Why is it so hard to just find driver heads without a shaft?

[TElmore]

This is my first time posting a topic on here.  
I am wondering why it is so hard to just by a driver head and not have the shaft included?  I’m looking for a new Ping G425/430 Max head to replace my Ping G425 SFT that I’m currently swinging.  I have the shaft that I love and just need a new head, but do not want to buy a full set up.  
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Tyler

[cnosil]

7 minutes ago, TElmore said:

This is my first time posting a topic on here.  
I am wondering why it is so hard to just by a driver head and not have the shaft included?  I’m looking for a new Ping G425/430 Max head to replace my Ping G425 SFT that I’m currently swinging.  I have the shaft that I love and just need a new head, but do not want to buy a full set up.  
Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Tyler

OEMS sell the complete club and most people want to buy a complete club.   With enough searching on personal resale sites you can often find head only sales.  

[RickyBobby_PR]

If you want head only you need to find an independent club maker who sells clubs and buy try to buy the head only.

Oems don’t offer head only and probably never will. 

[TSauer]

Your best bet is eBay or some of the Facebook BST groups.

[GolfSpy_APH]

First welcome! And thanks for posting! 

Some of the above answer the question - there are a few sites that do this. eBay/Facebook and some second hand sites like clubs4cash, golfbidder, second swing and a few others may have some head only.

As for why? Likely more you are in a slightly unique situation where you have the shaft you love and only need a head. Most ppl in general need the whole setup. 

The other part is cost - when I have seen heads alone or even single irons the discount isn't that much - maybe a slight bit, but when I look at what I could get for the shaft even if it's $50 it works out to more of a discount and I get my club head I was looking for. 

More ppl are generally looking for shafts vs heads so it's also normally a pretty easy sell.

Welcome once again and good question and I am sure you are not the only one wondering about this.

[Green4Spinach]

@GolfSpy_APH may I clarify my understanding of your reply here, please? I went for a driver fitting, and discovered that I did much better with a Titleist TSR2 fitted with an Accra iW4 shaft, than my current 915 D2 (a hand-me-down from a generous friend) which has an Aldila Rip'd shaft on it. As a golfer of just six months vintage, it's been great to see that both my carry has gone up and the spread of my shots on the fairway has reduced. However, I cannot justify a new driver and a new shaft for a game that I have only just started. So I have settled for the Accra shaft on my 915 - even in this situation, my average carry has gone from 155 yards to 175 yards, because the Aldila shaft proved to be too heavy for me to use properly. Both the Aldila and Accra are regular flex shafts but the setup with the Accra is 21 grams lighter, and that seems to make a huge difference to my swing. When I started out looking for equipment, everybody talked about flex, but I have found that the weight of the shaft is rather more significant - at least for me. 

I now know from the fitting experience I can do even better with a TSR2. I am interpreting your reply to this thread as meaning that I could pick up any used TSR2 12 degree where the head is in reasonable condition and regardless of what shaft is on it, use my new Accra shaft on it and get the benefit I could see in the fitting studio. Is this correct? Or do I need to pay attention to any other characteristics of a used TSR2 when looking for one?  Or is a new TSR2 fitted to the Accra the only way to ensure I get the right item?

Apologies for the lengthy question. Suffering from newgolferitis...

Edited February 24 by Green4Spinach

[GolfSpy_APH]

17 minutes ago, Green4Spinach said:

@GolfSpy_APH may I clarify my understanding of your reply here, please? I went for a driver fitting, and discovered that I did much better with a Titleist TSR2 fitted with an Accra iW4 shaft, than my current 915 D2 (a hand-me-down from a generous friend) which has an Aldila Rip'd shaft on it. As a golfer of just six months vintage, it's been great to see that both my carry has gone up and the spread of my shots on the fairway has reduced. However, I cannot justify a new driver and a new shaft for a game that I have only just started. So I have settled for the Accra shaft on my 915 - even in this situation, my average carry has gone from 155 yards to 175 yards, because the Aldila shaft proved to be too heavy for me to use properly. But I know I can do even better with a TSR2. I am interpreting your reply to this thread as meaning that I could pick up any used TSR2 12 degree where the head is in reasonable condition, and use my new Accra shaft on it and get the benefit I could see in the fitting studio. Is this correct? Or do I need to pay attention to any other characteristics of a used TSR2 when looking for one?  Apologies for the lengthy question. Suffering from newgolferitis...

