Here's how my 5 hour blueprinting process breaks down based on 3 - PW build:
Keep in mind that as much as possible the shafts are presorted and checked for CPM consistency on my frequency machine, even though they are supposed to come presorted already from the manufacturer. Brunswick call it Frequency Matching!
Let's start by checking the lie and loft that I'm trying to get, because if they are too far apart, it might affect the swing weight. If I bend them after they are done, I make sure that the club head are protected at all sides to minimize the marks from the bending machine (35-45 minutes).
Second, pull the shaft and clean up the hosel and mark the weights one by one (45 - 50 minutes). Check the depth of the hosel to make sure they are consistent enough to receive a new shaft (10-15 minutes). Prepare all the shaft tips and use the spine finder to identify mark the spines on each one (20 - 25 minutes).
Measure each shaft on the measuring board to make sure the lengths are exactly at 1/2" increments (20 - 25 minutes).
Sort the grips by weight to make sure all 8 grips are the same weight (10-15 minutes).
Install the wooden dowel at the same depth from the tip, put on the grips and make sure it line up straight and consistently stretch (on cord is critical for sizing), installed ferrules (all that for 30-40 minutes).
Swing weight each club and mark them for lead plug adjustment (15-20 minutes). Install a lead plug and swing weight them one by one to make sure it's within MY acceptable tolerance of 1/8-1/4 of a point (30-40 minutes).
Mix the glue and glue them one by one and make sure the spined position is on the right consistent spot and make sure they have the same amount of glue for a consistent swing weight (15-20 minutes). Let the glue dry for at least 8-10 hrs. Turn the ferrule one by one and shine them up with acetone (25 - 30 minutes)
Double check the loft and lie (15 to 20 minutes) and clean them up with car wax from acetone residue (10 - 15 minutes). The last part is checking the cpm on the frequency machine one by one to make sure everything is within my spec (10-15 minutes). DONE!
So if I calculate on the minimum estimated time, I spend about 4 hours and 50 minutes assuming I don't run into any trouble. If the need arises, it usually takes another 20 minutes to discuss any issues with the customer. Also, factor the time I spend on a fitting phone call trying to figure out what he or she needs mentally and physically.
Call me a meticulous freak, but I can't help it...that is who I am and how I work. And that is how I think customers expect me to be when they are paying at my rate.
The fastest record I did before was 4 hours 20 minutes for a set belong to a PGA touring pro who was waiting on the spot while I was working on them. It required me to heat the hosel to speed up the epoxy curing time (around 1-2 minutes per club), but it's all worth it and satisfying watching him shoot his low round 61 record on TV at the next tournament. And yes, I got a set of tour issue iron from him that wasn't released to the public yet and a big hug for all that trouble.
Again, this is "my" way of doing it!
Keep in mind that as much as possible the shafts are presorted and checked for CPM consistency on my frequency machine, even though they are supposed to come presorted already from the manufacturer. Brunswick call it Frequency Matching!
Let's start by checking the lie and loft that I'm trying to get, because if they are too far apart, it might affect the swing weight. If I bend them after they are done, I make sure that the club head are protected at all sides to minimize the marks from the bending machine (35-45 minutes).
Second, pull the shaft and clean up the hosel and mark the weights one by one (45 - 50 minutes). Check the depth of the hosel to make sure they are consistent enough to receive a new shaft (10-15 minutes). Prepare all the shaft tips and use the spine finder to identify mark the spines on each one (20 - 25 minutes).
Measure each shaft on the measuring board to make sure the lengths are exactly at 1/2" increments (20 - 25 minutes).
Sort the grips by weight to make sure all 8 grips are the same weight (10-15 minutes).
Install the wooden dowel at the same depth from the tip, put on the grips and make sure it line up straight and consistently stretch (on cord is critical for sizing), installed ferrules (all that for 30-40 minutes).
Swing weight each club and mark them for lead plug adjustment (15-20 minutes). Install a lead plug and swing weight them one by one to make sure it's within MY acceptable tolerance of 1/8-1/4 of a point (30-40 minutes).
Mix the glue and glue them one by one and make sure the spined position is on the right consistent spot and make sure they have the same amount of glue for a consistent swing weight (15-20 minutes). Let the glue dry for at least 8-10 hrs. Turn the ferrule one by one and shine them up with acetone (25 - 30 minutes)
Double check the loft and lie (15 to 20 minutes) and clean them up with car wax from acetone residue (10 - 15 minutes). The last part is checking the cpm on the frequency machine one by one to make sure everything is within my spec (10-15 minutes). DONE!
So if I calculate on the minimum estimated time, I spend about 4 hours and 50 minutes assuming I don't run into any trouble. If the need arises, it usually takes another 20 minutes to discuss any issues with the customer. Also, factor the time I spend on a fitting phone call trying to figure out what he or she needs mentally and physically.
Call me a meticulous freak, but I can't help it...that is who I am and how I work. And that is how I think customers expect me to be when they are paying at my rate.
The fastest record I did before was 4 hours 20 minutes for a set belong to a PGA touring pro who was waiting on the spot while I was working on them. It required me to heat the hosel to speed up the epoxy curing time (around 1-2 minutes per club), but it's all worth it and satisfying watching him shoot his low round 61 record on TV at the next tournament. And yes, I got a set of tour issue iron from him that wasn't released to the public yet and a big hug for all that trouble.
Again, this is "my" way of doing it!
