I originally designed the Green Clubs using a 3/4" dowel. The change to a 5/8" was actually to help improve the balance, as they tend to be a little bit handle heavy. The 18" length was primarily to take advantage of stock 36" dowels--cut one in half and you don't have any waste. Turns out it's easier to find 36" dowels in 5/8" than in 3/4. The handle wrap pattern should be changed slightly for a 3/4" dowel. I don't think I have my original 3/4" wrap pattern any more. You may want to experiment--or you might find the current pattern works well. The 3/4" dowel also leaves less space between the plastic and your hand, so you get less cushioning. Other ways to add weight to the club, while using the stock pattern, are to add some metal washers to the end of the club, between the tennis ball and the screw head or glued to the end of the dowel inside the bottle; adding extra layers of tape to the club body; or filling the club body with something like expanding foam. All of these add weight while also helping to reduce the handle heavy balance issue.
First, thanks for doing the hard work and releasing it CC, I've had a lot of fun with my clubs and they've held up beautifully despite being thrown, dropped, stepped on, shoved in the spokes of a moving bike (all it needs is some new tape)....
I found the same thing about the thicker dowels, I was tempted to go with the 5/8" right off the bat, but they were all 30". I wrote this post after only a few months of juggling with clubs. I've been at it for the better part of a year now and don't have anything negative left to say. I still haven't used "real" clubs, so I couldn't say anything about how these compare, but I enjoy juggling with them and have the parts stocked up for another two or three sets.
I might try the washers trick, I'd like to see if I can just nudge the center of gravity towards the head (top?) and see how that works. I don't have the equipment to say exactly where the center of gravity is, but I can at least weigh them before and after and comment on feel. If I make any mods, I'll be sure to post it.
All Comments
Jon Poppele
Green Club Designer
poppele@hotmail.com
I found the same thing about the thicker dowels, I was tempted to go with the 5/8" right off the bat, but they were all 30". I wrote this post after only a few months of juggling with clubs. I've been at it for the better part of a year now and don't have anything negative left to say. I still haven't used "real" clubs, so I couldn't say anything about how these compare, but I enjoy juggling with them and have the parts stocked up for another two or three sets.
I might try the washers trick, I'd like to see if I can just nudge the center of gravity towards the head (top?) and see how that works. I don't have the equipment to say exactly where the center of gravity is, but I can at least weigh them before and after and comment on feel. If I make any mods, I'll be sure to post it.