Janzen one of few using grinder
As a two-time U.S. Open champion, it should come as little surprise that Lee Janzen would have a reputation as a "grinder." It's just that in Janzen's case, the tag extends beyond his on-course play.
"Lee's one of the few players who still has a bit of grinding work done on his irons," said Jim Bode, VP of R&D for MacGregor. "He wants a certain look on the club that can only be done by taking it to the wheel."
Janzen and a few other players aside, grinding irons has become somewhat of a lost art. The fact is that as manufacturing tolerances became tighter, the need to alter clubs has decreased over time.
| In The Winner's Bag |
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Vijay Singh Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Driver: TaylorMade R510, 10.5 degrees 3-wood: Cleveland Launcher, 13 degrees 9-wood: Callaway Steelhead Irons (3-9): Cleveland TA1 Form Forged; (PW): Cleveland 588 Gunmetal Wedges: Cleveland 900 Gunmetal (54, 60 degrees) Putter: MacGregor Bobby Grace MOI Jennifer Rosales Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Driver: Ping TiSI Tec, 7 degrees 3-wood: Callaway Steelhead III 5-wood: Callaway Great Steelhead III Irons (4-PW): Ping i3+ Wedges: Titleist Vokey (50, 54, 60 degrees) Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist 303 Bruce Fleisher Ball: Callaway HX Tour Driver: Callaway ERC Fusion, 8.5 degrees Strong 4-wood: Callaway Steelhead III Irons (2-PW): Callaway Big Bertha Wedges: Callaway Forged + (52, 56 degrees) Putter: Odyssey DFX 3300 |
"In the old days you'd have a 20-gram gob of metal that needed to be ground off the club just to get it playable," said Bode. "That's no longer the case." However, Bode said some players still get their clubs ground in an effort to find the right leading edge or sole camber.
José Maria Olazábal serves as one example. The two-time Masters champion likes extra weight in the toe of his blades, but doesn't want it to be visible. In addition he wants his clubface to sit one degree open. That requires a careful sole grind.
Olazábal's needs are a throwback to the days when sparks flying off the grinding wheel were commonplace in tour vans. That began to change in the mid-1990s, however, when both manufacturing of clubs and course conditions got better.
"You'd see all the guys in the vans almost every week grinding away on their irons or wedges," said Harry Taylor, VP and senior director of club design and player promotions for Mizuno. "That's because turf conditions often changed drastically from week to week, and they needed to adapt their clubs, especially wedges, because there wasn't the wide array of clubhead options available to them that you see today. Today, not many players want to grind away at their clubheads."
Which keeps the grinding wheel silent.
Equipment scoop from the tours:
Available in six lofts (ranging from 12 to 26 degrees), the latest fairway woods from Ping boast a large clubhead featuring a variable-width sole that moves weight away from the face for a higher launch condition. The woods (SRP: $200, steel; $250, graphite) are played on the PGA Tour by Lee Westwood and Ted Purdy.
The number of drivers on the USGA's non-conforming driver list -- up from 91 two years ago. Bridgestone and Mizuno have the most models with 17 each. The majority of the clubs are marketed abroad and are not for sale in the U.S.
E. Michael Johnson is the Equipment Editor of Golf World magazine
