You may have never given it a thought, but sharp club grooves are almost directly proportional to better performance. As your irons get duller with time, they affect the backspin of the ball and negatively affect your game. Now, the chances are that you can only think of one solution – to buy new ones. However, what if we told you that you can sharpen them instead of replacing them?
Sharpening grooves make them as good as new. You can sharpen them every week or after a few rounds of golf. It saves all the money required to buy new golf clubs every now and then. Read on to learn how to sharpen grooves on golf clubs!
Why Is It Important to Sharpen Golf Grooves?
You may have wondered many times how these professional golf players land the ball in the perfect putt. Though there are many tricks to improve your game, one of them is using a club with sharp grooves.
In order to get control of your golf ball, keeping the grooves in shape is vital. Worn-out or clogged tracks negatively impact the backspin. Dull and scratched grooves can make your ball lose direction, and it may not fly as high as with a new one. Sharpening them not only improves your consistency and grip but also helps get you more greens. It increases your hold of the ball, so you can control how well it spins and rolls back.
Now that you know the importance of sharpening, here are some of the best ways to sharpen grooves on golf clubs.
Ways to Sharpen & Restore Grooves on Golf Clubs
1. Using a Groove Sharpener
Using a groove sharpener is the easiest and most ideal way to sharpen those irons. They come in many variations, and you can buy them as per your budget. In this way, you can sharpen grooves on golf clubs at home in hardly 10 minutes with the following step-by-step procedure.
Clean the Clubface
First of all, you need to clean the dirt on your clubface. For this purpose, you need lukewarm water, a scrub brush, and soap or detergent. Apply detergent on the clubface, scrub it thoroughly with the brush, and wash it with lukewarm water afterward.
Apply Tape at the Sides
Now, apply tape on the upper and lower sides outside the grooves. You can use masking, electrical, or any other tape. This step is critical to protect your club from getting damaged if your tool accidentally slips from the grooves.
Select Your Sharpener
Choosing a perfect groove sharpener is essential to protect the club from damage. Examine your grooves’ shape and size carefully to select the best sharpener for them.
Starting Angle
Place the sharpener on the first groove at an angle of 45 degrees. Don’t apply full force at the start. Move it back and forth carefully without applying much pressure. Repeat it five to six times until you see the actual color of the club steel.
Adjust the Angle
Now turn the sharpener vertically and place it 90 degrees from the grooves. Apply pressure and move it to-and-fro repeatedly. This step is necessary to achieve the actual depth of the tracks. Repeat it many times until they start to shine and feel much improved. Apply the above steps on all other grooves one by one.
Lubricate if Required
You may feel the sharpener getting stuck in between the strokes. In this case, use any lubricating oil to make the flow much smoother. You can use mineral oil or simply cooking oil.
Choosing the Right Groove Sharpener:
Having said all of that, it’s important that we mention that you shouldn’t rush into buying a sharpener. First, you need to make sure to use the perfect sharpener on your club. Otherwise, you may worsen the case by damaging it. See if your club has “U-shaped” or “V-shaped” grooves. You can find it by contacting the manufacturer.
After that, select the sharpener as per your groove shape, size, and club material. U sharpeners are for U-shaped grooves and V sharpeners for V-shaped ones. Moreover, assure that the size of the groove sharpener is the same as your grooves. Bigger sharpeners can damage the clubface, while smaller ones have the chance of slipping from the tracks.
On the basis of club material, there are three types of groove sharpeners that people commonly use. These are diamond sharpeners, copper sharpeners, and steel sharpeners. Diamond sharpeners are best for cast irons, copper for stainless steel clubs, while you can use steel sharpeners on any club type.
2. Using a Screwdriver
In case you do not find a groove sharpener, you can still sharpen them at home. A screwdriver is one such tool you can use. To use the screwdriver as a groove sharpener:
- Choose a flat-head screwdriver that is not too long. The short ones are preferred because they are easy to handle.
- Make sure the size of the screwdriver head matches the space between the grooves. A screwdriver with a smaller head size than the grooves increases the chances of error. It can run out from the tracks.
- Grab it from the middle or near to the head. This decreases the chances of damage if you slip out from the grooves.
- Run the screwdriver head through the grooves. First slowly and then with pressure.
3. Get It Sharpened From the Market
Damaging your grooves will cost you money and affect your performance. So, in case you are not sure if you can sharpen grooves perfectly, take your club to the experts. The market is full of professionals who will make those grooves as sharp as new.
This method will cost you more money but less energy. You won’t have to make much effort at home. Plus, you can save yourself a lot of time.
Is It Legal to Sharpen Grooves on Golf Clubs?
While sharpening club grooves are entirely legal, you must consider a few limitations. According to the game rules, there are specific requirements about the golf grooves’ depth, width, and spacing.
You can sharpen the old worn-out grooves, but you cannot increase their original width or depth. Most clubs from big brands comply with the legal standards. So, you can sharpen them to the size you bought them. Exceeding the actual depth of the grooves is illegal for golf tournaments.
How Often Should You Sharpen Golf Grooves?
Generally speaking, it is recommended to sharpen grooves after a few rounds. Some say 10-20 games are enough.
However, we believe that it depends on how rusty your tracks get. If they often get dirty and affect your performance, you can clean them whenever you want.
Conclusion on How to Sharpen Grooves on Golf Clubs
Sharp and clean club grooves not only give you an ultimate spin but also improve your control of the ball. Therefore, choosing the right tool to sharpen grooves on golf clubs is vital to boost your game.
You can also get them sharpened by an expert at golf services. A little money and effort are worth the great golf swing. Anyhow, don’t sharpen them too hard to increase the original width.