No need to apologize! 

I would need to check but I do think the 915 and TSR2 use slightly different adapters. You may want to check with your shop to see if they are compatible. 

However yes, for you on your case I would look at going used. The context of being new does change or enlighten things a bit. 

Not say it's wrong, but a new head would have been where I spent my money vs a new shaft. Or going used with the weight profile of the accra. 

The head technology would lead to bigger and better results (in most cases) vs just a new shaft.

[Josh Parker]

19 minutes ago, Green4Spinach said:

@GolfSpy_APH may I clarify my understanding of your reply here, please? I went for a driver fitting, and discovered that I did much better with a Titleist TSR2 fitted with an Accra iW4 shaft, than my current 915 D2 (a hand-me-down from a generous friend) which has an Aldila Rip'd shaft on it. As a golfer of just six months vintage, it's been great to see that both my carry has gone up and the spread of my shots on the fairway has reduced. However, I cannot justify a new driver and a new shaft for a game that I have only just started. So I have settled for the Accra shaft on my 915 - even in this situation, my average carry has gone from 155 yards to 175 yards, because the Aldila shaft proved to be too heavy for me to use properly. Both the Aldila and Accra are regular flex shafts but the setup with the Accra is 21 grams lighter, and that seems to make a huge difference to my swing. When I started out looking for equipment, everybody talked about flex, but I have found that the weight of the shaft is rather more significant - at least for me. 

I now know from the fitting experience I can do even better with a TSR2. I am interpreting your reply to this thread as meaning that I could pick up any used TSR2 12 degree where the head is in reasonable condition and regardless of what shaft is on it, use my new Accra shaft on it and get the benefit I could see in the fitting studio. Is this correct? Or do I need to pay attention to any other characteristics of a used TSR2 when looking for one?  Or is a new TSR2 fitted to the Accra the only way to ensure I get the right item?

Apologies for the lengthy question. Suffering from newgolferitis...

If the Accra shaft adapter will fit the TSR2 or you can have the adapter changed, just find a "in good" conditioned TSR2 no matter what shaft is in it and make the switch.  What I typically do in that situation is sell the shaft that it came with and make a few dollars back.

[NUTTY2003]

Accra very good shaft the other one to look at may be a club for sale with extra stiff shaft in sometimes you can find a bargain and just take the shaft out  

[Green4Spinach]

24 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

No need to apologize! 

I would need to check but I do think the 915 and TSR2 use slightly different adapters. You may want to check with your shop to see if they are compatible. 

However yes, for you on your case I would look at going used. The context of being new does change or enlighten things a bit. 

Not say it's wrong, but a new head would have been where I spent my money vs a new shaft. Or going used with the weight profile of the accra. 

The head technology would lead to bigger and better results (in most cases) vs just a new shaft.

My understanding is that the Titleist adapter fitted to the Accra works on both driver heads. It was always my intention to shift to a new driver and shaft - after all, my wife offered me a fitted driver as a birthday present. I just chose to go on the first-shaft-then-driver journey because I could see an excellent improvement just with the new shaft, plus I figured that when my swing matures, I might revisit the entire purchase of head and shaft, which might feel difficult to do if I had already purchased new kit a short while before. 

I do like your thought process that a new head will deliver even more performance. Looking forward to that. 

[Green4Spinach]

28 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

If the Accra shaft adapter will fit the TSR2 or you can have the adapter changed, just find a "in good" conditioned TSR2 no matter what shaft is in it and make the switch.  What I typically do in that situation is sell the shaft that it came with and make a few dollars back.

Sound advice, Josh. Thanks for the note. 

[Green4Spinach]

13 minutes ago, NUTTY2003 said:

Accra very good shaft the other one to look at may be a club for sale with extra stiff shaft in sometimes you can find a bargain and just take the shaft out  

Nice tip, Nutty2003, that an extra stiff shaft might result in a bargain. Will keep that in mind on my search. 

[NUTTY2003]

There are quite a lot of differences in the head’s themselves especially on off Center hits TSR2 will be more forgiving. You will find that the Accra shaft being lighter will generate more club head speed in regular you can get from 45 grams upwards loads of options for you good luck 

[TJ Hall]

Check 2nd Swing golf, just type “driver head” in the search box and they have some available as well.

