape to increase the weight. Overall, did nice work.

[wb4tjh]

I have cut off or removed the shafts from a number of putters over the years, but I did not know this about Ping putters. I'm currently using a Ping G5I B60, but I'm sure glad I ordered it with the right shaft and length for me...I had no idea Ping made it so hard to work on their clubs. Are their irons as hard to remove shafts from as their putters?...or is it just their putters? $38 including shipping just to remove/replace a silly putter shaft...wow. I reshafted an entire set of Cleveland TA-6 irons with True Temper steel shafts myself recently. It cost me almost nothing compared to that. I guess if I ever pick up a used Ping puter, I'd better be sure the shaft is to my liking and in good shape. But I sure love my B60. The good thing about this forum is that you learn something new everytime you read it. Thanks for sharing that.

[rgjusa]

I am probably a bit late now as I only just found this forum. Anyway, I have posted it at other sites too, but I have used this to 100% success (your results may vary).

Put the head (if possible) in the freezer for a few hours, best overnight. Then once it has been in there, take it out and clamp the shaft as tightly as possible in a vice. Heat the flat sole underneath the hosel as if you were pointing the flame directly up the shaft towards the grip (don't heat anywhere else on the hosel just there), spray some WD40 where the shaft meets the hosel, then twist the head while pulling it off. You can/should squirt some WD40 right where the shaft meets the hosel and just keep twisting/pulling. I heated the hosel with a butane/propane torch (not a micro torch) for about 30 seconds or so and once the head starts to twist using a fair amount of force you should be able to pull it off.

You do not need the ball bearing for the reshaft.

[mr_bogey]

I once ran into this problem with my old Ping A-Blade, very similar to Anser. Simply cut the shaft just above the hosel, put head in a vise, and using a drill bit (must be a sharp one) that most exactly fits down the remaining shaft drill out the ball bearing. Then a little heat and VOILA!