Tom Wishon on Interchangeable Shafts
Nickent Manufacturing has become the latest club maker to join the interchangeable Shaft revolution, the new technology that took the PGA Merchandise Show by storm last month.
Thanks to a rule change by the USGA, shafts can be changed during a tournament.
Well, what's the big deal? The pros can already do this prior to a tournament by dropping in to an equipment van and having someone swap shafts for them.
The manufacturers decided to take advantage of this rule change by creating interchangeable shaft technology and market it to the amateur with phrases like "it's like owning your very own tour van". That phrase actually comes directly from the Nickent press release.
Tom Wishon is probably the pre-eminent custom club maker and club fitter in North America today. There is absolutely nothing Wishon doesn't know about how to make a club and how to fit a golfer with a club – or a whole set, for that matter.
He's done it for top professionals and he's done it for recreational players. He's written books on it – mandatory reading for every club fitter and frankly every amateur golfer, too.
So when Tom Wishon hears the manufacturers selling interchangeable shafts as game improving equipment, he smells a rat a mile away.
I had interviewed Tom last year about club fitting in general and he was clear, concise and just a little controversial. But he made sense.
So I turned to Tom again – this time to make sense of this new technology.
Our conversation runs 15 minutes and it's the best free, no B.S., advice you'll find anywhere.
Click below and allow a couple of minutes for the download.
Tom_Wishon Interchangeable Shafts.mp3
Tom is the best. Knows his stuff and very honest. Custom club fitting gives the best set of clubs for every golfer. Forget about interchangeable shafts – just a gimmick.
Yes, Craig, I think your comment pretty much sums up how Tom feels. And how I feel, for what it’s worth…!
Not only is Tom one of the most knowlegeable men in the industry, but he sincerely cares about helping golfers obtain the best equipment possible. I have e-mailed him several times in the past few weeks with technical questions concerning club fitting. He has responded both times with a complete answer and within a half an hour. Let’s hear more interviews with him!
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Dave – Couldn’t agree more with you. Tom does care and he calls it the way he sees it – even if that puts him at odds with the “industry”. He’s also a very nice guy. I’ll take your request for more audio with Tom under advisement!
It’s amazing to me that golf craftsmen like Tom are not better known. Obviously his craft is demanding to master, and I think there are a number of certified club makers who are much better than the rest. However, I think any golfer who is serious about improving and using clubs that are best suited to his/her own swing and physical ability should get fitted by a certified club fitter and maker in the Tom Wishon “mold” — and others with a similar reputation of excellence.
I agree with you, DJ. Wishon is the guru of club fitting and club making yet few outside the industry (ie, we golfers) know who he is. But,then, all club makers work in the shadow of obscurity thanks to the overpowering marketing of the club manufacturers. That’s bad news for club makers who will continue to charge only what the market can bear but it’s good news for the golfing consumer. It does baffle me when I think that someone would,as Tom says, “but a suit off the rack even if it doesn’t fit”. By the way, check out Tom’s newest book, The Right Sticks. More great wisdom.
As a professional clubmaker/fitter, I can tell you that Tom Wishon is the best in every aspect. He is also the only one in the industry that promotes professional clubmakers. His products are first class and so is he and his staff. Although, I repair all brands, I will only make Tom Wishon clubs. Andy Watson
Thanks for sharing your views on the topic. It makes one think and look the other side of the story