[Guest-0]

3 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

If the Accra shaft adapter will fit the TSR2 or you can have the adapter changed, just find a "in good" conditioned TSR2 no matter what shaft is in it and make the switch.  What I typically do in that situation is sell the shaft that it came with and make a few dollars back.

Somebody say Titleist head only????

[Guest-0]

If I played Titleist I would buy this as a spare with a headcover for 120??? Bet they would take 100 and I would grab it and ship it if they didn't want to

[Erin B]

I would love to find a Ping 410 LST head in new or almost new condition. I even emailed Ping hoping they’d have one lying around. 

[Erin B]

3 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

Somebody say Titleist head only????

Well hello there beautiful!!! 

[Erin B]

2 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

If I played Titleist I would buy this as a spare with a headcover for 120??? Bet they would take 100 and I would grab it and ship it if they didn't want to

I think I’d buy it and order a Jupiter 1 shaft for it.

[Jean D]

Another option (instead of a brick & mortar location) is look for "start of season vendor sales and auctions"... not sure if that's a thing in the US, but here in Canada most local associations hold a sale/auction in March where you can find some fantastic deals on both demo heads/clubs as well as shafts.  I was out last year here in Ottawa (Canada) and a good friend picked up some Fujikura Ventus Red 6R Velocore shafts for his driver and hybrids for $100 CAD each.  For context, they retail $350 CAD each...

[Guest-0]

29 minutes ago, Erin B said:

I would love to find a Ping 410 LST head in new or almost new condition. I even emailed Ping hoping they’d have one lying around. 

Why the G410 when you can steal this G425 LST ??? You asketh you recieveth

[Erin B]

4 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

Why the G410 when you can steal this G425 LST ??? You asketh you recieveth

I have one. I don’t like it. I’ve never been able to hit it like I can hit the 410. 

[tony@CIC]

@TElmore as a newbie golfer, you also might try Global Golf which sells both new and 'used' equipment. I've bought a couple of drivers from them that where last year's models at a deep discount. 

[Guest-0]

1 hour ago, Erin B said:

I have one. I don’t like it. I’ve never been able to hit it like I can hit the 410. 

Here are some other local options

[Erin B]

10 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

Here are some other local options

Where you getting all these drivers? 

[Guest-0]

14 minutes ago, Erin B said:

Where you getting all these drivers? 

They are on Marketplace in the Traverse City to Grand Rapids Michigan range

[Erin B]

17 minutes ago, Marlin Dave said:

They are on Marketplace in the Traverse City to Grand Rapids Michigan range

Oh, I’m too far west

[Guest-0]

10 minutes ago, Erin B said:

Oh, I’m too far west

It's just like buying from Ebay you PayPal and they ship it to you it doesn't matter where you live?? I buy stuff from all over the US off Marketplace

[cnosil]

6 hours ago, Green4Spinach said:

 Both the Aldila and Accra are regular flex shafts but the setup with the Accra is 21 grams lighter, and that seems to make a huge difference to my swing. When I started out looking for equipment, everybody talked about flex, but I have found that the weight of the shaft is rather more significant - at least for me. 

 

No one addressed this for you, but flex is simply a letter painted on a shaft and is only relevant for that shaft.   There is no standardization in golf and a stiff in one  shaft could be a senior or x-stiff in another shaft.    Weight is definitely an important consideration when looking at shafts and makes a difference in most peoples fitting.   While OEMs provide guidelines for handicap, spin, launch, and flex,  you still need to actually try the clubs to make sure that it works for you.   

[Guest-0]

13 minutes ago, cnosil said:

No one addressed this for you, but flex is simply a letter painted on a shaft and is only relevant for that shaft.   There is no standardization in golf and a stiff in one  shaft could be a senior or x-stiff in another shaft.    Weight is definitely an important consideration when looking at shafts and makes a difference in most peoples fitting.   While OEMs provide guidelines for handicap, spin, launch, and flex,  you still need to actually try the clubs to make sure that it works for you.   

Well said!! As every manufacturer has different guidelines for "stiff" and "reg" but like you said the weight and kickpoints in the shafts vary massively! Some want the flex in the butt of the club others mid or tip I do not understand how anyone could read reviews on a driver and just buy it online without ever hitting it??? So important to get fitted for every club in the bag